Should this significant event be on my AMCAS work/activities?

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jdbarr7

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During my senior year of high school , I founded the organization, Soles for Souls.

I raised over 2,500 pairs of shoes through the cooperation of my community. I then teamed up with American Airlines and had them flown directly to impoverished villages in Haiti.


I would love to add this, but I am afraid this goes too far back in time.

I would appreciate your thoughts.
 
They say that in general if you did it in before college and it didn't continue on while in college, don't list it. This is a pretty cool and unique EC, which would be a good booster, but if you had no participation in college or cannot tie it into another activity that you did in college, you shouldn't add it.
 
They say that in general if you did it in before college and it didn't continue on while in college, don't list it. This is a pretty cool and unique EC, which would be a good booster, but if you had no participation in college or cannot tie it into another activity that you did in college, you shouldn't add it.
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I am going to disagree. They say that you should't add an activity from high school unless it was significant. If you cured cancer in high school, you'd add it. This isn't quite on par with curing an illness, but it demonstrates a lot of initiative and leadership. My guess is that organizing all of this wasn't easy. I'd add it if (a) you did this your junior or senior year of high school and (b) if you have enough awesome activities from college on your AMCAS App. that this isn't misconstrued as desperate grappling for activities to list.
 
JustMeditate said:
I am going to disagree. They say that you should't add an activity from high school unless it was significant. If you cured cancer in high school, you'd add it. This isn't quite on par with curing an illness, but it demonstrates a lot of initiative and leadership. My guess is that organizing all of this wasn't easy. I'd add it if (a) you did this your junior or senior year of high school and (b) if you have enough awesome activities from college on your AMCAS App. that this isn't misconstrued as desperate grappling for activities to list.
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I agree with you. I would definitely add it as long as you have both points a and b that JustMeditate listed. You do want what you did in college to be the highlights of your app.
 
jdbarr7 said:
During my senior year of high school , I founded the organization, Soles for Souls.

I raised over 2,500 pairs of shoes through the cooperation of my community. I then teamed up with American Airlines and had them flown directly to impoverished villages in Haiti.


I would love to add this, but I am afraid this goes too far back in time.

I would appreciate your thoughts.
Click to expand...

If this is something that you actually did I would list it and not overstate what you did. I say if because I'm familiar with this organization and I thought it was founded back in 2004 by an executive in the shoe industry which then raised a quarter million shoes for people in southeast Asia.

Maybe you started a chapter, for a different crisis. If you did, good for you. But if you overstate yourself and are caught, you're toast.
 
dmf2682 said:
If this is something that you actually did I would list it and not overstate what you did. I say if because I'm familiar with this organization and I thought it was founded back in 2004 by an executive in the shoe industry which then raised a quarter million shoes for people in southeast Asia.

Maybe you started a chapter, for a different crisis. If you did, good for you. But if you overstate yourself and are caught, you're toast.
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Thanks for the replies everyone.

dmf2682

You are exactly correct, because of the great play on words (soles for souls) the term has been heavily used and slightly changed. The foundation you are referring to is Soles 4 souls. There is also a church that uses soles to souls etc. etc.

I was also nominated for the prudential spirit of community awards because of the foundation. So I am just fine in that category. Good thought though
 
My premed advisor says I should not add it and preferably get it on my personal statement. However,
my PS is completed and I would rather not try and fit it in at this point in the game. I think I will probably add it to Work/ Act though.
 
Did any of it happen during the summer before you entered college? If so, you could try squeezing it in there haha.
 
Unfortunately, no.

I did, however, take a medical mission trip to another impoverished village in Belize during College. So maybe I can make a connection between my continual interest in caring for the underserved...
 
I'd add it since it sounds cool. Just don't put down, "President of National Honor Society @ Who Cares Senior High School"
 
I think if it had a powerful influence on who you are today and your decision to enter medicine then I think it would be good. Like others have said, there should be more recent and substantial activities but I think this activity sounds pretty cool as long as it meant a lot to you.
 
jdbarr7 said:
During my senior year of high school , I founded the organization, Soles for Souls.

I raised over 2,500 pairs of shoes through the cooperation of my community. I then teamed up with American Airlines and had them flown directly to impoverished villages in Haiti.


I would love to add this, but I am afraid this goes too far back in time.

I would appreciate your thoughts.
Click to expand...

You can't rest on your laurels. What you did in HS helps you get into college. What you do in college helps you get into med school.

You founded an organziation. Is it still going? Did you have help with some of the legal/administrative tasks? Did you have family connections or other assistance that helped you "team up with American Airlines"?

Don't list it if it is BS or if your parents pulled the strings and you got the glory. Adcoms know how to use google.
 
Wow, way to put Haitian shoemakers out of business bro.
 
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