Small EC's worth it?

[Eric552]

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Is it worth it to list small EC's? I know that adcoms like to see EC's that are over time, but for example I have volunteered one day to work an H1N1 clinic that was held at a school for the kids, and I have also volunteered one day for a Christmas party to give away presents to less fortunate children. I'm wondering if it is even worth it to list things like this or if it will just look like I am grabbing any small thing that I can.

I am also a volunteer at the hospital to cover the long term aspect.

 

[URHere]

I'm wondering if it is even worth it to list things like this or if it will just look like I am grabbing any small thing that I can.

You can always group all of these one-day projects into a single "activity" with an all-encompassing name like, "community outreach", and then describe the events individually.

That way, you still get to mention them, but you don't take up more space on your application than you need.

 

[Catalystik]

It is possible to create an appropriate category and name it "Short-term community service". Under this category you can put multiple unrelated brief volunteer events with dates, hours, contact person, location, duties, etc., using only one space.

 

[ThaliaNox]

I listed that sort of one day or short term projects and events under my premedical club, which connected me to most of the opportunities. That way it only took up one spot. I interview applicants, and let me tell you, it looks really desperate to see something like "march of dimes" listed by itself.

 

[apumic]

...Or you could just do it w/o receiving credit for it.
Larger volunteer and clinical experiences are what will matter anyway. I'd just do the small stuff for the fun of it. You should have more than enough clinical experience that 8 or even 20 hrs here or there isn't really going to make any difference!

 

[Ativanigans]

The best way to list those is to just create 1 section in AMCAS as "Misc. Community Service" and just give quick 1-2 liners on each of the things you did. If anyone experience was particularly memorable then you can expand on it.

 

[ahmcadams]

Definitely don't list them separately. When I read through a laundry list of ECs and half of them are day-long, "helped set up folding chairs and/or registered guests at a booth" community events listed individually, it just bogs down the evaluation and can potentially undermine the rest of the listings.

 

[Toadesque]

I don't want to create a new topic for this so i'll just ask it here.

Does it matter when you completed your volunteer service? I volunteered at the hospital in high school (i'm 2nd year college right now) in the ER and at the gift shop. Does that not count anymore or will I have to do it again? Obviously I am planning to do more but I just want to know if I will be allowed to put it down on my app since it was so long ago (from 2006-2008)

 

[apumic]

I don't want to create a new topic for this so i'll just ask it here.

Does it matter when you completed your volunteer service? I volunteered at the hospital in high school (i'm 2nd year college right now) in the ER and at the gift shop. Does that not count anymore or will I have to do it again? Obviously I am planning to do more but I just want to know if I will be allowed to put it down on my app since it was so long ago (from 2006-2008)

HS doesn't count. Nothing counts until you entered college.

 

[zetabetazeta]

Definitely don't list them separately. When I read through a laundry list of ECs and half of them are day-long, "helped set up folding chairs and/or registered guests at a booth" community events listed individually, it just bogs down the evaluation and can potentially undermine the rest of the listings.

I worked as a medical assistant in a medical center for one month. And I also volunteered as a physics tutor at a high school for three weeks. Are they considered as small ECs? Should I list them separately?

 

[apumic]

I worked as a medical assistant in a medical center for one month. And I also volunteered as a physics tutor at a high school for three weeks. Are they considered as small ECs? Should I list them separately?

Depends how they compare w your other experiences. I wouldn't list them, personally (well, that is, I'd list them as part of a larger theme; the "small ECs" mentioned here, I wouldn't even list at all), but I have over 1000 hours of clinical experience and several hundred hours of volunteer experience. In comparison to those, anything under 3-6 months isn't really significant. If your longest experience is only a few months part time, then it makes sense to include a 1-month gig.

 

[JJMrK]

I don't want to create a new topic for this so i'll just ask it here.

Does it matter when you completed your volunteer service? I volunteered at the hospital in high school (i'm 2nd year college right now) in the ER and at the gift shop. Does that not count anymore or will I have to do it again? Obviously I am planning to do more but I just want to know if I will be allowed to put it down on my app since it was so long ago (from 2006-2008)

If you continue it through college you can list it.

 

[JJMrK]

I worked as a medical assistant in a medical center for one month. And I also volunteered as a physics tutor at a high school for three weeks. Are they considered as small ECs? Should I list them separately?

If you're going to list them they should probably go in a section with other small ECs.

 

[zetabetazeta]

Depends how they compare w your other experiences. I wouldn't list them, personally (well, that is, I'd list them as part of a larger theme; the "small ECs" mentioned here, I wouldn't even list at all), but I have over 1000 hours of clinical experience and several hundred hours of volunteer experience. In comparison to those, anything under 3-6 months isn't really significant. If your longest experience is only a few months part time, then it makes sense to include a 1-month gig.

Yeah, I know what you mean. But it was like 100+ tutoring over three weeks, and 100+ hours of working as a medical assistant over one month though. I do have other hospital volunteering, like only around 200+ hours (one and a half year) by the time when I apply.