The needle in the haystack

[Gladiolus23]

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Just wondering:

What activities are considered "significant" in the eyes of adcoms? I've heard that adcoms only have about 15 minutes to skim through someone's application when screening through them...and well, this is definitely not enough time. So, in other words, how can applicants better distinguish themselves and catch the eye of the admissions committee?

Also, if anyone is willing to share, what did you do to make yourself stand out among 1000's of other applicants?

 

[BlackBox]

I collaborate extensively in my research (I have a PhD). The theme of my application was I'm a strong applicant, but all my collaborators made me better- I'll make your class better.

 

[Pacna]

Do anything exceedingly well. They do pay special attention to your 3 most important activities (or w/e they're called on AMCAS). Make them count. There are no specific things that would catch their eye. 15 minutes of research on a frontier epigenetic topic won't fare better than winning an international Ultimate Frisbee competition. It's all about what you bring to the class. Show them why you're great. If they wanted their applicants to have only a few types of experiences, they'd just list them and you'd check them off.

 

[mcloaf]

Do anything exceedingly well. They do pay special attention to your 3 most important activities (or w/e they're called on AMCAS). Make them count. There are no specific things that would catch their eye. 15 minutes of research on a frontier epigenetic topic won't fare better than winning an international Ultimate Frisbee competition. It's all about what you bring to the class. Show them why you're great. If they wanted their applicants to have only a few types of experiences, they'd just list them and you'd check them off.

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Threads like this are sort of self-defeating. If you're asking for a bunch of other people on the internet to tell you how to distinguish yourself you're unlikely to end up being very different than the rest. Do what interests you (within reason), and excel.

 

[ichor]

Do anything exceedingly well. They do pay special attention to your 3 most important activities (or w/e they're called on AMCAS). Make them count. There are no specific things that would catch their eye. 15 minutes of research on a frontier epigenetic topic won't fare better than winning an international Ultimate Frisbee competition. It's all about what you bring to the class. Show them why you're great. If they wanted their applicants to have only a few types of experiences, they'd just list them and you'd check them off.

1. Shadowing a physician
2. Volunteering at hospitals
3. Scientific research for internship

Or do you mean besides those 3?

 

[justAstudent]

These days it's pretty difficult to do something that hasn't been done before. If you can think of it, I'm sure there are at least 100 other premeds out there who are already or have been doing what you thought of. Instead of constantly trying to "stand out," I think the better thing to do is to just find stuff you really enjoy doing and commit to them. It'll show in your writing and interviews that you care about what you're doing and not doing it just to get into medical school. That is more impressive IMO.

 

[Pacna]

1. Shadowing a physician
2. Volunteering at hospitals
3. Scientific research for internship

Or do you mean besides those 3?

I didn't do 2 or 3. Shadowing is recommended, but there are ways around that, too.

But you're right. There's a general baseline requirement. OP isn't asking about that; he's asking about things that will make him stand out.

 

[Quizlet04]

Engage yourself in something meaningful over a long period of time. Research is sort of expected. Maybe you've been writing a weekly science column for three years. Maybe you've helped curate art at a museum. Show it matters and show you're not just doing it for school.

 

[GreenBlade]

1. Shadowing a physician
2. Volunteering at hospitals
3. Scientific research for internship

Or do you mean besides those 3?

I think about that all the time. Its something that worries me a ton. I just completed 5.5 years of military service. I shadowed a few physicians when I worked at Brooke Army Medical Center. I also helped a rheumatologist complete a publication for AC&R. Now I am slaving away in an analytical chem lab. I hope that is enough to catch the someone's attention.

 

[Goro]

Your military service alone counts a lot. Many thanks for your service to our country.

I think about that all the time. Its something that worries me a ton. I just completed 5.5 years of military service. I shadowed a few physicians when I worked at Brooke Army Medical Center. I also helped a rheumatologist complete a publication for AC&R. Now I am slaving away in an analytical chem lab. I hope that is enough to catch the someone's attention.