Things having nothing to do with med school

[binko]

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Do y'all do anything that isn't med school-related? Hobbies you probably couldn't even really put on an app? I'm sure there are some here who don't, but I'd like to think most of us have lives.

I'll start: gardening, sewing, cooking, knitting, scrapbooking, all that Suzie Homemaker stuff. I do most of it in an apron that I made myself, too. It has a towel loop and a little pocket to hold my Apple remote and my cell phone 😎

Also, playing guitar and electronic instruments, painting/collage-making, photography, digital art (vector drawing, etc), writing the occasional poetry and/or fiction.

 

[mcnulty]

playing fallout 3

 

[txprodigal]

if it can't fill in one of the 15 spots, what's the point?

 

[rockaction]

I'm in a band that has self-produced and distributed 13 albums. It almost sounds legit enough to put on the resume. Almost.

 

[phonyreal98]

I play the trombone, but since I'm in Band and Trombone Studio at my school, I probably will put that on my app.

I like playing basketball though! Nothing really too serious, I just enjoy going to the courts and playing a pickup game with whomever happens to be there.

 

[DrJosephKim]

This is where you can shine with some volunteer experience stories. I spent several summers in China teaching English and I used these experiences in my personal statement and interviews.

 

[theroadtomed]

This is where you can shine with some volunteer experience stories. I spent several summers in China teaching English and I used these experiences in my personal statement and interviews.

fail. unless you were being sarcastic.

 

[Jwax]

I'm in a band that has self-produced and distributed 13 albums. It almost sounds legit enough to put on the resume. Almost.

I'm in a band. Maybe you've heard of it? We're called Driveshaft.

😉

 

[nick_carraway]

fail. unless you were being sarcastic.

Actually, med school advisors I called after last cycle mentioned that it was refreshing to see a few hobbies listed on the app. Although some schools will ask about your interests in secondaries, at least two advisors said that it's good to see what I did for fun in the primary. You obviously want to self-censor though.

 

[ParthVader]

I'm actually looking to pick up the guitar.. In fact I plan on going guitar shopping either tomorrow or Tuesday.. I'm super excited!

Also, I like gaming alot.. when its summer time or winter break I play some games.. COD4... world at conflict... ect. ect.

 

[motorcycleguy]

I put stuff like play bass guitar and mountain biking on my application the first time around. It made for some interesting conversations during interviews. I don't think it hurts.

 

[pirateinaskirt]

I do/have done tons of music-related stuff, from teaching to performances...I used to be a music major and still keep up with it, but that will probably go on my app. Many non-science and non-medical interests still intertwine somewhat with what I want to do with my career, ultimately, so again, much of my academic and extracurricular experience will go on the app.

As for hobbies that mean a lot to me that probably can't go on the app, I would definitely say camping/hiking/backpacking, currently trying to work on technical climbing skills. I haven't done any actual "climbs" just hikes/backpacking trips, and I want to be able to tackle more trails/mountains and not be inhibited by a lack of technical skills. Unfortunately I live in the midwest, so I have to make the most of weekends and vacations to go to any actual mountains.

 

[216397]

I've been a costume / fashion designer for a while now. 🙂 I find it really relaxing and fun. It's also a good hobby to have for medical school since it's very easy to pick up and put down at whatever time you want!

 

[NotAndrew]

you could learn to breed goldfish?

 

[DrMattOglesby]

I played an obscene amount of Tekken during my undergrad (and final fantasy).

 

[tdittyx2x3]

I'm actually looking to pick up the guitar.. In fact I plan on going guitar shopping either tomorrow or Tuesday.. I'm super excited!

Ahhh guitar shopping.. SO FUN. Don't be afraid to ask someone there to play the different guitars for you. First of all they'll love to. Second of all you want to hear each one with a player who knows what they are doing. Take your time and really listen.. each guitar has a unique sound.

Thoroughly enjoyed picking out my new guitar, a Martin HD-28v. There's a great video of "Crash" by Dave Matthews playing one here. The sound is just unmatched. A total cannon. I hope you have fun picking out your guitar and good luck learning!

 

[sarahg]

I surf. I'm also planning to run a marathon in the winter, but I may be able to spin that into an application-worthy thing because I may join a training-and-fundraising program that's affiliated with a local early intervention organization that I volunteer for. (It's Team in Training style, if anyone is familiar with them, so there is a LOT of fundraising required.)

 

[WilsonFan]

you could learn to breed goldfish?

I actually breed fancy guppies.. started out as a genetic experiment but quickly failed...

But I was going to say, I'm ranked in the top 40 in tiddlywinks but sadly don't play at all anymore.

Needless to say neither of those are going on my app.

 

[losangelesrep]

Not trying to steal anyone's thunder or anything but I hands down have the weirdest, most least known hobby/sport out there--tournament paintball. No one knows anything about it, but I absolutely love it. I played all the traditional sports in high school--basketball, varsity football, etc but nothing really beats the rush. It's something you have to try for yourself, and no not the military stuff -_-

When the time comes I'm not sure if I should ever mention it in interviews and such. It's such a unique sport that is physically demanding and mentally stimulating, but I fear that they see the word "paintball" and automatically assume tippmans, ghillie suits, and friends shooting each other in the ass.

 

[Tizoc]

playing fallout 3

I see nothing wrong with this.

 

[Lukkie]

posting on SDN

 

[katiesb]

I took voice lessons and I was in choir for a year or so. I remember one time I was talking to my voice teacher and I said "Oh, I love voice class! It is such a nice break from life..." and she said "oh..this is my life..." oops.

 

[Slack3r]

Not trying to steal anyone's thunder or anything but I hands down have the weirdest, most least known hobby/sport out there--tournament paintball. No one knows anything about it, but I absolutely love it. I played all the traditional sports in high school--basketball, varsity football, etc but nothing really beats the rush. It's something you have to try for yourself, and no not the military stuff -_-

When the time comes I'm not sure if I should ever mention it in interviews and such. It's such a unique sport that is physically demanding and mentally stimulating, but I fear that they see the word "paintball" and automatically assume tippmans, ghillie suits, and friends shooting each other in the ass.

I paintballed in high school. Couldn't afford it in college. Tourny paintball isn't very outlandish is So-Cal, you guys got Huntington Beach. 😀

 

[anbuitachi]

i watched many gigs of anime

 

[ChubbyChaser]

drinking, basketball, swimming, weights, saxophone, sex, etc.

 

[MadEvans]

Skateboarding and basketball. I'm a foodie and an extremely amateur cook, but I love cooking.

And MattO - I played SO much final fantasy (SNES mostly) as a kid and some in high school, but luckily it didn't carry on into college. Whew. 😎

 

[losangelesrep]

I paintballed in high school. Couldn't afford it in college. Tourny paintball isn't very outlandish in So-Cal, you guys got Huntington Beach. 😀

And here is someone that knows! Yeah most of the best ballers and pro teams are all from so-cal. Huntington Beach is a great event, especially for ppl new to the sport. It is FREAKIN expensive. I understand completely. It's just I have such a passion for the sport that I'll find a way, make a way 🙂.
I'm not sure if u just go to Arizona or if ur from there, but i know some great ballers from out there. It seems really hot too play out there tho, like heat-stroke status

 

[NotAndrew]

I actually breed fancy guppies

That is very cool. I think I am gonna get a badass fish pond and put it in my living room.

 

[waitwhat]

I play soccer, run, road bike, skateboard, go to the beach, and go to a lot of concerts. Pretty recently, I picked up some turn-tables and a mixer and have been really into dj'ing. I want to get into photography, but I haven't got around to getting a new camera.

 

[Brent8927]

Photography ("old-fashioned", with 120 film and a darkroom with all the chemicals the two entail!) is my main hobby. I did list it on my application though, since I held a show and did a senior project. During my interview at UCLA, my interviewer said she wished I had brought some of my work with me, so I showed her my website. Then she went on to discuss her interest in photography, and showed me photos from her safari (I was jealous--a baby cheetah jumped on the hood to their Land Rover--what a great opportunity!)

It's funny that sometimes it's those "small" things that you end up chatting about the most in your interview. When interviewers share a common interest with you, they seem to get really excited and love to chat about it.

 

[0Complications]

Guitar, COD5, Tennis, Golf, 12oz curls, running, weightlifting, biking, hiking, cooking, blah blah blah. Half of these activities are really just ways to enable me to entice more women to have sex with me... So, I guess I could have started with sex and then said, in order to get more of my primary activity I...

 

[JonathanMD]

I have a black belt in Sin Moo Hapkido.

I practiced for 5 years but... these days I make sure to say I have a black belt and not "I am a black belt." It's been 8+ years since I've practiced?

 

[dw2158]

Actually, med school advisors I called after last cycle mentioned that it was refreshing to see a few hobbies listed on the app. Although some schools will ask about your interests in secondaries, at least two advisors said that it's good to see what I did for fun in the primary. You obviously want to self-censor though.

yeah, but anyone who considers volunteering in china a hobby gets a 🙄🙄🙄 from me. this thread is about weirdball things that are tough to put on a resume.

I took voice lessons and I was in choir for a year or so. I remember one time I was talking to my voice teacher and I said "Oh, I love voice class! It is such a nice break from life..." and she said "oh..this is my life..." oops.

yay singing! i sing in an a capella group... waaaay too nerdy to put on a resume 😳

 

[sarahl86]

Rock climbing, crochet (when my hands aren't killing me from the aforementioned hobby), cooking like a bad ***, hiking, wishing I was a better photographer and had a digital SLR, and I play the violin in a community orchestra 🙂

 

[binko]

Rock climbing, crochet (when my hands aren't killing me from the aforementioned hobby), cooking like a bad ***, hiking, wishing I was a better photographer and had a digital SLR, and I play the violin in a community orchestra 🙂

spring for the dslr. it will save you so much money in film processing. it will pay for itself very quickly. i had a canon rebel when i was a teenager and got the dslr rebel body (refurbished - much cheaper), and can use all the same lenses with it. (though their field of view is different with digital).

 

[binko]

Oh! And! My broccoli and mesclun seeds are sprouting! I was late for orgo this morning but I had to take a second to go around my yard and visit my little vegetable patches. I just planted beans, marigolds, swiss chard, and zinnias yesterday as well. It is probably really weird that I get this excited about the fact that plants grow.

No carrot sprouts yet though. :/

 

[binko]

I have a black belt in Sin Moo Hapkido.

I practiced for 5 years but... these days I make sure to say I have a black belt and not "I am a black belt." It's been 8+ years since I've practiced?

I didn't put my brown belt in Tae Kwon Do on the app because last time I tried to do a form, I couldn't remember any of it, and that was two years ago. 🙁

 

[saveourpens]

soccer, table tennis, swimming, going to Pens games, lacrosse, hockey, I miss high school hockey, but now I start my own adult league teams. its a good time

and going on the pond (or panther hollow lake) is great too

 

[virusgirl]

I love to cook Indian food. We Poles are not known for our innovative cuisine, so I like to be a little adventurous in my cooking.

I am also ridiculously good at Solitaire.

 

[Micahfeld]

How about beekeeping? Is that strange enough? 😉

 

[RoadRunner17]

I've played guitar for 9 years now, been in various bands. I also picked up mandolin just over a year ago which I've been playing in a band as well. I did always bring this up in interviews though because in every one of my interviews I was asked about my hobbies. One I didn't mention was that I brew my own beer, I just finished bottling my 4th batch last week and I'm chilling one down to see how it turned out right now.

I've always wondered about how to brew my own beer, it sounds like a fantastic hobby.

 

[dw2158]

I've always wondered about how to brew my own beer, it sounds like a fantastic hobby.

me too! when i was a senior in high school, i had this group of guy friends that brewed their own beer. they called it viking mead. oh, 17 year olds...

 

[nick_carraway]

yay singing! i sing in an a capella group... waaaay too nerdy to put on a resume 😳

NO! Acapella is AWESOME! LIST IT!!

 

[dw2158]

NO! Acapella is AWESOME! LIST IT!!

seriously? i may just lump it into my one "hobbies" activity. i kinda ran out of room, so i'm putting classical piano, classical ballet and modern dance, and now apparently singing a capella into one "music and dance" hobby blurb.

 

[WashMe]

I like:

Shooting (HK USPc .45; Sig Sauer P226 9mm, Norinco MAK90... many more in my collection-- I spent way too much money on all this stuff)
Skateboarding (used to be decent... prob giving this up for med school)

I talked about shooting/reloading on my AMCAS, lol. People probably freaked out, no wonder I had trouble getting an acceptance haha!

 

[longhorn09]

I like:

Shooting (HK USPc .45; Sig Sauer P226 9mm, Norinco MAK90... many more in my collection-- I spent way too much money on all this stuff)
Skateboarding (used to be decent... prob giving this up for med school)

I talked about shooting/reloading on my AMCAS, lol. People probably freaked out, no wonder I had trouble getting an acceptance haha!

You are just like my cousin! He's crazy about the gun stuffs.

 

[WashMe]

You are just like my cousin! He's crazy about the gun stuffs.

🙂

btw nice stats, good luck!

 

[NoMoreAMCAS]

A lot of video games, sports, gambling and drinking.

But I stick to generic crap I rarely do like hiking or biking for my app.

 

[charlie murphy]

www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com

 

[binko]

www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com

It's true, white people like stuff.