*~*~*~*Tips for Entering your "Work and Activities" in AMCAS*~*~*~*

[Prncssbuttercup]

---

Members don't see this ad.

So I like many non-trads worked in college. This was 15 years ago. I have NO contact info for these places anymore, and while I can produce a phone number, I cannot produce a name. Since you guys say to list any work that happened while in school, that's fine and all, but how do you do it when there isn't a contact person??? I can't list myself!

 

[DuskPhilosophy]

Instead of listing a name and person in charge for each individual community service activity, can I just use my community service coordinator's number and e-mail for that entire section? She is aware of all the community service i have been a part of for the past 3 years, but its like a junk draw reading to kids at a number of different schools, having impromptu basketball camps, going to talk to girl scouts, things of that sort whenever i found free time.

 

[Catalystik]

1) Can anyone comment on how they are specifically entering in shadowing? Like if I'm listing all my experiences in the description box what should I put in the contact name, just one doc?
2) Concerning conferences attended and presentations....I presented two abstracts at the AANS conference should I write this in conferences attended and presentations? Or just one?

1) In the header, list the contact info for the most substantive shadowing experience. List other shadowing in the same space with its own information below that. List total hours rather than hours per week for each.

2) Only list it under Presentation/Poster stating that you were the presenter. It will ask you to enter the Conference name, location, and dates.

 

[Med22]

Where can you enter "total hours" instead of "hours per week?"

1) In the header, list the contact info for the most substantive shadowing experience. List other shadowing in the same space with its own information below that. List total hours rather than hours per week for each.

2) Only list it under Presentation/Poster stating that you were the presenter. It will ask you to enter the Conference name, location, and dates.

 

[Catalystik]

I have 4 publications and 3 posters. All of these except 1 publication are from the same research lab. I was going to have 2 research slots (one as an undergrad assistant and another as a paid employee). Should I lump the publications and/or posters into the descriptions of those two slots or include them as their own entry?

If they were for regional or national journals and conferences, they belong in their own entry. If for a campus journal/campus symposium, put them with the description of the associated Research. If a Poster/Presentation was for similar material as a pub, then the pub trumps. The less prestigious accomplishment would not be listed on its own, but could be mentioned after the publication citation or with the Research entry.

 

[Catalystik]

Thanks for your reply! Do you think it would be best to include post-grad research still as "research" or call that "paid employment?"

Sorry I forgot to quote the previous question.^^The statement above is in response to this post:

Originally Posted by Med22
So I volunteered as a research assistant for my last two years of college and then got a paid research job at the same lab for my year off. Should I split that up between "research" and "paid employment." I worked on different projects/had different responsibilities after graduating, but I keep reading that we shouldn't be listing ONE program twice? Thanks!

You can list the same lab twice as long as the date spans are different. It's the duplication of the same hours (claiming double credit) that would look bad.

If you were a research tech or assistant, following someone else's protocol and having zero creative input, then call it Employment.

 

[sector9]

Where can you enter "total hours" instead of "hours per week?"

Under "Experience Description" 😕

 

[Catalystik]

So I like many non-trads worked in college. This was 15 years ago. I have NO contact info for these places anymore, and while I can produce a phone number, I cannot produce a name. Since you guys say to list any work that happened while in school, that's fine and all, but how do you do it when there isn't a contact person??? I can't list myself!

Can you call the number and find out who an employment office/hiring person might be that would have access to ancient records? Is there a parent corporation to list? Would an office at the university have known about the employment?

Consider not listing something that occurred so long ago unless it was "significant." Accounting for every moment of long-ago college years is less important for a nontrad. Or list a parent as a contact who can vouch for you.

 

[Catalystik]

Instead of listing a name and person in charge for each individual community service activity, can I just use my community service coordinator's number and e-mail for that entire section? She is aware of all the community service i have been a part of for the past 3 years, but its like a junk draw reading to kids at a number of different schools, having impromptu basketball camps, going to talk to girl scouts, things of that sort whenever i found free time.

Yes.

 

[opti]

A couple more questions:

1) Should I list how much money I was granted for each of my college scholarships?

 

[MedWonk]

What about teaching experience? I was a public school teacher (in Japan), but not sure where to fit it in. Would it go under non-military employment? Teaching?
Would this also count as leadership experience?

Looking at these categories almost makes me feel inadequate. I'm too busy studying/volunteering/working to feed myself something other than cup ramen to do anything except ride my bike when the weather is nice.

And I haven't played my saxophone since I was fifteen.

😡😕

 

[MMADoc]

All,
I am a non-traditional applicant and in my non pre-med days I was involved in several clubs, internships, college jobs, activities etc that all ran through the period of 2001-2006. Additionally, I taught English in Korea for a bit after graduation.

So here is my situation in a nutshell.

I have a bunch of valuable experience that I want to share but I don't have a contact person let alone a contact number/email to offer for these experiences. All of the relevant people in the clubs have moved on, I don't know if my former boss in Korea is even still with the company (let alone contact info), ditto for all the jobs I worked throughout college and such…pretty much I don't have any contact people for my life between 2001-2006.

As that these range of supporting experiences help define me as a person, I am kind of at a standstill on what to do…any suggestions? I saw some suggestions to use friends who can vouch for me or were in the club with me at the time…is this really a viable option?

 

[lbzak]

I'm having trouble deciding whether I should include two activities in my application and whether they should be grouped together or not. Last semester, I participated in a community outreach event geared toward girls in middle school. The event's aim was to encourage these girls to pursue a career/education in science, and I was a Group Leader, taking these girls to various speakers and activities throughout the day and answering any questions they may have. The reason why I am hesitant is because it was a one-time activity. However, I did find the experience rewarding.

In addition, I also volunteered at a children's outreach event at an astronomy museum. I created an exhibit demonstrating the effect of gravity on different planets. While I did spend a few weeks developing my exhibition, it was once again just a one-time event.

Do you think it would be reasonable to include these in my application? I only have 11 activities right now, so I do have the room. If yes, do you think I should lump them both into one activity, maybe called "Community Outreach Events" or something similar? Thanks!

 

[deleted357625]

I'm having trouble deciding whether I should include two activities in my application and whether they should be grouped together or not. Last semester, I participated in a community outreach event geared toward girls in middle school. The event's aim was to encourage these girls to pursue a career/education in science, and I was a Group Leader, taking these girls to various speakers and activities throughout the day and answering any questions they may have. The reason why I am hesitant is because it was a one-time activity. However, I did find the experience rewarding.

In addition, I also volunteered at a children's outreach event at an astronomy museum. I created an exhibit demonstrating the effect of gravity on different planets. While I did spend a few weeks developing my exhibition, it was once again just a one-time event.

Do you think it would be reasonable to include these in my application? I only have 11 activities right now, so I do have the room. If yes, do you think I should lump them both into one activity, maybe called "Community Outreach Events" or something similar? Thanks!

I would if I were you since it involves leadership and if they ever bring it up or ask any questions about your activities, you can thoroughly explain these events you participated in. If you can do that I would write them down.

 

[Catalystik]

1) Should I list how much money I was granted for each of my college scholarships? I have a couple of significant ones (10k ad 8k) and a few others that are 1500 each. Or should I just write "College Scholarship from X Company" without the value?
2) One of my professors quoted a 2 paragraph description/reflection of one of my ECs that i sent her when writing my letter of rec. I know you're not supposed to repeat things from the PS, but what about from a LOR?

1) I would only list the two larger monetary awards.

2) Can you change the EC description so they aren't identical? Of course, theoretically, you wouldn't/shouldn''t know the LOR content, so if you decide to leave it be, there's no organizational blame to you.

 

[Catalystik]

1) What about teaching experience? I was a public school teacher (in Japan), but not sure where to fit it in. Would it go under non-military employment? Teaching?
Would this also count as leadership experience?

2) And I haven't played my saxophone since I was fifteen.

1) You can equally well put it under Teaching or Employment. Pick the one that balances your application best. It wouldn't be Leadership unless you organized/managed/guided other peers.

 

[Catalystik]

I have a bunch of valuable experience that I want to share but I don’t have a contact person let alone a contact number/email to offer for these experiences. All of the relevant people in the clubs have moved on, I don’t know if my former boss in Korea is even still with the company (let alone contact info), ditto for all the jobs I worked throughout college and such…pretty much I don’t have any contact people for my life between 2001-2006.

As that these range of supporting experiences help define me as a person, I am kind of at a standstill on what to do…any suggestions? I saw some suggestions to use friends who can vouch for me or were in the club with me at the time…is this really a viable option?

For Korea, since you know the company name, you might just list Employment or Personel Office as the contact person (unless you can find the name of the current Personel Director/Human Resources person on-line) and get a contact email or phone number on-line.

For the clubs, you might group them together, use the university organizations/recreation office as the contact, or "Membership Chair" for one organization (not giving a contact for others listed in the narrative) and give the general phone number of the university if you can't find an on-line email address. Or if the organization has a national office, you could use that as a contact (as presumably they'd have a list of past members).

And yes, you can list a friend or the organization Prez/VP of the time, if you recall it. Or list your mom, if all else fails.

As this is a new requirement, I'm sure others will have further more creative ideas. These are just mine and are not experience-based. Sorry to not have a definitive answer for you.

 

[SteveJMarist]

Two questions:

1) I'm a non-trad that is still working currently, but my employers do not know I am applying. I mean, how do I list a contact in this case? I could list a friend from the company that knows, and that's about it.

2) My experiences/activities are kind of dense, and I am unsure if I will actually hit 15 activities without it looking like filler. Would it be OK if I had 12 or so?

 

[Boston12345]

To develop leadership, I attended a one week business leadership program
sponsored by Business School.
While I was on several leadership positions, I strongly felt
I need this kind of program to make a good plan,
hire/train members, manage finance, contact other agencys,
do marketing our activity to outsiders, etc...

But someone says that if I list it on the work/activities,
it might doesn't look to medical admissions eye.
Might look good to MBA admissions, but not to medical schools.
Personally I doubt it, because there are some applicants in business major
or who has some work experiences even in consulting.

Anyway is it true in some way ?

 

[Med22]

Thanks! one of the four publications is "in press" (accepted). Should that one take up a solo entry as well? And then in the description for each, should I just state the citation? I was a little worried that would be using too many slots (since I have 4). And then for the three posters, 2 of them are not related to the publications. Where would those be listed?

If they were for regional or national journals and conferences, they belong in their own entry. If for a campus journal/campus symposium, put them with the description of the associated Research. If a Poster/Presentation was for similar material as a pub, then the pub trumps. The less prestigious accomplishment would not be listed on its own, but could be mentioned after the publication citation or with the Research entry.

 

[Med22]

Can training certifications be included with the chunk of honors in the "honors/awards/recognitions" section? i.e. fMRI training?

 

[mauberley]

Can training certifications be included with the chunk of honors in the "honors/awards/recognitions" section? i.e. fMRI training?

I would include it with whatever activity requred you to be trained in that.

Also, what does "fMRI training" mean?

 

[Catalystik]

Two questions:

1) I'm a non-trad that is still working currently, but my employers do not know I am applying. I mean, how do I list a contact in this case? I could list a friend from the company that knows, and that's about it.

2) My experiences/activities are kind of dense, and I am unsure if I will actually hit 15 activities without it looking like filler. Would it be OK if I had 12 or so?

1) The friend is also a business associate and can vouch for your emplyment dates.

3) It's common to list 9-10 activities. No fluff, please.

 

[Med22]

functional magnetic resonance imaging (imaging scans)

 

[Catalystik]

To develop leadership, I attended a one week business leadership program
sponsored by Business School.
While I was on several leadership positions, I strongly felt
I need this kind of program to make a good plan,
hire/train members, manage finance, contact other agencys,
do marketing our activity to outsiders, etc...

But someone says that if I list it on the work/activities,
it might doesn't look to medical admissions eye.
Might look good to MBA admissions, but not to medical schools.
Personally I doubt it, because there are some applicants in business major
or who has some work experiences even in consulting.

Anyway is it true in some way ?

I am of the opinion that listing a business leadership program is not helpful to a med school application. However, listing demonstrations of leadership definitely strengthens your appeal in the eyes of adcomms. If you'd like to mention the program, I think it's best to mention it in the same space as a leadership activity for which it prepared you.

That said, if you have the space, you may list the leadership program on its own. I don't think it will hurt you to do so. But it won't help either. JMO.

 

[Catalystik]

1) one of the four publications is "in press" (accepted). Should that one take up a solo entry as well?

2) And then in the description for each, should I just state the citation? I was a little worried that would be using too many slots (since I have 4).

3) And then for the three posters, 2 of them are not related to the publications. Where would those be listed?

1) Ideally, yes.

2) Yes, give the citation so it shows the position of your name. Some with too many publications will group them.

3) The two unique posters, if not presented at your school sponsored events, would be listed under Presentation/Poster. Each should have its own space, but again, it you're running short on space, then group them, with the most prestigious conference info in the header. Second poster's info would be in the narrative.

 

[mauberley]

functional magnetic resonance imaging (imaging scans)

I know what fMRI is. (Please see my MDApps profile). I was just curious as to what your training specifically entailed.

 

[postbacpremed87]

I was an Economics major before I pursued post-baccalaureate pre-medical studies. During my time as an Econ major, I was employed by a wealth management firm as an intern for 10 months. I routinely met with clients and created/analyst investment reports for their reviews. Would you list this as an activity on AMCAS? With that internship, I had the ability to see the world outside of medicine...which led to the ultimate realization that I want to be in the medical field ( many things led to this realization...this was just one of the things).

 

[sexycani]

is it necessary to put total # hrs in activities (like volunteering etc)?

 

[Gogogirl]

Hey I have a question regarding the contact information:
The nurse manager/director of clinical cares who supervised my volunteer work for the last 3 years gave me her personal email instead of her work email for me to put on the application. It's a yahoo account. I am wondering if I should ask for her work email instead or does it matter?

 

[Catalystik]

I was an Economics major before I pursued post-baccalaureate pre-medical studies. During my time as an Econ major, I was employed by a wealth management firm as an intern for 10 months. I routinely met with clients and created/analyst investment reports for their reviews. Would you list this as an activity on AMCAS? With that internship, I had the ability to see the world outside of medicine...which led to the ultimate realization that I want to be in the medical field ( many things led to this realization...this was just one of the things).

Yes, you can list it. Or it could be a part of the PS.

 

[Catalystik]

is it necessary to put total # hrs in activities (like volunteering etc)?

It is not required, but it helps the reader to get the full picture.

 

[Catalystik]

The nurse manager/director of clinical cares who supervised my volunteer work for the last 3 years gave me her personal email instead of her work email for me to put on the application. It's a yahoo account. I am wondering if I should ask for her work email instead or does it matter?

She may feel a request for information is more likely to come to her personal attention in a more timely manner. That it's a yahoo account is no matter. If an adcomm has a concern of legitimacy (unlikely), they are capable of looking up contact info on their own (it has been done) and calling the facility for confirmation.

 

[sexycani]

It is not required, but it helps the reader to get the full picture.

so is putting it recommended?

 

[Cinclus]

I know that, in general, an unspoken rule for filling out the work/activities section is that you shouldn't list high school-era activities unless they've carried on into your college years. However, I was involved with a high school environmental science magnet program for all 4 years, and this program provided me with many amazing, meaningful experiences and is where I established a lot of close relationships, many of which I've maintained and even grown during the 5 years since graduation (the program really had the feeling of a family). It also provided me with certain outlooks on life that I still have today.

Include it? Don't include it? I feel markedly less awesome without the adcoms knowing about this important chunk of my life, yet I don't want to come off as silly for listing a "high school" activity.

 

[musik2468]

When entering my Phi Beta Kappa membership as an Honor/Award/Recognition, should I list the location as the city/state of my school (the chapter into which I was inducted), or the city/state of the PBK headquarters (Washington, DC)?

 

[musik2468]

When entering names of contact people, should we include their degrees? For instance, in the first name slot should I put "Bob" and in the last name spot, "Smith, Ph.D."?

 

[Darkskies]

When entering the total number of volunteer hours should we indicate the number of hours that will be accumulated by the time one receives an interview/secondary or the number of hours obtained at that point in time of filling out the activities? If the latter then is it possible to update the hours later on after already having submitted the primary?

 

[Catalystik]

so is putting it recommended?

The AMCAS instructions don't mention it. Doing so is your choice.

 

[Catalystik]

When entering my Phi Beta Kappa membership as an Honor/Award/Recognition, should I list the location as the city/state of my school (the chapter into which I was inducted), or the city/state of the PBK headquarters (Washington, DC)?

You could list the local chapter office, or even the registrar of your school, who should have a record of it.

 

[Catalystik]

When entering names of contact people, should we include their degrees? For instance, in the first name slot should I put "Bob" and in the last name spot, "Smith, Ph.D."?

Yes.

 

[Catalystik]

I know that, in general, an unspoken rule for filling out the work/activities section is that you shouldn't list high school-era activities unless they've carried on into your college years. However, I was involved with a high school environmental science magnet program for all 4 years, and this program provided me with many amazing, meaningful experiences and is where I established a lot of close relationships, many of which I've maintained and even grown during the 5 years since graduation (the program really had the feeling of a family). It also provided me with certain outlooks on life that I still have today.

Include it? Don't include it? I feel markedly less awesome without the adcoms knowing about this important chunk of my life, yet I don't want to come off as silly for listing a "high school" activity.

This year's AMCAS instructions read that you can include any significant activity. Considering its importance to you and the longevity of the activity, go ahead and list it. If an individual adcomms wants to discount it, that doesn't mean that all of them will.

 

[Catalystik]

When entering the total number of volunteer hours should we indicate the number of hours that will be accumulated by the time one receives an interview/secondary or the number of hours obtained at that point in time of filling out the activities? If the latter then is it possible to update the hours later on after already having submitted the primary?

List the hours accumulated as of the date you submit the primary application.

You can update the added hours later in the cycle via interview conversations and/or update letters to individual schools.

 

[musik2468]

I presented a poster at a major international science conference. Should I list it under Presentations/Posters, or Conferences Attended?

 

[chiapet874]

I apologize for a foolishly noobish question: but how do we "lump" activities together?

For example, if I want to lump all my various academic awards together; Do I choose "Experience type: Honors/Awards/Recognitions" and "Experience Name: Awards" (something along those lines), and simply begin listing the various awards in the experience description box?

I am a little confused b/c I notice that there are boxes to put in an award's contact name, but thats only for one award, where do I list the contact names of the other awards? Do I need to fill in a new experience "box" for every award?

 

[Darkskies]

Thanks, Catalystik! Another question I had was about the fact that since I have held volunteering positions at two different hospitals(one near my University which I finished volunteering at after the end of my senior year and another one that's local) which one's contact email/number should I provide? I don't think it's possible to include both if I group them together as one entry.

 

[sector9]

I presented a poster at a major international science conference. Should I list it under Presentations/Posters, or Conferences Attended?

List it under Presentations/Posters. If you list it under Conferences Attended, that means that you just went to the conference and listened. It's more prestigious to present at the conference than merely to attend.

I apologize for a foolishly noobish question: but how do we "lump" activities together?

For example, if I want to lump all my various academic awards together; Do I choose "Experience type: Honors/Awards/Recognitions" and "Experience Name: Awards" (something along those lines), and simply begin listing the various awards in the experience description box?

I am a little confused b/c I notice that there are boxes to put in an award's contact name, but thats only for one award, where do I list the contact names of the other awards? Do I need to fill in a new experience "box" for every award?

List contact info for the most prestigious award and list it first. Then list the other awards in the description box below that. Personally, I don't think it's necessary to add contact info for each award in the description box, but you probably should add the contact info when you're grouping activities like shadowing

Thanks, Catalystik! Another question I had was about the fact that since I have held volunteering positions at two different hospitals(one near my University which I finished volunteering at after the end of my senior year and another one that's local) which one's contact email/number should I provide? I don't think it's possible to include both if I group them together as one entry.

It's up to you. It would make sense to list the one that you volunteered at the longest with contact info and date span in the appropriate boxes, then add the second volunteering experience in the description box. Be sure to say how long you volunteered at the other hospital too and the hours for that one

 

[ceng2doc]

Does AMCAS evaluate the transcripts as soon as they've received them, or after one has submitted the application?

 

[mauberley]

Does AMCAS evaluate the transcripts as soon as they've received them, or after one has submitted the application?

After one has submitted the application. There's nothing to verify until you submit: the transcript isn't what's being verified.

 

[chiapet874]

Thanks for all the help everyone! I read through all the posts and I am very appreciative of all the answers. 🙂

I had an additional question; if I applied to, and won, several research grants- should I list that under a separate heading (i.e. "Research Grants"), or should I try to fit it under the narrative description of my time in the specific PI's research lab.

I'm just afraid the amount of space my research activities will take up might be a little excessive; I have 2 separate slots for the 2 different research labs I worked in, a "Poster/Presentation" slot for the 6 poster presentations I've done, and now the "research grant" one in question.