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

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I did some non-clinical volunteer over summer, the total hour is about between 30 and 40. Should I put the total number of hours in the description ?

 

[Catalystik]

I did some non-clinical volunteer over summer, the total hour is about between 30 and 40. Should I put the total number of hours in the description ?

If you entered the hours/week, you aren't required to total them, but it is helpful if you add this to the narrative, anyway.

 

[s48jet]

I did Running Start while in high school (a program that allows hs kids to start college during their junior year of hs). I also was the goalkeeper/team captain of my hs varsity soccer team during my junior and senior years. I had such a meaningful experience playing soccer and learned so much that I have continued to apply to the rest of my life. I understand it looks bad to have hs activities listed on my activities list. But is it suicidal to list HS varsity Soccer as one of my most meaningful activities? thanks!

 

[flatearth22]

Hmmm....you're not supposed to list HS activities unless you continued them in college... BUT you were taking college classes at the time....

I say do it.

 

[s48jet]

thanks for the quick reply! I was thinking the same, I mean technically I was in college during it.

 

[flatearth22]

thanks for the quick reply! I was thinking the same, I mean technically I was in college during it.

So how many years and credits of college classes have you taken when you submit your primary?

 

[FRESH 12]

.

 

[s48jet]

well i did two years of running start at a CC (89 credits) then i just graduated from UW where i spent three years (95 credits) so total it was 184 credits. Running start is great but you waste a year taking classes that only count towards hs graduation and will be useless in the university which is why it took 3 years at UW. Are you applying?

 

[flatearth22]

well i did two years of running start at a CC (89 credits) then i just graduated from UW where i spent three years (95 credits) so total it was 184 credits. Running start is great but you waste a year taking classes that only count towards hs graduation and will be useless in the university which is why it took 3 years at UW. Are you applying?

Yeah I'm applying this cycle...doing 4 years of UG the old fashioned way. Took some CC classes in HS but mostly to supplement my HS curriculum.

Best of luck!

 

[flatearth22]

AH!

First of all, June 16th 8 am MCAT physical sciences section....... was SUCH a great experience. Loved it. Very enjoyable. I hope i get to do it again. ... .. 😛

Okay, so I just went through threads and threads of Work Activities stuff, and I got a lot of specific questions answered, and tried to start on my stuff, and I just feel totally overwhelmed. I've posted specific questions before and never got shot.. so hooopefulllyyy .. lol I'll get some good advice on here. Imma stop rambling. Just help me organize this!!

I got. 🙄

1. Summer research program - most meaningful
- 2 summers
- 40 hours a week (it gives me start/end date+hours a week.. how do I specify that it's 40 hrs during the summer only)
- publication
- presentation

2. SMDEP - most meaningful
summer medical and dental education program - 6 weeks

3. Hospital volunteer - 40-50 hrs at two different departments

4. Shadowing - most meaningful
4 doctors - several days each
1 physician assitant
several medical students
a resident
- if one experience is short - 2 days - can i put it separately and list it as most meaningful?

5. Volunteer - non medical
I am fluent in 5.5 languages, so I translated randomly for various immigrant families since freshman year of high school and most importantly attended their doctor appts
i don't have set consistent hours, but I volunteered at events that came up at the university.. they were one day/one week long projects and were random. i don't even know who the contacts would be.

6. Work - do i list this separately??
Sales rep - 2 years
Pharmacy tech - 1 year
medical lab - 2 semesters
computer tech - 2 semesters

7. Activities
Premed society
Minority Health student association
Spanish club executive
Religious youth organization executive
University religious organization executive

8. Awards
Academic scholarships from the school - to list not to list?
Dean's list - to list not to list
Service Honor roll - here or under volunteering?

That's EIGHT. not 15. I worked 20-30 hours a week throughout undergrad, and I was off campus, which made it harder to be as involved as my peers. but I feel like i made up for it during summers somewhat.


ANYWAYS,
first of all, im applying right now, so please don't tell me that i suck. Just tell me how I can organize all of this in order to show myself involved and well rounded.
I am also HIPA/healthcare CPR certified.. but i thought i would get dirty looks for even putting it anywhere in the list haha

Positive input/constructive criticism is appreciated. 😍

You can split #6 and #7 into individual spots and then get a chance to talk about them separately. Plus I'm sure each one had different dates, hours, contact person, etc.

 

[s48jet]

thanks! good luck to you too! Anyone else have any opinions on this matter?

 

[FRESH 12]

You can split #6 and #7 into individual spots and then get a chance to talk about them separately. Plus I'm sure each one had different dates, hours, contact person, etc.

Hey thanks, so list all my jobs one by one?

 

[NickNaylor]

I wouldn't do it unless you continued it in college. If one of your most meaningful activities wasn't even in college, what does that say about how you spent your time in college? Just a thought.

 

[s48jet]

thanks, you've got a point. I really want to express how much I learned from it though. I can still do that in the "description" part right? Or does that have to just be a literal description of what I did?

 

[pkwraith]

I would not recommend listing it. In the end, it's a high school activity. Many people took college classes in high school-that's not free pass to start including high school activity.

Additionally, it also begs the question, why isn't there College Soccer. If there is College Soccer, why would you bother with listing High School Soccer? That's going to be on the mind of anyone who reads your activity list.

 

[s48jet]

great point, I didnt continue in college but I just learned a lot from being a goalkeeper and captain. I have a plethora of experiences in college that i will definitely list. But in the end I think I will just list soccer as one of my normal activities. THanks for all the advice!

 

[flatearth22]

Hey thanks, so list all my jobs one by one?

Yeah I would.

You have 15 spots....don't compact things unless you absolutely have to.

 

[MalibuPreMD]

Deleted

 

[Sammich117]

AH!

First of all, June 16th 8 am MCAT physical sciences section....... was SUCH a great experience. Loved it. Very enjoyable. I hope i get to do it again. ... .. 😛

Okay, so I just went through threads and threads of Work Activities stuff, and I got a lot of specific questions answered, and tried to start on my stuff, and I just feel totally overwhelmed. I've posted specific questions before and never got shot.. so hooopefulllyyy .. lol I'll get some good advice on here. Imma stop rambling. Just help me organize this!!

I got. 🙄

1. Summer research program - most meaningful
- 2 summers
- 40 hours a week (it gives me start/end date+hours a week.. how do I specify that it's 40 hrs during the summer only)
- publication
- presentation
2. SMDEP - most meaningful
summer medical and dental education program - 6 weeks
3. Hospital volunteer - 40-50 hrs at two different departments
4. Shadowing - most meaningful
4 doctors - several days each
1 physician assitant
several medical students
a resident
- if one experience is short - 2 days - can i put it separately and list it as most meaningful?
5. Volunteer - non medical
I am fluent in 5.5 languages, so I translated randomly for various immigrant families since freshman year of high school and most importantly attended their doctor appts
i don't have set consistent hours, but I volunteered at events that came up at the university.. they were one day/one week long projects and were random. i don't even know who the contacts would be.
6. Work - do i list this separately??
Sales rep - 2 years
Pharmacy tech - 1 year
medical lab - 2 semesters
computer tech - 2 semesters
7. Activities
Premed society
Minority Health student association
Spanish club executive
Religious youth organization executive
University religious organization executive
8. Awards
Academic scholarships from the school - to list not to list?
Dean's list - to list not to list
Service Honor roll - here or under volunteering?

That's EIGHT. not 15. I worked 20-30 hours a week throughout undergrad, and I was off campus, which made it harder to be as involved as my peers. but I feel like i made up for it during summers somewhat.


ANYWAYS, i am a minority, but not a URM, im considered "White"
first of all, im applying right now, so please don't tell me that i suck. Just tell me how I can organize all of this in order to show myself involved and well rounded.
I am also HIPA/healthcare CPR certified.. but i thought i would get dirty looks for even putting it anywhere in the list haha

Positive input/constructive criticism is appreciated. 😍

You can split #6 and #7 into individual spots and then get a chance to talk about them separately. Plus I'm sure each one had different dates, hours, contact person, etc.

Hey thanks, so list all my jobs one by one?

Yeah I would.

You have 15 spots....don't compact things unless you absolutely have to.

Merging with work/activities questions thread

 

[Sammich117]

Should you write in past tense or present tense? I tend to want to write in past tense, as it more directly indicates that I DID something. What is your opinion?

Write in whatever tense makes sense. In most cases it's probably the past.

I used past.

I used past as well

Merging with Work/Activities Questions thread

 

[Sammich117]

I did Running Start while in high school (a program that allows hs kids to start college during their junior year of hs). I also was the goalkeeper/team captain of my hs varsity soccer team during my junior and senior years. I had such a meaningful experience playing soccer and learned so much that I have continued to apply to the rest of my life. I understand it looks bad to have hs activities listed on my activities list. But is it suicidal to list HS varsity Soccer as one of my most meaningful activities? thanks!

Hmmm....you're not supposed to list HS activities unless you continued them in college... BUT you were taking college classes at the time....

I say do it.

thanks for the quick reply! I was thinking the same, I mean technically I was in college during it.

So how many years and credits of college classes have you taken when you submit your primary?

well i did two years of running start at a CC (89 credits) then i just graduated from UW where i spent three years (95 credits) so total it was 184 credits. Running start is great but you waste a year taking classes that only count towards hs graduation and will be useless in the university which is why it took 3 years at UW. Are you applying?

Yeah I'm applying this cycle...doing 4 years of UG the old fashioned way. Took some CC classes in HS but mostly to supplement my HS curriculum.

Best of luck!

thanks! good luck to you too! Anyone else have any opinions on this matter?

I wouldn't do it unless you continued it in college. If one of your most meaningful activities wasn't even in college, what does that say about how you spent your time in college? Just a thought.

thanks, you've got a point. I really want to express how much I learned from it though. I can still do that in the "description" part right? Or does that have to just be a literal description of what I did?

I would not recommend listing it. In the end, it's a high school activity. Many people took college classes in high school-that's not free pass to start including high school activity.

Additionally, it also begs the question, why isn't there College Soccer. If there is College Soccer, why would you bother with listing High School Soccer? That's going to be on the mind of anyone who reads your activity list.

great point, I didnt continue in college but I just learned a lot from being a goalkeeper and captain. I have a plethora of experiences in college that i will definitely list. But in the end I think I will just list soccer as one of my normal activities. THanks for all the advice!

Merging with work/activities questions thread

 

[raltima07]

Should I put my hobby for taking pictures as a artistic endeavor or a hobby?

 

[Catalystik]

Does the way I laid it out make sense? Overall, does it make sense? would any of you change it? Please critique!

Sorry, but this thread is meant for Tips, not Critiques. If you want input, maybe someone on the PS Proofreaders thread will help.

And just as you should not post your PS on-line, I don't think you should post this entry either, lest others adopt your style and break the AMCAS rule that one's words should be one's own. Please consider editing to remove it.

 

[Catalystik]

Should I put my hobby for taking pictures as a artistic endeavor or a hobby?

It depends on whether you shared your work with others in a public manner (photo exhibition, contest, published photo, etc). If so, it's an Artistic Endeavor.

 

[raltima07]

It depends on whether you shared your work with others in a public manner (photo exhibition, contest, published photo, etc). If so, it's an Artistic Endeavor.

I did. Thank you.

Also, for my research entry (which is my most meaningful):

I was going to write in the description what the research was on and what I did.

In the meaningful part, I would write what I learned and such. Does that seem right?

 

[Catalystik]

Also, for my research entry (which is my most meaningful):

I was going to write in the description what the research was on and what I did.

In the meaningful part, I would write what I learned and such. Does that seem right?

That is what the AMCAS instructions recommends you use the addiional "Most Meaningful" space for, but we have yet to see what other creative uses it might be put to, since this is the first year it's been available.

 

[raltima07]

That is what the AMCAS instructions recommends you use the addiional "Most Meaningful" space for, but we have yet to see what other creative uses it might be put to, since this is the first year it's been available.

I guess time will tell! Thank you for your help!

 

[pfaction]

List it under Teaching and use a tutee contact that recalls you well, if you can't list the teacher.

Thanks Catalystik, I had a follow up question.

The girl I spoke with remembers me tutoring her throughout the semester, and I also ran into a few people I tutored Biochemistry to. However since this was in 2007/8, we have no idea how many hours (just a lot of long, long nights). Should I just put the calendar year or try to come up with a reasonable amount of hours?

 

[DrShazam]

At my school, four students were selected to write 12 entries for the school blog, which allowed interested students a peek into the collegiate experience. Does this count as publications? I unfortunately don't have enough space to write it down outside of the publications, so just wanted to know.

Also, for conferences/ presentations, does this include only prestigious conferences or will presentations at the college research symposium held annually count as well?

 

[Catalystik]

Thanks Catalystik, I had a follow up question.

The girl I spoke with remembers me tutoring her throughout the semester, and I also ran into a few people I tutored Biochemistry to. However since this was in 2007/8, we have no idea how many hours (just a lot of long, long nights). Should I just put the calendar year or try to come up with a reasonable amount of hours?

Try to come up with a fair guess-timate of the total hours spent based on your recall.

 

[Catalystik]

1) At my school, four students were selected to write 12 entries for the school blog, which allowed interested students a peek into the collegiate experience. Does this count as publications? I unfortunately don't have enough space to write it down outside of the publications, so just wanted to know.

2) Also, for conferences/ presentations, does this include only prestigious conferences or will presentations at the college research symposium held annually count as well?

1) If it's published on the web (and not only on the intranet of the school), it's a Publication, but this sounds pretty low level. Decide: Do you really think it enhances your application? Maybe you could mention it among the other Honore/Awards/Recognitions you list, since it was a competitive selection process.

2) Presenting at a college research symposium is best mentioned at the end of the related Research entry. Give the same info, though, of name of conference, location, dates, and cite the name of your poster with the author list.

 

[DrShazam]

Thanks Catalystik. I will probably just include the blogging in Miscellaneous since I also had a stint as a crew member for a semester. Follow-up question: for those publications in the school research journal, should I put them separately in publications or just under the research experience description?

To all: Anyone here willing to read my description of works and activities? I am using the UW model (reflecting > describing). I just want to make sure I am truly reflecting because it's very easy to fall in the description trap (i.e. what I did last cycle for works and activities, and the ps). Thanks in advance for volunteering or referring me to someone who can.

 

[raltima07]

-

 

[sector9]

Cat, on a few occasions, you have mentioned that a medical school application should be "elegant". What does that mean, and what are some things that premeds do to make their application non-elegant?

 

[Catalystik]

Follow-up question: for those publications in the school research journal, should I put them separately in publications or just under the research experience description?

I'd put it in the Research listing, unless the same data was eventually published more widely (regional or national journal), in which case you could mention the local pub in the same space as the more prestigious publication.

 

[Catalystik]

could you comment on this research entry? Is it enough, should i add/remove something? Do you have any tips to improve this to make it more fruitful?

see post #1225.

 

[Catalystik]

Cat, on a few occasions, you have mentioned that a medical school application should be "elegant". What does that mean, and what are some things that premeds do to make their application non-elegant?

I expect that "elegant" is in the eye of the beholder. I think it would mean balanced, without fluff, with succinct descriptions, well phrased, without spelling, homophone, or grammar errors. But more, it would make one want to know more about that person and itch to meet them and have further discussion. Nonelegant would be the converse, of course.

 

[CaliforniaAppli]

I spent over 4 years in a religious club that has shaped my worldview in my decision to enter medicine. I spent over 12 hrs/ week just gathering in groups to socialize/ learn about the religion/ help the organization.
Yet at the same time, I don't have any leadership in this club. I have participation in dramatic productions, club promotion, some community service as well.


Should I leave this out?

 

[sk8ngli]

Hi,

I have a series of activities designations I'm on the fence on.

1. Competitive Artistic Roller Skating (13ys)- Extracurricular/Hobbies/Avocations
2. President of Pottery Club- Artistic Endeavors
3. Captain of Ski Team- Intercollegiate Athletics
4. Paid EMT-Basic- Paid Employment Non-military
5. Clinical Supervisor of volunteer campus EMT Corps-Leadership
6. First Year Orientation Leader-Leadership
7. Tutoring-Tutoring
8. Developed Health Education Curriculum-Other
9. Club Sports Council- Leadership
10. Research Experiences- Research
11. Food Critic for Campus Newspaper Arts Staff- Extracurricular/Hobbies
12. Bikram Yoga Work Study- Extracurricular/Hobbies
13. AmeriCorps/Community HealthCorps-Volunteer Medical
14. Shadowing- Other

So basically, skating (captain of team for 6 years), ski team, pottery club, volunteer EMT, orientation and club sports council could all be leadership.

I'm debating between changing:
-Clinical Supervisor a leadership position or a volunteer clinical experience? Make the name yoou give the activity show that it includes leadership, like, "Campus EMT Corps/Clinical Supervisor."
-Pottery Club a leadership or artistic endeavor? Consider calling it a Hobby, unles you have won competitions or sold your work.
-Skating a leadership or extracurricular (I hate calling it just a hobby since being nationally ranked in a sport for 10years seems like so much more than a "hobby"). 😡. Artistic Endeavor.

I know leadership is good to show, but I don't want to come off looking like Chairman Mao. I just happen to have done lots of things long enough to be promoted and I've been pretty passionate about my activities outside of the classroom.

Should I make them all leadership or mix and match for some variety?[/QUOTE]See my bolded suggestions above.

I would try to balance the activity designations to show variety, even if the activity description makes it clear it falls into multiple other categories, too.

Also, for #6, consider changing this to Teaching/Tutoring or Volunteer-not Medical, unless you were in charge of training or supervising other orientation staff members.

Thanks Catalystik! I'm pretty sure skating is artistic in nature, but is more of a sport than an art. I did mentor other orientation leaders as an orientation captain, but I may put it as a non-medical volunteering since I don't have any titled as such.

Thanks!

 

[sk8ngli]

I'm sorry to beat a topic to death, but these activities entries are killing me.

First of all, I'm heinously verbose and I don't know how to fix that.
Also, I hate having to count hours doing anything. I can't understand how to put hours in for an entry where I just did the work and never counted how many hours I put into it.

Here's my example:
"I served as co-president of the pottery club from spring 2007-fall 2009. As president, I scheduled experienced club members as studio "hour-holders" to maintain consistent open studio hours for newer members. I personally held three studio hours a week where I instructed studio guests in basic ceramics. I maintained the studio, including the budget and ordering of studio supplies.

I spearheaded two "Empty Bowl fundraisers" where our club taught bowl-making workshops on campus while I organized donations of soup, bread, and supplies from local restaurants and supermarkets. We sold bowls of soup to the local community and raised almost $2000 for a local homeless shelter and a food pantry."

698 characters. Where I am supposed to say, oh hey, that was, like, 300 hours or so? Also, when I wasn't president, I went less.

Is that how you are putting your entries in? I tried bullet points, but it looked really ugly...

 

[monkeyMD]

If you have to travel to an activity, do you include the travel time?

 

[brambles]

I hate this new character limit. It has been reduced by almost half of that of last year's, and I can hardly fit enough for 1 activity per section. It is really difficult trying to cram in more than 1 activity/box, especially with the necessary extraneous info like title/position/location/all the pertinent contact info (and I am short on boxes, so using a new box is not an option, and neither is a "significant" designation). Otherwise, I would have to leave out important descriptive information, making it sound really terse and like I don't care about my application. 😡

 

[ambergris]

I will be starting a research internship on Thursday through the rest of the summer but hope to submit AMCAS by next week. Should I include this as one of my activities and just say what my responsibilities will be? Or should I wait to elaborate on it on secondaries if they have a section for additional comments? I anticipate that it will be an important experience and definitely want to include it somewhere on my application!

Also, does sitting in on group sessions with a psychologist (Ph.D) and psychiatry patients count as clinical shadowing?

Thanks!

 

[AZFutureDoc]

Maybe I'm stupid, but I just spent an hour searching this thread and found nothing about this. So the consensus is to lump stuff together when it makes sense, but I'm confused about how to add contact info for this! If I volunteered at 2 hospitals, X and Y, and I want to include both in a Clinical Volunteering entry on my AMCAS, what do I put for contact info? Put the info for hospital X in the actual spot online, then in the description, just put info for the contact for hospital Y? Grouping similar experiences together makes sense to me, but I can't think of a way to add contact info for everything without looking ghetto or goofy. How do you guys put contact info into your grouped work/activities?

Thanks!

 

[sk8ngli]

Maybe I'm stupid, but I just spent an hour searching this thread and found nothing about this. So the consensus is to lump stuff together when it makes sense, but I'm confused about how to add contact info for this! If I volunteered at 2 hospitals, X and Y, and I want to include both in a Clinical Volunteering entry on my AMCAS, what do I put for contact info? Put the info for hospital X in the actual spot online, then in the description, just put info for the contact for hospital Y? Grouping similar experiences together makes sense to me, but I can't think of a way to add contact info for everything without looking ghetto or goofy. How do you guys put contact info into your grouped work/activities?

Thanks!

I have the exact same problem. I just listed the 3 places that I've shadowed and the MDs and basic basic description of what it was, particularly since one was in homeless clinic and the other in a public hospital in Buenos Aires. I can't fit their emails and I really just don't want to. I'm at 695 characters now. I'm just not going to put contact info for the two other MD's I shadowed. Is that dangerous?

 

[Catalystik]

I spent over 4 years in a religious club that has shaped my worldview in my decision to enter medicine. I spent over 12 hrs/ week just gathering in groups to socialize/ learn about the religion/ help the organization.
Yet at the same time, I don't have any leadership in this club. I have participation in dramatic productions, club promotion, some community service as well.


Should I leave this out?

If you consider the activity to be significant, then include it. It may not strengthen your application in all adcomm's eyes, but it will for some. And it helps them "get to know you" when you share what's important in your life. You decide if it should be listed.

 

[Catalystik]

I'm sorry to beat a topic to death, but these activities entries are killing me.

First of all, I'm heinously verbose and I don't know how to fix that.
Also, I hate having to count hours doing anything. I can't understand how to put hours in for an entry where I just did the work and never counted how many hours I put into it.

Here's my example:
"I served as co-president of the pottery club from spring 2007-fall 2009. As president, I scheduled experienced club members as studio "hour-holders" to maintain consistent open studio hours for newer members. I personally held three studio hours a week where I instructed studio guests in basic ceramics. I maintained the studio, including the budget and ordering of studio supplies.

I spearheaded two "Empty Bowl fundraisers" where our club taught bowl-making workshops on campus while I organized donations of soup, bread, and supplies from local restaurants and supermarkets. We sold bowls of soup to the local community and raised almost $2000 for a local homeless shelter and a food pantry."

698 characters. Where I am supposed to say, oh hey, that was, like, 300 hours or so? Also, when I wasn't president, I went less.

Is that how you are putting your entries in? I tried bullet points, but it looked really ugly...

If it's too difficult to estimate hours of involvement, then describe the variation in time commitments through the year. Or hours/week for specific short-term projects.

 

[Catalystik]

If you have to travel to an activity, do you include the travel time?

No.

 

[Catalystik]

1) I will be starting a research internship on Thursday through the rest of the summer but hope to submit AMCAS by next week. Should I include this as one of my activities and just say what my responsibilities will be? Or should I wait to elaborate on it on secondaries if they have a section for additional comments? I anticipate that it will be an important experience and definitely want to include it somewhere on my application!

2) Also, does sitting in on group sessions with a psychologist (Ph.D) and psychiatry patients count as clinical shadowing?

Thanks!

1) If you have no other research activity to date, then definitely list it. You won't have much to say now, but can elaborate further in future update letters or Secondary essays.

If you do have other research activity, then you might mention it at the bottom of another narrative in Research as a newly begun experience.

2) This is clinical shadowing, but not physician shadowing. I'd include it anyway, as it's medically relevant.

 

[Catalystik]

Maybe I'm stupid, but I just spent an hour searching this thread and found nothing about this. So the consensus is to lump stuff together when it makes sense, but I'm confused about how to add contact info for this! If I volunteered at 2 hospitals, X and Y, and I want to include both in a Clinical Volunteering entry on my AMCAS, what do I put for contact info? Put the info for hospital X in the actual spot online, then in the description, just put info for the contact for hospital Y? Grouping similar experiences together makes sense to me, but I can't think of a way to add contact info for everything without looking ghetto or goofy. How do you guys put contact info into your grouped work/activities?

Thanks!

Ideally, you'd use two spaces for the 2 activities. If you don't have room to do this, I'd say this is one of those activities where you'll need to skimp on descriptions so you can include date span, hours/week, and a contact for experience #2 since it varies from #1.

This would be less essential for shadowing, so long as you include what contact info you can. No description is necessary for shadowing, which leaves more space.