URL In AMCAS or TMDSAS?

[DrDrummer]

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This is sort of a random question, but it's an idea that occurred to me and I wonder if anyone else has done it successfully--

I do a lot of photography as one of my main hobbies, and have traveled extensively internationally and here in the states, both for fun and to do medically-related volunteer work abroad. I take a lot of photos when I travel, and cataloged them on my website, that I also use as the class site for my work as a Teach for America corps member teaching chemistry.

Has anyone ever included a URL in the comments section of experiences or whatever, to photography, artwork, something relevant to their life, and then had an ADCOM tell them they actually checked it out? Is this a terrible idea?

Your $0.02, please.

 

[tremulousNeedle]

Not sure if it has been done before. However, in my experience reviewing AMCAS applications it would not be terribly helpful / useful. This is because the day of the interview is when the specific interviewers review your AMCAS application, which is printed out. I wouldn't have time in the preparation process to find a computer and peruse a website (adcoms are pretty particular on who has applicant folders and where they take them). Obviously this varies from school to school.

On the other hand, what’s the worst that could happen? I don’t think anyone would reject you for the attempt.
-admissions committee interviewer / senior medical student

 

[goobears]

Not sure if it has been done before. However, in my experience reviewing AMCAS applications it would not be terribly helpful / useful. This is because the day of the interview is when the specific interviewers review your AMCAS application, which is printed out. I wouldn't have time in the preparation process to find a computer and peruse a website (adcoms are pretty particular on who has applicant folders and where they take them). Obviously this varies from school to school.

On the other hand, what’s the worst that could happen? I don’t think anyone would reject you for the attempt.
-admissions committee interviewer / senior medical student

aren't work/activities looked at when deciding who to give interview invites to?

 

[dmexs]

I put a URL or two on mine but they were very short just to give more information on a non-profit I was affiliated with. For example:

"I coached a youth basketball team as part of the Non-Profit Hoops Name (website.org)"

And plus even if they don't read it right away there's always a chance it could come up in conversation during your interview and they might have time to review it later if they come back to your file. Also I think it adds a token of legitimacy to whatever you claimed you did even if they never take a look, much like citing sources on a paper.

I say go for it but try to keep it neat and as short as possible. "flickr.com/photos/whatever" or "yourname.blogspot.com" or something similar seams reasonable.

 

[tremulousNeedle]

aren't work/activities looked at when deciding who to give interview invites to?

Adcom members review thousands of AMCAS applications each cycle, the time spent on each application is minimal because many of them have become so efficient. Remember, adcom members are usually volunteering their time to the school; they still have regular jobs during the day. Many don't have the time to commit to searching websites. Since this is currently rarely done, URLs might get visited, but as more and more people start to do this, the pages won’t get visited. Adcom member simply don’t have the time to review thousands of web-pages.

 

[sustentacular]

This is sort of a random question, but it's an idea that occurred to me and I wonder if anyone else has done it successfully--

I do a lot of photography as one of my main hobbies, and have traveled extensively internationally and here in the states, both for fun and to do medically-related volunteer work abroad. I take a lot of photos when I travel, and cataloged them on my website, that I also use as the class site for my work as a Teach for America corps member teaching chemistry.

Has anyone ever included a URL in the comments section of experiences or whatever, to photography, artwork, something relevant to their life, and then had an ADCOM tell them they actually checked it out? Is this a terrible idea?

Your $0.02, please.

I included a URL to the abstract of a research presentation but didn't get any feed back on it.