What counts as leadership? & jotting down time question

[deleted738762]

I'm not a president of a club, or hold any kind of club position. However, I have some non-traditional things that expresses my leadership abilities, and I do not know if these can be counted as leadership or not.

I think this would fall under the category of leadership since we all have a common goal and the leader is in charge of making it more efficient.

I'm also a head TA. IDK if that counts or not.

Also, when writing down research/job/volunteer stuff on the application does one write what time they started and ended, or how many hours they have accumulated in it total?
Would I say worked 1000 hours or I worked from January 2010- January 2012, or would I write both?

Thanks

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[DocJuan]

I'm not a president of a club, or hold any kind of club position. However, I have some non-traditional things that expresses my leadership abilities, and I do not know if these can be counted as leadership or not.

When I volunteer at the soup kitchen, every day we pick a new leader to be in charge for that night to manage others and tell others what to do, what roles they have, preparing, serving, cleaning, taking out the trash, etc. I think this would fall under the category of leadership since we all have a common goal and the leader is in charge of making it more efficient.

I'm also a head TA, so I have to mentor other "TA's". IDK if that counts or not.

Also, when writing down research/job/volunteer stuff on the application does one write what time they started and ended, or how many hours they have accumulated in it total?
Would I say worked 1000 hours or I worked from January 2010- January 2012, or would I write both?

Thanks

I assume you're talking about the AMCAS? You'd write both the dates and the total hours and supervisor contact information. Then a summary of the experience + reasoning behind labeling it one of your most important experiences if you choose to do so.

Those both seem like valid leadership experiences to me.

 

[deleted738762]

I assume you're talking about the AMCAS? You'd write both the dates and the total hours and supervisor contact information. Then a summary of the experience + reasoning behind labeling it one of your most important experiences if you choose to do so.

Those both seem like valid leadership experiences to me.

Yes, AMCAS. Would I be able to list the TA job as teaching as well? Then the TA job as leadership for the mentoring other TAs aspect of it? I assume in the summary I can give a brief summary of why I include it in each based off the experiences.

 

[DocJuan]

Yes, AMCAS. Would I be able to list the TA job as teaching as well? Then the TA job as leadership for the mentoring other TAs aspect of it? I assume in the summary I can give a brief summary of why I include it in each based off the experiences.

Every experience requires a brief summary. Only 3 can be labeled "most meaningful" in which cases you'd have an additional section to further explain why they're meaningful.

You shouldn't list the same experience twice. You could just list it once as leadership, I'm sure they'll be able to infer that it was a teaching gig from the title 'Head Teaching Assistant'

 

[deleted738762]

Every experience requires a brief summary. Only 3 can be labeled "most meaningful" in which cases you'd have an additional section to further explain why they're meaningful.

You shouldn't list the same experience twice. You could just list it once as leadership, I'm sure they'll be able to infer that it was a teaching gig from the title 'Head Teaching Assistant'

Hmm seems kind of risky. I'll think about it. I've heard some schools prefer teaching over leadership. I can always put the soup kitchen thing down as leadership.

 

[Goro]

The U of UT SOM has an outstanding "what's required?" page that applies for pretty much every med school. Here's what they have to say:

Leadership
Leadership is defined as a position of responsibility for others, with a purpose to guide or direct others. Dedication, determination, ability to make decisions and a willingness to contribute to the welfare of others are indicators of one's ability to succeed in medicine. Individuals with these characteristics readily accept positions of leadership and are an asset to their community and profession. Leadership capacity can be demonstrated in a variety of ways. Positions in employment, church, the community, and school organizations including coaching, tutoring, and mentoring will satisfy this requirement.

• The minimum leadership requirement is one leadership experience lasting three months within the last four years.
• The average applicant has three different leadership experiences each lasting three months within the last four years.

http://medicine.utah.edu/students/programs/md/admissions/#lead

I'm not a president of a club, or hold any kind of club position. However, I have some non-traditional things that expresses my leadership abilities, and I do not know if these can be counted as leadership or not.

When I volunteer at the soup kitchen, every day we pick a new leader to be in charge for that night to manage others and tell others what to do, what roles they have, preparing, serving, cleaning, taking out the trash, etc. I think this would fall under the category of leadership since we all have a common goal and the leader is in charge of making it more efficient.

I'm also a head TA, so I have to mentor other "TA's". IDK if that counts or not.

Also, when writing down research/job/volunteer stuff on the application does one write what time they started and ended, or how many hours they have accumulated in it total?
Would I say worked 1000 hours or I worked from January 2010- January 2012, or would I write both?

Thanks