Which work/service activities are too old to include in my application?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

rlubs

New Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2024
Messages
3
Reaction score
1
I applied this cycle but almost all of my activities were just flat out too old. (5+ years old). So I have to reapply.

Next cycle, I would like to include some old activities that are 5+ years old that I believe are relevant..just old. Would these be okay to include?
- 6 year old activity -> Community clinic volunteering (200+ between advocacy for clinics and getting the word out, and actual clinical volunteering)
- 8 year old activity -> Significant fundraising for raising supplies for homeless populations / disadvantaged communities that I played a big part in
- 10 year old activity -> Undergraduate research. I did a lot of biology research.. but it was a decade ago!

I also am unsure if I can add my career as its own work/service section on its own, like this:

Data Scientist -> 201X - 202X
  • Talk about some of the things I've done / impacts I've created in data science, etc.
  • I am worried about including this section. I feel like it can be used against me, having success in a different career that I no longer want to be in, and that it will reduce my credibility for medicine.

Over the next year, I have been planning to involve myself in more recent activities.
Clinical
- More shadowing
- More volunteering clinical activities

Non-clinical
- Environmental Conservation
- Special Olympics
- Crisis Textline

Extracurricular
- Hobby (e.g. long distance cycling)

This section has been the hardest for me to figure out. Would appreciate any tips as a super late applicant!
 
Last edited:
I applied this cycle with some very old activities (one 15+years) and have received II. I also have some more recent stuff but I think when you're nontrad and career-changing they look at this stuff a little differently.
 
It's important not to just stand on experiences you did 5+ years ago as having the same weight. 5 years ago, COVID wasn't a pandemic. You need more recent activities to show you are at the cusp of your pivot to medicine/healthcare.

For non-clinical community service volunteering, restart your work with homeless/unhoused shelters or support. That will be more universally accepted as service orientation compared to environmental conservation. Special Olympics and Crisis Text Line are okay, but won't be as convincing (according to my experience on this).
 
Top