Work/Activities Quandary...

[Derpin2Doctor]

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Hey everybody, question for you. I am wondering if I should include gaming as a work/activity entry on my AMCAS application. I have been gaming competitively for the past 17 years, and have managed a few noteworthy in-game feats (multi time gladiator in WoW, Grandmaster in Starcraft II) during that time. Aside from playing in tournaments and topping the ladders, I also used gaming as a way to make a little extra money on the side. People would pay me to play their characters or accounts so they could reach certain ranks or titles within the game. I also gave lessons in WoW and taught people how to improve their skills and become better players.

More importantly than all that however is what gaming did for me socially and for my perspective on life as a whole. Through gaming, I was able to meet and interact with not only people from all across the United States, but from around the world. I was exposed to a myriad of different outlooks and worldviews I never would have encountered had it not been for gaming. I made lifelong friends, learned how to work together with others as a team, and discovered the importance of grit and determination when pursuing a goal. To me, many of the positives that I've found in gaming can be used to draw parallels to important qualities you would find in an outstanding doctor. As a result, I think mentioning my passion for gaming and its aforementioned significance in developing these valuable qualities would be worth the gamble. For something into which I have invested so much time, I think it is important to highlight the dividends that investment has provided. What are your thoughts? There are a lot of other positive qualities and experiences I could list, but I just wanted to test the waters and see what other people had to say before I really went after it.

Thanks!

 

[Blanky]

If you still found time to work on your GPA/MCAT and amount some clinical hours/volunteering/research then maybe. Otherwise it might look like you sit around and play games all day. Ex wow player here also

 

[gyngyn]

Consider your audience.
The beauty, mastery and growth you describe is not what we have experienced with gaming.
When we hear about students who game it is in the context of avoidance behavior, addiction and worse...

 

[Derpin2Doctor]

gyngyn Well that's why I would describe it in a similar manner to the way I did here. I am aware of the opposing context, and so I thought taking the extra time to explain would shed a different light. Ultimately they want to hear about things you have done that have helped to shape who you are, and to relate those things to why you would be a good doctor, right? If I were a marathon runner, for example, I would want to highlight my dedication to running and how it attributed to my character and growth as an individual. Is it not the same for gaming? The only thing that's changed is the activity, not the outcome. I could even discuss the scientific aspects - improvement in decision making, increase in grey matter in the brain, and increased motor/spatial control. I certainly see your side of the coin as well though.

 

[efle]

I have thousands of hours spent on Dota so I can relate to the personal significance, but I'd never ever ever EVER put that down as an activity entry

 

[gyngyn]

gyngyn Well that's why I would describe it in a similar manner to the way I did here. I am aware of the opposing context, and so I thought taking the extra time to explain would shed a different light. Ultimately they want to hear about things you have done that have helped to shape who you are, and to relate those things to why you would be a good doctor, right? If I were a marathon runner, for example, I would want to highlight my dedication to running and how it attributed to my character and growth as an individual. Is it not the same for gaming? The only thing that's changed is the activity, not the outcome. I could even discuss the scientific aspects - improvement in decision making, increase in grey matter in the brain, and increased motor/spatial control. I certainly see your side of the coin as well though.

If I knew the words you could use to make this into a positive for your application, I would tell you. I do not.

 

[mistafab]

Hey dude -

This is one of those moments where you have to think about your audience, medicine, and conservatism. The medical establishment and people are definitely open to lots of new ideas and works, however, there is a strong tradition and culture of medicine that leans on dressing appropriately, falling in line, and not standing out too much.

This is one of those cases that if you can't sleep at night if you left this off your app, then by all means put it. However, I would be hard pressed to feel good recommending you do so. My advice is to leave it off your app. The popular perspective of most doctors, and even most people, is that individuals who play video games are lazy and anti-social.

Best of luck.

 

[Derpin2Doctor]

Fair enough then, I'll leave it off. Thought it was worth asking anyways! It's too had people think of it that way. Some of the most intelligent people I've ever met are gamers.

 

[Lawpy]

Fair enough then, I'll leave it off. Thought it was worth asking anyways! It's too had people think of it that way. Some of the most intelligent people I've ever met are gamers.

I think few of the attendings and residents on SDN are avid gamers. Unfortunately, you got to play the admissions game and adcoms/schools take a conservative stance to these things. This means don't include gaming on your application.

 

[bbbcccppp]

Gaming like poker cuts a fine line between relaxing hobby and addictive avocation. It can be either. I agree with being very careful with this one.


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