Works/EC Questions for upcoming App

[JCsuper1295]

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Hi SDN,

First time posting, but long time reading. I did a search, but was unable to find something that is this specific. I will be applying to medical school this year, and looking at some of my friends previous applications, and the EC portion has a couple of criteria I do not know how to put.

Mainly it is that most of my life I grew up as a musician and a martial artist. With music I started at the age of 8 where a violinist, and currently transitioning into classical singing. I have also started martial arts at an even earlier age, and trained in several styles. I continue both of these activities in college, but there has been gaps throughout some quarters. There are occasions where I do not train for almost a year to incorporate research, but come again when my classes become more manageable.

My question is how do you think I should put down this in EC criteria? It asks for start date, and I was wondering if I should put the actual start date, which is the 90's, or just when I was in college?

I am also a little confused on how I should put the hours per week. Is it just the hours of actual lecture, or should I include the outside practice I incorporate as well? With these gaps in my martial arts training especially during college, I wouldn't know how many "hours" it really is, as I could be training for the entire summer one year, but other years I could be enrolled all year.

Sorry for the long post, but any input is greatly appreciated. It may be a small matter, but I'm really trying to make sure I don't make any stupid mistakes in the applications.

 

[Catalystik]

It's fine to list the time you were involved from childhood when you continued to be involved up to and during the college years. When you've had such sporadic involvement, it might be easier to list them under the "Other" category and then name the activities Martial Arts and Music Activities (or some such). Then you won't be forced to put in hours per week and you can make it clear in the narrative the range of involvement you had over the long course of learning these Arts.

 

[OhioDoc]

Hi SDN,

First time posting, but long time reading. I did a search, but was unable to find something that is this specific. I will be applying to medical school this year, and looking at some of my friends previous applications, and the EC portion has a couple of criteria I do not know how to put.

Mainly it is that most of my life I grew up as a musician and a martial artist. With music I started at the age of 8 where a violinist, and currently transitioning into classical singing. I have also started martial arts at an even earlier age, and trained in several styles. I continue both of these activities in college, but there has been gaps throughout some quarters. There are occasions where I do not train for almost a year to incorporate research, but come again when my classes become more manageable.

My question is how do you think I should put down this in EC criteria? It asks for start date, and I was wondering if I should put the actual start date, which is the 90's, or just when I was in college?

I am also a little confused on how I should put the hours per week. Is it just the hours of actual lecture, or should I include the outside practice I incorporate as well? With these gaps in my martial arts training especially during college, I wouldn't know how many "hours" it really is, as I could be training for the entire summer one year, but other years I could be enrolled all year.

Sorry for the long post, but any input is greatly appreciated. It may be a small matter, but I'm really trying to make sure I don't make any stupid mistakes in the applications.

I would put the actual start dates for both of these activities to show medical schools that these have been life-long interests. As for hours/week I would probably try to calculate a rough average. I don't imagine med schools are going to be too concerned with the semi-sporadic nature of your involvement in these pursuits, but if you feel it is necessary, you can explain your fluctuating involvement in the description section for each EC.