would you put high school awards in med school app?

[fastfingers]

If lets say I was class valedictorian in HS, is that worth putting under awards in my AAMC application? It seems that being a valedictorian in HS might be impressive to some. Would it be a good idea just to include it in the list of awards just to show that I've always been consistent with grades?

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[TTigers70]

No I wouldn't put anything related to HS on my app unless it profoundly influenced you in some way. Presumably you have kept up the academic work and should have deans list, etc which is more relevant than something that happened 3-4 years ago. In the interest of disclosure, I am including one high school experience/event because it was a springboard to a deeper following of a particular interest.

 

[bucks2010]

the only awards from HS worth mentioning would be from placing really well in national competitions and the like, e.g. the Intel science fair. being valedictorian isn't worth mentioning.

 

[LizzyM]

No.

No one will care.

The only awards you might list that were received in HS would be Olympic medal, Academy Award*, or National Spelling Bee Champ (actually awarded to an 8th grader but we'll make an exception).


*Tony, Emmy, and Grammy are OK, too.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

If lets say I was class valedictorian in HS, is that worth putting under awards in my AAMC application? It seems that being a valedictorian in HS might be impressive to some. Would it be a good idea just to include it in the list of awards just to show that I've always been consistent with grades?

Honestly, it would probably make you look like a douchebag. High school activities should only be mentioned if it's an ongoing thing, like if you've volunteered somewhere since 10th grade and continued to do so in college. Adcoms could care less what your grades were in high school if they were good in college.

 

[I'm No Superman]

Sorry, only a HS student here, but I have a similar question: I have a job at a clinic, and I was wondering if that could count towards clinical experience, even though it's being obtained while in HS? Thanks.

 

[gettheleadout]

Agreed. Excluding top national or international achievement, HS awards should be left out.

 

[LizzyM]

Sorry, only a HS student here, but I have a similar question: I have a job at a clinic, and I was wondering if that could count towards clinical experience, even though it's being obtained while in HS? Thanks.

What you bring to a clinical experience changes as you get older. So, it would be a good idea to continue to get clinical experience (at least 60 hrs/yr) through the 3 years you are in college before you apply. If you are interested in medcine, why would you stop having clinical experiences? You might give up the job at some point in order to do some research but at that point you should find a 2 hr/wk gig at a free clinic or in an ER or something and help out in that way. Don't figure on checking a box & moving on to the next activity -- adcoms take a dim view of that sort of thing.

 

[Camy99]

I've had a similar question bother me for the longest time.
In HS I was president of a volunteer club I participated in for 4years, there was no specific place we volunteered in, it was just a matter of organizing a group of schoolmates to help out wherever needed in the community about once a week.
In college, I still volunteer now and then on my own time, but it's not the same community because my college is on the opposite side of the state, and it's also not as consistent as that club was. That club is really important to me because it showed both my leader skills and love for volunteering but I can't continue it as an alumni leader since I can't keep leading it being 7hrs away.....
.....soooo could I include that come application time?
(Did any of that make sense xD)

 

[mauberley]

*Tony, Emmy, and Grammy are OK, too.

What about the Daytime Emmys?

 

[CuttingCorneas]

I've had a similar question bother me for the longest time.
In HS I was president of a volunteer club I participated in for 4years, there was no specific place we volunteered in, it was just a matter of organizing a group of schoolmates to help out wherever needed in the community about once a week.
In college, I still volunteer now and then on my own time, but it's not the same community because my college is on the opposite side of the state, and it's also not as consistent as that club was. That club is really important to me because it showed both my leader skills and love for volunteering but I can't continue it as an alumni leader since I can't keep leading it being 7hrs away.....
.....soooo could I include that come application time?
(Did any of that make sense xD)

I wouldn't. Unless you're active in that club in college, no. The point is that you're supposed to do even more in college, which means your current achievements shouldn't even leave room for HS activities.

 

[I'm No Superman]

I love the job, the people are nice, my boss is nice, and I plan on doing more clinical work in the future. It's basically filing X-rays and charts from the 1980's-now, but its probably 20hrs/wk x about 12-13 wks = 240-260 hours this summer, and next summer. I guess I wanted to know if the hours that I have as a HS student could be combined with hours in college, because a lot of people say that almost nothing you did in HS should be put on your app. 🙂

 

[Camy99]

I wouldn't. Unless you're active in that club in college, no. The point is that you're supposed to do even more in college, which means your current achievements shouldn't even leave room for HS activities.

Well, like I said, as much as I wish I could continue to supervise that club I can't because it's 7hrs away from my college. There's no club exactly like it at my college, though I do still volunteer every now and then (which is different from the scheduled once a week I did then). But I haven't gotten a leading position in anything of the sort again.
I completely understand what you mean about having more current achievements--I do, just not the same type...

 

[fastfingers]

k thanks. i didn't mean to mention it anyways.

just another quick question, would it, however, be a good info to include on a resume for like a gap year job?

 

[cdm3413]

No I wouldn't put anything related to HS on my app unless it profoundly influenced you in some way. Presumably you have kept up the academic work and should have deans list, etc which is more relevant than something that happened 3-4 years ago. In the interest of disclosure, I am including one high school experience/event because it was a springboard to a deeper following of a particular interest.

High school grades/achievements are no criteria for extrapolating and predicting how someone will do in college.

 

[SirGecko]

The only awards you might list that were received in HS would be Olympic medal, Academy Award*, or National Spelling Bee Champ (actually awarded to an 8th grader but we'll make an exception).


*Tony, Emmy, and Grammy are OK, too.

👍
This. Stuff in high school should really only be included if you made national news by getting it. Small fry stuff like hs valedictorian or leadership in a club doesn't survive on a resume post college.

 

[hello0]

oops....I listed that I was valedictorian of my HS on my app and already submitted...oh well...I dunno though, if you have a list of awards as one of your work/activities, I don't think it would hurt to put you were valedictorian (in addition to other significant college-level awards)...I think that's a pretty significant achievement, but I guess no one else here thinks so...

 

[flatearth22]

Since as pre-meds we're all about standing out I'd just put them there but only if they're impressive or unique (ie - don't put Key Club but do put Student Gov't president or Valedictorian or Siemens-Westinghouse or something). Especially stuff like National Merit, Presidential Scholar, Mensa etc., shows you have a high IQ which will consciously or subconsciously positively effect how the adcom views your application. Even something as silly as Prom King or Regional Beauty Pageant winner will show that you are personable among your peers and get along with them which will shed your application in a positive light.

A lot of people here telling you not to put ANYTHING from HS probably had unimpressive high school records and don't want to be put at a competitive disadvantage against students who did in fact accomplish these major feats during their high school careers.

 

[doctorshateher]

I've also heard that being an eagle scout is a mentionable HS activity. I'm not one, and I'm not sure if I would even put it if I was one, but that's what I have been told by adcoms.

 

[Hoya2009]

I was runner up in my college's homecoming man-show. People bought me drinks afterwards, but I didn't put it on my app. Maybe I should have, THEN Duke would have wanted to interview me!
But, if you put some HS thing down, you realize that 4-5 years will pass before you apply, meaning you should have done more meaningful/involved things in college that would overlap the HS thing.
The only exception I'd see is if you did something at a place in HS and continued it through college, giving you like 8 years at a place.

 

[Myuu]

Since as pre-meds we're all about standing out I'd just put them there but only if they're impressive or unique (ie - don't put Key Club but do put Student Gov't president or Valedictorian or Siemens-Westinghouse or something). Especially stuff like National Merit, Presidential Scholar, Mensa etc., shows you have a high IQ which will consciously or subconsciously positively effect how the adcom views your application. Even something as silly as Prom King or Regional Beauty Pageant winner will show that you are personable among your peers and get along with them which will shed your application in a positive light.

A lot of people here telling you not to put ANYTHING from HS probably had unimpressive high school records and don't want to be put at a competitive disadvantage against students who did in fact accomplish these major feats during their high school careers.

Uh, no.

 

[Lil Mick]

I would (did) put something down from my teen years (not sure if that was college or high school since I dual enrolled very early), but it was something that I had continued in college and something that had molded me as a person.

 

[Web MD]

I officially rename this the "Glory Days" thread, and since it's SDN members' glory days, it's bound to be sadder than a train wreck full of kittens. And +1 for anyone that tries to come off as personable and fun to be around by explicitly putting homecoming/prom elections from 4-5 years ago on a formal med school app.


Come on SDN, impress me

 

[courtnes]

What about the Daytime Emmys?

Maubs, MD could totally be James Franco's next degree. The dude's already racking up 3 masters (at the same time!) or something crazy like that while working as an actor on a soap.

 

[flatearth22]

I officially rename this the "Glory Days" thread, and since it's SDN members' glory days, it's bound to be sadder than a train wreck full of kittens. And +1 for anyone that tries to come off as personable and fun to be around by explicitly putting homecoming/prom elections from 4-5 years ago on a formal med school app.


Come on SDN, impress me

u mad i was the most popular guy in my graduating class?

yeah...u mad

 

[Web MD]

Nah bro, you sad

 

[NickNaylor]

 

[NickNaylor]

Can publications in HS be listed?

Are they published in peer-reviewed journals? If so, I would include them.

 

[NightGod]

I've also heard that being an eagle scout is a mentionable HS activity. I'm not one, and I'm not sure if I would even put it if I was one, but that's what I have been told by adcoms.

I can see this one, I suppose. It shows a long-term dedication to service and community (I think it takes like 10-12 years total to get it) that has been a part of molding who you are. That said, there is also something like 50,000 new eagle scouts per year, so it's maybe not as special as it's reputation implies.

 

[Narmerguy]

Since as pre-meds we're all about standing out I'd just put them there but only if they're impressive or unique (ie - don't put Key Club but do put Student Gov't president or Valedictorian or Siemens-Westinghouse or something). Especially stuff like National Merit, Presidential Scholar, Mensa etc., shows you have a high IQ which will consciously or subconsciously positively effect how the adcom views your application. Even something as silly as Prom King or Regional Beauty Pageant winner will show that you are personable among your peers and get along with them which will shed your application in a positive light.

A lot of people here telling you not to put ANYTHING from HS probably had unimpressive high school records and don't want to be put at a competitive disadvantage against students who did in fact accomplish these major feats during their high school careers.

Dude, no.

 

[ywlke]

I'd say Eagle Scout yes if it was really meaningful for you, but valedictorian no. To put things in perspective...during orientation at my university, one of the speakers asked who was a valedictorian in high school and about a quarter of the people in the auditorium raised their hands (or some other ridiculous number that was impressive on the eyes). That said, I also worked with a valedictorian in a group for class and he had no experience with research or writing a lab report prior to college while I did have experience (without being a valedictorian). Because there are so many different high schools in the country (and out of the country), being a valedictorian can mean very little or a lot.

As far as high school activities in general go...I included 3 on my app 🙂eek:, right?) but that's because I felt they were very relevant to getting me where I am today and they were pretty significant and in some cases unique. Additionally, one of them was continued in some form during college, and another was a summer research experience that led to an additional summer at the same site during college.

 

[Gigantron]

Since as pre-meds we're all about standing out I'd just put them there but only if they're impressive or unique (ie - don't put Key Club but do put Student Gov't president or Valedictorian or Siemens-Westinghouse or something). Especially stuff like National Merit, Presidential Scholar, Mensa etc., shows you have a high IQ which will consciously or subconsciously positively effect how the adcom views your application. Even something as silly as Prom King or Regional Beauty Pageant winner will show that you are personable among your peers and get along with them which will shed your application in a positive light.

A lot of people here telling you not to put ANYTHING from HS probably had unimpressive high school records and don't want to be put at a competitive disadvantage against students who did in fact accomplish these major feats during their high school careers.

I would LOVE to meet someone who would actually put this on their medical school application. Oh man.

 

[Camy99]

Okayyy I'll drop the club but what about NYLF-Med, if you know what that is. That place, even though it was the summer pre-senior year, helped cement my decision to be a physician considering that's basically what it's for. I don't have any free summer's left or else I would def apply to be a mentor there, so could I include that?
I still have 2 years of college left so perhaps I'll do so many phenomenal things all of sudden that I won't have room for any of these things, but as of right now, some of these things are important to me (cough-like my medals in the regional science olympiads? no? ok, I'll let it go-cough XD).
And by publications I hope that doesn't include things like "Who's Who Among American HS Students"... that book is collecting dust on my shelf and did not make me feel all that fantastic since I don't think people actually sit down and look through it. I plan on doing research and hopefully getting published through that which sounds (and to me, is) way more important.
So my point is, I'm not trying to include eeeeeverything I did in HS, but a few memorable experiences that have lead me to where I am. 🙂

 

[gettheleadout]

Okayyy I'll drop the club but what about NYLF-Med, if you know what that is. That place, even though it was the summer pre-senior year, helped cement my decision to be a physician considering that's basically what it's for. I don't have any free summer's left or else I would def apply to be a mentor there, so could I include that?
I still have 2 years of college left so perhaps I'll do so many phenomenal things all of sudden that I won't have room for any of these things, but as of right now, some of these things are important to me (cough-like my medals in the regional science olympiads? no? ok, I'll let it go-cough XD).
And by publications I hope that doesn't include things like "Who's Who Among American HS Students"... that book is collecting dust on my shelf and did not make me feel all that fantastic since I don't think people actually sit down and look through it. I plan on doing research and hopefully getting published through that which sounds (and to me, is) way more important.
So my point is, I'm not trying to include eeeeeverything I did in HS, but a few memorable experiences that have lead me to where I am. 🙂

Mention NYLF-Med in your PS, but I might not list it as an activity.

"Publications" always refers to research publications in peer-reviewed journals.

 

[911 Turbo]

Okayyy I'll drop the club but what about NYLF-Med, if you know what that is. That place, even though it was the summer pre-senior year, helped cement my decision to be a physician considering that's basically what it's for. I don't have any free summer's left or else I would def apply to be a mentor there, so could I include that?
I still have 2 years of college left so perhaps I'll do so many phenomenal things all of sudden that I won't have room for any of these things, but as of right now, some of these things are important to me (cough-like my medals in the regional science olympiads? no? ok, I'll let it go-cough XD).
And by publications I hope that doesn't include things like "Who's Who Among American HS Students"... that book is collecting dust on my shelf and did not make me feel all that fantastic since I don't think people actually sit down and look through it. I plan on doing research and hopefully getting published through that which sounds (and to me, is) way more important.
So my point is, I'm not trying to include eeeeeverything I did in HS, but a few memorable experiences that have lead me to where I am. 🙂

You realize NYLF-med is just mostly a money grabbing scheme? Same for the Who's Who book lol.

 

[NightGod]

You realize NYLF-med is just mostly a money grabbing scheme? Same for the Who's Who book lol.

👍 +1

My local library bought copies of Who's Who. I stopped by to see my name in print and then moved on. In retrospect, even that seemed like a waste of time and gas.

 

[Camy99]

You realize NYLF-med is just mostly a money grabbing scheme? Same for the Who's Who book lol.

No and Yes.
No--I'm gonna take a wild guess and say you did not go to NYLF? Yes it was expensive and only 10days but I can't even begin to tell you the things I learned, and I met some great people which always fun.
Yes--Who's Who... mymomboughtit. <_<

I guess I'll slide it into my PS then.. gracias. 🙂

 

[Web MD]

Did you get accepted into national honor society? I think that would sound legit with the whole "national" and "honor" parts

 

[ywlke]

Did you get accepted into national honor society? I think that would sound legit with the whole "national" and "honor" parts

I would say no on that one unless it was really significant for you personally. But maybe that's only because it felt like 90% of the people at my high school were members.

 

[911 Turbo]

No and Yes.
No--I'm gonna take a wild guess and say you did not go to NYLF? Yes it was expensive and only 10days but I can't even begin to tell you the things I learned, and I met some great people which always fun.
Yes--Who's Who... mymomboughtit. <_<

I guess I'll slide it into my PS then.. gracias. 🙂

So what did you learn at NYLF?

And you're right - I didn't go to one of the functions. I did however read through the program.

Houston TX schedule
http://www.nylf.org/med/schedules/medsample_HOU.pdf

There is no way that's worth 10000 dollars lol.

Now that I think about it, I remember some people in my class going. They were stuck up cheerleaders who told everyone they wanted to be plastic surgeons (which was funny, because they didn't even know what residency was)

 

[damndinosaur]

No.

No one will care.

The only awards you might list that were received in HS would be Olympic medal, Academy Award*, or National Spelling Bee Champ (actually awarded to an 8th grader but we'll make an exception).


*Tony, Emmy, and Grammy are OK, too.

what about martial arts, like a black belt i got in high school? i would think that having a black belt is more a skill than an award, and it kind of remains with you for life (if it was serious martial arts training, of course)

should we put that?

 

[NickNaylor]

what about martial arts, like a black belt i got in high school? i would think that having a black belt is more a skill than an award, and it kind of remains with you for life (if it was serious martial arts training, of course)

should we put that?

No, not unless you continued training or competed in college.

 

[Camy99]

So what did you learn at NYLF?

And you're right - I didn't go to one of the functions. I did however read through the program.

Houston TX schedule
http://www.nylf.org/med/schedules/medsample_HOU.pdf

There is no way that's worth 10000 dollars lol.

Now that I think about it, I remember some people in my class going. They were stuck up cheerleaders who told everyone they wanted to be plastic surgeons (which was funny, because they didn't even know what residency was)

Just like reading a syllabus of class can't get you as excited as taking the class , I doubt that schedulecan tell you anything about the experience itself. NYLF was my first exposure to clinical work outside of following my mom around at work, and it helped incline me to being a pediatrician which I hadn't considered previously. Being surrounded by people you're age who want the same kind of things, think the same way, yet aren't "neurotic premeds" is encouraging. Besides.. we stayed at UCBerkeley, not a hotel. So it was like a college and med orientation all in one!
Um... I'm not a stuck-up cheerleader who wants to be a plastic surgeon? I hope that you don't base your judgement of a national program on a couple of people from your school....
Either way, this is an argument I can't continue. It's like trying to say my school is better than yours. I've never been to yours, and vice versa. 🙂 I just hope you won't attack it based on the presumptions you've made.

 

[Web MD]

Perfect attendance award anyone?

 

[Camy99]

Actually a girl at my school had perfect attendance for 12 years straight. Definitely worth mentioning! hahah.

Oh, and Venom5, it's all gooood.

 

[startswithb]

what about martial arts, like a black belt i got in high school? i would think that having a black belt is more a skill than an award, and it kind of remains with you for life (if it was serious martial arts training, of course)

should we put that?

That's an accomplishment and interesting. I'd add it as one of your last activities if you have room with just a little blurb. It obviously won't be as meaningful as your research/clinical, but if you have room, I'd include it.

 

[Web MD]

Honor roll all 8 semesters of high school (name in school newspaper) anyone?

 

[ywlke]

Honor roll all 8 semesters of high school (name in school newspaper) anyone?

I'm not sure that this would be listing-worthy if valedictorian isn't...

 

[NickNaylor]

I'm not sure that this would be listing-worthy if valedictorian isn't...

 

[Web MD]

I'm not sure that this would be listing-worthy if valedictorian isn't...

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