The primary application is an important element of the overall application to medical school. While there is a great deal of emphasis on the personal statement as the key component, applicants tend to give less attention to other aspects of the primary application, including the activities section.
Here are a few pointers about these other sections that can help you turn your medical school application from a common one into one that stands out.
[See 10 costs to expect when applying to medical school.]
— Clearly state activities and your role in them: When listing different organizations you have worked with and activities you have participated in, it is essential to state the organization’s mission and your role in a way that is easy to understand.
For example, if you were a member of a campus club whose mission was to provide food for the homeless, start your description by explaining this mission. Then outline in detail how you participated. You might say you collected canned foods from community members, distributed them on a weekly basis at homeless shelters and organized two fundraisers, for instance.
This approach also applies to clinical experiences. If you volunteered at a hospital or clinic, state what kind of facility it was, what patient population it served and what medical conditions were predominantly treated. Follow this with a clear explanation of what you did as a volunteer.
After describing the program and your specific role, you may use the remaining space to reflect on what each experience meant to you and what you gained from it.
If you do not have enough room for this, don’t be concerned. Unlike your personal statement, which requires a great deal of reflection, the other sections of your primary application can focus mostly on a clear description of the activity and less on reflection.
[Read how premed students can develop strong leadership experience.]
— Use “we” instead of “I”: When describing your activities, use “we” instead of “I” wherever possible. In the above example about the club that serves the homeless, if you and two other peers organized a fundraiser for this project to feed the homeless, saying “we organized a fundraiser” makes you sound like a team player.
This may not be possible for activities that you did alone, but wherever you worked with others, you should use “we.” When admissions committees see an applicant who constantly uses the first person, they are left with the impression that this individual has not worked well with others or wants to take all the credit for a team activity.
— Highlight service-based activities: Medical schools care a great deal about your involvement in service-based activities. Whether you volunteered at a community clinic for low-income individuals, tutored inner city school children or coached a local youth athletic team in your neighborhood, make sure these activities are included in your application, even if they do not directly pertain to health care.
Involvement in service-based activities demonstrates your compassion and social responsibility. These are qualities that medical schools seek in applicants. In the American Medical College Application Service, or AMCAS, you are asked to choose up to three experiences as your most meaningful and spell them out in greater detail. One way to showcase service-based activities is by including them in your most meaningful experiences.
[Get tips for completing the AMCAS experience section.]
— Focus on the way you were affected: When reflecting on your activities, particularly service-based ones, put more emphasis on the way the program affected you rather than the reverse. Admissions committees want to know your assessment of what you gained from your participation in an activity.
It is very common for medical school applicants who have taken part in service-based activities to talk about the difference they made. They often outline detailed examples of the beneficiaries of a program thanking them, or they elaborate on the gratification they experienced.
You can allude to these, but by putting more emphasis on what you learned from the community and how you matured, you come across as humble and interested in personal growth.
— Include personal interests: Many applicants limit their primary application to experiences that fall into one of the four categories of clinical work, research, leadership or community service. You can distinguish yourself by sharing interests and passions that do not fall into these four categories but add a personal touch.
For example, if you are involved in artwork, play a musical instrument or pursue a unique hobby that makes you different from others, you should consider including this interest. Doing so will give the medical school a glimpse into your personality, help admissions committees understand you on a more personal level and make your application more memorable.
Of course, it is imperative that you make an effort during your premedical career to participate in experiences that would make for a strong application. But you may be surprised to find a well-presented medical school application can also go a long way if you follow these basic tips.
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How to Submit a Unique Medical School Application originally appeared on usnews.com
