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Choose the Right Category for your AMCAS Experiences

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AMCAS provides 18 categories in which you can classify your experiences. They are:

Artistic Endeavors
Community Service/Volunteer – Not Medical/Clinical
Community Service/Volunteer – Medical/Clinical
Conferences Attended
Extracurricular Activities
Hobbies
Honors/Awards/Recognitions
Intercollegiate Athletics
Leadership – Not listed elsewhere
Military Service
Other
Paid Employment – Medical/Clinical
Paid Employment – Not Medical/Clinical
Physician Shadowing/Clinical Observation
Presentations/Posters
Publications
Research/Lab
Teaching/Tutoring/Teaching Assistant  

Sometimes an activity matches two categories. When that happens, lean on the clinical classificiation, if applicable. (For example, if your activity is both Leadership and Community Service – Medical/ Clinical, choose the latter.) If clinical is not relevant, then choose the category in which you have the fewest activities.

A client who came to me as a re-applicant a few years back told me that a school from which she was rejected indicated that they had not counted a clearly clinical activity as clinical because she had classified it differently. So be sure you consider the categories deliberately in crafting your AMCAS.  

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Rolling Admissions: What’s the Big Deal?

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This year’s AMCAS application opens on May 4 at 9:30 AM EST, and candidates will be able to submit their AMCAS applications beginning on May 28 at 9:30 AM EST. Because of rolling admissions, submitting a complete application early in the cycle has distinct advantages at many schools. That doesn’t mean you should submit suboptimal written materials on the twenty-eighth; instead, you should start early enough that you’re presenting your best work.

Rolling admissions means that a school takes applications in the order in which they are received and makes decisions about interviews and then acceptances, accordingly. So, as time goes by, there are fewer interview and admissions offers remaining to be made. Think of an auditorium whose doors open to allow guests in. Those in the front of the line get the seats, and those who come later may not have a chair to sit in. 

If your application is not complete, your candidacy may not be evaluated early when there are more opportunities for interviews and admissions. So, if you have not already, get started immediately. It could make a huge difference in your available opportunities.

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The Single Most Important Thing Applicants Should Focus on in a Medical School Application

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Varsity Tutors interviewed me a decade ago regarding mistakes to avoid in a medical school application, best undergraduate majors for pre-meds, how to approach MCAT prep, and the most important factor a medical school applicant should focus on in her candidacy. My answers still hold true today and might improve your angle on the process. Take a look at this short interview. (Note that there are some typos in the piece that are not mine ;)).

AMCAS opens in three and a half weeks!

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AMCAS Opens for Submission on Thursday

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The AMCAS open-for-submission date is this Thursday, May 27. While submitting on Thursday is to your advantage because of rolling admissions, getting that application in at 9:30am EST on May 27 is not worth losing your mind over, so if you simply can’t, please don’t kick yourself.

If you’re wrapping up your work and have your written materials in a superior state, just keep moving and get your application submitted promptly. If you’re behind the eight ball and don’t feel that you can craft outstanding written materials speedily, consider waiting a year to apply. Every season I encounter re-applicants who, during the previous cycle, submitted their AMCASes in August or September…thus making them re-applicants :(. 

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Choose the Right Category for your AMCAS Experiences

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AMCAS provides 18 categories in which you can classify your experiences. They are:

Artistic Endeavors
Community Service/Volunteer – Not Medical/Clinical
Community Service/Volunteer – Medical/Clinical
Conferences Attended
Extracurricular Activities
Hobbies
Honors/Awards/Recognitions
Intercollegiate Athletics
Leadership – Not listed elsewhere
Military Service
Other
Paid Employment – Medical/Clinical
Paid Employment – Not Medical/Clinical
Physician Shadowing/Clinical Observation
Presentations/Posters
Publications
Research/Lab
Teaching/Tutoring/Teaching Assistant

Sometimes an activity can match two categories. When that happens, lean on the clinical categories, if applicable. (For example, if your activity is both Leadership and Community Service – Medical/ Clinical, choose the latter.) If clinical is not relevant, then choose the category in which you have the fewest activities.

A client who came to me as a re-applicant a few years back told me that a school from which she was rejected indicated that they had not counted a clearly clinical activity as clinical because she had classified it differently. So be sure you consider the categories deliberately in crafting your AMCAS.

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About Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Finkel is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School. On completing her residency at Harvard, she was asked to
stay on as faculty at Harvard Medical School and spent five years teaching at the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital.
She was appointed to the Assistant Residency Director position for the Harvard Affiliated
Emergency Medicine Residency where she reviewed countless applications, personal statements and resumes. Read more

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Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the White Coat Investor podcast:

Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the FeminEm podcast: