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Decoding the AACOMAS Activities Section: A Veteran’s Guide

So, you’re staring at the AACOMAS application, that rite of passage for aspiring Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, and the Activities section looms large. What do you put in it? Simply put, this section is your opportunity to showcase everything that makes you you beyond your GPA and MCAT score. Think of it as your highlight reel, demonstrating your commitment, experiences, and personality to admissions committees. It’s where you illustrate not just what you did, but why you did it and what you learned from it.

Cracking the Code: What Belongs in Your Activities Section

The AACOMAS Activities section allows you to detail a wide range of experiences. Here’s a breakdown of what typically fits, categorized for clarity:

Healthcare Experience: This is arguably the most crucial category. Include everything from shadowing physicians (DO and MD, emphasize DO!), volunteering in hospitals or clinics, working as an EMT, CNA, medical assistant, scribe, or participating in medical missions. Admissions committees want to see your exposure to the realities of medicine and your understanding of patient care. The more direct patient contact, the better.
Research Experience: Even if you’re not aiming for a research-heavy career, research experience demonstrates critical thinking, problem-solving, and attention to detail. Detail your role in the project, the research question, your responsibilities, and any presentations or publications that resulted. Focus on what you learned about the scientific method and the research process, not just the specific findings.
Volunteering (Non-Healthcare): Demonstrating a commitment to service is vital. Detail any volunteer work, whether it’s at a homeless shelter, food bank, environmental organization, or any other cause you’re passionate about. Highlight your impact and the lessons you learned about community engagement and social responsibility.
Leadership Experience: Admissions committees seek future leaders. Include any roles where you led a team, organized an event, mentored others, or took initiative. This could be in a club, organization, sports team, or even at work. Showcase your ability to motivate, delegate, and problem-solve.
Extracurricular Activities: These provide a glimpse into your personality and interests outside of academics. Include sports, music, art, hobbies, clubs, and organizations. Highlight your involvement and any significant achievements. These activities demonstrate that you’re a well-rounded individual with diverse interests.
Employment: Don’t underestimate the value of work experience, even if it’s not directly related to medicine. Part-time jobs, summer jobs, and internships demonstrate responsibility, work ethic, and time management skills. Focus on the skills you developed and how they translate to the demands of medical school.
Awards and Honors: List any academic awards, scholarships, Dean’s List recognitions, or other honors you’ve received. These demonstrate your academic achievements and potential.
Teaching Experience: Whether it’s tutoring, being a teaching assistant, or leading workshops, teaching experience showcases your communication skills, patience, and ability to explain complex concepts.
Military Service: If you’ve served in the military, detail your service, including your rank, responsibilities, and any significant achievements. Military service demonstrates leadership, discipline, and a commitment to service.
Other: Use this category for anything that doesn’t fit neatly into the above categories. This could include unique travel experiences, personal projects, or significant life experiences.

Crafting Compelling Descriptions

It’s not enough to simply list your activities; you need to craft compelling descriptions that highlight your achievements, skills, and personal growth. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your descriptions. Briefly describe the situation, the task you were assigned, the actions you took, and the results you achieved.

Focus on impact: Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible. For example, instead of saying “Volunteered at a homeless shelter,” say “Volunteered at a homeless shelter, serving over 100 meals per week to individuals in need.”
Show, don’t tell: Instead of saying “I am a compassionate person,” describe an experience that demonstrates your compassion.
Use strong action verbs: Use verbs like “led,” “organized,” “developed,” “implemented,” “analyzed,” and “collaborated” to convey your active role in each activity.
Be concise and specific: You have limited space, so make every word count. Avoid vague language and focus on specific details.
Proofread carefully: Errors can make a negative impression, so ensure your descriptions are free of typos and grammatical errors.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about the AACOMAS Activities section, answered with the experience of someone who’s seen it all:

FAQ 1: How many activities should I include?

Aim for quality over quantity. Prioritize your most meaningful and impactful experiences. There’s no magic number, but most applicants include around 8-12 activities. Don’t feel pressured to fill every slot if you don’t have enough significant experiences.

FAQ 2: What’s the difference between ‘Experiences’ and ‘Achievements’ sections within an activity description?

The ‘Experiences’ section should describe your responsibilities and actions. The ‘Achievements’ section is where you highlight quantifiable results and significant accomplishments. Think Experiences = What you did, Achievements = What you achieved.

FAQ 3: How do I list shadowing experiences? Should I combine them, or list each doctor separately?

If you shadowed multiple doctors in the same specialty and learned similar things, you can combine them. However, if you shadowed different specialties or had significantly different experiences with each doctor, list them separately. Always include the physician’s name, specialty, and the number of hours shadowed.

FAQ 4: I don’t have any healthcare experience. Should I still apply?

Healthcare experience is highly valued by admissions committees. If you lack it, consider volunteering or working in a healthcare setting before applying. If that’s not possible, focus on highlighting other experiences that demonstrate relevant skills, such as compassion, teamwork, and communication. Be prepared to address your lack of healthcare experience in your personal statement and interviews.

FAQ 5: What if I’m involved in many different activities, but none of them very deeply?

Admissions committees prefer depth over breadth. Focus on a few activities where you’ve made a significant contribution and demonstrated commitment. It’s better to be deeply involved in a few activities than superficially involved in many.

FAQ 6: Should I include activities from high school?

Generally, no. The AACOMAS Activities section focuses on your experiences during and after college. Unless a high school experience was exceptionally impactful and continues to be relevant, it’s best to focus on more recent experiences.

FAQ 7: What if I had a negative experience in one of my activities? Should I still include it?

You can include a negative experience if you can frame it in a positive light. Focus on what you learned from the experience and how it helped you grow. Avoid simply complaining or blaming others.

FAQ 8: How important is it to have Osteopathic-specific experiences, like shadowing a DO?

Extremely important! Demonstrating an understanding of osteopathic medicine is crucial. Shadowing a DO is highly recommended. If you can’t shadow a DO, research osteopathic medicine thoroughly and highlight any interactions you’ve had with DOs.

FAQ 9: I’m a non-traditional applicant with a lot of work experience. How should I present this?

Emphasize the skills you’ve developed in your work experience that are relevant to medicine, such as problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and leadership. Highlight how your work experience has prepared you for the challenges of medical school and a career in medicine.

FAQ 10: How much time should I spend on the Activities section?

Allocate a significant amount of time to this section. It’s a crucial part of your application and deserves careful attention. Start early, brainstorm your experiences, and craft compelling descriptions. Ask trusted friends, mentors, or pre-med advisors to review your work.

FAQ 11: What if I have a gap in my activities? Should I explain it?

If you have a significant gap in your activities, such as a semester off or a period of unemployment, you may want to briefly explain it in the “Additional Information” section of the application. Be honest and concise, and focus on what you did during that time and what you learned.

FAQ 12: Can I update my Activities section after I submit my application?

No, you cannot directly update your Activities section after submitting your AACOMAS application. However, you can send updates to individual schools through letters of intent or letters of update, highlighting any new activities or accomplishments since your application was submitted.

The AACOMAS Activities section is your chance to shine. By carefully selecting your experiences, crafting compelling descriptions, and demonstrating your passion for medicine, you can make a strong impression on admissions committees and increase your chances of acceptance. Good luck!