When applying to medical school, most applicants focus on their GPA, MCAT score, and personal statement—but the AMCAS Work & Activities section is just as critical. This section allows you to showcase your experiences, highlight your impact, and demonstrate why you’re a strong candidate for medical school.

At AcceptMed, we help students craft compelling, well-structured Work & Activities descriptions that make their application stand out. Admissions committees aren’t just looking for a long list of activities—they want to see depth, commitment, leadership, and evidence of the qualities that make a great physician.

Understanding the AMCAS Work & Activities Section

The AMCAS Work & Activities section allows applicants to:

• List up to 15 experiences across different categories (clinical experience, research, leadership, community service, etc.).
• Select 3 Most Meaningful experiences, which allow for longer descriptions (1,325 characters) instead of the standard 700-character limit.
• Demonstrate leadership, compassion, teamwork, problem-solving, and commitment to medicine.

Key Takeaway: Strategic selection and strong descriptions matter more than simply filling all 15 slots—quality over quantity is key.

What to Include: The Essential Categories for a Strong Application

To build a well-rounded application, prioritize experiences that align with what medical schools value most.

Clinical Experience (Direct Patient Interaction) – Must Include

Shows commitment to medicine and ability to work with patients.

Examples:

• Medical scribing
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• Hospital volunteering (direct patient care)
• Hospice care

Pro Tip: Avoid passive roles—focus on experiences where you are actively engaged with patients and healthcare teams.

Research Experience – Highly Recommended

Important for applicants interested in academic medicine, competitive specialties, or MD-PhD programs.

Examples:

• Basic science research
• Clinical research with patient data
• Public health research
• Published papers or poster presentations

Pro Tip: If listing research, quantify your contributions and describe how your work impacted the field.

Community Service & Volunteering – Strongly Recommended

Shows commitment to service, compassion, and social responsibility.

Examples:

• Free clinics
• Crisis hotlines
• Health outreach programs
• Food banks

Pro Tip: Sustained, long-term involvement is more impactful than short-term activities.

Leadership & Teaching – Adds Depth

Demonstrates initiative, teamwork, and communication skills.

Examples:

• Teaching assistant or tutoring
• Leadership in student organizations
• Organizing health-related events

Pro Tip: Show the impact of your leadership—how did you improve the organization or help others grow?

Physician Shadowing – Include Only If Significant

Helps demonstrate exposure to different medical specialties.

Examples:

• Shadowing primary care or specialists
• Observing procedures in different settings

Pro Tip: Don’t just list specialties—highlight key takeaways about patient care and physician responsibilities.

What to Leave Out (or Prioritize Less)

Not all experiences contribute meaningfully to your application. Consider leaving out or deprioritizing the following:

• High school activities (unless continued into college).
• Short-term experiences (one-time events, single-day volunteer work).
• General club memberships (unless you held a leadership role or contributed significantly).
• Non-healthcare-related jobs (unless they demonstrate valuable skills like teamwork or leadership).

Key Takeaway: Focus on depth, consistency, and impact over a long list of minor involvements.

How to Write Strong Work & Activities Descriptions

Each standard entry allows 700 characters, while "Most Meaningful" experiences allow 1,325 characters. Use this space wisely to highlight your role, contributions, and impact.

Step 1: Start with a strong action verb

• Weak: “Helped in a hospital setting assisting nurses.”
• Stronger: “Provided direct patient care by assisting nurses with patient mobility, feeding, and post-operative recovery.”

Step 2: Use numbers and details

• Weak: “Worked as a research assistant.”
• Stronger: “Conducted over 200 hours of laboratory research on protein interactions in Alzheimer’s disease.”

Step 3: Show impact and reflection

• Weak: “Volunteered at a free clinic.”
• Stronger: “Assisted in providing healthcare services to 50+ uninsured patients weekly, reinforcing my passion for primary care in underserved communities.”

Pro Tip: Focus on your specific contributions and growth rather than generic statements about the organization.

Choosing Your 3 Most Meaningful Experiences

What Makes an Experience "Most Meaningful"?

• It had a significant impact on your decision to pursue medicine.
• You contributed in a meaningful way (not just an observer).
• It shows growth, leadership, or deep personal reflection.

How to Structure Most Meaningful Entries (1,325 Characters)

1. Describe your role: What did you do?
2. Explain the impact: How did your work affect patients, research, or the community?
3. Reflect on personal growth: What did you learn, and how did it shape your path to medicine?

Example: Instead of just saying "shadowed a physician," you might write:
"During my 50 hours shadowing a primary care physician, I witnessed how doctors build long-term relationships with patients. One patient, a 65-year-old man with diabetes, initially resisted treatment, but through patient education, he eventually embraced lifestyle changes. This experience taught me that medicine is not just about prescribing medications—it’s about empowering patients and earning their trust."

Key Takeaway: Choose experiences that tell a story about your journey to medicine and show your personal and professional growth.

Making Your Work & Activities Section Stand Out

• Curate your 15 entries carefully—prioritize clinical experience, research, service, and leadership.
• Write strong, concise descriptions that focus on your contributions, impact, and personal growth.
• Choose your 3 Most Meaningful experiences wisely—use the extra space to highlight depth and reflection.
• Avoid minor, short-term experiences that don’t add value to your application.

Key Takeaways:

• Quality over quantity—focus on depth and impact.
• Use strong action verbs and numbers to make experiences compelling.
• Write engaging “Most Meaningful” descriptions that tell a story.
• Medical schools look for commitment, leadership, and patient exposure—prioritize those experiences.

A well-crafted Work & Activities section can make a huge difference in your AMCAS application.