When applying to medical school, your Work & Activities section is more than just a checklist of experiences—it’s your opportunity to tell a compelling story about who you are and what led you to medicine. While thousands of applicants may have clinical experience, research, and leadership roles, how you describe your experiences can set you apart from other candidates.

At AcceptMed, we specialize in helping students craft applications that reflect their unique journey, values, and aspirations. The Work & Activities section isn’t just about what you did—it’s about why it mattered, how it shaped you, and what it reveals about your potential as a future physician.

Move Beyond Listing Duties—Tell Your Story

One of the biggest mistakes applicants make is treating the Work & Activities section like a résumé. Instead of just listing responsibilities, focus on:

• What motivated you to pursue the experience?
• How did it challenge or change you?
• What unique impact did you make?

Example of a Weak Entry:
"Volunteered at a local free clinic, helping patients check in and assisting doctors."

Example of a Strong Entry:
"After witnessing the challenges my community faced in accessing healthcare, I began volunteering at a free clinic. I met patients who hadn’t seen a doctor in years, and I learned how small acts—like explaining medical forms—could help them feel empowered in their care. This experience reinforced my desire to work in underserved communities as a future physician."

Why This Works:

• It adds a personal connection to the experience.
• It highlights empathy and impact rather than just listing duties.
• It shows growth and long-term motivation for medicine.

Key Takeaway: Your Work & Activities section should go beyond what you did—it should highlight why it mattered.

Identify Themes in Your Journey

Medical schools look for applicants who have a clear vision of why they want to be a physician. Your experiences should connect to an overarching theme that reflects:

• Your values (e.g., advocacy, patient-centered care, scientific curiosity).
• Your skills (e.g., leadership, problem-solving, teamwork).
• Your long-term goals (e.g., public health, surgery, primary care).

Example of Thematic Storytelling:

• If your theme is health equity, your Work & Activities section might highlight:
  
  
  
  • Volunteering at a community health clinic.
  • Research on healthcare disparities.
  • Shadowing physicians who serve underserved populations.
• If your theme is patient education, your Work & Activities section might include:
  
  
  
  • Tutoring or mentoring experience.
  • Leadership in health outreach programs.
  • Working as a medical scribe, focusing on patient communication.

Key Takeaway: Tie your experiences together with a common theme that reflects your passion for medicine.

Use the CAR Method to Make Entries Stand Out

To ensure your descriptions are engaging, use the CAR Method:

C – Challenge: What problem or situation did you encounter?
A – Action: What did you do to address it?
R – Result: What was the outcome or lesson learned?

Example Using CAR Method:

Before (Generic Entry):
"Assisted in a research lab studying Alzheimer’s disease and helped with data collection."

After (Impactful Entry):
"In my Alzheimer’s research lab, I noticed inconsistencies in data collection that could impact our findings. I worked with my PI to develop a streamlined system that improved accuracy and efficiency. Seeing our revised methods lead to stronger results reinforced my commitment to scientific integrity in medicine."

Why This Works:

• It demonstrates problem-solving and initiative.
• It shows impact rather than just listing a task.
• It connects the experience to a valuable lesson for a future physician.

Key Takeaway: Always describe how you contributed, what impact you had, and what you learned.

Highlight Unique Aspects of Your Journey

Medical schools value diverse experiences and backgrounds. If you’ve had non-traditional experiences or unique challenges, this is a great place to highlight them.

Examples of Unique Experiences That Can Strengthen Your Application:

• Working to support yourself through college (shows resilience and time management).
• Engaging in non-medical leadership roles (demonstrates transferable skills).
• Overcoming personal or family health challenges (gives insight into your motivation for medicine).

Example of a Strong Non-Traditional Entry:
"As a first-generation college student, I worked as a full-time server while completing my pre-med coursework. Managing long shifts while studying taught me discipline, adaptability, and the importance of balancing responsibilities—skills I know will be essential as a physician."

Why This Works:

• It highlights personal challenges and how the applicant grew from them.
• It demonstrates resilience, work ethic, and time management.

Key Takeaway: Don’t be afraid to highlight non-traditional experiences that showcase valuable qualities.

Make Each Entry Different (Even If You Have Similar Experiences)

Many students struggle with repetitive Work & Activities descriptions, especially if they have multiple clinical or research experiences. To avoid redundancy:

• Focus on different skills or lessons from each experience.
• Describe how each experience contributed uniquely to your journey.

Example: Two Different Research Entries

• Research Entry #1 (Scientific Curiosity):
  
  • "Investigated immune responses in autoimmune diseases, learning how small molecular changes can impact patient health."
• Research Entry #2 (Teamwork & Problem-Solving):
  
  • "Collaborated with an interdisciplinary team to troubleshoot an experiment, reinforcing the value of teamwork in scientific discovery."

Example: Two Different Clinical Experiences

• Shadowing a Surgeon (Problem-Solving & Decision-Making):
  
  • "Observed high-stakes decision-making in the OR and saw how split-second judgments can impact patient outcomes."
• Medical Scribing (Patient Communication):
  
  • "Learned to translate complex medical terminology into simple explanations, improving patient understanding and trust."

Key Takeaway: Each entry should showcase a different skill, experience, or perspective to create a well-rounded picture of your journey.

Make Your Work & Activities Section a Reflection of You

Your Work & Activities section isn’t just about checking off boxes—it’s a storytelling opportunity that allows admissions committees to see who you are beyond your GPA and MCAT score.

• Go beyond listing duties—describe how each experience shaped you.
• Identify common themes that connect your activities to your medical journey.
• Use the CAR Method (Challenge, Action, Result) to write impactful descriptions.
• Highlight unique aspects of your background, even if they aren’t medical.
• Avoid repetitive entries—each activity should showcase a different skill or lesson.