The Work & Activities section of the AMCAS application is one of the most overlooked yet crucial parts of your med school application. While many applicants focus intensely on their GPA, MCAT, and personal statement, the way you describe your experiences can make or break your application.

At AcceptMed, we’ve helped countless applicants refine their Work & Activities section to avoid common mistakes and stand out to admissions committees. A poorly written or uninformative entry can raise red flags, making it harder for schools to see your full potential. Here are the biggest red flags—and how to fix them.

Listing Responsibilities Instead of Impact

Red Flag:

Many students make the mistake of writing a job description instead of showcasing their impact. They list basic duties without explaining what they accomplished or learned.

Example of a Weak Entry:

"Scribed for physicians in a busy emergency department, documenting patient encounters and managing electronic health records."

How to Fix It:

Instead of listing what you did, describe how your work contributed to the team, improved patient care, or developed your skills.

Example of a Strong Entry:

"Scribed for physicians in a high-volume ER, accurately documenting 20+ patient encounters per shift. Improved provider efficiency by streamlining documentation workflows, reducing charting time by 25%, and enhancing physician-patient interactions."

Not Using Specific Examples or Numbers

Red Flag:

Vague descriptions make your activities sound less impactful. Without specific numbers, admissions committees can’t gauge how much responsibility you had or how significant your contributions were.

Example of a Weak Entry:

"Volunteered at a local clinic helping underserved patients."

How to Fix It:

Include quantifiable metrics to show the extent of your involvement.

Example of a Strong Entry:

"Volunteered at a free clinic, assisting with intake for 30+ patients per shift. Provided bilingual support for Spanish-speaking patients, improving communication and increasing efficiency of care delivery."

Including Irrelevant or Outdated Activities

Red Flag:

Some applicants include high school experiences or activities that don’t contribute to their med school application. Admissions committees are more interested in your recent, relevant experiences.

How to Fix It:

Focus on college and post-graduate experiences, especially those that relate to medicine, research, leadership, or service. If you must include an older experience, connect it to your growth or future goals.

Example of a Weak Entry:

"Captain of my high school soccer team, leading warm-ups and encouraging teamwork."

Example of a Strong Entry (Only If Relevant):

"Four-year varsity soccer captain, developing leadership and teamwork skills that now guide my ability to collaborate in patient care settings."

Writing Entries That Lack Reflection

Red Flag:

Some applicants only describe what they did without explaining why it mattered or what they learned. Admissions committees want to see self-reflection and growth in your experiences.

Example of a Weak Entry:

"Conducted research on cardiovascular diseases, assisting in data collection and literature review."

How to Fix It:

Describe why the experience was meaningful and how it shaped your path toward medicine.

Example of a Strong Entry:

"Investigated genetic risk factors for cardiovascular disease in underrepresented populations. Led data collection for 500+ patient samples, deepening my understanding of health disparities and inspiring my commitment to preventive medicine."

Using Too Much Jargon or Technical Language

Red Flag:

Using excessive medical or research jargon can make your entries confusing or difficult to understand for non-specialists reviewing your application.

Example of a Weak Entry:

"Conducted qPCR analysis and Western blotting to determine gene expression changes in murine cardiac tissue post-infarction."

How to Fix It:

Simplify technical descriptions and explain the significance of your work in clear, accessible language.

Example of a Strong Entry:

"Studied genetic expression changes in heart cells following a heart attack. Used lab techniques like qPCR and Western blotting to analyze cellular responses, improving my ability to think critically about disease mechanisms."

Overloading Entries with Buzzwords

Red Flag:

Some applicants try to sound impressive by using too many buzzwords without real substance. Admissions committees can spot fluff and exaggeration easily.

Example of a Weak Entry:

"Maximized interdisciplinary synergy in a fast-paced, high-stakes healthcare setting while delivering exceptional patient-centered care."

How to Fix It:

Use clear, direct language that highlights real contributions.

Example of a Strong Entry:

"Collaborated with nurses and physicians in a busy hospital, improving patient intake efficiency by developing a streamlined triage checklist."

Failing to Follow Character Limits

Red Flag:

AMCAS limits each entry to 700 characters, while Most Meaningful Experiences allow up to 1,325 characters. Many applicants waste space by being too wordy or, worse, don’t use enough space to fully explain their impact.

How to Fix It:

• Be concise, but don’t underuse the space given.
• Every sentence should add new information—avoid repetition.
• Focus on your actions, impact, and reflections.

Choosing the Wrong ‘Most Meaningful’ Experiences

Red Flag:

Some applicants choose their most prestigious experiences rather than those that actually had the biggest impact on them.

How to Fix It:

Pick experiences that are deeply personal and helped shape your journey into medicine—not just the ones with big names or fancy titles.

Example of a Strong Entry:

"Volunteering at a hospice center was my most meaningful experience. I developed strong relationships with patients, learning how to provide comfort beyond medical treatment. This solidified my passion for patient-centered care."

Avoiding Red Flags in Your Work & Activities Section

The Work & Activities section is your opportunity to showcase your impact, growth, and motivation for medicine. Avoid common mistakes by:

• Focusing on contributions, not just duties.
• Using specific examples and numbers to demonstrate impact.
• Choosing recent, relevant experiences that connect to medicine.
• Reflecting on what each experience taught you.
• Using clear, direct language instead of buzzwords or jargon.
• Making the most of character limits.
• Selecting ‘Most Meaningful’ experiences that genuinely shaped your path.