Your Work & Activities section is one of the most important parts of your medical school application. While personal statements and letters of recommendation provide deeper insights into who you are, the Work & Activities section is where you showcase your experiences, contributions, and personal growth in a clear, structured way.

At AcceptMed, we know that admissions committees aren’t just scanning for a checklist of activities—they’re looking for how you describe your experiences, the depth of your reflection, and the impact you made. A well-written Work & Activities entry can make your application stand out, while a generic one can make even the strongest experiences seem unimpressive.

Why Most Applicants Struggle with Work & Activities Descriptions

Many applicants undervalue this section and make the mistake of:

• Listing responsibilities instead of impact
• Using vague descriptions that don’t tell a story
• Repeating the same wording across multiple entries
• Failing to demonstrate growth or reflection

Example of a Weak Entry:
"Volunteered at a hospital, assisted patients, and helped staff with daily tasks."

What’s Wrong with This?

• It doesn’t provide any insight into the applicant’s contributions.
• It sounds generic—this could describe any hospital volunteer.
• There’s no reflection or personal connection to medicine.

Example of a Stronger Entry:
"As a hospital volunteer, I comforted patients who were alone, particularly in the ICU. One patient, an elderly woman recovering from surgery, was hesitant to eat. After spending time talking with her about her favorite meals, I helped her regain her appetite and confidence in her recovery. This experience reinforced my commitment to patient-centered care and deepened my understanding of how small interactions can impact healing."

Why This Works:

• It gives a specific moment instead of a broad description.
• It highlights compassion and initiative.
• It connects the experience to medicine and personal growth.

Key Takeaway: Your descriptions should tell a story, not just list duties.

The Formula for a Compelling Work & Activities Entry

To make your descriptions stand out, use the CAR Method:

C – Challenge: What was the problem, challenge, or need in this experience?
A – Action: What specific role did you play? What did you do?
R – Result: What was the outcome, impact, or lesson learned?

Example Using the CAR Method

Before (Generic Entry):
"Assisted in a research lab and helped with experiments."

After (Impactful Entry):
"In a biomedical research lab studying Alzheimer’s disease, I noticed inconsistencies in sample labeling that could affect data accuracy. I developed a new organization system that reduced errors and improved efficiency. This experience taught me the importance of precision in research and solidified my passion for scientific discovery in medicine."

Why This Works:

• It provides a challenge (inconsistencies in labeling).
• It highlights initiative (developing a new system).
• It shows a meaningful takeaway (importance of precision in medicine).

Key Takeaway: Always describe what you did, why it mattered, and how it influenced you.

How to Make Each Entry Unique (Even If You Have Similar Activities)

Many students struggle when they have multiple similar activities (e.g., several research or clinical experiences). Instead of repeating the same points, focus on different aspects of each experience.

Example: Two Different Research Entries

• Research Experience 1: Focus on technical skills (conducting experiments, troubleshooting).
• Research Experience 2: Focus on communication skills (presenting findings, collaborating with a team).

Example: Two Different Clinical Experiences

• Shadowing a Surgeon: Highlight problem-solving, precision, and teamwork in the OR.
• Working as a Medical Scribe: Highlight patient interactions and exposure to bedside manner.

Key Takeaway: Make sure each entry emphasizes a different skill, lesson, or aspect of your growth.

How to Show Leadership and Initiative in Your Entries

Admissions committees value leadership, problem-solving, and initiative. Even if you weren’t in a formal leadership role, think about times when you:

• Took on additional responsibilities
• Helped improve a process
• Mentored others
• Solved a problem

Example: Weak Entry (No Leadership)
"Assisted in an after-school tutoring program for underserved students."

Example: Strong Entry (Showing Initiative)
"While tutoring at an after-school program, I noticed students struggling with test anxiety. I started a weekly study group focused on stress management techniques, which helped students feel more confident in their learning. Seeing them improve not only academically but also in self-confidence was incredibly rewarding and reinforced my desire to mentor others in my future medical career."

Why This Works:

• It highlights leadership and initiative.
• It provides a specific action taken (creating a study group).
• It shows an impact on others and connects back to medicine.

Key Takeaway: Even small leadership moments can make a big impact—highlight them.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using Too Much Jargon

• DON’T “Utilized electronic health record (EHR) software to document patient data and facilitate provider workflow.”
• DO “Learned the importance of accurate documentation by using EHR systems, ensuring smooth communication between physicians and staff.”

2. Writing Vague or Generic Entries

• DON’T “Helped doctors and nurses in a hospital setting.”
• DO “While assisting in a hospital, I comforted anxious patients before procedures, learning how small acts of reassurance can build trust in medical care.”

3. Not Connecting to Medicine

• DON’T “Worked as a soccer coach for middle school students.”
• DO “Coaching soccer taught me how to adapt my teaching methods to different learning styles—something I later applied when mentoring new volunteers in my hospital’s clinical program.”

Key Takeaway: Be specific, use active language, and always show the relevance to your journey in medicine.

The Work & Activities section isn’t just a place to list your experiences—it’s an opportunity to showcase your impact, growth, and dedication to medicine. Avoid the mistake of writing generic, job-like descriptions and instead focus on storytelling, reflection, and specific takeaways.

• Avoid generic descriptions—focus on storytelling and impact.
• Use the CAR Method (Challenge, Action, Result) to structure your entries.
• Highlight leadership, problem-solving, and initiative.
• Make each entry unique by focusing on different skills or experiences.
• Always connect your activities back to your growth as a future physician.