5 Tips to Strengthen Your AMCAS Work and Activities Section

The Work and Activities section of your AMCAS application is a big part of what admissions committees will look at when deciding whether or not to interview you. While scholastics are important, extracurriculars say a lot about you, too. Your AMCAS Work and Activities is your opportunity to show who you are beyond letter grades. Because of this, it’s important to write strong descriptions of what you’ve done.

In this article, we’re going to provide you with five tips and tricks to strengthen your AMCAS Work and Activities. We want you to be at the top of your game.

1. The admissions committee sees what you did. Why did you do it?

If you shadowed your local gynecologist, the admissions committee will already have an idea of what you did. What they want to know is why you did it.

For example, stating that you observed the gynecologist interacting with her patients is obvious. That’s what you do when you shadow. You’ll want to explain why you chose to shadow her. Maybe you wanted to learn how to break bad news to a patient. Or perhaps you wanted to see how she manages her own stress levels between patient interactions. How does she take care of herself?

By writing about why you shadowed the gynecologist, you’re showing what you’re doing to prepare. It’s more than a task; it’s key to your career.

2. Details are everything.

So, the gynecologist had to break bad news. What was the bad news? How did she tell the patient? “Dr. Lim shared bad news with the patient” is a weak statement in comparison to “Dr. Lim explained that the sperm donor had backed out, so Sharon was back to square one. This was really hard for Sharon to accept because it had already taken a year to find the right donor.” Of course, you’ll want to change the name of the patient to keep their identity anonymous. But by sharing in detail what happened, you’re letting the admissions committee into the situation so that they know what you experienced. We highly recommend writing this way!

3. Don’t be extra.

Now, while you want to share details, don’t share too much information. If you watch Dr. Pimple Popper, you’ll know what we mean. You don’t want to gross out the admissions committee, nor do you want to make them feel uncomfortable. While it’s perfectly fine to share that Sharon’s sperm donor fell through, you don’t need to share the emotional, long-winded tale about why it took her a year to find the sperm donor. That’s not relevant to your experience shadowing the gynecologist.

4. Focus on yourself, not your patients or co-workers.

While you want to share details without going overboard, you want to focus on the right details. Don’t talk about what your co-workers are doing. Don’t talk about the patient who wouldn’t get off their phone. Focus on your experiences and how those experiences have contributed to your desire to become a doctor. You can also share learning experiences.

For example, you could write, “I knew without hesitation that I wanted to be a doctor after Eliza shared her story with me. She had persevered through chemotherapy for her family. Her doctors and nurses had helped make her experience bearable so that she could endure her cancer treatments.”

5. Show your heart and your passion.

We can’t express this enough. Medical school is a long and grueling process. If you want to finish as strong as you started, you’ll need passion, grit, enthusiasm and determination. Showing these character traits in the details you provide will further convince the admissions committee that you have what it takes to succeed in medical school.

Your AMCAS Work and Activities will help the admissions committee understand you better as an applicant. It’s one of the unique ways they’ll get to know you. But your AMCAS Work and Activities isn’t the only way the admissions committee will learn about you. Your personal statement, secondary essays and interview are also part of the process. By working hard to make each part equally strong, you’ll be on your way to becoming an MD candidate.

Strategically Selecting and Presenting Your AMCAS Work and Activities

The AMCAS Work and Activities section is more than a list of what you’ve done—it’s a chance to craft a narrative that highlights your readiness for medical school. With only 15 slots available (and up to 4 designated as “most meaningful”), you need to be strategic about which experiences to include and how to present them. This section can set you apart by showing the admissions committee not just what you’ve accomplished, but how those accomplishments reflect your alignment with the values and skills needed to become a physician. Here’s how to choose and frame your activities effectively.

Prioritize Quality Over Quantity

Medical school admissions committees aren’t looking for a laundry list of every activity you’ve ever done. They want to see depth, growth, and commitment in the experiences you choose to highlight. When selecting which activities to include, focus on those that demonstrate your dedication to medicine, your ability to overcome challenges, and your growth as a future physician. For instance, if you volunteered at a free clinic for two years, that’s more impactful than a one-day health fair you attended, even if the latter sounds flashy. Long-term commitments show consistency and a genuine interest in serving others, which are key traits for a future doctor.

Consider the breadth of your experiences as well. Admissions committees value well-rounded applicants, so aim for a mix of clinical exposure, research, leadership, and community service. For example, if you’ve shadowed a physician, conducted lab research, led a student organization, and tutored underserved kids, you’re showing a range of skills—empathy, intellectual curiosity, leadership, and a commitment to equity. If you have more than 15 activities, group similar ones together under one entry (e.g., “Various Volunteer Roles in Community Health”) to save space while still showcasing your involvement.

Align Your Activities with Your Medical Goals

Every activity you include should tie back to your journey toward becoming a physician. Ask yourself: How does this experience demonstrate my preparation for medical school or my understanding of the medical field? For example, if you’re passionate about rural medicine, highlight activities that show your engagement with underserved populations, such as volunteering at a rural health clinic or organizing health education workshops in remote areas. If you’re interested in medical research, include your work in a lab, emphasizing any specific skills you gained, like analyzing data or presenting findings at a conference.

When writing your descriptions, make these connections explicit. Let’s say you worked as a scribe in an emergency department. Instead of just listing your duties (“I documented patient histories”), explain how the role shaped your understanding of medicine: “Scribing in the ED taught me the importance of clear communication under pressure, as I witnessed physicians coordinate with nurses to stabilize a trauma patient in real time.” This shows reflection and ties the experience to a key skill for doctors.

Highlight Transferable Skills

Admissions committees are looking for evidence of skills that will make you a successful medical student and physician—think teamwork, resilience, adaptability, and cultural competence. Use your activities to showcase these qualities. For instance, if you were a captain of a sports team, don’t just say you led practices. Instead, write: “As soccer team captain, I fostered collaboration among 20 teammates, resolving conflicts and adapting strategies during high-stakes games, skills I’ll apply to interdisciplinary medical teams.” This connects your leadership experience to a medical context.

Similarly, if you worked a part-time job to support your family, emphasize the resilience and time management you developed: “Balancing 20 hours a week as a retail associate with a full course load taught me to prioritize effectively, a skill I’ll use to manage the demands of medical school.” Even non-medical activities can be relevant if you frame them to highlight transferable skills.

Use the “Most Meaningful” Section Wisely

The AMCAS allows you to designate up to four activities as “most meaningful,” giving you extra space (1,325 characters) to elaborate. Choose activities that had a profound impact on your path to medicine and where you can show significant personal growth. For example, if a research project sparked your interest in oncology, describe how it deepened your understanding of cancer treatment challenges and inspired you to pursue a career in that field. Be specific about your contributions and reflections: “My research on immunotherapy outcomes, where I analyzed patient data for 12 months, revealed the gaps in access to cutting-edge treatments, motivating me to advocate for equitable care in my future practice.”

Don’t waste this space on generic statements like “I loved helping people.” Instead, dig deeper: What specific moment or lesson from this experience solidified your commitment to medicine? Maybe during your time as a hospice volunteer, you comforted a patient in their final days, which taught you the importance of compassionate end-of-life care—a lesson you’ll carry into your career.

Be Honest and Authentic

Finally, don’t exaggerate or embellish your experiences. Admissions committees can spot inauthenticity a mile away, and it can hurt your credibility. If your role in an activity was small, own it, but focus on what you learned. For example, “Though I only assisted with data entry for a public health study, I gained insight into how social determinants affect health outcomes, which deepened my commitment to addressing health disparities.” Honesty paired with reflection shows maturity and self-awareness, both of which are qualities admissions committees value.

By strategically selecting and presenting your activities, you can create a cohesive story that underscores your readiness for medical school. Each entry should work together to paint a picture of a thoughtful, dedicated, and passionate future physician—one who’s prepared for the challenges and rewards of a medical career.

If you need help with your work and activities section, or with any section of your primary or secondary applications, International Medical Aid is here to help. While you might notice our global internship opportunities first, we also offer medical school admissions consulting. We can review any part of your application. In regards to your AMCAS work and activities, we can help you pinpoint what you should focus on from your experiences and provide pointers on how to make your descriptions stronger.

International Medical Aid is staffed with experts in the medical field. We’re here to help you make your application strong. Visit our website to book a consultation with us.