This article is part of a series of tips about visiting medical schools. In this post we’ll discuss what you should include in your CV/resume, and why it’s important to bring copies with you on your school visits.
Anytime that you’re planning on visiting a medical school campus, whether it’s for a tour, a health fair, or an interview, I recommend that you bring updated copies of your CV or resume with you. If you make a connection with a medical student, admissions officer, or a faculty member, having copies of your professional history readily available will make it easier for them to follow up with you or to stay in touch.
When preparing your CV or resume to bring with you, make sure to do the following:
1. Include your AMCAS ID.
Even if you’re not applying to medical school this year, you can begin filling out the AMCAS application. As soon as you create an account, you will be given an AMCAS ID. This ID will be yours permanently. To gain momentum, you can begin including this AMCAS ID on all professional materials in preparation for the application process.
For those of you applying this year, it is essential that you include your AMCAS ID on all correspondence and professional materials. You can create a signature block that includes it. It should be listed under your name on your CV or resume – front and center. It’s the easiest way for selection committee members to look up your application.
2. List ALL activities from college and after.
There’s no need to include the name of your high school or any activities from high school. The CV or resume that you share at medical schools should include only events and commitments from college and after. It should contain all of your activities – everything you have done, including:
• Employment, even if it’s not related to medicine
• Research
• Shadowing
• Volunteer work
• Teaching and tutoring
• Sports and hobbies
• Awards and honors
3. Include publications as well as articles under review.
If you’re in the process of publishing a research article or you already have a publication, list them. Include everything that you’re working on. Include both the research experience as an activity as well as the research publication that resulted in a different section, titled, “Publications.” The research and the fact that you have successfully been published both deserve special recognition. Also, people learn through repetition. While they may not notice something listed once, it will come to their attention if it appears a second time in a different form.
4. List sports, especially team activities or intramural involvement.
Sports offer wonderful opportunities for the development of team building skills. Collaboration is essential in the practice of medicine. Don’t hesitate to include all of your involvement on sports teams whether it’s informal, intramural or Division 1.
5. Highlight the totals.
If you have volunteered for over 500 hours, mention this! If you want to impress the reader, make sure you bring their attention to your accomplishments. Any long-term activities will be valuable and especially any significant totals for volunteer work, clinical experience, or research.
6. Put your most recent accomplishments in bold text.
If you want to bring the reader’s attention to your most current accomplishments, make them stand out by using bold text. While many people in admissions are overwhelmed with paperwork and demands on their time, you can help by making the information you want conveyed as clear as possible. If you have submitted your AMCAS application, you’ll want to put anything NEW on your CV or resume in bold to highlight it.
7. Double check your contact information.
Make sure that your documents show your most current phone number and email address. This may seem obvious, but many people don’t realize that they have the wrong phone number until it’s too late. Cross all your t’s and dot all your i’s.
Overall, to present yourself well, be strategic in how you organize and format your CV or resume. Make it as reader-friendly as possible. Garamond is a popular font because it is so easy to read. Using the tips above, you can put together a gorgeous updated copy of your professional background that will catch the attention of the people you meet.
The next blog post in this series will explore the questions you should ask during your med school visit.
Do you need help creating an application that will help you stand out from the thousands of other medical school applicants? We’re here to help! Check out our Admissions Consulting Services for more information.
Alicia McNease Nimonkar worked for 5 years as the Student Advisor & Director at the UC Davis School of Medicine's postbac program where she both evaluated applications and advised students applying successfully to med school and other health professional programs. She has served Accepted's clients since 2012 with roughly a 90% success rate. She has a Master of Arts in Composition and Rhetoric as well as Literature. Want Alicia to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
Related Resources:
• The Quick Guide to Admissions Resumes, a free download
• Medical School Action Plan: 6 Steps to Acceptance
• What Do the Medical School Admissions Teams Say About Admissions?