Crazy Hobbies

Should you include hobbies and interests in your resume when applying to medical school?

This is what I have under my hobbies and interests section of my resume: -Played the piano for 9 years. Played at many recitals -Plays golf for enjoyment -Study of egyptology -Excellent manga (japanese cartoon) artist -Interest in asian popular culture including Korean dramas, Japanese manga and anime When applying to medical school, will this type of hobbies section on my resume look too personal? Will the admissions committee even care? Should I cut this section off?

Public Comments

1. I was under the impression that it's generally Not recommended to include one's hobbies on a resume but perhaps on the job/school application.
2. Special interests can be a great way to flush out a resume, especially if you want it to be a little longer. You could, as your objective, write "Well rounded, self-motivated individual seeking admission to a medical school with the goal of becoming . . . " and then have a section of your resume (near the end, before your references) called "Special Interests" with those in it. I would however change the wording to make your interests more active. Special Interests: - Studied piano for 9 years. Performed at many recitals. (also list any awards if you have any) - Enjoys playing golf non-competitively. - Reads and learns about Asian arts (drama, literature, and art forms) and Egyptology as hobbies. An admissions committee could look positively at this. The piano part shows that you are dedicated and disciplined, the golf shows that you enjoy the outdoors and physical activity, and the arts show that you have interests outside of medicine and enjoy beauty.
3. I would omit the golf reference and, if you're Asian, I would also omit your interest in Asian culture--that's almost a given and the golf reference is somewhat of a stereotypical insult about physicians. Your other references are good, as they demonstrate that you have other interests and talents. Just to plant a seed in your mind, Google Dr. Frank Netter. If you go to med school, you'll use his medical illustrations. If you have an artistic talent, you might consider adding medical illustrations to your pursuits.
4. believe me, the admissions staff LOVES to read about things other than shadowing physicians, volunteering at a hospital, etc. anything that sets you apart is a GOOD thing! they want to see that you are diverse with lots of different interests, and that you excel in areas other than science. ive even heard of applicants drawing a picture in the space left for the personal statement (i dont recommend THAT, butyou get the idea). i would mention that you play piano and have for 9 years and are an artist. although interests in egyptology and asian pop culture make you a cool and interesting person, they may not want to hear about ALL your likes and dislikes (that would go on forever!), so just focus on the accomplishments youre most proud of and the impressive stuff that shows you are focused and able to buckle down and work hard. by the by, medical schools love musicians! nothing is more boring than the typical biology major with a 3.5 who hangs out at the hospital 24/7 doing this and that. those students are plentiful and many get skipped over. you, on the other hand, with your diverse interests, may just catch their eye and they will want to know more about you and, hopefully, invite you in for an interview. i personally have a degree in theater, and talked about a few short plays i have written (i didnt include them because they included a fair amount of profanity), and touched on the fact that i was trained as an opera singe, and then moved on to talk about my volunteer experience and so forth. good luck; who knows maybe we'll be in the same med school one day! :)