<p>Is it bad to campaign for a specific candidate? In terms of medical school/ BA/MD programs?</p>
<p>John Edwards probably wouldn't be the best.</p>
<p>In all seriousness, I don't think it's particularly bad for medical schools, but I make it a point not to list anything remotely controversial on apps of all kinds - religion, politics, Apple vs. Microsoft, etc.</p>
<p>I would think that you can do what you wish, but as far as listing it on applications, stay away from anything that would label you as being for one party or another. If you volunteer your time with something like the "league of women voters" (who do not align themselves with a particular politcal party) - it would be ok to list that. If you belong to the young democrats/young republicans, I'd avoid listing anything like that.</p>
<p>pearl, that's some bad advice in my opinion. colleges supposedly want to get to know you, and if you're really active in politics, that's an important aspect of who you are. it's not an adcom's business to agree or disagree with your politics; their job is to see that you're passionate about it, devoted to it, and that you can talk about why it interests you in your interview or essay. you can't tell people to hide their interests because it might offend someone in the admissions office. i think adcoms are a little smarter than that.</p>
<p>i agree with madeinusa. adcomms prolly wanna see that you are dedicated and passionate about something. everyone's entitled to their own opinion, and the adcomms know that.</p>
<p>I agree that a good adcom would be unbiased, but it's just not a risk you want to take. I'd avoid it.</p>
<p>I think it's ok if it's a liberal organization (in fact, I would definitely mention it), but if it is a conservative one I would NEVER mention it. Something like 80% of teachers are self-identified liberals. Adcoms want you to be opinionated, but I wouldn't take the risk of having the "wrong" opinion.</p>
<p>Well, the AMA is pretty conservative, with some very liberal elements too. You never know who you're going to have reading this.</p>
<p>Admission reps are people too and if they don't like what they see it will influence their decisions. But if it's important to you to share your deep political leanings then go for it.</p>
<p>Yes do not specifically mention political affiliations on your app. Because suppose you put down "Young Republicans" as an EC and then your adcom turns out to be a democrat...</p>
<p>u want to stay as UNCONTROVERSIAL as possible</p>
<p>aka. writing an essay about ABORTION is a BADDDDDDD idea</p>
<p>just had to throw that in there</p>
<p>i agree with smder. it's one thing to say that you were passionately involved with a specific political party. It's another thing to write down controversial and narrow-minded political opinion in ur essay.</p>
<p>if you're a Young Republican and the adcom reading your app is a Democrat, I hope he's a good enough Democrat to realize that liberal ideology is all about hearing the other side. If someone really discriminated on that basis, why would you want to go to their college? In fact, at the colleges most likely to have liberal adcoms (ie the Ivies, the top LACs), they're probably looking to make their student bodies more balanced to the conservative side.</p>
<p>Okay, I'll add this in, b/c I think it's a good way just to think about ALL co-curricular and civic involvement when applying and filling out AMCAS:</p>
<p>If the involvement was a meaningful experience that you can apply to your goal of becoming a doctor, then I think you should put it in. If you were part of the college republicans and held a leadership position, then I think it is fair to add that. If you campaigned for your uncle in his bid for city council and all you did was put up posters and hand out fliers, then probably pretty worthless.</p>
<p>That said, if you were leading anti-abortion rallies...that should be left off. Much too controversial.</p>
<p>Finally: If you are worried about ANY activities appearence to people who don't know you, then leave it off. You can do it, but people don't have to know about it.</p>
<p>However, be forewarned, there are plenty of interview horror stories about interviewers asking very pointed, very blunt questions on very controversial topics. Putting something controversial on your application might open you up for more of these questions.</p>