mhc7795 Posted August 16, 2009 Report Share Posted August 16, 2009 I received an email from a friend today saying that I should join this national program called AMSA. He didn't explain the reason, but he said that should help on the transcript that I send to the medical schools. Is this really worth joining and will this "help" make my transcript look better in the eyes of the ADCOMs? Thank you. Here is the link- http://www.amsa.org/about/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayven Posted August 16, 2009 Report Share Posted August 16, 2009 If it's anything like the "Golden Key" society that we have here that management undergrads get suckered into joining in first year then it's probably completely useless. It's just a money grab. http://www.amsa.org/member/mbrapp.cfm The only thing that would look half-way decent is if you were some high ranking exec of this organization... which probably is unlikely to happen since they apparently have 60,000+ members. Just imagine during the med school interview, how would you bring up a membership to this society as being such a good thing? "I pay $20/year and I get a yearly newsletter from them. Did I mention that the word 'medical' was in their group name??" These organizations prey on premeds. I can't imagine that they'd provide many volunteer opportunities specific to your local since they span all of America... nothing that any club on campus couldn't provide anyways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhc7795 Posted August 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2009 Where did you get the information about the 60,000+ members or is that just a generalization? Your post makes a lot of sense. Thanks for steering me clear of getting ripped off. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayven Posted August 16, 2009 Report Share Posted August 16, 2009 I got it from the link you posted (http://www.amsa.org/about/)... the very front page actually. "Today, AMSA is a student-governed, national organization committed to representing the concerns of physicians-in-training. With a membership of more than 62,000 medical students, premedical students, interns, residents and practicing physicians from across the country, AMSA continues its commitment to improving medical training and the nation's health." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a41 Posted August 16, 2009 Report Share Posted August 16, 2009 AMSA isn't like Golden Key. But I definitely wouldn't join AMSA as a premed...I joined in first year because they give you a free Netter's atlas. Even then I don't really recommend med students joining unless they want to be active with AMSA. Personally I don't really believe that AMSA has the best priorities politically. AMA seemed ok, but again you really need to want to get involved to make it worth it. Also, if you're not in the US don't bother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhc7795 Posted August 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2009 AMSA isn't like Golden Key. But I definitely wouldn't join AMSA as a premed...I joined in first year because they give you a free Netter's atlas. Even then I don't really recommend med students joining unless they want to be active with AMSA. Personally I don't really believe that AMSA has the best priorities politically. AMA seemed ok, but again you really need to want to get involved to make it worth it. Also, if you're not in the US don't bother. Would you recommend someone to join AMSA as a medical student or a resident? What are AMSA's priorities? So basically all these medical group that requires membership isn't worth it unless the person is really active? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayven Posted August 16, 2009 Report Share Posted August 16, 2009 Would you recommend someone to join AMSA as a medical student or a resident? What are AMSA's priorities? So basically all these medical group that requires membership isn't worth it unless the person is really active? Well, first off you might want to find out just what their priorities are before you start giving them your money and affiliating yourself with them... If there was a KKKMSA then... yeahhhh.... I think any club membership isn't worth it if you aren't active in it (ie gym membership lol). I think the key to knowing what ECs to put down for med school is to remember to think ahead of time. So just think of yourself filling out the med school application forms, would you put down this club membership under EC and if brought up during the interview (presuming you got that far) how would you talk about it? edit: I honestly don't think there's a point in joining these associations. I doubt they have any real political sway. Btw, joining as a doctor is more or less free.. so.. yeah.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a41 Posted August 16, 2009 Report Share Posted August 16, 2009 edit:I honestly don't think there's a point in joining these associations. I doubt they have any real political sway. Btw, joining as a doctor is more or less free.. so.. yeah.. AMA has a lot of sway - Barack Obama was at their last conference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayven Posted August 16, 2009 Report Share Posted August 16, 2009 AMA has a lot of sway - Barack Obama was at their last conference. And what came out of it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a41 Posted August 16, 2009 Report Share Posted August 16, 2009 And what came out of it? Well this was only a few months ago, but you might have heard that Barack Obama is trying to reform the health care system in the US. Obviously the AMA isn't solely responsible but being a large organization of physicians supporting reform means something. To say that AMA has no sway is a pretty baseless statement. I'm sure AMA has done a lot more than CMA, but you probably think that that is a useless organization too. Usually people listen to doctors when they have something to say about health issues. Edit: Anyways I don't want to argue with you, but thanks for giving me the opportunity to learn a bit more about the AMA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
token Posted August 16, 2009 Report Share Posted August 16, 2009 Yeah I wasn't even sure pre-meds are allowed to join AMSA/student AMA but I agree with a41...if you have no vested interest in American healthcare reform politics there is no point in joining. Word on the street is that AMSA is more left-leaning. I'm personally joining both, because I do care about politics (and Netter's) Those currently in the upper ranks of the student wing of the AMA might actually have an audible voice in the turbulent months to come, which is kind of awesome. edit: I agree the student delegation in the AMA may have questionable influence (though it's still great experience)...but the AMA as a whole...anyone who watches US news will remember what happened a few months ago when the AMA decided to speak up, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayven Posted August 16, 2009 Report Share Posted August 16, 2009 Well this was only a few months ago, but you might have heard that Barack Obama is trying to reform the health care system in the US. Obviously the AMA isn't solely responsible but being a large organization of physicians supporting reform means something. To say that AMA has no sway is a pretty baseless statement. I'm sure AMA has done a lot more than CMA, but you probably think that that is a useless organization too. Usually people listen to doctors when they have something to say about health issues. Edit: Anyways I don't want to argue with you, but thanks for giving me the opportunity to learn a bit more about the AMA. Like what..? lol Relax. I'm only asking. If the AMSA (btw you did mean 'AMSA' and not 'AMA' right?) really did meet with the president then I'm just curious what came out of the talk or was it just a photo op? Because it seems like the health care reform debate down in the States is getting kind of stale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
token Posted August 16, 2009 Report Share Posted August 16, 2009 Like what..? lol Relax. I'm only asking. If the AMSA (btw you did mean 'AMSA' and not 'AMA' right?) really did meet with the president then I'm just curious what came out of the talk or was it just a photo op? Because it seems like the health care reform debate down in the States is getting kind of stale. Um, they are completely different organizations.... edit: I totally see how it wouldn't be clear sorry - AMSA = American medical student association AMA = American medical association The AMA also has a student wing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayven Posted August 16, 2009 Report Share Posted August 16, 2009 lol yeah I was only asking because I was saying that the AMSA probably doesn't have a lot of sway and then a41 shot back that Obama just met with the AMA... so yeah.. just wanted to be clear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a41 Posted August 16, 2009 Report Share Posted August 16, 2009 You said 'these organizations'...so...yeah. is Obama back in June at the AMA conference. To further derail this thread (and talk about something useful), I read this op-ed piece in the Times and really enjoyed it. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/16/opinion/16obama.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayven Posted August 16, 2009 Report Share Posted August 16, 2009 In reference to AMSA... I just really don't like a lot of student-run organizations (ie student government, yuck!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a41 Posted August 16, 2009 Report Share Posted August 16, 2009 In reference to AMSA... I just really don't like a lot of student-run organizations (ie student government, yuck!). AMSA is no small fry though... I think that their operating budget and assets are both in the millions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayven Posted August 17, 2009 Report Share Posted August 17, 2009 You said 'these organizations'...so...yeah. is Obama back in June at the AMA conference. To further derail this thread (and talk about something useful), I read this op-ed piece in the Times and really enjoyed it. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/16/opinion/16obama.html Well I was referring to the AMSA and other student-run organizations since this thread is about the AMSA and not the AMA... the AMA and CMA are a little more professional I'd hope. I also really don't like the fact that they changed their name from the SAMA (Student American Medical Association) to the AMSA to supposedly "cut ties" with the AMA. It just seems to me like they're still using the auspice of the AMA. AMSA is no small fry though... I think that their operating budget and assets are both in the millions. Well it is a national organization and at about $20/year for each pre-med hopeful that does add up fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
future_doc Posted August 17, 2009 Report Share Posted August 17, 2009 Well it is a national organization and at about $20/year for each pre-med hopeful that does add up fast. Another scam to take candy (money) from the baby (pre-meds) like that phony national lovely sounding honourary organization I was "invited" to join b/c I am on the Dean's List, which organization does not even publish a list of its members or undertake any activities at its expense and its only purpose is to tame our money if we are swtupid enough to fall for the so-called honour of joining this phony organization? PS: Their paid executives earn enormous salaries and perks that come from the constant annual cash flow the niave undergraduate students pay without questioning, like lambs to the slaughter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a41 Posted August 17, 2009 Report Share Posted August 17, 2009 Haha well joining gets you a free Netter's as a first year, and the membership costs less than the book. Lol you're all just bitter because you joined bogus organizations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leviathan Posted August 17, 2009 Report Share Posted August 17, 2009 Wait, so you spend $20 and you get a copy of Netter's? Do you have to stay in for a certain number of years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a41 Posted August 17, 2009 Report Share Posted August 17, 2009 Wait, so you spend $20 and you get a copy of Netter's? Do you have to stay in for a certain number of years? It's not $20, it's $75 I think. Netter's is like $80... Edit: Crap Amazon has it for $65...maybe it wasn't $65 last year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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