70 Volunteering Hours Lost

[EcoR1]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Last year I volunteered at a hospital for a total of about 70 hours. They required a commitment of 100 hours, but I had to stop because of time constraints. The other day I emailed the coordinator to see if they could provide me with the days I started and ended volunteering, and apparently if you don't meet the commitment of 100 hours in a certain amount of time your volunteering record is expunged. They no longer have a record of my hours, the dates I volunteered, or even if I was a volunteer there at all.

Should I still include my volunteering here on my applications? I'm afraid if schools try to verify my hours here there won't be any evidence of it. The only proof I have is a couple of emails with my starting date and one stating I completed 22 hours in a span of 2 months. I do have another 128 hours of volunteering elsewhere, but I feel that putting only 128 hours of volunteering on my application is on the low side. Anyone have any advice for me?

 

[MaxPlancker]

Probably best to just leave it off then. While you wouldn't be lying if you put in on your app, if in the rare case it is checked and found that the records don't match up, you will just be in for a bigger headache. Putting this on your app or keeping it off will not change your chances whatsoever. Try not to get bogged down by quantity so much; quality is what you should strive for in any pursuit.

 

[Petrichor1]

honestly, I would include it if you complement it with other hours in another hospital. You must have record of conversation with people there and you must have met with someone on the floors where you conversed with. The coordinator hardly interacts with you and has a lot of other students to deal with so I wouldn't get bogged down if they are clueless about you.

 

[Lost in Translation]

Leave it off. You didn't meet the minimum reqs, and 70 hours is less than a typical semester's worth (aka nothing substantial so if you put it on your app it might look like you're trying to sandbag.)

Go try and volunteer again, meeting the minimum 100. Then maybe you can fight the volunteer department for the extra 70.

 

[ChrisMack390]

Did you make any friends or do you know anyone else who works at the hospital and could verify that you were volunteering? Doesn't need to be the head coordinator.

 

[Medgrant]

You should contact the schools directly and see what they have to say about the situation. 70 hours is not a one weekend gig. I do not believe that your record is actually gone for good, but that is just my opinion. For legal reasons, I don't see them getting rid of information regarding you being involved at the hospital... Especially saying that you "never even volunteered." If it bothers you enough, just call the schools and ask.. Wont hurt.

 

[grapp]

Did you make any friends or do you know anyone else who works at the hospital and could verify that you were volunteering? Doesn't need to be the head coordinator.

Very true, glad someone brought this up. I'm friends with several docs in the hospital that could vouch for me, as well as the charge nurse every other week.

 

[Glandzburg]

Include it. 70 hours is not an insignificant amount of time to voluntarily give to an organization and then have them pretend like it didn't happen. You put in the time, and therefore have the right to include it. You aren't embellishing or lying about anything. List someone who can vouch for you as the contact person.

 

[Derivations]

Include it

 

[deleted731525]

As long as you have someone who will vouch for you, to put down in the contact info include it. Hell even if you dont still include it(use the volunteer office for contact) they wont check, anyway nobody will be suspicious of 70 hrs.

 

[Petrichor1]

go to the charge nurse and ask if you could obtain their contact for medical school applications. They will be more than happy to vouch for you. Tell them you don't need them to write a letter, just a person of reference. You also need to remind them you did 70 hours. If they know you, have seen you over time, they won't mind.