All Work and No Play

[amartins02]

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LONG post!!!

I have a little problem. I quit high school at the start of 11th grade then went back a year later and did two years in one to graduate with my class. Soon after I moved out and moved in with a girl I met in high school 🙁 . Basically I worked myself to death and tried going to school part time, at the same time, which didn't work out to well. Four and a half years go by and I find myself alone with no money for college. I join the National Guard and am in for six months and then I was released from obligation. When I came back I basically hit the books full time and two years later here I am. My parents are not from the U.S. so in my free time I am either helping them with things, such as their IRS issues, banking, trying to get them a mortgage for their first house, helping my sister with the kids so she can go to school etc, etc.
What do I put down for extra ciricular activities? I basically couldn't do anything like be in any clubs or play sports. I haven't done any kind of volunteer service because all of the time went into working or helping my family. What is someone in my position to do?
I recently, within the last month, was told there might be a possibility of graduating next year if I take summer courses and squeeze in a another science class, which is something I can do. Problem is, I wasn't expecting to do so so I have nothing to put down. No letters of recommendations (yet but I can get some), no personal statements, etc. I know its a long shot at this point but I figured I might as well try to apply to at least 3-4 school in my vicinity and see what happens and if I don't get in at least I will be on the same timeline I was on before I realized I could graduate early. But what about the volunteer service and extra ciricular activities? Will schools frown on this? Opinions and advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[mvs04]

lacking volunteering or shadowign experience doesnt' automatically disqualify you . Except at maybe some schools who are hardfast about it. Adcoms make their decisions based on stats and the overall strenght of your application, no need to give up just because you don't have volunteering/shadowing experience.

Hey, I had ZERO shadowing experience, and ZERO volunteering, and ZERO clubs or whatnot, ZERO tutoring or honors or anything... and it wasn't an issue.

 

[mochafreak]

lacking volunteering or shadowign experience doesnt' automatically disqualify you . Except at maybe some schools who are hardfast about it. Adcoms make their decisions based on stats and the overall strenght of your application, no need to give up just because you don't have volunteering/shadowing experience.

Hey, I had ZERO shadowing experience, and ZERO volunteering, and ZERO clubs or whatnot, ZERO tutoring or honors or anything... and it wasn't an issue.

What he didn't mention was that he also got around a 27 on his DAT...so if you don't think you can pull that off try to get around 10 hrs of shadowing. It also sounds like you had plenty of extracurricular activities related to your family and work, write a good personal statement that includes your hardships and how you learned from them, etc. and you should be set.

 

[docshep]

i second what mochafreak said. get some shadowing experience and just make sure you write a GREAT essay. schools love applicants that have overcome hardships and struggled to get where they are. they also love diversity. but they hate it when students apply and don't know exactly what they're getting themselves into. so make sure you shadow.... they'll ask you at interviews why you're choosing dentistry.