AMCAS Activity Mistake - Verifiable Hours

[amijustyouraverage]

Basically, in 2024 I volunteered in groups at a soup kitchen. At the time, I never expected to actually use these hours for anything so I did not really keep track. The kitchen did have a paper sign in sheet, which I ONLY noticed toward the end of the time period during which I was a volunteer. There is an online database to sign up for volunteering, however I never utilized that because I went in groups. Well, I decided it might be something to put on my activities section, so I estimated ~60 hours. I tried calling the place 3 times without any luck, so I ended up putting the general phone number and the name of someone on their larger E board. After submitting, not only have I realized I overestimated the hours on accident (as I did not take summer into account), but I also tried calling one more time. They answered this time, and the only records they have of me being there are a FEW times (after I realized I could sign in on the sheet). Further, I did not get to know any of the staff.

In essence, if I were to call them right now and ask, it would seem that I was barely ever there. If I had known this was going to be a problem, I would have literally never included it. It was honestly something to just fill an activity. They will likely not be able to amend what I have put down, and I know that medical schools often perform verification in the pre-matriculation phase. I don't want to purposely bring attention to something negative, but I also do not want to look like a LIAR (I do not like liars). The most frustrating part is this is something I could have left out. After reading through the forum, I am weighing the options of letting it go, sending emails to adcoms, or potentially withdrawing my application. I realize that is a big decision, but I honestly would rather do that than run into a verification issue where there is basically no way for me to prove myself aside from my own word and pictures I have of my friends and I there. Any advice?

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[wysdoc]

Basically, in 2024 I volunteered in groups at a soup kitchen. At the time, I never expected to actually use these hours for anything so I did not really keep track. The kitchen did have a paper sign in sheet, which I ONLY noticed toward the end of the time period during which I was a volunteer. There is an online database to sign up for volunteering, however I never utilized that because I went in groups. Well, I decided it might be something to put on my activities section, so I estimated 60 hours. I tried calling the place 3 times without any luck, so I ended up putting the general phone number and the name of someone on their larger E board. After submitting, not only have I realized I overestimated the hours on accident (as I did not take summer into account), but I also tried calling one more time. They answered this time, and the only records they have of me being there are a FEW times (after I realized I could sign in on the sheet). Further, I did not get to know any of the staff.

In essence, if I were to call them right now and ask about my own volunteering, it would seem that I was barely ever there. If I had known this was going to be a problem, I would have literally never included it. I didn't even think that 60 hours of volunteering would benefit me, but it was something to fill an activity. They will likely not be able to amend what I have put down, and I know that medical schools often perform verification in the pre-matriculation phase. I don't want to purposely bring attention to something negative, but I also do not want someone to think I am lying - this is the most frustrating part. Ultimately, I am weighing the options of letting it go or potentially withdrawing my application. I realize that is a big decision, but I honestly would rather do that than run into a verification issue where there is basically no way for me to prove my hours besides my own word and multiple pictures I have of my friends and I there. Any advice?

If you have already submitted your app, you cannot change the number.

Why not go back and make good on the hours you claimed?
And be very careful on your secondaries to carefully proof-read everything

 

[amijustyouraverage]

If you have already submitted your app, you cannot change the number.

Why not go back and make good on the hours you claimed?
And be very careful on your secondaries to carefully proof-read everything

I have since moved cities, but have been volunteering at a different soup kitchen for homeless populations (not listed on my activities section). It's not that I made up the hours or activity entirely besides the accidental overestimation, it's just that I now don't have a good way to verify it. I will continue my service, however. I know I can't go back and change the activities at this point which is why I'm stuck on what to do :/

 

[LizzyM]

Let it go. You made a good faith effort to estimate the hours you volunteered. Unless you did 5 hours and said it was 500, it is unlikely to raise a red flag.

Keep serving the community and don't worry about what you cannot change.

 

[amijustyouraverage]

Let it go. You made a good faith effort to estimate the hours you volunteered. Unless you did 5 hours and said it was 500, it is unlikely to raise a red flag.

Keep serving the community and don't worry about what you cannot change.

Thank you. I just worry what happens if it comes down to my word against a lack of documentation, if that makes sense. I really don't want to get blacklisted for something as simple as this, and in retrospect, I have better things I could have included with very formal documentation. I also know, however, that withdrawing would set me back a whole cycle (sigh).

 

[LizzyM]

I highly doubt it is going to be verified and if it is, unless you've made an error by a factor of 10 or 100, it is not likely to be a dealbreaker. Saying that you worked 2000 hours as an EMT when you only took the training but were never employed (or volunteered) would be suspect but not the hours worked in a soup kitchen.

 

[amijustyouraverage]

I highly doubt it is going to be verified and if it is, unless you've made an error by a factor of 10 or 100, it is not likely to be a dealbreaker. Saying that you worked 2000 hours as an EMT when you only took the training but were never employed (or volunteered) would be suspect but not the hours worked in a soup kitchen.

Thank you for explaining, @LizzyM. That makes sense to me - I will continue my service and move on at this time! 🙂