Medical Caregiving vs No Volunteering?

[GoSpursGo]

Hi there,
I'm looking to apply this cycle but am very worried about this issue. I'm a college senior and currently have no documentable volunteering hours. I've done a couple things but they don't amount to much. My grandmother started w/ symptoms of Alzheimers 9 years ago and has been progressively deteriorating slowly as the disease does to most. When I started college I had to take on more responsibilities at home due to grandmothers state. Between a 20 credit average for each semester and working part time and caregiving, I haven't had time to volunteer. As of the past year or so, I've been cooking, cleaning, taking care of bathroom trips, hygiene, medications etc. for her and most recently (after the passing of my grandfather) my father and I switch off who sleeps with her at night since she is too scared and requires assistance getting to and from the bathroom at night. So recently, this has quite literally, been a 24hr on-call basis kind of job. Honestly have put in 1000's of hours taking care of her not to mention also taking care of my grandfather while he was alive the past 3 years.
So here is the meat and cheese of my question, due to financial issues, if I choose to apply this cycle, I need to know if it's worth it because it will literally suck me dry until I'm able to get a job after the vaccine (I'm going to medical scribe for a local doctor friend in ER- got pushed off due to COVID last year and then a back injury I sustained the year before that), I'm also a music major and teacher so my only income is from sparse online lessons.
Basically I have 3.83GPA and with the way I've been progressively studying for the MCAT, my honest expectation is that I will get a 520 approx on the exam. I've been part of orchestras, played for a couple of charities (i know, its volunteer but basically insignificant amounts of hours because you can only include performance time, not practice), teach music privately and pre-covid played gigs often. Do you think that despite my practically non-existent volunteering experience and ECs that this could be looked beyond due to the immense amount of responsibility being a caregiver has been. I really don't want to push off another year for my application but If the odds are way too stacked, then I understand that's just how it will have to be. I don't mean to sound terse, the stress has gotten really bad as of late with 24hr round the clock care w/ almost no break (except for the couple times a week my dad helps out, Mom does too but with her health conditions she can do very little in general). Oh, and did mention I've left the house 7 times since last March.... so yeah, slightly contributing to my squirrel-ish attitude.
Like many on here, there's nothing more I want than to be a doctor, but I'm afraid quite unfortunately that my responsibility to my family has kind of shot holes in my app (honestly wouldn't change anything though). I hope I asked my question sort of ok, I'm not good at writing concisely so sorry about that. Basically, do I have a shot at making it into UVA or Duke, their my top 2 choices.
Also should mention I was unable to take biochem or physics 2 because my college didn't offer it online even with covid so I'm only applying (planning applying) to schools that have holistic review w/o need for requirements like UVA or Duke. So if there is a chance, please let me know, and if there isn't, can you offer some advice to me that I could do post-vaccination? Really appreciate this. My premed committee literally laughed at me when they saw I wanted to apply to med school and offered no advice whatsoever. So again, thank you for any advice, I do truly appreciate, Sincerely - One incredibly stressed out premed at the moment haha

You clearly have a good reason for not having volunteering hours, but nevertheless you will not get into medical school unless you can demonstrate that you know what you’re getting yourself into.

Take a gap year and apply next year once you check the requisite boxes.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

1. You need to take a gap year. There is no way you’re getting into medical school without clinical hours.

2. What are your non-clinical hours? You need a substantial amount of non-clinical hours helping the less fortunate.

3. Just because you’re studying well doesn’t mean you are going to get close to a 520. Have you taken any practice exams?

4. You are really limiting yourself not taking your preqs.

5. You need to apply broadly when you apply and hope to get into ANY medical school.

My advice:

Take a gap year or even two. If you can, take bio chem and physics 2. Get your MCAT done. Get at least 150 hours of both clinical and non clinical hours.

 

[Goro]

Here's a harsh truth: your safety, as well as that of your family and society, is more important than your med school plans.

In the mean time, you can work on your nonclinical volunteering. Venues include scribing, food banks, COVID screening or contact tracing, Meals on Wheels, election poll working (normally done by seniors) and whatever your local houses of worship can suggest.

You're a good grandchild, but one is supposed to take care of family members. Yo need to show your altruism by helping others, not just family. Medicine is a service profession, after all.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you all who have responded. You have confirmed my thoughts. I have felt this extreme pressure to apply this cycle but you all have helped me realize that it is not a bad idea to hold off until I have a better app. So thank you. This is actually going to allow me to do something that I've been wanting to do for years regarding volunteer service. I used to do alot of volunteering using my music in the community during high school but when i entered college I don't really know what happened to all that. This also means I'll definitely be able to get my med scribe experience and shadowing and hopefully be able to take those classes as well to open up my school application pool per say. And at the risk of sounding redundant, thank you again for giving me some clarity and lifting some pressure off my shoulders, I greatly appreciate the advice.

Take your time until you are in the strongest position possible to apply. Medical schools are not going anywhere. We will understand but you still need to do the work and the networking.