Community service and other altruistic things after acceptance into med school

[running2nguyen]

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I was just curious as to how many people continue with all their community service and other altruistic activities after being accepted. I've just been talking with some friends who are applying or plan on going on to professional school after undergrad, and all of them talked about just doing community service things until they got accepted. After acceptance, they said they would probably just quit most of the community service activities that they are in. Is this a common trend for others who have been accepted into med school already? Thanks!

 

[kduck]

I've had to cut back a bit because of the time constraints of interviews, but I am definitely planning on continuing community service. 🙂

 

[EBTrailRunner]

Can schools rescind acceptances if you listed volunteering as an activity on your application, but decide to stop?

 

[elblackwell]

I'm planning on continuing but I understand why some people decide to stop. I don't think it necessarily means they weren't doing it for genuine reasons, but a lot of people just want some time off from everything before beginning the long journey ahead of them. I think this may be especially true for medical school, because there is also an expectation at many schools that one will continue to do community service while attending school. With that in mind, I imagine that many decide to use their last few months to take a break from everything and relax.

 

[kpcrew]

wait a second, are you guys saying that you wouldn't be doing these things if you didn't have to and that you're only doing them because you feel an obligation to perform them due to the perception that medical school admission committees value these experiences?

 

[sibitrum]

I'm planning on continuing but I understand why some people decide to stop. I don't think it necessarily means they weren't doing it for genuine reasons, but a lot of people just want some time off from everything before beginning the long journey ahead of them. I think this may be especially true for medical school, because there is also an expectation at many schools that one will continue to do community service while attending school. With that in mind, I imagine that many decide to use their last few months to take a break from everything and relax.

I think it also depends on how much you contribute through an activity. In my experience, with some things you can actually contribute, but for many clinically-oriented activities the help of a pre-med is often marginally useful.

 

[jdok]

wait a second, are you guys saying that you wouldn't be doing these things if you didn't have to and that you're only doing them because you feel an obligation to perform them due to the perception that medical school admission committees value these experiences?

In short, Yes.

 

[kduck]

wait a second, are you guys saying that you wouldn't be doing these things if you didn't have to and that you're only doing them because you feel an obligation to perform them due to the perception that medical school admission committees value these experiences?

no.

 

[gettheleadout]

In short, Yes.

kpcrew's point is that it's shallow.

 

[Cherry212]

wait a second, are you guys saying that you wouldn't be doing these things if you didn't have to and that you're only doing them because you feel an obligation to perform them due to the perception that medical school admission committees value these experiences?

Yes! I will continue volunteering through my church. I can actually do meaningful things with it. I am sure plenty of people have had meaningful hospital experiences and volunteer because they genuinely want to. I know plenty of people who have now been accepted into medical school that dropped hospital volunteering as quickly as possible!

I was treated poorly at the hospital. Never had recognition, and the techs would tell me to clean each and every room while they were lounging around. Not to mention, plenty of nurses were on Facebook too. Rarely would I even get a thanks. I woke up early every morning to be there, and work for free! Two staff members also asked me why I was doing this, where one said that they don't understand why premeds do this, and that it's not fun and just work. I decided to switch hospitals, and am now at a large New York City hospital which I will keep nameless. I'm not being treated any better.

I'm sure many of the posters here will be up in arms saying that I'm a terrible person and will make a horrible physician. They may add I'm not trying hard enough at volunteering? I'm sure that my experience is similar to many.

So no, I'm done once I am finally accepted to medical school. I will gladly continue to volunteer through my church. I can do things that are actually meaningful, and not be someone's b!tch. Acceptance = Quitting = More girls nights out 😉

 

[Cooperd0g]

I don't have an acceptance yet, but if I get accepted I will make every effort to ensure the safety of other skiers/snowboarders by inspecting the slopes of many ski areas on the north side of Lake Tahoe. I assure you that it will cost the resorts and the other skiers/snowboarders nothing for my time.

On a slightly more serious note, I am a non-trad and have to support myself so volunteer hours means less work means less income to pay the bills. I'm getting by, but I actually quit volunteering at the hospital where I was supposed to be a research assistant, but after six months and still no computer access to screen patients, process data, I told them it was no longer worth my time. I'm not giving up work/income to clean spaces for free like Cherry had to do.

 

[kpcrew]

Yes! I will continue volunteering through my church. I can actually do meaningful things with it. I am sure plenty of people have had meaningful hospital experiences and volunteer because they genuinely want to. I know plenty of people who have now been accepted into medical school that dropped hospital volunteering as quickly as possible!

I was treated poorly at the hospital. Never had recognition, and the techs would tell me to clean each and every room while they were lounging around. Not to mention, plenty of nurses were on Facebook too. Rarely would I even get a thanks. I woke up early every morning to be there, and work for free! Two staff members also asked me why I was doing this, where one said that they don't understand why premeds do this, and that it's not fun and just work. I decided to switch hospitals, and am now at a large New York City hospital which I will keep nameless. I'm not being treated any better.

I'm sure many of the posters here will be up in arms saying that I'm a terrible person and will make a horrible physician. They may add I'm not trying hard enough at volunteering? I'm sure that my experience is similar to many.

So no, I'm done once I am finally accepted to medical school. I will gladly continue to volunteer through my church. I can do things that are actually meaningful, and not be someone's b!tch. Acceptance = Quitting = More girls nights out 😉

😀
i was just trying to be a little sardonic
that mindset actually makes total sense to me and i've definitely felt the same way as you many times.

 

[Cherry212]

😀
i was just trying to be a little sardonic
that mindset actually makes total sense to me and i've definitely felt the same way as you many times.

Its nice to see someone who agrees. I just wish the admissions committees would understand, but they don't. I will jump through the hoops until I land myself an acceptance!

 

[MT Headed]

I don't have an acceptance yet, but if I get accepted I will make every effort to ensure the safety of other skiers/snowboarders by inspecting the slopes of many ski areas on the north side of Lake Tahoe. I assure you that it will cost the resorts and the other skiers/snowboarders nothing for my time.

Ironically, the majority of my volunteer EMT hours are logged as a ski patroller. Will I continue to volunteer if I get an acceptance this season? You bet.

I wish I could swing this kind of volunteering while I'm in medical school too!

 

[music2doc]

I've continued after getting an acceptance, but I will admit it takes a lot more willpower to go volunteer now that I am in. I care for my patients and all at my volunteer sites, but now that I am in, a break would be nice before the storm. Nevertheless, I've made commitments to people and organizations and I intend to follow through on them.

 

[jdok]

I've continued after getting an acceptance, but I will admit it takes a lot more willpower to go volunteer now that I am in. I care for my patients and all at my volunteer sites, but now that I am in, a break would be nice before the storm. Nevertheless, I've made commitments to people and organizations and I intend to follow through on them.

You're not in an interview bro, calm down.

 

[music2doc]

You're not in an interview bro, calm down.

Why do you need to be in an interview to be honest? Com'on bro, you mad?

 

[gettheleadout]

You're not in an interview bro, calm down.

Believe it or not, some people have integrity beyond the façade. 🙄

 

[Spatula]

Is it so bad to give yourself a little me time right before you're about to start a lifetime in a career that's about helping people in vastly more significant ways than helping to clean and stock rooms?

 

[kpcrew]

Believe it or not, some people have integrity beyond the façade. 🙄

 

[Cherry212]

Is it so bad to give yourself a little me time right before you're about to start a lifetime in a career that's about helping people in vastly more significant ways than helping to clean and stock rooms?

Yes, its terrible.

 

[Ismet]

My volunteer time is taking a hit this semester because I am interviewing and I have a lot of extracurricular commitments, but I fully plan to continue in the spring semester.

Is it so bad to give yourself a little me time right before you're about to start a lifetime in a career that's about helping people in vastly more significant ways than helping to clean and stock rooms?

My "me" time will be this summer. Hopefully traveling.
Also, if your volunteer experience is limited to cleaning and stocking rooms, you probably want to look into a different position. I had one of those last year and switched to another department where I can interact with and directly help the patients.

 

[jdok]

Believe it or not, some people have integrity beyond the façade. 🙄

Good for him as they're few and far between. As for the rest of us, do you what you have to do to get where you need to go. And after all is done...acquire aesthetics.

 

[Neurosis]

Good for him as they're few and far between. As for the rest of us, do you what you have to do to get where you need to go. And after all is done...acquire aesthetics.

👍 qft

 

[gettheleadout]

Good for him as they're few and far between. As for the rest of us, do you what you have to do to get where you need to go. And after all is done...acquire aesthetics.

👍 qft

😕 What happened to a sense of honor?

 

[Neurosis]

😕 What happened to a sense of honor?

made me feel bad.

 

[NoNotYouLionel]

I was treated poorly at the hospital. Never had recognition, and the techs would tell me to clean each and every room while they were lounging around. Not to mention, plenty of nurses were on Facebook too. Rarely would I even get a thanks. I woke up early every morning to be there, and work for free! Two staff members also asked me why I was doing this, where one said that they don't understand why premeds do this, and that it's not fun and just work. I decided to switch hospitals, and am now at a large New York City hospital which I will keep nameless. I'm not being treated any better.

If that's the extent of what happened, I wouldn't consider that being treated badly at all. I've had jobs where customers have cussed at me, screamed at me, and tried to intimidate me because of store policies beyond my control.

 

[gettheleadout]

made me feel bad.

My post or your sense of honor?

If that's the extent of what happened, I wouldn't consider that being treated badly at all. I've had jobs where customers have cussed at me, screamed at me, and tried to intimidate me because of store policies beyond my control.

Customers and co-workers are totally different.

 

[Slowpoke]

this thread makes me sad.

why would you willingly use the limited time you have to live to do things you don't want?

 

[NoNotYouLionel]

Customers and co-workers are totally different.

I've had coworkers, of course. I stand by what I said. Not getting recognition or thanked and being given a lot of work is not that bad.

 

[gettheleadout]

I've had coworkers, of course. I stand by what I said. Not getting recognition or thanked and being given a lot of work is not that bad.

Still, if my coworkers were treating me like dirt and I wasn't forced to be in the situation, I would find a different one.

 

[Cherry212]

Still, if my coworkers were treating me like dirt and I wasn't forced to be in the situation, I would find a different one.

+1

If I were getting paid for it then it would be a different story. It is one thing to work and be poorly treated but getting compensated for it. By "volunteering" I am doing them a favor by giving my time for free! I do a lot of the tech grunt work which they don't even like doing for the wages they receive. So how do you think I would feel doing all this work and receiving this treatment for free? 🙁

 

[NoNotYouLionel]

+1

If I were getting paid for it then it would be a different story. It is one thing to work and be poorly treated but getting compensated for it. By "volunteering" I am doing them a favor by giving my time for free! I do a lot of the tech grunt work which they don't even like doing for the wages they receive. So how do you think I would feel doing all this work and receiving this treatment for free? 🙁

You may not be getting financially compensated, but if you're putting it on a resume you are getting something out of it. When you volunteer, it's not that unusual to get the work no one else wants. Not getting recognition for your work...not that unusual. I wouldn't say that's a fun work environment, but based on the limited details provided, it doesn't sound like being treated like dirt either. It just sounds like work.

I'd consider "being treated like dirt" more along the lines of being verbally abused (called names, insulted, belittled etc.), co-workers making up lies about you to try to get you fired, harrassed, that type of thing.

 

[gettheleadout]

You may not be getting financially compensated, but if you're putting it on a resume you are getting something out of it. When you volunteer, it's not that unusual to get the work no one else wants. Not getting recognition for your work...not that unusual. I wouldn't say that's a fun work environment, but based on the limited details provided, it doesn't sound like being treated like dirt either. It just sounds like work.

I'd consider "being treated like dirt" more along the lines of being verbally abused (called names, insulted, belittled etc.), co-workers making up lies about you to try to get you fired, harrassed, that type of thing.

It's not the lack of recognition that bothers me, it's the idea that the techs would pass of their work while they "lounge around."

 

[QuizzicalApe]

I did a lot of volunteer work every other weekend during my first year of med school, but that dropped off in second and third year as my free time started to fade. Unfortunate but thems the breaks.

 

[Cherry212]

You may not be getting financially compensated, but if you're putting it on a resume you are getting something out of it. When you volunteer, it's not that unusual to get the work no one else wants. Not getting recognition for your work...not that unusual. I wouldn't say that's a fun work environment, but based on the limited details provided, it doesn't sound like being treated like dirt either. It just sounds like work.

I'd consider "being treated like dirt" more along the lines of being verbally abused (called names, insulted, belittled etc.), co-workers making up lies about you to try to get you fired, harrassed, that type of thing.

I see your point and I discussed this topic with my pastor. I find that it is also the principle behind all this that is frustrating...

For instance, you mentioned "work" above, so lets talk about it. One Friday night I was on the phone with one of my friends. They invited me out clubbing, but I had.to decline since I had Saturday morning volunteering because I have church Sunday. When I was tellibg my friend no, she stopped me and said: "What do you mean you HAVE to do volunteering tomorrow. That makes no sense." I realized that I was saying that I NEED to volunteer when discussins the hospital with friends, but would say I am GOING to volunteer when doing a church event. I didn't notice that before, but when I did it struck me. Isn't volunteering something special that pepple do when they WANT to do something out of the goodness of their hearts? I noticed how casually premeds talk about it. It just becomes a big charade.

Whether you admit it or not, it has become a checklist item. I know some guys that offered to do free internships on Wall Street. They didn't do this because they wanted to be nice, they did this because they wanted to get a good job!!! As you mentioned in your post, volunteering is supposed to go on the resume. So why do we need to disguise it as altruism? I talked about how much this charade disgusts me with my pastor.

If I told you I wanted tp volunteer at my local bank as a secretary so the bank could loan more money to people, you would think I'm crazy. How is the hospital any different? As a volunteer, I might replace an additonal ER tech. But does this money magically huy rainbows, sunshine, and unicorns for the patients? I once went into the room of an elderly patient who was waiting for his caregiver to pick him up. Since he was starving, he wanted a meal. Because he was technically discharged, he was not given one. He was miserablr! So by replacing a tech to do the dirty work free, was a meal magically handed to him by the money the hospital save? Did a sick child get a bunch of free toys? No! This money goes to pay the rich owners on top. It is no different than "volunteering" in a bank, yet you would think I'm crazy if I did that. I am just taken advantage of whil managements pockets are being filled.

 

[Spatula]

I suspect that hospital volunteering doesn't help applicants prove they're altruistic as much as it just shows adcoms that you have exposure to the field.

 

[Cherry212]

I suspect that hospital volunteering doesn't help applicants prove they're altruistic as much as it just shows adcoms that you have exposure to the field.

Plenty of premeds will volunteer only at a hospital. Remember, SDN has lots of gunners 🙄

If the adcom is looking for both clinical experience as well as altruism, hospital volunteering will suffice. As a result, altruism would come from the hospital experience as well.

 

[Hotshy]

I've continued after getting an acceptance, but I will admit it takes a lot more willpower to go volunteer now that I am in. I care for my patients and all at my volunteer sites, but now that I am in, a break would be nice before the storm. Nevertheless, I've made commitments to people and organizations and I intend to follow through on them.

👍 This sounds right. I'm in the exact same situation, I'm continuing to volunteer and it takes a little extra effort I will admit. But in reality it's only a few hours here and there each week, so I'm just going to see it through until the end of the semester 🙂.

 

[Hotshy]

I suspect that hospital volunteering doesn't help applicants prove they're altruistic as much as it just shows adcoms that you have exposure to the field.

This is definitely right. Yes the altruistic aspect definitely comes through especially if you have made a long and sustained commitment. But I would also do other types of community service to really have the altruism in your application come forward. Soup kitchen, health education, anything that's not clinical and involves working with undeserved populations is a big plus.

 

[AllDaWEI]

This is definitely right. Yes the altruistic aspect definitely comes through especially if you have made a long and sustained commitment. But I would also do other types of community service to really have the altruism in your application come forward. Soup kitchen, health education, anything that's not clinical and involves working with undeserved populations is a big plus.

And this I feel is a BIG PROBLEM. Pre-meds keep pushing the bar higher and higher for volunteer hours. But, do we know their actual intentions? If someone starts doing a bunch of volunteer activities JUST when they become pre-med, does that possibly imply that they wouldn't have volunteered had they not been pre-med? What if you have two applicants, one with 100 hours, and the other with 110 hours? Would you instantly assume the latter is more altruistic because he or she has ten more hours than that heartless ogre with only 100?

Let's not forget the people who embellish their hours too. Someone can get a leg up over another applicant over something so arbitrary, This is a VERY FLAWED WAY OF THINKING.

 

[Hotshy]

And this I feel is a BIG PROBLEM. Pre-meds keep pushing the bar higher and higher for volunteer hours. But, do we know their actual intentions? If someone starts doing a bunch of volunteer activities JUST when they become pre-med, does that possibly imply that they wouldn't have volunteered had they not been pre-med? What if you have two applicants, one with 100 hours, and the other with 110 hours? Would you instantly assume the latter is more altruistic because he or she has ten more hours than that heartless ogre with only 100?

Let's not forget the people who embellish their hours too. Someone can get a leg up over another applicant over something so arbitrary, This is a VERY FLAWED WAY OF THINKING.

Well it's up to the applicants to not embellish. I did around 200 hours in total of hospital volunteering. I don't think that's excessive, but I would say that I've made a more sustained commitment then someone who volunteered for 80 hours. I've said this before but the whole EC thing really is a big game and you have to play if you want to get accepted. Don't get me wrong, I was the person who quit multiple activities throughout undergrad because I was not enjoying them, but still there are those boxes that need to be checked.

 

[AllDaWEI]

Well it's up to the applicants to not embellish. I did around 200 hours in total of hospital volunteering. I don't think that's excessive, but I would say that I've made a more sustained commitment then someone who volunteered for 80 hours. I've said this before but the whole EC thing really is a big game and you have to play if you want to get accepted. Don't get me wrong, I was the person who quit multiple activities throughout undergrad because I was not enjoying them, but still there are those boxes that need to be checked.

Applicants will still embellish, and it is very common. Okay, so you did 200 hours without embellishing. Now what happens if you have a pre-med who volunteered for 150 hours, but then embellished his hours to 200. Now both of you have made the same sustained commitment in the eyes of the ADCOM. Kinda sucks, doesn't it?

In the above example, a pre-med could have embellished 50 hours. It may not seem like a lot, but in reality, doing those hours is torture! The hours are easier said than done, even four hours in a crappy position sucks majorly. I just wish they would have official hour verification through AMCAS. Don't worry, I hate hospital volunteering as much as the next pre-med who hates it, but with verification, cookie cutter pre-meds will start to drop the "required hours" back to normal levels. Since the majority of pre-meds will be cookie cutters (gunners will be the minority), we can expect to see 100 hours and no more coming from applicants in the future.

 

[scarshapedstar]

Started volunteering at a free clinic in July 2010, accepted September 2011, still there, will continue until May or June 2012. I have good reason to believe that this experience put me over the top, application-wise, and I'd feel ungrateful and flaky not to give it my all. Others might not be in the same boat, though.

 

[KnuxNole]

wait a second, are you guys saying that you wouldn't be doing these things if you didn't have to and that you're only doing them because you feel an obligation to perform them due to the perception that medical school admission committees value these experiences?

si senor

 

[notbobtrustme]

I'm quitting the second I'm accepted. Probably even sooner, I'm debating on whether or not to quit when I apply.

 

[EnergyDrink]

Volunteering has become a part of my life. I've been doing it for so long, its just what I do.

Its an awesome job, and I get to see and experience some amazing things (Volunteer Firefighter)

 

[AllDaWEI]

I'm quitting the second I'm accepted. Probably even sooner, I'm debating on whether or not to quit when I apply.

If I were you, I would NOT quit sooner than that. You should be volunteering when you fill out your AMCAS, so you can fill it in as a present activity. If you want, you can quit after your AMCAS is sent out and you filled out secondaries, and maybe tell schools that you left your earlier position, and intend to start a new one.

The reason I say this is because I have heard from members here that ADCOMs do not look favorably on people who are not volunteering at the time they apply, or at least "present day" in their view. So if you quit right after the AMCAS and secondaries, you did not lie on your application.

Just don't shoot yourself in the foot. Keep up the charade until the application is filled out, and then you can either quit right after and tell interviewers you are looking to find a new volunteer position, OR just quit immediately after acceptance. If you quit before filling out the AMCAS but list it as a present activity, you are falsifying information. But do not show that you aren't "altruistic" before filling out your application. 🙄

 

[notbobtrustme]

If I were you, I would NOT quit sooner than that. You should be volunteering when you fill out your AMCAS, so you can fill it in as a present activity. If you want, you can quit after your AMCAS is sent out and you filled out secondaries, and maybe tell schools that you left your earlier position, and intend to start a new one.

The reason I say this is because I have heard from members here that ADCOMs do not look favorably on people who are not volunteering at the time they apply, or at least "present day" in their view. So if you quit right after the AMCAS and secondaries, you did not lie on your application.

Just don't shoot yourself in the foot. Keep up the charade until the application is filled out, and then you can either quit right after and tell interviewers you are looking to find a new volunteer position, OR just quit immediately after acceptance. If you quit before filling out the AMCAS but list it as a present activity, you are falsifying information. But do not show that you aren't "altruistic" before filling out your application. 🙄

ah, good to know, thanks man.

 

[mmmcdowe]

True gunners keep volunteering through medical school so they can put it on their app again.