Concerns with Volunteering

[whddnqud5]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello everyone, I am a recent college graduate who is planning to apply next round.

Long story short, I have been serving as a mentor in my church for past 2 years (400+ hours).
I recently started volunteering for a local Hospice facility every Saturday (2-3hrs/wk)
I am currently working as a full-time NIH post-bac that involves some interactions with patient (approximately 1hr/wk).
I have undergrad research experience of (400+ hours and a poster, no publications) and once worked on medical device development project with a physician for a semester (Approximately 80 hr)
That is pretty much all I have at this point. I was so focused on my class works and did not devote much time on volunteering (But managed to get a really high GPA).

I am also planning to start another clinical volunteering & shadowing after the January MCAT so I have 150+ hrs of clinical volunteering.
I am just concerned because all of my EC besides church activities seem 'last minute effort' to complete the checklist.

Can you guys share your opinion and advice? Thanks in advance!

 

[de Ribas]

Hello everyone, I am a recent college graduate who is planning to apply next round.

Long story short, I have been serving as a mentor in my church for past 2 years (400+ hours).
I recently started volunteering for a local Hospice facility every Saturday (2-3hrs/wk)
I am currently working as a full-time NIH post-bac that involves some interactions with patient (approximately 1hr/wk).
I have undergrad research experience of (400+ hours and a poster, no publications) and once worked on medical device development project with a physician for a semester (Approximately 80 hr)
That is pretty much all I have at this point. I was so focused on my class works and did not devote much time on volunteering (But managed to get a really high GPA).

I am also planning to start another clinical volunteering & shadowing after the January MCAT so I have 150+ hrs of clinical volunteering.
I am just concerned because all of my EC besides church activities seem 'last minute effort' to complete the checklist.

Can you guys share your opinion and advice? Thanks in advance!

planning any shadowing experience?

 

[whddnqud5]

planning any shadowing experience?

Yes. I will start shadowing after the January MCAT. Planning to do around 60 hrs before June.

 

[Catalystik]

Hello everyone, I am a recent college graduate who is planning to apply next round.

Long story short, I have been serving as a mentor in my church for past 2 years (400+ hours).
I recently started volunteering for a local Hospice facility every Saturday (2-3hrs/wk)
I am currently working as a full-time NIH post-bac that involves some interactions with patient (approximately 1hr/wk).
I have undergrad research experience of (400+ hours and a poster, no publications) and once worked on medical device development project with a physician for a semester (Approximately 80 hr)
That is pretty much all I have at this point. I was so focused on my class works and did not devote much time on volunteering (But managed to get a really high GPA).

I am also planning to start another clinical volunteering & shadowing after the January MCAT so I have 150+ hrs of clinical volunteering.
I am just concerned because all of my EC besides church activities seem 'last minute effort' to complete the checklist.

Can you guys share your opinion and advice? Thanks in advance!

I agree with your concerns. Might you consider waiting to apply for an additional year, until June 2019?

 

[LoveBeingHuman:)]

I agree with your concerns. Might you consider waiting to apply for an additional year, until June 2019?

So does starting an activity 8 months prior to application submission seem last minute?

 

[Catalystik]

So does starting an activity 8 months prior to application submission seem last minute?

It doesn't matter if the shadowing is "last minute," but to have initiated little exposure to patients until 8 months prior to submitting one's application may be interpreted as an impulsive decision to go into medicine without having adequately tested one's fitness for it. At least the mentoring (considered a type of teaching activity) is of long duration and the research experience will be solid.

And what about peer leadership, hobbies/artistic endeavors, and hands-on assistance to those outside one's usual comfort zone through community service?