Currently in a tight situation, Need advice

[MaybeCursed]

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Hi, everyone. I'm looking for a bit of advice. I have a bit of background story, I hope you don't mind. During my sophomore year, which was 2 years ago, I stopped volunteering because of my IBS, which I am currently recovering from. The symptoms were embarassing, and I couldn't muster the mental strength to do anything other than finish my courses, graduate, and do a bit of genetic research. I'm trying to ask for my volunteer hours but the place I went to didn't have my email on their electronic records, so I'm not sure if they can possibly help. I still have the ID cards, not sure if they'd help. But in total, I've worked more than 240 clinical hours (but currently unverified). I also shadowed a general medicine doctor for 10 hours. I also worked as an HHA on the weekends because I needed the money, and also they're considered clinical hours since sophomore year (so that's more than 1000 hours)

My GPA is 3.9, science GPA probably 3.85. I haven't taken the MCAT yet since I was preoccupied.

My mentor said I need more shadowing hours and clinical volunteer hours since med schools don't care about research hours unless you are pursuing the MD PhD program.

A)What should I do if my volunteer hours cannot be verified? Can I still list them on my CV?
B)What other extracurricular activities should I focus on?
C)Would my medical excuse and time off put me at a disadvantage to others?

Your advice is much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Rusrus]

My mentor said I need more shadowing hours and clinical volunteer hours since med schools don't care about research hours unless you are pursuing the MD PhD program.

A)What should I do if my volunteer hours cannot be verified? Can I still list them on my CV?
B)What other extracurricular activities should I focus on?
C)Would my medical excuse and time off put me at a disadvantage to others?

Your advice is much appreciated. Thank you.

A) If the volunteer coordinator remembers you and can speak on your behalf then that is fine in the event that they are contacted to verify hours; however, that is seldom. If not, I would underestimate the hours rather than overestimate.

B) Your application is lacking service towards the lesser fortunate, which can be either clinical or non-clinical volunteering. I suggest looking at homeless shelters, free healthcare clinics, etc. Additionally, as your mentor had mentioned, you should look to up your shadowing hours to 50+ hours, of which includes PCP shadowing.

C) As long as you can portray your story well (be it in your personal statement or secondly) you should be fine. Other than that your GPA is above average and you just need to do well on the MCAT.

 

[Catalystik]

Hi, everyone. I'm looking for a bit of advice. I have a bit of background story, I hope you don't mind. During my sophomore year, which was 2 years ago, I stopped volunteering because of my IBS, which I am currently recovering from. The symptoms were embarassing, and I couldn't muster the mental strength to do anything other than finish my courses, graduate, and do a bit of genetic research. I'm trying to ask for my volunteer hours but the place I went to didn't have my email on their electronic records, so I'm not sure if they can possibly help. I still have the ID cards, not sure if they'd help. But in total, I've worked more than 240 clinical hours (but currently unverified). I also shadowed a general medicine doctor for 10 hours. I also worked as an HHA on the weekends because I needed the money, and also they're considered clinical hours since sophomore year (so that's more than 1000 hours)

My GPA is 3.9, science GPA probably 3.85. I haven't taken the MCAT yet since I was preoccupied.

My mentor said I need more shadowing hours and clinical volunteer hours since med schools don't care about research hours unless you are pursuing the MD PhD program.

A)What should I do if my volunteer hours cannot be verified? Can I still list them on my CV?
B)What other extracurricular activities should I focus on?
C)Would my medical excuse and time off put me at a disadvantage to others?

Your advice is much appreciated. Thank you.

A) Call the volunteer office and find out where you stand. If they no longer have your volunteer records, is there a staff member, co-volunteer, advisor, etc who could vouch for your hours and the timeframe in which you volunteered? If all these suggestions won't work, you can list yourself as the contact on the med school application and explain that the records can't be found in the volunteer office, but of course, nonvalidatable volunteer hours will carry far less impact. Fortunately for you, your clinical employment hours are really all you need, so long as you have nonmedical community service, too, to show your "giving heart."

B) As above.

C) ~240 hours is a solid number. You don't need to make an excuse for why you quit.

 

[chlorocruorin]

As others have said well, serve the underserved and probably do more shadowing, but the main goal to portray yourself in your application file because as of now...nothing stands out in terms of who YOU are

 

[Mike Bagwell]

The bigger idea behind the volunteer hours is to be honest. I think in the end that's really what matters most. It is not possible to verify every single legitimate activity and there are those cases where supervisors, etc. no longer are associated with that particular program or activity.

Be honest and you're good.

Instead of thinking about any more EC's, I would start the MCAT studying.

 

[MaybeCursed]

Thank you, everyone, for your replies and support. I feel motivated and hopeful!