Do highly committed EC's and research offset low volunteer/clinical hours?

[sicachu]

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I am a current senior planning to take one gap year, so I know there isn't a whole lot I can do to change these numbers at this point. But basically, I have committed a large portion of my time to an unrelated extracurricular activity, dance, which has left me with less time to take on volunteer and clinical hours. It's something I've been doing my whole life, 13 years before college and then ~15 hours a week every semester from freshman fall up until now, including involvement in leadership. I've also spent a ton of time doing research at a neuroscience lab, starting sophomore fall with fluctuating hours, but probably averaging 10-12 hours a week. I also spent the last two summers working at this same lab and have gotten a publication and will be doing an independent research thesis with them this senior year. Because I was left with little time to dedicate to other things, I got by on a very small volunteer commitment so far. 1-2 hours a week of teaching at inner city schools (and leadership positions within this org) from sophomore fall until now. That can't be more than like ~90-100 hrs max by graduation. I also only just now began clinical volunteering (3 hrs a week starting this semester) because its the first time i've had big enough chunks of consistent free time to commit to it.

My question is, will adcoms see my overwhelming time dedication to other activities and be more lenient/understanding of my lack of volunteer hours? Obviously it would've been better the other way around with way more volunteer than EC hours, but will this be a major issue? I guess I still have my senior year & gap year to try to make it up, but how bad do you suppose I need to scramble?

 

[LizzyM]

My question is, will adcoms see my overwhelming time dedication to other activities and be more lenient/understanding of my lack of volunteer ...

You'll be up against people who made time for what was important to them and that was service to others and clinical exposure. You might want to plan on 2 gap years so that you have a decent mix of experiences on your application. Better to postpone and apply once than to apply, not get in, and have to apply later anyway.

 

[907914]

While 3 hours a week until graduation will definitely get you up to the 90 hour mark, which is OK (not the best) one might wonder how you plan on continuing this obvious passion of yours in med school, or where your priorities lie to be unable to explore the clinical realm. Upping the clinical by 4 hours a week and dropping the research or dance down by the same would likely be good. Otherwise, I would follow LizzyM’s 2 Gap years.

 

[Goro]

I am a current senior planning to take one gap year, so I know there isn't a whole lot I can do to change these numbers at this point. But basically, I have committed a large portion of my time to an unrelated extracurricular activity, dance, which has left me with less time to take on volunteer and clinical hours. It's something I've been doing my whole life, 13 years before college and then ~15 hours a week every semester from freshman fall up until now, including involvement in leadership. I've also spent a ton of time doing research at a neuroscience lab, starting sophomore fall with fluctuating hours, but probably averaging 10-12 hours a week. I also spent the last two summers working at this same lab and have gotten a publication and will be doing an independent research thesis with them this senior year. Because I was left with little time to dedicate to other things, I got by on a very small volunteer commitment so far. 1-2 hours a week of teaching at inner city schools (and leadership positions within this org) from sophomore fall until now. That can't be more than like ~90-100 hrs max by graduation. I also only just now began clinical volunteering (3 hrs a week starting this semester) because its the first time i've had big enough chunks of consistent free time to commit to it.

My question is, will adcoms see my overwhelming time dedication to other activities and be more lenient/understanding of my lack of volunteer hours? Obviously it would've been better the other way around with way more volunteer than EC hours, but will this be a major issue? I guess I still have my senior year & gap year to try to make it up, but how bad do you suppose I need to scramble?

This may sound a little harsh, but I would not call your dance career an explanation for your lack of ECs. I would call it evidence that you chose to prioritize the short-term over the long-term, which is not a particularly appealing characteristic in a potential physician. You will simply get crowded out by applicants with stronger applications.

Here's the deal: You need to show AdComs that you know what you're getting into, and show off your altruistic, humanistic side. We need to know that you're going to like being around sick or injured people for the next 40 years.

Here's another way of looking at it: would you buy a new car without test driving it? Buy a new suit or dress without trying it on??

We're also not looking for merely for good medical students, we're looking for people who will make good doctors, and 4.0 GPA robots are a dime-a-dozen.

I've seen plenty of posts here from high GPA/high MCAT candidates who were rejected because they had little patient contact experience.

Not all volunteering needs to be in a hospital. Think hospice, Planned Parenthood, nursing homes, rehab facilities, crisis hotlines, camps for sick children, or clinics.

Some types of volunteer activities are more appealing than others. Volunteering in a nice suburban hospital is all very well and good and all, but doesn't show that you're willing to dig in and get your hands dirty in the same way that working with the developmentally disabled (or homeless, the dying, or Alzheimers or mentally ill or elderly or ESL or domestic, rural impoverished) does. The uncomfortable situations are the ones that really demonstrate your altruism and get you 'brownie points'. Plus, they frankly teach you more -- they develop your compassion and humanity in ways comfortable situations can't.

Service need not be "unique". If you can alleviate suffering in your community through service to the poor, homeless, illiterate, fatherless, etc, you are meeting an otherwise unmet need and learning more about the lives of the people (or types of people) who will someday be your patients. Check out your local houses of worship for volunteer opportunities. The key thing is service to others less fortunate than you. And get off campus and out of your comfort zone!

Examples include: Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, Humane Society, crisis hotlines, soup kitchen, food pantry, homeless or women’s shelter, after-school tutoring for students or coaching a sport in a poor school district, teaching ESL to adults at a community center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, or Meals on Wheels.

 

[Catalystik]

1) My question is, will adcoms see my overwhelming time dedication to other activities and be more lenient/understanding of my lack of volunteer hours?
2) Obviously it would've been better the other way around with way more volunteer than EC hours, but will this be a major issue?
3) I guess I still have my senior year & gap year to try to make it up, but how bad do you suppose I need to scramble?

1) No.
2) Yes.
3) There is no need to rush. Med schools aren't going anywhere. Take the time you need to build a good application and don't apply prematurely.

 

[diasterdream]

While the dance will help you explain your diversity, it will not help you demonstrate your interest in medicine. Like everyone else said, your focus should be getting clinical and nonclinical experience. There is no reason to harm your application prematurely by rushing to get hours. It will show. I recommend finding opportunities that combine your passion for dance with service. Maybe teach dance to kids at the YMCA or do dance exercises with seniors. Also clinical experience does not have to be volunteering. During your gap year, you could try to find a job as scribe, medical assistant, or patient care tech. These experiences can be helpful in establishing your interest for medicine.

 

[candbgirl]

My question is, will adcoms see my overwhelming time dedication to other activities and be more lenient/understanding of my lack of volunteer hours? Obviously it would've been better the other way around with way more volunteer than EC hours, but will this be a major issue? I guess I still have my senior year & gap year to try to make it up, but how bad do you suppose I need to scramble?

ADCOMS will see your overwhelming time dedication to what you want to do and what you are comfortable doing. And it will be a major issue. Applying without clinical experience, shadowing(especially a primary care doc) and nonclinical volunteering is a very bad idea. Are you planning to apply MD/PhD.? If not, perhaps you should cut back on your research. You have plenty for most schools.

Obviously dance is important. As @diasterdream suggested, see if you can use dance for some nonclinical volunteering. I once saw a dance program for physically challenged kids. Little girls in wheelchairs have the same feelings as most little girls and these little kids just loved “dancing” and moving their arms etc like ballerinas. They even had a recital at the end of the program. It was so great to see these kids so proud and happy. And the program was planning to expand for some basic jazz and hip hop so the boys would be included too. Look around. Use your imagination. You’ll figure it out.

I can’t tell from your post when you are planning to apply. Hopefully it’s not at the end of senior year immediately after graduation. You are going to need time to fill the gaping holes you currently have in your application. Do it right so you only have to apply once.