Do schools care about exact numbers of hours for EC/Volunteering?

[WhiteCoatSyndrome]

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I just submitted my application through AACOMAS and estimated the hours for basically all of my EC's and volunteering. I feel that the hours I put are as accurate as possible and I could definitely explain it if asked about it. It's just that specifically at the places I volunteered, hours were never really recorded for volunteers so I really have no choice but to estimate. I didn't think it would be a huge deal, especially because AACOMAS doesn't require contact info for activities so the schools couldn't verify it if they wanted. Maybe I'm freaking out, but I just wanted to make sure estimating in these situations is ok.

 

[wjs010]

I estimated as close as I could too. It's fine

 

[darklabel]

I just submitted my application through AACOMAS and estimated the hours for basically all of my EC's and volunteering. I feel that the hours I put are as accurate as possible and I could definitely explain it if asked about it. It's just that specifically at the places I volunteered, hours were never really recorded for volunteers so I really have no choice but to estimate. I didn't think it would be a huge deal, especially because AACOMAS doesn't require contact info for activities so the schools couldn't verify it if they wanted. Maybe I'm freaking out, but I just wanted to make sure estimating in these situations is ok.

True, but a word of caution. If you've volunteered somewhere for 50 - 100 hours, may not be a big deal and even MD schools won't verify it (Wayy too much on their plate) , but if you've done research for 2 years or volunteered at a hospital for over 4 or so years, a Letter of Rec from them would help to verify your claims.

 

[WhiteCoatSyndrome]

True, but a word of caution. If you've volunteered somewhere for 50 - 100 hours, may not be a big deal and even MD schools won't verify it (Wayy too much on their plate) , but if you've done research for 2 years or volunteered at a hospital for over 4 or so years, a Letter of Rec from them would help to verify your claims.

Yeah, I spent multiple years volunteering at a church before I began working there and I've also been volunteering at a clinic for about 3 years. I have about 750 hours volunteering at the church and 180 at the clinic. I don't have LOR's from either place just because I don't think the letter from the church would help that much and the nurse who runs the clinic is just way too busy.

 

[coolingglasses]

I estimated as close as I could too. It's fine

+1

Just be as accurate as you can, knowing that if they do get curious, you'll surely be expected to provide proof.

 

[WhiteCoatSyndrome]

+1

Just be as accurate as you can, knowing that if they do get curious, you'll surely be expected to provide proof.

I don't think they'd get too curious because the numbers make sense with the amount of time I've been at each place. However, if they did get curious I'm not sure how I would provide proof without a log of the hours.

 

[QueenJames]

...

 

[darklabel]

Yeah, I spent multiple years volunteering at a church before I began working there and I've also been volunteering at a clinic for about 3 years. I have about 750 hours volunteering at the church and 180 at the clinic. I don't have LOR's from either place just because I don't think the letter from the church would help that much and the nurse who runs the clinic is just way too busy.

Ahh, then don't worry much about it. Maybe under info for the clinic, maybe put the nurse's email or something along those lines.

 

[coolingglasses]

I don't think they'd get too curious because the numbers make sense with the amount of time I've been at each place. However, if they did get curious I'm not sure how I would provide proof without a log of the hours.

Even something as easy as someone verifying in writing. I wouldn't worry about it unless you actually get asked.

 

[WhiteCoatSyndrome]

Even something as easy as someone verifying in writing. I wouldn't worry about it unless you actually get asked.

Yeah that makes sense. Another thing I've thought about is the fact that when I volunteered at the church I started in high school and continued into college for a bit. My grandmother runs the church and supervised my volunteering and actually is technically my supervisor now when I work there. I could understand why this may seem weird to adcoms, but it's just how it worked out. I started doing it to have something to do during summers and it stuck. The fact that I work with a family member shouldn't matter in the long run I would think. However, if they did need verification it would have to come from my grandmother because she is the only one that knows the specific dates that I began working/volunteering etc.

 

[coolingglasses]

Yeah that makes sense. Another thing I've thought about is the fact that when I volunteered at the church I started in high school and continued into college for a bit. My grandmother runs the church and supervised my volunteering and actually is technically my supervisor now when I work there. I could understand why this may seem weird to adcoms, but it's just how it worked out. I started doing it to have something to do during summers and it stuck. The fact that I work with a family member shouldn't matter in the long run I would think. However, if they did need verification it would have to come from my grandmother because she is the only one that knows the specific dates that I began working/volunteering etc.

Should be fine. I volunteered at my parents' clinic doing non-medical stuff and one of them would've had to have verified for me.

 

[WhiteCoatSyndrome]

Should be fine. I volunteered at my parents' clinic doing non-medical stuff and one of them would've had to have verified for me.

That makes me feel better. I'll be honest though, she probably has no clue as to the exact number of hours that I volunteered there just because that was a couple years ago and she never had any reason to keep count.

 

[coolingglasses]

That makes me feel better. I'll be honest though, she probably has no clue as to the exact number of hours that I volunteered there just because that was a couple years ago and she never had any reason to keep count.

Mine don't either, guaranteed. I really guesstimated on the hours because it was never that I would come it for a set number of hours, it was "hey, we need help with xyz." and those tasks could take under an hour or hours upon hours, and these took place over a 10-year period.

 

[WhiteCoatSyndrome]

Mine don't either, guaranteed. I really guesstimated on the hours because it was never that I would come it for a set number of hours, it was "hey, we need help with xyz." and those tasks could take under an hour or hours upon hours, and these took place over a 10-year period.

Yeah, we're in similar boats then. I just wanted to run these things by someone else. I would know if they were going to contact the church because they would have to get info from me first, so it would never be a surprise so to speak. I can see them verifying the hours post interview or acceptance though. Hopefully they can understand that things were relatively informal and whatever hours my grandmother has probably won't be exact with mine. I guess I could always talk to her about it though.