Does only a year of volunteering by the time of application look suspicious?

[Latteandaprayer]

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I started volunteering at a hospital and at a soup kitchen the summer after sophomore year (about a week ago), because I stretched myself too thin my first two years and didn't make time for these activities. I honestly approached these as boxes needing to be checked, but I've fallen in love with both positions. Getting to play with kids and help PTs during procedures, and serving the homeless community make me really happy, and I plan on continuing for 2 more years (basically right up until matriculation). However, by the time of applications I'll only have been there for a year.

I know general wisdom is longevity > hours, so I'm worried 12 months isn't long enough to be considered longterm. I'm expecting 100 hours at the hospital (clinical) and ~200 at the soup kitchen, with no other service or clinical activities besides being a crisis text-line counselor (non-clinical), which I'm also starting just now.

Sorry for the silly neurotic post... 2AM one year before applying is prime time for stressing over applications 😛

 

[LoveBeingHuman:)]

On one occasion @LizzyM has mentioned that she likes to see 12 or more continuous months of nonclinical volunteering and in her famous "How many volunteer hours are solid?" post, she mentioned that 150 is decent for non-clinical volunteering. So on that end, you're good 🙂

As for the clinical volunteering, 100 seems pretty low, not only when compared to applicants that have hundreds, but also when compared to applicants that have clinical jobs.

 

[Catalystik]

As for the clinical volunteering, 100 seems pretty low

I agree.

And you haven't mentioned physician shadowing. When will you get that in?

I know general wisdom is longevity > hours, so I'm worried 12 months isn't long enough to be considered longterm.

Will you have any activities to list longer than 12 months?

 

[Latteandaprayer]

I agree.

And you haven't mentioned physician shadowing. When will you get that in?
Will you have any activities to list longer than 12 months?

As for the clinical volunteering, 100 seems pretty low, not only when compared to applicants that have hundreds, but also when compared to applicants that have clinical jobs.

I have shadowed an internist for 50 hours, and I volunteered in a hospital for 6 months before (I had to quit because it was way too far from campus and it was a hassle to find a ride past midnight). In total I’ll have 200 hours of clinical volunteering, but it’s staggered.

My employments have been going on for a little over a year now, a little over two years at the time of application. I’m heavily involved in a theater club, and I’ll have 3 years by the time of apps. Which makes my other fear seem like I’m uncommitted to medicine, or at least not as committed as I am to theater or money.

 

[Catalystik]

1) -I have shadowed an internist for 50 hours
2) -I volunteered in a hospital for 6 months before
3) -My employments have been going on for a little over a year now, a little over two years at the time of application.
4) -I’m heavily involved in a theater club, and I’ll have 3 years by the time of apps.

1) Perfect.
2) You had said in post #1 "no other service or clinical activities". Was the previous hospital voluntering not in a clinical area where you had patient interaction?
3) & 4) So here is the longevity. You will have shown reliability and commitment somewhere.

 

[Latteandaprayer]

1) Perfect.
2) You had said in post #1 "no other service or clinical activities". Was the previous hospital voluntering not in a clinical area where you had patient interaction?
3) & 4) So here is the longevity. You will have shown reliability and commitment somewhere.

Thanks for the breakdown! For (2), it was in the ED where the extent of patient contact was asking if they needed anything and occasionally a conversation if they were in the mood. I worked 8PM to midnight, though, so most patients were asleep, which is why I’m hesitant to say it was clinical.

 

[Oso]

For (2), it was in the ED where the extent of patient contact was asking if they needed anything and occasionally a conversation if they were in the mood. I worked 8PM to midnight, though, so most patients were asleep, which is why I’m hesitant to say it was clinical.

sounds clinical to me

 

[Catalystik]

Thanks for the breakdown! For (2), it was in the ED where the extent of patient contact was asking if they needed anything and occasionally a conversation if they were in the mood. I worked 8PM to midnight, though, so most patients were asleep, which is why I’m hesitant to say it was clinical.

It was clinical.

So overall, I think you're fine, clinical exposure-wise. You will not have held the same clinical volunteering position all that time, but you give evidence of prolonged consideration of medicine as a career through multiple activities. Your 2 am neurotic stressing was for naught.