Does this count as volunteering?

[FirefighterDoc]

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Now ive been looking around and seeing that things such as Relay for Life( which i participate in) can be considered non-clinical volunteering. I am a firefighter and we often do other things like that to raise money for different organizations for example we often stand out in our town and do " boot drives" where we stand in busy intersections with boots in the summer collecting money for Muscular Dystrophy Association. I plan on doing two events in the following months and was wondering if they could be included as well. I will first be raising money and shaving my head for the St. Baldricks foundation and then also raising money to participate in a stair climb raising money for the American Lung Association.

My question is IF and HOW any of these activities may be documented. Thank you.

 

[Sammich117]

Yeah, they can be one time volunteer activities. If you have longer running things, I'd give those preference, but if you have spaces left, definitely include them

 

[Morsetlis]

My question is IF and HOW any of these activities may be documented. Thank you.

On your AMCAS.

Seriously, you don't need proof of anything unless they get suspicious.

 

[FirefighterDoc]

Well specifically i meant like should i just make 1 general section talking about all these little things cause i doubt itll look all that impressive saying " oh an hour here climbing these stairs and 5 minutes there shaving my head and a few hours there standing out in the street" and what not. Im just confused on how hours for these would be determined or anything. The standing out in the street one is easy, but for the other two the main part is the time spend raising the money.

Idk i guess ill just lump them all together

Thanks

 

[Catalystik]

Idk i guess ill just lump them all together

This would be the correct approach, so you use only one space. Choose Community Service/nonmedical or Other from the pull-down menu, name the activity Short-Term community service, don't list dates, or a contact person. If they all took place in one community, then list that as location. In the narrative list the events by date (as best you recall), a brief description/purpose of event, and if you know then enter the amount that was collected.

 

[LizzyM]

quite frankly, this sort of thing is not impressive. If you were to organize such an activity, coordinate other participants, etc (i.e. leadership role in the activity) it would be a different story.

 

[grotto]

This sounds fine to me. I went to 6 interviews and no one asked me anything about my "volunteer activities" listed on AMCAS. I was accepted at 4 of these schools. I would just do what you like to do, help causes that you care about, and not worry about what random admissions committee members like or dislike. There will always be pre-meds who have done more than you anyway, so don't worry about the rat race.

 

[Morsetlis]

quite frankly, this sort of thing is not impressive. If you were to organize such an activity, coordinate other participants, etc (i.e. leadership role in the activity) it would be a different story.

Well, it's something. I think most people only have a few impressive things about them. Being a firefighter is impressive enough...

 

[Catalystik]

Well, it's something. I think most people only have a few impressive things about them. Being a firefighter is impressive enough...

. . . and an altruistic activity besides, in my book.

 

[LizzyM]

All I'm saying is that fund-raising actvities aren't held in high regard in comparison to other types of community service. If you have >15 items I'd drop the fund-raising item.

 

[FirefighterDoc]

I dont do them to impress anyone, i do them because i enjoy doing it. I was just unsure if I may be able to use something I enjoy so much to supplement my application. For the record that isnt the only volunteering i plan to do, by any means.

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

Running in a race isn't volunteering. That's just showing support for a cause. If you buy girl scout cookies, would you put that on your AMCAS?

 

[FirefighterDoc]

Running in a race isn't volunteering. That's just showing support for a cause. If you buy girl scout cookies, would you put that on your AMCAS?

That depends on what kind of cookies they were

 

[FirefighterDoc]

Joking aside, thank you everyone for your input. I was unsure of these things and that's why i asked

 

[Morsetlis]

I think it takes a bit more effort to run in a relay than to buy girl scout cookies.