For AMCAS, when I log my EC hours, do I take into account transportation time?

[Tofurkey]

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Hello,

I am starting to put my EC hours into AMCAS. But say I volunteer somewhere for 3 hours per week. Do I include the fact that it takes me 30 minutes each way to get there, and thus put a total of 4 hours per week for that activity?

Just wondering what the general consensus is on this.

Thanks,

t

 

[DemonDeacon]

I've been involved with two major volunteering organizations, and we for sure include transporation. In fact, we include the time spent making phone calls to gather people up, calls to organize stuff, and for sure time spent driving to and from. I say, include all those hours, because the intention was for volunteering.

 

[ken37]

I'd have to say not to include time driving to get to the place of voluteering. That'd be like claiming the hours spent driving to and from work on your timesheet. However, if you have to drive during the volunteering job from one site to another, I'd definately include that.

 

[CaMD]

I agree with Ken. The analogy with commuting to work is perfect.

The number of hours you put is not about how many hours you weren't doing something else, it's about how many hours you got to do the cool experience you're documenting. I doubt your 30 minute commute was integral to your decision to become a doctor nor will it make you a better doctor in the long run. ..I assume! 😉

 

[DemonDeacon]

I don't know, time is precious and the hour I spend each day driving to and from volunteering is time that I should be using towards something productful. My dad is an ER physician. To make things fair, all employees get paid on the shifts they spend in the hospital. However, because he drives an hour to get to work, the company reimburses him not only for gas, but for the mileage he puts on his car.

 

[Eraserhead]

For questions like this, there is no hard and fast AMCAS rule. Basically if there are no clear instructions printed, its totally up to you to make the call.

 

[freaker]

Is this stuff verified? I've participated in some volunteer programs in years past, and I can't remember exactly how long I was working. I think I was on a five hour shift, but it could have been three or four. I also don't remember exactly when I started. If I'm off by a month or two, does it matter?

 

[Tofurkey]

I personally think transportation should be included, because I spend 30 minutes each way commuting to each of my volunteer EC's, and that ads up to 3 hours total extra per week in commute time. I could be doing a lot better things with that time, thus I think it should be included.

Thanks,

T

 

[DemonDeacon]

^ I agree. It all depends on what your feelings are, I guess. 🙂

 

[ken37]

I personally think transportation should be included, because I spend 30 minutes each way commuting to each of my volunteer EC's, and that ads up to 3 hours total extra per week in commute time. I could be doing a lot better things with that time, thus I think it should be included.

Thanks,

T

Why ask the question if you already have your answer? Someone above posted that an employee was reimbursed MILEAGE to work, not for the time. I think it'd be a stretch, and I'd rather put fewer hours down than get caught in a lie.

An example of your logic: I take a volunteer job in NYC. I live in Dallas. I work one 8 hour shift, but my driving time is 21 hours each way from Dallas. Do I really claim 50 hours on my EC's?

 

[Lavndrrose]

Why ask the question if you already have your answer?

She just wants to reason with herself that what she's doing is okay.

I've seen some of Tofurkey's posts and they seem shady at times. She should just stick with being a lawyer.

 

[Thundrstorm]

I would say no. For my volunteer research position this year, I spent an hour commuting for each 3 or 4 hours of research, but I was sitting on a shuttle, not doing research, so why claim it?

I'm starting a volunteer position soon that can take over an hour each way (depending on the bus schedule), so even though it will double the time I take out of my day each week, I still don't see the point of adding it to my total hours. I mean, it sucks that I'm going to "waste," 2 hours a week, but if I'm just sitting on a bus, reading, come on, does that really count? The point is not to add up the hours in your day not spent doing something else, but to see how many hours you were engaged in the activity. It just seems a little dishonest to me. I think the work analogy is a good one.

 

[ken37]

She just wants to reason with herself that what she's doing is okay.

I've seen some of Tofurkey's posts and they seem shady at times. She should just stick with being a lawyer.

Hey, I'm a lawyer 😀 Although I can't deny that the occasional shadiness is one of the reasons I want to get out.

 

[CaMD]

I think it's dishonest and would feel guilty doing it, but I guess to each his own.

 

[Notzfall]

I don't know, time is precious and the hour I spend each day driving to and from volunteering is time that I should be using towards something productful. My dad is an ER physician. To make things fair, all employees get paid on the shifts they spend in the hospital. However, because he drives an hour to get to work, the company reimburses him not only for gas, but for the mileage he puts on his car.

Wait a minute. The point is not to have volunteered because you were going to get "credit." The freakin' point is that you VOLUNTEERED to do something that impacts the lives of other people. Not what YOU had to sacrifice... Reading all this makes me think they should just take the volunteering category out of the picture.

The point is that the schools are trying to see if you're community oriented and are willing to give your time. Not count it on a time sheet. If you feel like you did something meaningful to someone who needed help while you were rockin' out to your car stereo or flipping the guy off next to you then, by all means, carry a stop watch.

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

I personally think transportation should be included, because I spend 30 minutes each way commuting to each of my volunteer EC's, and that ads up to 3 hours total extra per week in commute time. I could be doing a lot better things with that time, thus I think it should be included.

Thanks,

T

That explains why people with real jobs get paid for their morning and evening commute.

Oh, wait.

 

[Tofurkey]

Wait a minute. The point is not to have volunteered because you were going to get "credit." The freakin' point is that you VOLUNTEERED to do something that impacts the lives of other people. Not what YOU had to sacrifice... Reading all this makes me think they should just take the volunteering category out of the picture.

QUOTE]

But I really do feel that I've been volunteering in order to get credit. If it weren't a written/unwritten rule, I wouldn't do it. That's why I feel like counting your travel time should absolutely be included.

 

[exmike]

I really dont see how your transportation time will drastically alter the # of hours you worked. I am POSITIVE the time added or not added due to your transportation to volunteering will NOT be why you did or did not get in medical school. In fact, I find this discussion as amusing as a premed fretting over a A- in a class.

If you are spending so much time traveling to go to your service event that it would siginifcantly affect the number of hours you worked, you need to seriously rethink the value of what you are doing.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Jebus, put it or don't, its not about the hours.

 

[jlee9531]

haha...wow. i see everything on here.

but anyways. i didnt and that didnt even cross my mind. usually when an EC writes you an LOR...they put in the hours you actually worked...not driving...
if what you put down doesnt match what they put down...that would suck.

just put down the hours you worked to make it easier.
remember it is how much you volunteered...not prepared to volunteer for.
might as well put down how long you ate breakfast for since the energy will have been spent towards working at whereever you volunteer at...

 

[No Egrets]

I say, go ahead and include transportation time... But don't forget to include the other hidden factors, including:

- time it takes you to get dressed for volunteering activity
- time it takes you to walk from your dorm/apartment to the car (the seconds add up!)
- time you spend sleeping the night before in order to be fully alert and ready to volunteer
- time it takes you to reflect in your xanga about how humanitarian you are
- time spent deciding whether or not to include transportation time in AMCAS.

Good luck!

 

[DemonDeacon]

- time spent deciding whether or not to include transportation time in AMCAS.

that's gotta be the funniest thing on here, not a bad

gg!

 

[Amy B]

Don't put drive time down. That is just plain nuts.

Did you have to sign in where you volunteered and sign out? If so they will have a record of exactly how many hours you have been there. Also are these people giving you a LOR? IF so they may very well include the amount of hours you spend there and if your numbers aren't the same or near to the same, schools will question what's up.

 

[krebse]

I say, go ahead and include transportation time... But don't forget to include the other hidden factors, including:

- time it takes you to get dressed for volunteering activity
- time it takes you to walk from your dorm/apartment to the car (the seconds add up!)
- time you spend sleeping the night before in order to be fully alert and ready to volunteer
- time it takes you to reflect in your xanga about how humanitarian you are
- time spent deciding whether or not to include transportation time in AMCAS.

Good luck!

amazing...please continue restoring my faith in the fact that there are at least a few people on SDN that are not completely lame...

 

[NemoFish]

Hi Tofurkey,

I absolutely, 100% agree with you--put down the time you spent getting there. In contrast to someone else's post on this thread, Tofurkey's point is that it IS about the time that volunteering takes up when you could be doing something more productive with yourself--thus, why not get credit for all the time you spend volunteering, including commuting? I'm not volunteering because I want to--I'm volunteering because it's basically required. I get so sick and tired of the self-rightousness that goes on rampantly on this board. Who WOULDN'T rather be taking a nap, hanging out with friends, or seeing a movie than spending their three hours a week running specimens of urine to the lab?

On a related note, who else besides me is going to quit volunteering the second they hit their AMCAS submit button?

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

On the contrary, I'm starting some volunteer work in July. After my AMCAS will be verified.

 

[docmemi]

LESS IS MORE!!! Rather say less than be caught in a lie. Its about what you got out of it, rather than how many hours you put. Its bout your committment and dedication...duration of the activity, rather than how many hours you put each time. LESS IS MORE!

 

[greggth]

Hello,
I am starting to put my EC hours into AMCAS. But say I volunteer somewhere for 3 hours per week. Do I include the fact that it takes me 30 minutes each way to get there, and thus put a total of 4 hours per week for that activity?

NO!!!!!!!!