Guiding eyes as EC?

[NonTraditional3]

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Hello,

I have a really awesome opportunity to help out at Guiding Eyes for the blind, doing dog socialization and training dogs for duty as guides.....I love dogs (both of the dogs that I had growing up died last year....12 years and 13 years old,) and it seems like this is something that I could do to turn my love for doggies into something that would provide a e benefit for the blind, but I am wondering if this would be more expected for someone that was pre-vet, or if I should instead spend more time volunteering in a hospital? (basically, I would guiding eyes one day a week, and volunteer in urgent care center one day a week also)..... could you guys shed your thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Do Guiding Eyes, that sounds 100x cooler than boring hospital volunteering! As long as you have enough clinical experience to be able to discuss it meaningfully, other types of volunteering are great.

 

[Catalystik]

Hello,

I have a really awesome opportunity to help out at Guiding Eyes for the blind, doing dog socialization and training dogs for duty as guides.....I love dogs (both of the dogs that I had growing up died last year....12 years and 13 years old,) and it seems like this is something that I could do to turn my love for doggies into something that would provide a e benefit for the blind, but I am wondering if this would be more expected for someone that was pre-vet, or if I should instead spend more time volunteering in a hospital? (basically, I would guiding eyes one day a week, and volunteer in urgent care center one day a week also)..... could you guys shed your thoughts?

Thanks!

Many schools will be looking for both clinical experience and nonmedical community service, and longevity counts. If the latter is something you are passionate about, all to the better, as it will also enhance your application and make you appealing to a broader range of schools. But don't neglect the clinical experience gig.

How long before yu apply and how many hours per week for each did you plan?

 

[LizzyM]

Sounds good to me. If you can arrange to meet some people who have guide dogs then you will be able, when you talk about it at interview, to bring it around full circle to helping people rather than just the interactions with dogs.

 

[NonTraditional3]

Many schools will be looking for both clinical experience and nonmedical community service, and longevity counts. If the latter is something you are passionate about, all to the better, as it will also enhance your application and make you appealing to a broader range of schools. But don't neglect the clinical experience gig.

How long before yu apply and how many hours per week for each did you plan?

Hello,

I have currently, 120 volunteer hours in an ER (over the course of three months after I graduated college,) when I gotna full time job, my schedule was too erratic to make a weekly commitment, so I had to put volunteering on hold for a while; going back to school for a MS, so I am only accountable to myself now (as opposed to my boss,) so lots of free time to do stuff like this now. I would be volunteering with language services at a major urgent care facility in Manhattan, about 5 hours a week, and volunteering at GuidingEyes about 4 hours a week; both of these would be from September onward, until I am done with school, but I am submitting my application EARLY (June 2013) so it may not appear to be "longevous"? It's what I like doing though.....but as a working professional....sometimes the things I love doing don't take priority.....do you think my gap in community service will raise any red flags?

 

[NonTraditional3]

Sounds good to me. If you can arrange to meet some people who have guide dogs then you will be able, when you talk about it at interview, to bring it around full circle to helping people rather than just the interactions with dogs.

Thanks,

I'm not certain (though maybe) I will get to meet some people who will be taking the dogs with them for guiding. I would mostly be in the Kennel, (cleaning cages, taking the dogs for walks, reinforcing commands, possibly doing youth tours of the facility.)

It's mostly black labs and yellow labs 🙂

 

[LizzyM]

Thanks,

I'm not certain (though maybe) I will get to meet some people who will be taking the dogs with them for guiding. I would mostly be in the Kennel, (cleaning cages, taking the dogs for walks, reinforcing commands, possibly doing youth tours of the facility.)

It's mostly black labs and yellow labs 🙂

If not those particular dogs, then people who have been the recipients of dogs from this facility in the past. It is a bit removed from service to those in need when the service is not face-to-face with other human beings. Being able to say that you work with the dogs because you have seen how much they mean to those who use guide dogs shows your motivation (helping those in need) rather than looking as if you just prefer the company of dogs.

 

[Catalystik]

I have currently, 120 volunteer hours in an ER (over the course of three months after I graduated college,) when I gotna full time job, my schedule was too erratic to make a weekly commitment, so I had to put volunteering on hold for a while; going back to school for a MS, so I am only accountable to myself now (as opposed to my boss,) so lots of free time to do stuff like this now. I would be volunteering with language services at a major urgent care facility in Manhattan, about 5 hours a week, and volunteering at GuidingEyes about 4 hours a week; both of these would be from September onward, until I am done with school, but I am submitting my application EARLY (June 2013) so it may not appear to be "longevous"? It's what I like doing though.....but as a working professional....sometimes the things I love doing don't take priority.....do you think my gap in community service will raise any red flags?

I think you'll be fine.