How Do Medical Schools Consider Volunteer Work During the Application Year?

[DubbiDoctor]

Hello, I'm a college graduate applying to medical school for the class of 2022 (3.6, 518), but my volunteering hours are a bit light. I've started to volunteer at a local hospital for around 10 hours a week, and I plan on doing other volunteering, both clinical and non-clinical. Would med schools consider these volunteering hours, even though they do no appear on the AMCAS primary application? I'm running late and haven't submitted secondaries (with a couple exceptions, like GW, which sent me a secondary before my primary was verified), so I could try to describe on them if they ask relevant questions. If I get interviews, should I just bring up all the additional hours then?

Also, I'm considering taking a couple courses that med schools recommend (genetics, microbiology, etc) at a local school during the spring to boost my GPA, if I need to reapply. Should I discuss these plans on my secondaries and/or during interviews?

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[DrHart]

I would mention the volunteering in your secondaries, especially if your hours are light. If you get an interview, mention the volunteering and courses if you take them. Med schools will consider them if you get the chance to tell them. It still might be a ding on your app if it appears like you're trying to jump the hoop at the last minute.

 

[mwsapphire]

How light were your volunteer hours? And you should have noted it on future hours, or send it as an update once you collect a good amount of hours ( say, at least a 100).


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[Dox4lyfe]

If your volunteer hours are light why did you apply?
If you were going to volunteer, did you consider noting future hours in AMCAS?

Many applicants unfortunately have an irrational fear of taking a gap year.

 

[DubbiDoctor]

How light were your volunteer hours? And you should have noted it on future hours, or send it as an update once you collect a good amount of hours ( say, at least a 100).

I listed 80 hours on AMCAS (which just happen to be even split between clinical and non-clinical). I honestly should have prepared better. I also listed 100 hours of shadowing and several hundred hours of research.

I didn't have everything planned out to list future hours, which I'm still working on. I have quite a few ideas, and should be able to list hundreds of hours in diverse activities if I need to reapply.

 

[grapefruit17]

Many applicants unfortunately have an irrational fear of taking a gap year.

I wouldn't consider it irrational. when you hit residency you realize how many years you've in med school and you aren't someone in your early 20s anymore. 1 year is 1 year faster free of debt, or closer to making a good living for yourself.

you can always get back money, but time you lose forever. best option is to just apply and see what happens and update places you apply to.

 

[DrHart]

I wouldn't consider it irrational. when you hit residency you realize how many years you've in med school and you aren't someone in your early 20s anymore. 1 year is 1 year faster free of debt, or closer to making a good living for yourself.

you can always get back money, but time you lose forever. best option is to just apply and see what happens and update places you apply to.

No offense but I've always hated this rationalization for "why med school now is better than med school later." When you are 60+ years old getting ready to retire, 35 years of practice will be no different from 36. And if you're smart with your money you'll have paid your debts well before. This is why "losing a year of salary" is an irrational fear (and faulty logic).

 

[grapefruit17]

No offense but I've always hated this rationalization for "why med school now is better than med school later." When you are 60+ years old getting ready to retire, 35 years of practice will be no different from 36. And if you're smart with your money you'll have paid your debts well before. This is why "losing a year of salary" is an irrational fear (and faulty logic).

1 year is a 250k gross pay check. Money is money. You assume everyone has the same debt and everyone is young starting out

 

[mwsapphire]

1 year is a 250k gross pay check. Money is money. You assume everyone has the same debt and everyone is young starting out

But not getting into med school is much more a direct waste of money. 😉 Not to mention you have to prove yourself much more as a reapplicant.
Why not apply when you're a 100 percent ready? Why risk it?
The best possible app will get you the best possible acceptance ( and perhaps even a scholarship), and who says you can't just retire a year later? Not to mention, once med school starts, there's no stopping the train, so why not pause for a bit a before selling your soul? In the long run, a year is nothing. I'm 20 years old and I'm amazed at how many of my classmates seem to think 1 year to give yourself a more secure future is " too much".
And if we're gonna jump onto the speculation train, maybe if you gap year you'd get a higher paying job/ match into that competitive, high paying specialty b/c you made it to a more competitive med school.
Unless you have some real pressure ( money, family, your parents, your health, etc.), there's no reason to rush.
/ end rant

 

[DubbiDoctor]

But not getting into med school is much more a direct waste of money. 😉 Not to mention you have to prove yourself much more as a reapplicant.
Why not apply when you're a 100 percent ready? Why risk it?
The best possible app will get you the best possible acceptance ( and perhaps even a scholarship), and who says you can't just retire a year later? Not to mention, once med school starts, there's no stopping the train, so why not pause for a bit a before selling your soul? In the long run, a year is nothing. I'm 20 years old and I'm amazed at how many of my classmates seem to think 1 year to give yourself a more secure future is " too much".
And if we're gonna jump onto the speculation train, maybe if you gap year you'd get a higher paying job/ match into that competitive, high paying specialty b/c you made it to a more competitive med school.
Unless you have some real pressure ( money, family, your parents, your health, etc.), there's no reason to rush.
/ end rant

Being a reapplicant isn't that bad. You just need to demonstrate that you improved your application. Occasionally, people with very competitive applications don't get in for whatever reason.

 

[grapefruit17]

But not getting into med school is much more a direct waste of money. 😉 Not to mention you have to prove yourself much more as a reapplicant.
Why not apply when you're a 100 percent ready? Why risk it?
The best possible app will get you the best possible acceptance ( and perhaps even a scholarship), and who says you can't just retire a year later? Not to mention, once med school starts, there's no stopping the train, so why not pause for a bit a before selling your soul? In the long run, a year is nothing. I'm 20 years old and I'm amazed at how many of my classmates seem to think 1 year to give yourself a more secure future is " too much".
And if we're gonna jump onto the speculation train, maybe if you gap year you'd get a higher paying job/ match into that competitive, high paying specialty b/c you made it to a more competitive med school.
Unless you have some real pressure ( money, family, your parents, your health, etc.), there's no reason to rush.
/ end rant

this risk is limited. you apply. you don't get in, so you make your APP better. Being a reapplicant doesnt mean you're SOL.

scholarship..when it comes to med school just focus on getting in. Scholarship isn't a huge concern.

the point is that you are 20. you don't understand because you're very young. Its realistically hard for you to see 40. When you hit 30, 40 is a lot easier to see. Id rather retire at 45 than 46. Or 48 than 49. I want to maximize the years I have to live a good life, so that when I become too old I can retire knowing I'm not retiring too late and unable to enjoy my retirement.

also you don't sell your soul when you go to med school. Your social life does not end In medical school and you have plenty of oppurtunity.

 

[grapefruit17]

I mean its not really a speculation if the statement is a fact. One year more of working is one years salary. I don't understand how a gap year would lead to a higher paying job down the line or different speciality. What you do in medical school, not before, determines that.

 

[DrHart]

1 year is a 250k gross pay check. Money is money. You assume everyone has the same debt and everyone is young starting out

A yearly physician salary of 250k is an assumption. In fact, the median physician salary is closer to 180k. The average age of a med school matriculant is 24, therefore it is a generalization that most are young, not an assumption. If "money is money," then you should take your argument to a business or finance forum, fields where young 20-some year olds don't need to saddle themselves with debt to make money.

If you apply once and don't get in, you've wasted your money and are faced with the decision to either apply again right away, or take some time to fix your application. Either way, you've lost this "extra year's salary" that you're so fond of. Applying once with the strongest possible app gives you the best shot at getting in when you want to.

this risk is limited. you apply. you don't get in, so you make your APP better. Being a reapplicant doesnt mean you're SOL.

scholarship..when it comes to med school just focus on getting in. Scholarship isn't a huge concern.

the point is that you are 20. you don't understand because you're very young. Its realistically hard for you to see 40. When you hit 30, 40 is a lot easier to see. Id rather retire at 45 than 46. Or 48 than 49. I want to maximize the years I have to live a good life, so that when I become too old I can retire knowing I'm not retiring too late and unable to enjoy my retirement.

also you don't sell your soul when you go to med school. Your social life does not end In medical school and you have plenty of oppurtunity.

Some schools have the sheer number of competitive apps to literally throw yours out if you are a reapplicant - so there is risk, and it is not necessarily limited. The fact that you're talking about retirement at 45 shows how absurdly out of touch you are. Even at 20, @mwsapphire has a better awareness than you do. I hate derailing this thread... especially because the "med school now or later" question has been debated ad nausem on this forum and the overwhelming majority of adcom members have said (1) apply once with your best possible app and (2) gap years are common and if done right can increase your competitiveness.

 

[DubbiDoctor]

Some schools have the sheer number of competitive apps to literally throw yours out if you are a reapplicant - so there is risk, and it is not necessarily limited. The fact that you're talking about retirement at 45 shows how absurdly out of touch you are. Even at 20, @mwsapphire has a better awareness than you do. I hate derailing this thread... especially because the "med school now or later" question has been debated ad nausem on this forum and the overwhelming majority of adcom members have said (1) apply once with your best possible app and (2) gap years are common and if done right can increase your competitiveness.

You can never really apply with your best possible app, because you can always take more time to improve yourself. Eventually, you just need to bite the bullet, if you feel you're ready.

 

[grapefruit17]

A yearly physician salary of 250k is an assumption. In fact, the median physician salary is closer to 180k. The average age of a med school matriculant is 24, therefore it is a generalization that most are young, not an assumption. If "money is money," then you should take your argument to a business or finance forum, fields where young 20-some year olds don't need to saddle themselves with debt to make money.

If you apply once and don't get in, you've wasted your money and are faced with the decision to either apply again right away, or take some time to fix your application. Either way, you've lost this "extra year's salary" that you're so fond of. Applying once with the strongest possible app gives you the best shot at getting in when you want to.

Some schools have the sheer number of competitive apps to literally throw yours out if you are a reapplicant - so there is risk, and it is not necessarily limited. The fact that you're talking about retirement at 45 shows how absurdly out of touch you are. Even at 20, @mwsapphire has a better awareness than you do. I hate derailing this thread... especially because the "med school now or later" question has been debated ad nausem on this forum and the overwhelming majority of adcom members have said (1) apply once with your best possible app and (2) gap years are common and if done right can increase your competitiveness.

180k? What are you talking about? Which speciality has a median of 180k, going off full time physicians? Starting out in my field its not unrealistic to make 220-230 out of residency.

I'm assuming you're a premed or MS1 at the most based on your understand of how medical school works. No offense but you have no idea, my friend. Absurdly out of touch? Im a resident physician, not too far from becoming an attending one day. Of course I'm realistically going to consider my finances when I'm >300k in debt.

I appreciate the advice from someone who seems to not have lived through this process yet.

You act as though considering money is a cardinal sin. Its fine to have empathy and passion and those are great attributes as physician. I admire those attributes. But going through medical school you gain a new perspective on things that you may have not seen before.

 

[DrHart]

180k? What are you talking about? Which speciality has a median of 180k, going off full time physicians? Starting out in my field its not unrealistic to make 220-230 out of residency.

I'm assuming you're a premed or MS1 at the most based on your understand of how medical school works. No offense but you have no idea, my friend. Absurdly out of touch? Im a resident physician, not too far from becoming an attending one day. Of course I'm realistically going to consider my finances when I'm >300k in debt.

I appreciate the advice from someone who seems to not have lived through this process yet.

You act as though considering money is a cardinal sin. Its fine to have empathy and passion and those are great attributes as physician. I admire those attributes. But going through medical school you gain a new perspective on things that you may have not seen before.

How many physicians do you know retire at 45? If you are a resident physician, I'm embarrassed for you. I don't blame you for considering your finances nor is it a cardinal sin, and I never implied that. I'm simply arguing that "an extra year of salary" should not be a motivating factor for a premed to turn away a gap year opportunity. I understand that your perspective changes throughout the process. But at least try to be empathetic of what a retiring physician would think. Do you think those who took a gap year regret it? Do you think those who didn't wish they had? Consider the bigger picture of the career, not just the part you're currently experiencing.