How many places should I volunteer?

[Fluffyone]

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Hi all,
I'm going into my second year of undergrad and am starting to volunteer next year in a hospital (I just switched to premed). Should I just volunteer there for my clinical experience in undergrad or should I split undergrad volunteering between that hospital and a clinic for underprivileged people? I feel like in both cases I get to help people and would enjoy the experience. Thus, I'm basing my decision on which one looks better for medical school.
Also, I plan on volunteering in a soup kitchen for 1 or 2 semesters when I don't volunteer in the hospital. Does 2 or 3 consistant volunteering positions look good or should I strive for more? I would likely get 200-300 clinical volunteering and around 100-150 non clinical volunteering.
Thanks in advance

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[Dr. Stalker]

1. Hospital Volunteering
2. Non-clinical volunteering (with the soup kitchen as you listed) are fine.

Aim to learn a lot about the experiences and give back to your community, don't just count your hours!

 

[Catalystik]

Hi all,
I'm going into my second year of undergrad and am starting to volunteer next year in a hospital (I just switched to premed). Should I just volunteer there for my clinical experience in undergrad or should I split undergrad volunteering between that hospital and a clinic for underprivileged people? I feel like in both cases I get to help people and would enjoy the experience. Thus, I'm basing my decision on which one looks better for medical school.
Also, I plan on volunteering in a soup kitchen for 1 or 2 semesters when I don't volunteer in the hospital. Does 2 or 3 consistant volunteering positions look good or should I strive for more? I would likely get 200-300 clinical volunteering and around 100-150 non clinical volunteering.
Thanks in advance

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I think that volunteering at both the hospital and the clinic would provide a broad base of experience for you. They need not happen simultaneously.

Consistent volunteering with 1-2-3 organizations for longer periods of time would be more desirable than a few hours here and there for 10 different locations. A longer time in one place gives you opportunities to increase responsibility, take on leadership roles, and get better LORs.

 

[CyrilFiggis]

Base your decision on what YOU want to do, not what looks best to schools. If you find the clinic more rewarding than the hospital, do that. In 2-3 years you're going to have to write about your activities, might as well be able to write passionately about them.

 

[Catalystik]

I think that volunteering at both the hospital and the clinic would provide a broad base of experience for you.

Another option to get wider experience would be rotating through different hospital departments periodically.