How many volunteer hours?

[8MoreReps]

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Some schools only have like 40 hours needed to apply but I see some people posting over 1000 hours.. So if I do only the minimum hours am I seriously hurting myself? I only have a 3.0 cumulative GPA but plan on getting straight A's on my 10 pre req classes and doing great on the GRE. My time is limited since I'm working 40-50 hours a week and taking 2 classes a semester for pre reqs.

 

[NewTestament]

I would definitely get more than 40 hours. I can't prove it, but they probably make 40 the minimum to see who will do just the minimum. I would aim for at least 100. Some schools require 100, so if you only have 40 hours, you're limiting the schools you can apply to.

It also helps if you can volunteer in acute care, or at a hospital. It looks great on your application. You need outpatient experience for sure, but having inpatient/acute care will definitely be a bonus. Check volunteer services at your hospital and see what kind of opportunities they have.

You don't have much time, but you don't need much time either. If you volunteered 2-4 hours a week, you could easily reach 100 within a few months. It doesn't take much. It's not like aspiring PAs who need 1000 hours, and have to volunteer full time for six months.

I have about 300 hours so far (I'm still volunteering in acute care) and I've had a great response from the schools I've appliied to.

Kevin

 

[8MoreReps]

I would definitely get more than 40 hours. I can't prove it, but they probably make 40 the minimum to see who will do just the minimum. I would aim for at least 100. Some schools require 100, so if you only have 40 hours, you're limiting the schools you can apply to.

It also helps if you can volunteer in acute care, or at a hospital. It looks great on your application. You need outpatient experience for sure, but having inpatient/acute care will definitely be a bonus. Check volunteer services at your hospital and see what kind of opportunities they have.

You don't have much time, but you don't need much time either. If you volunteered 2-4 hours a week, you could easily reach 100 within a few months. It doesn't take much. It's not like aspiring PAs who need 1000 hours, and have to volunteer full time for six months.

I have about 300 hours so far (I'm still volunteering in acute care) and I've had a great response from the schools I've appliied to.

Kevin

Cool thanks.. Also what do you even do during these hours.. just watch and ask questions? What would a typical day be like? Seems like it would be awkward to stand by and watch a PT work on a patient who probably wants privacy.

 

[exsc4950]

When I got my hours at the hospital, I helped out as much as I could. The PT's got to know how capable I was and soon trusted me to help. I learned a whole lot more that way. The Pt's I worked with didn't think I was invading their privacy, they were happy to teach.

 

[Art Vandelay123]

I've been volunteering at a rehab hospital for the past few months and the only thing I do is wheelchair patients to the PT room. Do you guys feel that this is experience worth mentioning on the application?

(Sorry for the slightly off-topic question, I didn't want to start a new thread)

 

[NewTestament]

As a volunteer you shouldn't expect to work on patients. To get the most out of your volunteer experience, do as much as you can. You will find yourself doing menial work, such as grabbing ice/heat packs, cleaning the beds, doing laundry, etc. You're an extra hand for the PTs.

However, after a few days you will be able to guide the patients through their basic exercises. You remind them what the exercises are, how to perform them, and then make sure they do them correctly. You can even help the PTs with the tremendous amount of paper work (one of the biggest drawbacks to this profession, by the way).

At the hospital, I find myself more than pushing patients in the wheelchairs. I actually get to assist the patients do their exercises. Remember, you're just a volunteer, and you're not qualified to do anything yet. Your main responsibility is to help the PT/PTAs. It might seem boring and thankless at times, but every general was a private at one point.

Kevin

 

[Art Vandelay123]

^^That's what I thought at first (start off doing menial work, and slowly progress to having some patient interaction other than wheeling them around), but I've been here for 2 months and it's still menial work. Ive spoken to volunteers who have been there for 1-2 years and they tell me that's all that they ever do.

I'm wondering whether it's even worth it to mention this experience on my application (I have an abundance of experience elsewhere, but I figure the more the merrier) considering it's nothing spectacular.