how much volunteer hrs?

[deleted382095]

Hello,

How much volunteer hours do I need prior to apply to medical schools? I know the PA program at my current school requires at least 250 hrs, and 100 hrs for the PT program. As a nontraditional applicant, I never really had any clinical/patient contact experiences before. The only time I can volunteer is probably on the weekends so my availability is somewhat limited.

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[notbobtrustme]

Hours is that not important, the commitment is. It's better to have 4 hours/week for a year than 40 hours a week for a month.

 

[johnnyscans]

Hello,

How much volunteer hours do I need prior to apply to medical schools? I know the PA program at my current school requires at least 250 hrs, and 100 hrs for the PT program. As a nontraditional applicant, I never really had any clinical/patient contact experiences before. The only time I can volunteer is probably on the weekends so my availability is somewhat limited.

PA programs generally want paid, direct patient care experience. PT school generally wants experience across the spectrum of PT care. Oftentimes volunteering at a local hospital won't cut it for PT school - you need PT specific observation hours.

The big question: how do you know that a career in medicine is right for you when you've never had any clinical or patient contact experiences?

 

[deleted382095]

PA programs generally want paid, direct patient care experience. PT school generally wants experience across the spectrum of PT care. Oftentimes volunteering at a local hospital won't cut it for PT school - you need PT specific observation hours.

The big question: how do you know that a career in medicine is right for you when you've never had any clinical or patient contact experiences?

My goal is to become a medical scientist, and work in research for awhile before I open a small clinic in an underserved area.

 

[deleted382095]

Hours is that not important, the commitment is. It's better to have 4 hours/week for a year than 40 hours a week for a month.

You are absolutely correct. I think I still have plenty of time. I am not applying for another 3 or 4 years.

 

[Back 5]

Do volunteer hours expire? I had thousands of hours accrued up to 2010/2011, and they dramatically declined once I started taking classes coupled with working. Can I still list my hors from a couple years ago or will it not benefit me?

 

[deleted382095]

I hope not, I've had some volunteer hours before but none of them were clinical. I think as long as you have a certificate that shows the amount of hours you've done, it should be good enough for med school.

 

[MedPR]

I don't think there is a minimum, although more hours is probably better than less. I have ~500 hours of volunteering and I will be adding more soon primarily because I like to volunteer.

Hours is that not important, the commitment is. It's better to have 4 hours/week for a year than 40 hours a week for a month.

I see your point, but this isn't the best example. 4 hours/week for a year is 208 hours while hours/week for a month is only 160 hours.

Also, I don't necessarily agree that 4 hours/week for a year is better than 40 hours/week for a month. Perhaps the entire year shows committment, but the month long one could've been more significant to you and your decision to become a doctor. I shadowed a DO for 7 hours today and got more out of that experience than I did shadowing an MD for an entire summer (480 hours). Shorter time (total hours, or overall span of time) is not necessarily an indication of less "good".

 

[deleted382095]

I don't think there is a minimum, although more hours is probably better than less. I have ~500 hours of volunteering and I will be adding more soon primarily because I like to volunteer.




I see your point, but this isn't the best example. 4 hours/week for a year is 208 hours while hours/week for a month is only 160 hours.

Also, I don't necessarily agree that 4 hours/week for a year is better than 40 hours/week for a month. Perhaps the entire year shows committment, but the month long one could've been more significant to you and your decision to become a doctor. I shadowed a DO for 7 hours today and got more out of that experience than I did shadowing an MD for an entire summer (480 hours). Shorter time (total hours, or overall span of time) is not necessarily an indication of less "good".

You have a good point. I think commitment is very important and probably out-weights almost all other criteria. It's just like working for a company. You won't want to hire someone who constantly changing their job every other 3 months.

 

[LostInPreMed]

Although I think that that the quantity of hours that you do is important, I think that the quality of the hours you do while volunteering is equally if not MORE important. For example, lets say you are in an ER an helping pass out blankets, make beds, get water and simple stuff like that. At a certain point I'm not sure 1250 hours means a whole lot more then 1000 hours. You get you point across and show the ad coms "I am dedicated to helping out people in a time of need and I've proved this by volunteering in an ER."

However, what you do in that 1000 hours could be far more significant then what you do in the 1250 hours, if you are doing the right things. The point of this is to learn about the culture of medicine, right? Sometimes that means more then just handing stuff out to patients here in there. Although there are always limitations on volunteering, its usually ok to get to know the staff and ask them questions. If they tell you that its time to back off or that they are busy, it ALWAYS important to respect that. But during down time its ok to get to know the people you are working with. After awhile they may let you watch a little more or give you a little more information then they would have otherwise. THIS is when the learning can really begin. Getting hours of this caliber can be invaluable!

Don't get me wrong, i'm not advocating sticking your nose in places it doesn't belong or badgering the staff until they "give in" and let you see more. I that case you WILL lose and may even jeopardize the volunteer program. HOWEVER, get in there, offer to help, make relationships and the story you will have to tell the ad coms will be far greater then "I passed out blankets for 1250 hours!

Onwards!

 

[bgm]

If you're an EMT, I know there are a few volunteer ambulance companies in the Greenville area and Farmville as well if you're willing to drive a little further. If its research you're looking for, have you tried researching professors/ local doctors in the area who are doing research in something you're interested in? Just send them an email/call and ask if they're willing to let you volunteer in their lab. I know we had a few lab volunteers that helped out in my grad school lab a few hours a week.


When I was living there, I made phone calls to local medical offices asking if I could shadow. It's at least a good way to get your foot in the door. Maybe if they like you, they'll let you volunteer on a regular basis. There are plenty of medical offices off of Stantonsburg and around those side streets across from the hospital.

 

[MedPR]

You have a good point. I think commitment is very important and probably out-weights almost all other criteria. It's just like working for a company. You won't want to hire someone who constantly changing their job every other 3 months.

Speaking of which, I've been working this clinical job for the past 16 months. I hate it, but 1. It's clinical, 2. I wanted to use it on my applications, 3. I need the money.

Definitely have to suck it up sometimes and stay in a less-than-ideal volunteer/paid gig if only to have it on your resume.

 

[deleted382095]

Thank you for your feedback. I found 3 hospitals that are currently seeking volunteers. However, all of them requires to work at least 4-6 hrs/week for a minimum 1 year.

I don't think it's bad to volunteer 4-6 hrs/week, but I think it's a bit extreme if I have to do that continuously for a whole year, and participate at least 4 training sessions/year. 😱