How much volunteer work is sufficient?

[axp107]

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Is 3 months of volunteering work sufficient.. I mean, how much volunteering do you guys do... this summer, I've been volunteering at a Hospice 2 days a week, 2 hours per visit.. I enjoy the work and I will continue to do it during any breaks I get.. but I don't want to simply do it to fill in hours. I do it when I have spare time.. its kind of relaxing actually.

On here, I see tons of people with 100+ volunteering hours and it's just crazy!

I definitely have a lot to talk about esp. b/c of the direct patient contact... but I don't seem to have the hours like others on here.

 

[ChiDoc27]

First off, it isn't the number of hours you put in but what you get out of the experience. That being said, all the adcoms definitely want to see that you have sufficient clinical experience and volunteer work, so if you think that you are done volunteering after this summer, you might want to look into doing a tad bit more.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

On here, I see tons of people with 100+ volunteering hours and it's just crazy!

I've got 11 years of volunteering under my belt and counting. Sorry, I just found the fact that 100+ hours makes someone seem like a super volunteer.

 

[axp107]

I've got 11 years of volunteering under my belt and counting. Sorry, I just found the fact that 100+ hours makes someone seem like a super volunteer.

lol, see what I'm talking about.

 

[HumidBeing]

You enjoy the work and you'd go back and do it when you have time. Good!
Time can be tight during the school year. I understand that.

The real objective is to get to the point that we aren't doing it to impress anyone else - when we stop keeping track of hours. Once we're doing it on a continuing basis just because we want to, that's when we're really doing enough.

That wasn't the kind of answer you were looking for. You're doing fine. There's no minimum or maximum required. Just continue to fit it in when you can. Maybe it will keep growing on you.

 

[axp107]

You enjoy the work and you'd go back and do it when you have time. Good!
Time can be tight during the school year. I understand that.

The real objective is to get to the point that we aren't doing it to impress anyone else - when we stop keeping track of hours. Once we're doing it on a continuing basis just because we want to, that's when we're really doing enough.

That wasn't the kind of answer you were looking for. You're doing fine. There's no minimum or maximum required. Just continue to fit it in when you can. Maybe it will keep growing on you.

Just a lil' question.. when you enter ECs in, do you do it by hours.. or general time frame.. like 1 year.

 

[Surf Rx]

Both. Time frame, and then how many hours/week.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

lol, see what I'm talking about.

The thing was I was doing it long before I ever even considered medical school. In other words, I'm not doing it simply to "polish a turd" like some of you.

 

[HumidBeing]

DropkickMurphy, there's no doubt that you get it. Here I'm trying to be polite and encouraging, hoping that maybe someone would hang in there until the spirit of the activity clicked. You just served up the difference straight and raw.

OP, I'm not making fun of you. I'm hoping that more people start looking at it as a long trail they want to travel instead of just a short route to their immediate goals.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Here I'm trying to be polite and encouraging, hoping that maybe someone would hang in there until the spirit of the activity clicked. You just served up the difference straight and raw.

Most people learn better if you tell it to them bluntly and don't try to sugarcoat the truth.

 

[Surf Rx]

Yeah, I'm Turd Ferguson, it's a funny name.

 

[HumidBeing]

This poster has hope. S/he's not complaining, "I've spent two mornings on the floor at the hospital and all they let me do is serve ice water. Those 4 hours seem endless! The computers don't even connect to the internet! They won't let me spend my volunteer hours watching surgery. I thought volunteering in the hospital would be exciting, but they're just wasting my time. I even hate to get up in the morning. Is 8 hrs enough? If it's not, how much longer do I have to stay? This counts for clinical experience, too, doesn't it? Because I can really smell some of these patients"

 

[Bacchus]

Volunteer in something you like and you'll accumulate hours. Volunteer work does not have to be strictly medically related. The reason a lot of people, including myself, have in excess of 100 hours is because we volunteered outside the realm of hospital work. For example, I have 150 hours in Hurricane Katrina Cleanup and Habitat for Humanity Work. And I will say, the cleanup has probably been the most influential thing I have ever done and ever will do (until I bring someone back from the brink of death 😉).

 

[capn jazz]

If you are asking how many hours is "enough", you are not volunteering for the right reasons.

 

[OCallag]

.

 

[deleted128562]

If you are asking how many hours is "enough", you are not volunteering for the right reasons.

True. But then again, when medical schools make volunteering compulsory for admission, should it come as a surprise that people are doing it for the "wrong reasons"? (Myself included sometimes if I'm totally honest). Imagine if medical schools made going to church an essentially "required" activity for admission (insert Loma Linda joke here). Every non-religious person on this board would go to church - not for the "right reasons" but to get into med school. It's just the nature of the beast.

 

[Bacchus]

True. But then again, when medical schools make volunteering compulsory for admission, should it come as a surprise that people are doing it for the "wrong reasons"?

Regardless, you should get some meaning out of it. If you get nothing out of volunteering than you shouldn't be a medical professional. Everyone in this field, for some reason or another wants to help people. I know that sounds like a cliche but if you're only in for the money or prestige let me give you a newsflash, you're in the wrong field. That being said, regardless I think the majority of applicants would volunteer because we're good people but I may just be naive.

 

[capn jazz]

True. But then again, when medical schools make volunteering compulsory for admission, should it come as a surprise that people are doing it for the "wrong reasons"? (Myself included sometimes if I'm totally honest). Imagine if medical schools made going to church an essentially "required" activity for admission (insert Loma Linda joke here). Every non-religious person on this board would go to church - not for the "right reasons" but to get into med school. It's just the nature of the beast.

It's not a literal requirement. Volunteering shouldn't be something you do to get into medical school. I know this might not happen too often, but I worked in a hospital before I was pre-med (it actually made me pre-med), because the job was interesting. I volunteered at the children's hospital because I love children. I work in a bio lab because I love biology. I'm lucky that my interests also happen to be things medical schools look favorably upon. But if someone wants a cut-off for how many hours are good enough, it's not for the right reason, and I think volunteering is good regardless, but if you're only doing it to satisfy a requirement, it's worthless.

 

[Bacchus]

It's not a literal requirement. Volunteering shouldn't be something you do to get into medical school. I know this might not happen too often, but I worked in a hospital before I was pre-med (it actually made me pre-med), because the job was interesting. I volunteered at the children's hospital because I love children. I work in a bio lab because I love biology. I'm lucky that my interests also happen to be things medical schools look favorably upon. But if someone wants a cut-off for how many hours are good enough, it's not for the right reason, and I think volunteering is good regardless, but if you're only doing it to satisfy a requirement, it's worthless.

 

[alwaysaangel]

Don't volunteer if you don't like it. Period. Get some clinical experience some other way and be done. Volunteers who don't want to do what they're doing make the lives of other volunteers difficult.

If you got your three months and can relate it to why you want to go to medical school then you're good. The people who have hundreds of hours probably like it. I love volunteering and hated reseach. So I spent my time volunteering and did no research. Its abotu showing your interests - not about meeting some imaginary criteron for med school apps.

 

[deleted128562]

Regardless, you should get some meaning out of it. If you get nothing out of volunteering than you shouldn't be a medical professional. Everyone in this field, for some reason or another wants to help people. I know that sounds like a cliche but if you're only in for the money or prestige let me give you a newsflash, you're in the wrong field. That being said, regardless I think the majority of applicants would volunteer because we're good people but I may just be naive.

I'm not saying that I disagree with you at all, or trying to imply that being altruistic is not an important quality for someone going into medicine. My point is simply that anymore, you just aren't going to get into medical school without volunteer experience which does make it "required".

To Cap'n Jazz: Yes, volunteering is often a LITERAL requirement. In fact, some medical schools' websites even tell you what the "minimum" volunteer experiences are in terms of hours and what the "average" hours are. (See U of Utah as one example). If you don't at least meet the minimum, don't even bother applying - they tell you that you must meet the minimum in all areas. That's pretty compulsory.

Heck, if we want to talk altruism - shouldn't virtue be its own reward? Isn't putting volunteer experiences on an app with the hopes that it will make acceptance more likely pretty unaltruistic? That's using volunteer work for self-seeking purposes (after the fact but still self-seeking nonetheless). If you're really doing it for the "right reasons", then don't put it on your app. Let virtue be it's own reward, and don't use your good deeds to get a leg up on someone else.


We may actually be saying the same thing about altruism - just from different angles.

 

[capn jazz]

To Cap'n Jazz: Yes, volunteering is often a LITERAL requirement. In fact, some medical schools' websites even tell you what the "minimum" volunteer experiences are in terms of hours and what the "average" hours are. (See U of Utah as one example). If you don't at least meet the minimum, don't even bother applying - they tell you that you must meet the minimum in all areas. That's pretty compulsory.

That just goes to show how important volunteering is to deciding if someone has what it takes to be a Dr. It's not arbitrary, so the required-church analogy is off. I don't understand how people know they want to be a Dr. without working/volunteering in a hospital setting.

Heck, if we want to talk altruism - shouldn't virtue be its own reward? Isn't putting volunteer experiences on an app with the hopes that it will make acceptance more likely pretty unaltruistic? That's using volunteer work for self-seeking purposes (after the fact but still self-seeking nonetheless). If you're really doing it for the "right reasons", then don't put it on your app. Let virtue be it's own reward, and don't use your good deeds to get a leg up on someone else.

You make the mistake of thinking that people who both enjoy volunteering and list it as an EC are doing it for acceptance's sake. I would put it on my application because it asks what I do with my spare time. One of the things that occupies my spare time is volunteering. I'm not going to say I'm an amazing applicant BECAUSE I volunteer, I'm going to talk about how amazing it has been to have the experience, and what it has taught me about myself. That's not self-serving, that's just describing what I do with my free time.

Stating good deeds when asked != taking advantage of the system/unaltruistic. It's altruistic because I receive no tangible compensation and give up time I could spend doing other things, to help those I volunteer with, because I think it's more worthwhile than sleeping in or playing MarioKart. Unaltruistic would be doing the activity itself to further myself, not listing it as a side activity on an application.

 

[deleted128562]

That just goes to show how important volunteering is to deciding if someone has what it takes to be a Dr. It's not arbitrary, so the required-church analogy is off. I don't understand how people know they want to be a Dr. without working/volunteering in a hospital setting.

Volunteering is a great thing to do - but important to knowing you have what it takes to be a doctor? In general, balderdash. "Gee, I'm able to deliver ice water to people in the ER. I think I can be a doctor!!" "Gee I can build a house - I think I can be a doctor!!" Both of those are fine and good things, but have close to zero to do with becoming a doctor, IMHO.

I think I may have just confused my point with my previous post, so I'll restate my main point for the last time and then I think we may just have to agree to disagree. Here it is:

Volunteering in and of itself is a great thing and should definitely be done - and is even a cool thing to talk about at interviews.... but when schools make volunteering a REQUIRED activity for admission (and it most certainly is), it should be no SURPRISE that people do it for the wrong reasons (ie, because it is REQUIRED). Is it OK or good that they do it for the wrong reasons? No. But should it be any surprise that they do? Also no. (Case in point, I know 2 students at my school who are in a literal competition with one another to see who can rack up the most hours. Sad? Yes. Surprising? No.... just like trying to get the highest GPA is not surprising).

The End, I'm done. 🙂

 

[DropkickMurphy]

until I bring someone back from the brink of death

Allow me to say something as one who has had the privilege of being part of teams that have done that (seldom does one person ever deserve sole credit in medicine....one of the most egotistical surgeons I know is fond of jokingly saying, "I may be God, but even God's work would never get done without the help of his angels") I do not meant to diminish the importance of saving one person (one of my favorite quotes: "He who has saved one life, it is as if he has saved the whole world") but working the aftermath of a disaster trumps that. Carnage on a huge scale is something that one can seldom surpass in terms of the effect it has on one's outlook. Anyone who worked cleaning up the mess down there after Katrina has my respect. 👍 You probably saved more people indirectly than you realize.......

 

[capn jazz]

Volunteering in and of itself is a great thing and should definitely be done - and is even a cool thing to talk about at interviews.... but when schools make volunteering a REQUIRED activity for admission (and it most certainly is), it should be no SURPRISE that people do it for the wrong reasons (ie, because it is REQUIRED). Is it OK or good that they do it for the wrong reasons? No. But should it be any surprise that they do? Also no. (Case in point, I know 2 students at my school who are in a literal competition with one another to see who can rack up the most hours. Sad? Yes. Surprising? No.... just like trying to get the highest GPA is not surprising).

Well, I'm sorry most people don't have meaningful volunteer experiences, but mine haven't ever involved delivering ice water. And I'm not surprised people do it for a requirement, I just don't think they're doing it in a worthwhile manner. That's all I said.

 

[deleted128562]

....And I'm not surprised people do it for a requirement, I just don't think they're doing it in a worthwhile manner....

I couldn't agree with you more on that point.

 

[axp107]

lol guys thanks for the replies.. but I'm not looking for a lesson on what's moral and what's not.. or why I should really be volunteering. I know I'm doing it for the right reasons and I enjoy doing it.

Just because I enjoy doing it does not mean I can't ask the question, "How many volunteer hours are appropriate?" For some reason, I doubt the sincerity of some of the posters above. If someone could elaborate, I could perhaps cancel other priorities and make more room for volunteering. This is a premed forum and I understand many of you with a zillion years of volunteering or whatever will want to put others down.. but I'd like to hear more opinions.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

This is a premed forum and I understand many of you with a zillion years of volunteering or whatever will want to put others down

If that was directed at me, I hope you realize I am not putting anyone down. The "quality over quantity" thing is something I support 100%. The "polishing a turd" comment was not directed at you, just so we're clear. It was more a general comment towards a lot of the other members on here who would slaughter babies in their spare time if they believed it improved their chances.

I know I'm doing it for the right reasons and I enjoy doing it.

Then do as much as you can. That is all that can be expected of you. 🙂

 

[Bacchus]

Carnage on a huge scale is something that one can seldom surpass in terms of the effect it has on one's outlook. Anyone who worked cleaning up the mess down there after Katrina has my respect. 👍 You probably saved more people indirectly than you realize.......

Its indescribable. Walking around a few neighborhoods made me want to just break down and cry. It was horrible and that was in March, 6 months after the disaster. When I went back in summer it was a bit better, but still like an alien world. Everyone I did help was extremely greatful (I love Southerners). Life moving. I mean, what do you say to a couple, living out of a trailer, when they explain the skeleton house behind them may never get finished because they'll have a dual mortgage (from the previous home and the new) and the husband doesn't want to see his work destroyed again. I want to go back, but as a tourist. Its time.

 

[Revilla]

Both. Time frame, and then how many hours/week.

So what if you don't really have a set number of hours per week? There's an organization I've been volunteering with for seven years. Some weeks, I put in about 20 hours, other weeks (or even months, in some cases), 0 hours. Same with an organization I've been with for three years. Can you leave the hours/week blank and just fill in the time frame?

 

[alwaysaangel]

So what if you don't really have a set number of hours per week? There's an organization I've been volunteering with for seven years. Some weeks, I put in about 20 hours, other weeks (or even months, in some cases), 0 hours. Same with an organization I've been with for three years. Can you leave the hours/week blank and just fill in the time frame?

I would average the approximate amount of time you did per week (eg. half weeks were 20 half weeks were 0 - average 10/wk)

 

[obgyny]

when i was in 9th grade (before i wanted to be a doctor), i decided to volunteer at a hospital for something to do and quite honestly to help me get in to a good college. i didn't like it at first (they stuck me in medical records), but when i requested to change departments (i worked for the courier service where u deliver flowers/gifts to patients and medical supplies to all over the hospital), i really started to like it. i was only 14 and volunteered 2 hours a week for the school year (it was ~50 hrs, because of holidays and because it starts later in the school year). i couldn't volunteer the next year because i had other commitments (taking care of my little bro, etc).

when i was 16, i decided i wanted to be a doctor (by this time i had moved), so i decided to volunteer again. this hospital was pretty flexible in that you could work anywhere you wanted (didn't need to request change of department) and work any hours you wanted. i absolutely loved working there. i worked in peds, cardiac surg care unit, CT scan room, med wards, ortho center, mostly EAU (express admission unit) because it was busy and they always needed volunteers.

i didn't do anything glorious. i mostly put together charts, stocked med supplies/patients' rooms, and whatever the nurses needed to get done. but i did get direct patient contact and witnessed some suffering that has really affected me. although i had a busy school schedule (i was doing full-time college and high school at the same time), i volunteered there ~6-8 hrs a week.

i enjoyed it because i knew i was helping the staff & patients and because it reminded me every week of why i was studying so hard in school.

unfortunately, i moved back to california ~2.5 months after i started working there. so i only accummulated ~50hrs there.

so i have ~100hrs of volunteering total, which isn't much compared to most of these premeds. but both of my experiences were meaningful to me. and i hope to do some more volunteering once i transfer.

 

[Vera18]

I've got 11 years of volunteering under my belt and counting. Sorry, I just found the fact that 100+ hours makes someone seem like a super volunteer.

Yeah 100 hours? You can do more than that in one summer.

 

[Vera18]

Regardless, you should get some meaning out of it. If you get nothing out of volunteering than you shouldn't be a medical professional. Everyone in this field, for some reason or another wants to help people. I know that sounds like a cliche but if you're only in for the money or prestige let me give you a newsflash, you're in the wrong field. That being said, regardless I think the majority of applicants would volunteer because we're good people but I may just be naive.

I agree with him ^^

 

[Revilla]

I would average the approximate amount of time you did per week (eg. half weeks were 20 half weeks were 0 - average 10/wk)

That sounds a little bit dishonest to me. I realize the hours end up the same, but to say I volunteered 10 hours a week (for example) when I went three or four months without doing anything for the organization seems disingenuous.

 

[Arc]

If I count the years that I volunteered at a food bank since I was 13, then yeah, I have around 6 years of volunteering. There's never enough volunteering, besides its fun.

 

[Arc]

Yeah 100 hours? You can do more than that in one summer.

I could do that in a month if I was really bored.

 

[alwaysaangel]

That sounds a little bit dishonest to me. I realize the hours end up the same, but to say I volunteered 10 hours a week (for example) when I went three or four months without doing anything for the organization seems disingenuous.

Well thats your prerogative to leave it blank. Mathmatically its sound and since there is a place on AMCAS for amount of time spent, its in your best interest to fill that in. And if I recall they didn't really allow "0-20" type of answers in that field.

Its your choice, but most schools realize that students schedules change in the summer and sometimes something they do during the year will stop for a month or two or three.

I averaged my hours - sometimes it was 5, sometimes it was 20. I just totalled the hours over the 4 years and divided by the number of weeks. Did that in High school for college apps too. There is really no other way to do it and its more honest than putting 20/wk when you didn't work 20/wk all the time.

 

[Revilla]

Well, I wasn't going to put 20/week either since that would be a flat-out lie. I was going to leave it blank and explain in secondaries or put "varies" in the blank. I'm applying next year so I haven't even seen the application yet to know if it's even possible to leave it blank or write a word instead of a number. I just don't want to mislead anyone.

 

[TheRealMD]

The minimum number of months before adcoms start to wonder if you know what you're getting into is 6 months to 1 year.

 

[UCDavisdude]

Is 3 months of volunteering work sufficient.. I mean, how much volunteering do you guys do... this summer, I've been volunteering at a Hospice 2 days a week, 2 hours per visit.. I enjoy the work and I will continue to do it during any breaks I get.. but I don't want to simply do it to fill in hours. I do it when I have spare time.. its kind of relaxing actually.

On here, I see tons of people with 100+ volunteering hours and it's just crazy!

I definitely have a lot to talk about esp. b/c of the direct patient contact... but I don't seem to have the hours like others on here.

its suffiecient when youve grown and learned from the experience. There is no numerical value that can answer your question. have enough experience so that you can truthfully talk about its effects on you.