How to "document" hours for non-clinical volunteering.

[Cambino]

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I'm aware at some point I'll have to give AMCAS how many hours I've job-shadowed/volunteered/et cetera.
This fall, I have contacted one of the local homeless shelters and an old-folks home of which I may be volunteering at (not both). How does one go by "documenting" hours? Do I just go, keep track, and give an estimate when I apply to med-school? Is there any formal process?

Any insight would be appreciated. 👍

 

[mauberley]

I'm aware at some point I'll have to give AMCAS how many hours I've job-shadowed/volunteered/et cetera.
This fall, I have contacted one of the local homeless shelters and an old-folks home of which I may be volunteering at (not both). How does one go by "documenting" hours? Do I just go, keep track, and give an estimate when I apply to med-school? Is there any formal process?

Any insight would be appreciated. 👍

The formal process is filling out the AMCAS application. There is nothing else. You pretty much nailed what you need to do in your post.

 

[Cambino]

The formal process is filling out the AMCAS application. There is nothing else. You pretty much nailed what you need to do in your post.

I thought so; however, wouldn't that make it easy to exaggerate or just plainly lie?

 

[mauberley]

I thought so; however, wouldn't that make it easy to exaggerate or just plainly lie?

Yes.

 

[mauberley]

Note that lying/exaggerating can be detected by following up with the references you provide or during the interview.

 

[Cambino]

Note that lying/exaggerating can be detected by following up with the references you provide or during the interview.

Not trying to imply I had any intention of doing so.
Thanks for the info.

 

[LizzyM]

You could keep a calendar and write the site and the number of hours each week. The AMCAS will ask for start date (month/year), end date (month/year or "to present) and the average number of hours per week. So, you count the number of weeks between your start date & end date (W), sum your hours over the entire period (H), and divide by the hours by the number of weeks (H/W).

Also record the name and address of the place and the name, phone number and email address of someone who can vouch for your time there.

 

[stsa84]

I kept an Excel doc to keep track of it all. Made filling out the app, with like 8 different physicians shadowed, a breeze.

 

[Cambino]

You could keep a calendar and write the site and the number of hours each week. The AMCAS will ask for start date (month/year), end date (month/year or "to present) and the average number of hours per week. So, you count the number of weeks between your start date & end date (W), sum your hours over the entire period (H), and divide by the hours by the number of weeks (H/W).

Also record the name and address of the place and the name, phone number and email address of someone who can vouch for your time there.

Thank you very much, LizzyM.