Ideas for non-clinical volunteering in NYC?

[openstage]

For my Med School application: How important is non-clinical volunteering and where should I begin? Where do I inquire? I'll be in NYC for 2 months this summer. Does anyone have any recommendations for organizations that you have volunteered with?

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[965978]

Very important.
Look online through a volunteer website.
Underserved population.
Cramming volunteering into 2 months doesn’t look too good.

 

[chunkyfilms]

Foodbank NYC. You can sign up whenever you want and the site tracks your volunteer hours.

 

[Phoebus Apollo]

If you like running and waking up early Back on My Feet is cool.

The good news is there are chapters in a number of east coast cities, which is great cus no adcom will be convinced of your dedication to service because you were somewhere for 2 months ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Goro]

For my Med School application: How important is non-clinical volunteering and where should I begin? Where do I inquire? I'll be in NYC for 2 months this summer. Does anyone have any recommendations for organizations that you have volunteered with?

Medicine is a service profession. You HAVE to demonstrate your altruism.

Service need not be "unique". If you can alleviate suffering in your community through service to the poor, homeless, illiterate, fatherless, etc, you are meeting an otherwise unmet need and learning more about the lives of the people (or types of people) who will someday be your patients. Check out your local houses of worship for volunteer opportunities. The key thing is service to others less fortunate than you. And get off campus and out of your comfort zone!

Examples include: Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, Humane Society, crisis hotlines, soup kitchen, food pantry, homeless or women’s shelter, after-school tutoring for students or coaching a sport in a poor school district, teaching ESL to adults at a community center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, or Meals on Wheels.

 

[LizzyM]

Very important.
Look online through a volunteer website.
Underserved population.
Cramming volunteering into 2 months doesn’t look too good.

I agree that gramming volunteering into 2 months doesn't look good but spending some time while in NYC for the summer looks fine as long as you continue with something service-related, non-clinical on into the Fall and Winter in whatever place you end up.

If you are only there two months you don't want something with a large training requirement or where a longitudinal relationship with a buddy/client is desirable.

For my Med School application: How important is non-clinical volunteering and where should I begin? Where do I inquire? I'll be in NYC for 2 months this summer. Does anyone have any recommendations for organizations that you have volunteered with?

NYC is a big place. Can you narrow it down geographically? Are you new to NYC or "going home" for the summer?

 

[puahate]

Start a Timbs donation initiative.

 

[openstage]

I agree that gramming volunteering into 2 months doesn't look good but spending some time while in NYC for the summer looks fine as long as you continue with something service-related, non-clinical on into the Fall and Winter in whatever place you end up.

If you are only there two months you don't want something with a large training requirement or where a longitudinal relationship with a buddy/client is desirable.

NYC is a big place. Can you narrow it down geographically? Are you new to NYC or "going home" for the summer?

Research near NYU, staying in Upper Manhattan. Not new to the city, but home is in New England.