inconsistent volunteering hours - how do i fill out activities section

[californianUCer]

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I volunteered at a place for about half a year but unlike most volunteer programs, this one gave me a lot of flexibility and allowed me to go in whenever I wanted and not show for for extended periods of time if I was busy. I volunteered for roughly six months and accumulated about 100 hours.

The first two months, I showed up two times and did probably 2 hours each,

and the next two months, I showed up a bit more often, maybe once every other week and did probably 4 hours each time.

Finally the last two months, I went all out and did probably 6-8 hours each week before finishing the program at 100 hours.

So my question is this, how do I fill out my hours/week on the activities section? 100 hours over six months is roughly 4 hours per week. Is that an ethical thing to do? I don't know how else to list these hours. I did have a period of time where I didn't go in to volunteer for nearly a month and half before starting again.

 

[Rickybobby]

You probably should have thought about this before volunteering.

 

[EpicBearMan]

I volunteered at a place for about half a year but unlike most volunteer programs, this one gave me a lot of flexibility and allowed me to go in whenever I wanted and not show for for extended periods of time if I was busy. I volunteered for roughly six months and accumulated about 100 hours.

The first two months, I showed up two times and did probably 2 hours each,

and the next two months, I showed up a bit more often, maybe once every other week and did probably 4 hours each time.

Finally the last two months, I went all out and did probably 6-8 hours each week before finishing the program at 100 hours.

So my question is this, how do I fill out my hours/week on the activities section? 100 hours over six months is roughly 4 hours per week. Is that an ethical thing to do? I don't know how else to list these hours. I did have a period of time where I did go in to volunteer for nearly a month and half before starting again.

I had a somewhat similar situation. There was a few months where I did very light volunteering, then over the summer I did much more. I took my total hours and divided by the total number of weeks between start and finish. I didn't want to short-change myself or imply that I worked my summer hours over the whole 6 months. It doesn't seem unethical to me. You could explain the distribution of your hours in the description section if you want.

 

[Rickybobby]

I had a somewhat similar situation. There was a few months where I did very light volunteering, then over the summer I did much more. I took my total hours and divided by the total number of weeks between start and finish. I didn't want to short-change myself or imply that I worked my summer hours over the whole 6 months. It doesn't seem unethical to me. You could explain the distribution of your hours in the description section if you want.

That is much better advice than I could give. Divide it out, it's not unethical. Good Luck.

 

[Mute98]

remember, they ask for AVERAGE hours per week. so lets say you did 2 hours per week for 2 months, and 8 hours per week for 2 months-- on average you would have done 5 hours per week over a 4 month period. simplified example i know but it should make sense. An average to me is not necessarily saying that you literally did this many per week, just that on average you did

 

[WTTL]

remember, they ask for AVERAGE hours per week. so lets say you did 2 hours per week for 2 months, and 8 hours per week for 2 months-- on average you would have done 5 hours per week over a 4 month period. simplified example i know but it should make sense. An average to me is not necessarily saying that you literally did this many per week, just that on average you did

Can someone confirm? Also, please give as much info as you can on what is asked for the number of hours.

 

[MirrorTodd]

Can someone confirm? Also, please give as much info as you can on what is asked for the number of hours.

Ya they ask for the average.

 

[MirrorTodd]

From the 2011 application instruction manual:

Average Hours per Week
Enter the number of hours each week that you devoted to this experience.

 

[WTTL]

I'm assuming there is a place where you can post how many hours you have completed (while explaining the experience)? It almost doesn't seem fair if you've been volunteering for a good amount

 

[MediCynical]

Can someone confirm? Also, please give as much info as you can on what is asked for the number of hours.

I wouldn't worry about it, average hours per week is fine. I had a volunteer experience in the emergency department than lasted ~10 months total, but there was a ~3 month gap where I started a job and was forced to work on the weekends during my scheduled shift (no alternate volunteer shifts were available). I totaled 101.5 hours over those 10 months, but listed it as an average of 4 hours/week on my AMCAS. I didn't mention anything about the gap in my description, but if asked I have something to say about the 3 month gap.

 

[WTTL]

I have heard the total number of weeks is also asked? True or false?

 

[DoctaFuture]

Hey guys in the application, did you list how many total hours of volunteering you did for example at a clinic or a hospital? I mentioned both my total hours and hours/week.

 

[MediCynical]

Hey guys in the application, did you list how many total hours of volunteering you did for example at a clinic or a hospital? I mentioned both my total hours and hours/week.

yeah, at the end of my descriptions I put "Total hours: xxx" and also put the average hours/week in the field above

 

[LizzyM]

100 hours divided by half a year (~25 weeks) = 4 hours per week.

 

[WTTL]

yeah, at the end of my descriptions I put "Total hours: xxx" and also put the average hours/week in the field above

So hours/week is asked by default right?

 

[MediCynical]

So hours/week is asked by default right?

yep

 

[WTTL]

Is how long you volunteer (from date to date) also there by default? Thanks

 

[LizzyM]

Is how long you volunteer (from date to date) also there by default? Thanks

yes; month/year to month/year (or "present")

 

[jkm111]

Do you only need to self report total # hours and start date/end date, or do you need a letter from the volunteering department at the hospitals you volunteered at to confirm this?