Late to the game on volunteering

[reyncoats]

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Hey y'all,

I'm planning to apply next cycle (so June 2019) and am a rising junior, but I just started non-clinical volunteering this summer. It won't be a lot of hours just because of short shifts + how often they let someone volunteer in a week, so it'll come out to only about ~50 hrs. I am volunteering on campus this entire next year for 15 hrs a week, which I can say for sure since the hour requirement is mandatory with the position, so that will probably total out to about ~350 hrs.

I didn't start earlier in my college career due to transportation issues (unsafe way to get to volunteer areas without a car at college and only one car at home for a family of 4 during breaks), but will adcoms think I'm just pulling excuses? Should I even mention this summer volunteer gig because of the low amount of hours? It's a cause that I love and can definitely speak passionately about if brought up in interviews.

 

[Balo]

You should add it unless you don't have space to discuss it in your application or if you have more significant EC's (you have to choose 15 max experiences for AMCAS).

 

[911389]

So if you are late to the game and will have low hours, then why are you planning to apply to the highly competitive medical school area knowing that your are weak and knowing when your apply is fully under your control? I do not understand why students makes plans on when to apply without having completed or worked on the known requirements? Surely, it makes sense to complete or at least have a well thought out plan to fulfill these expectation and only then make the decision to apply? And yes I will stop calling your Shirley

the thrill of applying is a delicious morsel, and so what if you're rejected? applying once or twice is the new not applying at all

 

[reyncoats]

So if you are late to the game and will have low hours, then why are you planning to apply to the highly competitive medical school area knowing that your are weak and knowing when your apply is fully under your control? I do not understand why students makes plans on when to apply without having completed or worked on the known requirements? Surely, it makes sense to complete or at least have a well thought out plan to fulfill these expectation and only then make the decision to apply? And yes I will stop calling your Shirley

Is 400 considered low hours, though? That's how much I'll have by the time I want to apply.

Not trying to fight, just genuinely curious. I'm trying to present myself as more of a research-based student to schools, and all of the other requirements (GPA, clinical, shadowing, etc etc) are being worked on--they have been for two years now.

 

[freedoctor17]

Is 400 considered low hours, though? That's how much I'll have by the time I want to apply.

Not trying to fight, just genuinely curious. I'm trying to present myself as more of a research-based student to schools, and all of the other requirements (GPA, clinical, shadowing, etc etc) are being worked on--they have been for two years now.

That's plenty of hours if you're applying June 2019 and over the whole summer and school year is pretty long term. I think the others misunderstood what you were saying. The fact that your clinical volunteering, shadowing, research, etc. also helps so I don't think you need to worry.

 

[Deleted member 737595]

I'm in the same position as you, OP. Sophomore -> Junior, applying next year June 2019, and I only started all of my volunteering gigs except one about two months ago. I will have hundreds of hours in both, with over a thousand clinical, even just starting this year. Its harder than starting Day 1, but stop looking back and now that we've recognized that there is only a year left, make the most of it.

I am against most of the advice here, which is to wait as long as possible and become on overpowered premed to get in to better schools, or schools at all. Some people here will tell you to take one, two or MORE gap years. The problem with this is, every year you wait to apply, is a year less of earnings down the road. Physician earnings, not whatever potato scraps you could make as a measly premed CNA during a gap year (I have the utmost respect for CNA's; that's not the point here haha). Imagine you wait two years? That's AT LEAST 300k down the road if you go for family medicine, MUCH more if you go into a more competitive specialty.

Point is, don't wait unnecessarily. If you REALLY want to apply next year and not take the now common bullshiet gap year, then get your arse in gear and show to medical schools that even if you started late, you went hard and are ready to demonstrate your readiness for medical school.

 

[reyncoats]

That's plenty of hours if you're applying June 2019 and over the whole summer and school year is pretty long term. I think the others misunderstood what you were saying. The fact that your clinical volunteering, shadowing, research, etc. also helps so I don't think you need to worry.

Thank you!! I'm just always concerned seeing everyone else's stats/hours, as is the norm on here.

I'm in the same position as you, OP. Sophomore -> Junior, applying next year June 2019, and I only started all of my volunteering gigs except one about two months ago. I will have hundreds of hours in both, with over a thousand clinical, even just starting this year. Its harder than starting Day 1, but stop looking back and now that we've recognized that there is only a year left, make the most of it.

I am against most of the advice here, which is to wait as long as possible and become on overpowered premed to get in to better schools, or schools at all. Some people here will tell you to take one, two or MORE gap years. The problem with this is, every year you wait to apply, is a year less of earnings down the road. Physician earnings, not whatever potato scraps you could make as a measly premed CNA during a gap year (I have the utmost respect for CNA's; that's not the point here haha). Imagine you wait two years? That's AT LEAST 300k down the road if you go for family medicine, MUCH more if you go into a more competitive specialty.

Point is, don't wait unnecessarily. If you REALLY want to apply next year and not take the now common bullshiet gap year, then get your arse in gear and show to medical schools that even if you started late, you went hard and are ready to demonstrate your readiness for medical school.

Personally, I don't care about missing earnings--I just want to get this show on the road. I've been wanting this for forever and right now I don't see a good use for a gap year, but of course that'd all change if all of my schools think otherwise. 😕

 

[freedoctor17]

Thank you!! I'm just always concerned seeing everyone else's stats/hours, as is the norm on here.

Yeah people have some crazy standards on here 😀 I'm glad though because it did help me work harder when studying for the mcat lol

 

[Deleted member 737595]

Thank you!! I'm just always concerned seeing everyone else's stats/hours, as is the norm on here.



Personally, I don't care about missing earnings--I just want to get this show on the road. I've been wanting this for forever and right now I don't see a good use for a gap year, but of course that'd all change if all of my schools think otherwise. 😕

Exactly. Same with me, the reason I want to apply next year is not just because it makes financial sense, but because why wait? If I know what I want to do, why the heck wait?! Ok, if you are not ready, that is one thing. But to take a gap year to "enjoy life" or experience "different things"? Bogus.

 

[reyncoats]

Exactly. Same with me, the reason I want to apply next year is not just because it makes financial sense, but because why wait? If I know what I want to do, why the heck wait?! Ok, if you are not ready, that is one thing. But to take a gap year to "enjoy life" or experience "different things"? Bogus.

I mean to each their own, I'm not gonna go around dictating people's lives lol. Whatever they want to do if they're taking a gap year for whatever reason, fine. I don't care because it's your life and not mine. I'm just saying right now, I don't see one anywhere in my plans for the future. Which is fine. But also taking a gap year is fine.

 

[reyncoats]

Yes, it is. I misread your numbers in the original. My ROT for hours is 150

So 150 hrs per activity, or 150 total? And if per activity, are you saying I'm better off not listing it at all if it's below 150/why?

 

[dr_kateb]

So 150 hrs per activity, or 150 total? And if per activity, are you saying I'm better off not listing it at all if it's below 150/why?

150 clinical
150 nonclinical
Anything more is a bonus

 

[Deleted member 737595]

150 clinical
150 nonclinical
Anything more is a bonus

I might add that if you have 800 hours clinical, you can get by with 100 hours non-clinical. Nothing is set in stone. But this is a good recommendation

 

[LizzyM]

List the summer thing and the school year thing. Be sure to continue to volunteer next summer and through your application year, otherwise it looks like box checking to help yourself rather than a sincere desire to help others.

 

[reyncoats]

List the summer thing and the school year thing. Be sure to continue to volunteer next summer and through your application year, otherwise it looks like box checking to help yourself rather than a sincere desire to help others.

Thanks so much, I plan on doing so for all my activities!

 

[Balo]

the thrill of applying is a delicious morsel, and so what if you're rejected? applying once or twice is the new not applying at all

D-delicious?! It drained me of money, energy, and time applying just once! 😱

 

[chemdoctor]

150 clinical
150 nonclinical
Anything more is a bonus

Really??? Wow... why does 150 seem so low tho... Well I guess in the grand scheme of GPA, MCAT, ECs, Research etc.

 

[Vkserop]

Do you think 150 is very low? The others will be lower

 

[Latteandaprayer]

Sorry to hijack your post, but I’m in the same exact situation, except I’ll have 200 hours from this place by next application cycle. This is my only non-clinical volunteer experience due to work, research, and another (non-medical) EC that I’m heavily involved in. Would I be seen as checking a box?