More than enough? (volunteer hours)

[paymaant]

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Hi Everyone,

I am currently a junior pre-dental student and I am preparing to apply to dental schools this summer. I have a 3.66 cumulative GPA and around 40 hours of shadowing (planning to do more this upcoming semster). I will take the DAT sometime this Spring. Anyways...

I haven't done much volunteering during my undergrad but I recently found a great opportunity to be a running mentor for teenagers in the DC area. This takes up at least 2 hours every Saturday morning. So I will have over 60 hours of volunteering with this charity group by the time I apply to dental schools. Now, I also applied to be a 4th grade math tutor (program sponsored through my university) for local kids once a week for 3 hours for this upcoming spring semester.

My question is: should I commit to the tutoring opportunity? Will it be too much on my plate? Or is my running mentor volunteering good enough?

(Please no negative answers saying: "O, you think 60 hours of volunteering is too much, huh?" )

EDIT: I also will be working 3 hours a week in the dental clinic on campus.

 

[503224]

Will it be too much on my plate?

Only you can decide whether it'll be too much on your plate for the coming semester or not. We have no idea what else you're doing or what you're capable of (the latter being more important in the equation), so asking this question is kind of pointless.

However, if you can do it, I would say do it. Obviously it'll only help you.

 

[ICUrunning]

No one here on SDN can really say that it is too much for you to handle, only you can determine that. But I think you should do both! Sounds like great things that can be brought up in an interview and you can never have tooo many volunteer hrs.

 

[UCLAzy]

Only you.. can prevent forest fires

 

[shootingstar7]

I think having more than 1 volunteering commitment will be better, but finding something related to dentistry will be more helpful to your application and interviews.

 

[scsc7211]

If I could recommend only one volunteer experience, it would hands down be spending time (and hopefully assisting) at a community clinic. It's rewarding,applicable, and provides you with a wealth of experiences to draw on during interviews.

If the above is not an option, I would try to swing both if I were you. Variety is a beautiful thing.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using SDN Mobile

 

[summit30]

I second the comment suggesting volunteering at a community clinic (or any dental setting-- is there a Mission of Mercy event in your state?) if possible. If you feel it won't be too difficult, I say do both. 👍👍

 

[Member902507]

I think it's also important to have non-dental related volunteering, especially because some schools specifically asked "What non-dental activities were you involved in?"

Those hours look good, and I'm assuming you have other stuff under your belt, too. Do keep in mind that schools like ASDOH are looking for 700-800 hours of comm service, but this is only ASDOH! Other schools just care to see that you're involved in your community, and give back in some way. Good luck, both activities sound fun!

 

[paymaant]

Well, I forgot to mention that I will be volunteering in my school's dental clinic 3 hours a week!

So, I will be in the dental clinic 3 hours on Monday, tutoring 3 hours on Wednesday, and running volunteering 2 hours on Saturdays...

 

[paymaant]

any other thoughts?

 

[Sal427]

Well, I forgot to mention that I will be volunteering in my school's dental clinic 3 hours a week!

So, I will be in the dental clinic 3 hours on Monday, tutoring 3 hours on Wednesday, and running volunteering 2 hours on Saturdays...

I think that would look good on your application and would give you more than one experience to talk about during your interview.