Non-Clinical Volunteering - Animal Shelter?

[mlo445]

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[Goro]

I lean to advising against it, but my learned colleague @LizzyM sees nothing wrong with it.

More problematic is having only 100 hrs of clinical experiences. You should have > 150. Ditto nonclinical volunteering.

 

[AW0320]

I'm a big believer in devoting your time to the things you're excited/passionate about, and that enthusiasm will come through in your application and interview. I had several hundred hours volunteering with an animal rescue, and it was one of my app's "most meaningful." It came up during most of my interviews, but only in a positive light... I bonded with lots of other animal lovers and even got to see a few pictures of cute doggos! Wanting to pursue a career in medicine doesn't preclude you from having other interests and passions. I had one interviewer ask if I ever considered becoming a vet, and I answered honestly about why that wasn't the path I envisioned for myself (FWIW, I was accepted at that school).

That being said, I also had thousands of hours of patient care experience from scribing, clinic work, etc. I had devoted enough time/energy to learning about the medical field that I don't think my passion for animal rescue was seen as a "threat" to a career in medicine.

 

[LizzyM]

Not sure what I don't have a problem with @Goro. I'm not a big fan of giving brownie points for fundraising. Not a big fan of volunteering in an animal shelter rather than with humans in need (if you can do both, fine, but don't tell me that your service to animals left you with no time to help people in need).

 

[narla_hotep]

Wait, really, you guys are advising against it? Huh, I would've said go for it.

 

[Moko]

Wait, really, you guys are advising against it? Huh, I would've said go for it.

I like seeing animal shelter volunteering as much as anyone else, but it does not make up for a lack of ECs needed for a competitive application. In the OP's case, they currently have not demonstrated a sufficient amount of service to other people. If they only have enough time to pursue either non-clinical human vs animal volunteering, then doing the former will help address the current deficiencies in their application. If time is not an issue, then the OP should absolutely pursue both if that's what interests them.

 

[Goro]

Not sure what I don't have a problem with @Goro. I'm not a big fan of giving brownie points for fundraising. Not a big fan of volunteering in an animal shelter rather than with humans in need (if you can do both, fine, but don't tell me that your service to animals left you with no time to help people in need).

My neurons are probably failing; I could have sworn that you commented positively on working at an animal shelter as an EC!

 

[Doctor-S]

Agree with @AW0320.

I am perfectly fine with animal shelter volunteering hours as a "non-clinical community" EC ... so long as the applicant has also put in a sufficient number of "clinical" and "non-clinical" hours volunteering with humans.

It's refreshing and intriguing to converse with an applicant who is sincerely passionate about their voluntary encounters, and who is not simply box-checking on their app. These encounters often invite meaningful discussions, too.

FWIW ... my AMC has a pet therapy program and it has been a positive program for many ailing, injured, depressed, anxious, lonely patients who clearly benefit from the presence of these animals. These animals have had a positive effect on the mental and physical health of countless child, adolescent and adult patients. Sometimes, life-changing effects.