OK to volunteer instead of work after graduating?

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I am still in school but my friend who just graduated and plans to apply to medical school next year was wondering, would admissions committees look down on him as a candidate if he chose to focus on volunteering instead of working during his year off?

Thanks

 

[CoolWhipp]

I am still in school but my friend who just graduated and plans to apply to medical school next year was wondering, would admissions committees look down on him as a candidate if he chose to focus on volunteering instead of working during his year off?

Thanks

He's fine. Whats up with everyone posting for their friends?

Your friend is welcome on the forums.

 

[oaklandguy]

I called a friend to ask them what the admissions committee would think and they said that every admissions committee is different and depending on the type of volunteering (like a gift shop at a hospital vs. having patient contact) and the type of work (whether it is medical related or not and if it is clinical or research) are all big factors on what your friend should decide to do after graduating.

My friend's question is why not do both?

 

[BlackPanties]

If he needs to work tell him it's okay to get a job and work. He can also volunteer on the side. Doing both would be the best idea as you can make money and earn clinical experiences. Both might look better than just volunteering alone as long as its a meaningful experience not just "gift shop girl (or boy)"!!!

 

[DrYoda]

It would be pretty easy to volunteer and work. I don't see how volunteering could possibly take up more than 10 hours a week.

 

[mdeast]

You can volunteer AND work, which is what he should probably do. If he's taking a year off, I'd imagine he'd like to enjoy that time period of his life...things to do as a college grad that are fun = $$$$. Which means he would need a job. Just my two cents.

 

[RaginRajon]

Yeah, I pretty much agree with everyone who posted before me. In this economy, it can be really difficult to find a full time job for the gap year (I still haven't found one), so if it is easier to volunteer and do some part time work, I don't see any harm in it.

 

[ziggydoc]

Your friend can do both, I work 36 hours a week, and volunteer 4. And I still find plenty of time to work out, read, enjoy life, etc etc. Other than the fact waiting in the app process sucks, I am enjoying my time off from school.

 

[Trexate]

Work during the week, volunteer on the weekend.

 

[BennieBlanco]

I am still in school but my friend who just graduated and plans to apply to medical school next year was wondering, would admissions committees look down on him as a candidate if he chose to focus on volunteering instead of working during his year off?

Thanks

= laziness!

how many hours is he/she volunteering? 40? 50? 60?

 

[BennieBlanco]

Qualities of an adult:

1. responsiblity
2. hard work

Qualities of a college student (or most students):

1. slacker

At least try to look more like one than the other.

 

[ChemEngSoonMD]

why would you ever work for free when you can get 30 an hour with a college degree?

 

[dw2158]

He's fine. Whats up with everyone posting for their friends?

Your friend is welcome on the forums.

👍

Qualities of an adult:

1. responsiblity
2. hard work

Qualities of a college student (or most students):

1. slacker

At least try to look more like one than the other.

really? based on my friends in college, and some of the people i know/work with now... i'd say flip that.


OP, your "friend" should actually be worrying about if that will be okay with his wallet, not adcoms.

 

[Trexate]

why would you ever work for free when you can get 30 an hour with a college degree?

Because you can continue to mooch off your parents and only work a few hours a week.

 

[ChemEngSoonMD]

Because you can continue to mooch off your parents and only work a few hours a week.

I wish I had those parents.

 

[Exalya]

I am still in school but my friend who just graduated and plans to apply to medical school next year was wondering, would admissions committees look down on him as a candidate if he chose to focus on volunteering instead of working during his year off?

Thanks

I think it's suspect that he doesn't have to work. I mean... come on. Shouldn't you start signing your own checks by the time you get out of college? Or, at very least, shouldn't you want to make your own money? I don't know... perhaps I come from a strange and distant planet where earning your own way was honorable and fulfilling...

 

[ZeusonRoids]

Because you can continue to mooch off your parents and only work a few hours a week.

I am not going to lie...I mooched off of my parents the ENTIRE YEAR while I was applying. I even told them I would be more productive if they rented me an apartment closer to the airport I would be using...I guess it worked, but looking back I would have rather been doing something (even volunteering). I mean there is really only so many nights a week you can go out before your liver starts to hurt.

Ohh...and BTW, I wrote my first check about 4 weeks ago when I moved to medical school

 

[Sillyshoes]

why would you ever work for free when you can get 30 an hour with a college degree?

With my degree, you can't.

 

[Trexate]

I wish I had those parents.

Me too...

 

[BennieBlanco]

👍



really? based on my friends in college, and some of the people i know/work with now... i'd say flip that.


OP, your "friend" should actually be worrying about if that will be okay with his wallet, not adcoms.

wow. I guess to each his own.

 

[BennieBlanco]

I think it's suspect that he doesn't have to work. I mean... come on. Shouldn't you start signing your own checks by the time you get out of college? Or, at very least, shouldn't you want to make your own money? I don't know... perhaps I come from a strange and distant planet where earning your own way was honorable and fulfilling...

answer: yes.

You are not from a distant planet my friend, you are one of the one's from planet Reality.

 

[Gotaro]

I think it's suspect that he doesn't have to work. I mean... come on. Shouldn't you start signing your own checks by the time you get out of college? Or, at very least, shouldn't you want to make your own money? I don't know... perhaps I come from a strange and distant planet where earning your own way was honorable and fulfilling...

That planet isn't strange or distant! It's called planet American Dream. But kids these days.. a lot of them (including me) are resisting tradition and rejecting old ideology and moving at our own pace.

"Earning your own way" == being independent, and kids will become independent when they're ready (provided they aren't forced into it early).

 

[oyoy]

If you can afford it. But, I'd rather go to Norway. Sigh, if only I could afjord it. Get it, a-fjord? *Buh dum Chis!* Table ten your pizzas ready!

Seriously, volunteering is very rewarding. Re-fjording. Ah, that doesn't work.

I would highly suggest volunteering if you can afjord it.

-Lili

This made me lol a bit. It would be far cheaper to see the fjords of British Columbia and Alaska. I went to Norway this summer. As a reference point - a single serving of chicken cold cuts (20g of protein) would cost $5 at supermarkets. Whereas here you can buy something like 300g for that amount. Food, gasoline, lodging, transport are all ridiculously over-priced compared to the rest of Western Europe. The amount of wealth they have is just obscene and somewhat disturbing.


To the OP, SWIM suggests your friend go for both volunteering and working.

 

[kami333]

It's been my dream to do one of those Hurtigruten fjord cruises from Bergen to Krikenes🙁 I just needed to come up with the $3500. Back when I was working in Denmark I didn't have the money, now I don't have the time...



On a side note, I think the price of meat, chicken in particular, in the US is ridiculously low and fruits/vegetables comparatively high.

 

[oyoy]

It's been my dream to do one of those Hurtigruten fjord cruises from Bergen to Krikenes🙁 I just needed to come up with the $3500. Back when I was working in Denmark I didn't have the money, now I don't have the time...



On a side note, I think the price of meat, chicken in particular, in the US is ridiculously low and fruits/vegetables comparatively high.

That would be an amazing trip, no contest.

I'm sorry. It really is a bad way to start describing a country to vacation in by the price of their cold cuts. I thought of chicken because over there it was also comparatively low to everything else except bread rolls. I sincerely hope you get to enjoy that trip. cheers 🙂