On Volunteering-and being a flake

[krispy]

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I've perused some of the volunteering threads but here's my question:

The hospital I was volunteering at required 4 hrs a shift on a certain day a week.

Anyways, I got burned out on medicine and volunteering toward the end of September and just up and quit volunteering and the idea of medical school- it was prob b/c I was involved in a job, research, ECs, studying, and gearing up for graduation in Dec (typical premed stuff)...so yeah, it was my bad, I flaked and now I'm making up for it.

Flash forward, I've graduated and now realize BAM that I do want to still go to medical school, I was just burned out/having doubts...but I feel like I may have burned a bridge with my coordinator for just quitting like I did. I called her, she's willing to reinstate me, but I don't want to risk a bad LOR from her...I have ~45-50 hours...should I restart at another hospital or just make up for being a huge flake to her? 😱

Plus, she wants me to have a set date (understandable) each week to come in for the 4 hrs at a time. I'm working full time now with a variable schedule so it's hard to say I'll be available on EVERY Tuesday at 9am, or what have you. She's not so flexible with this...advice, thanks....

 

[Charles Darwin]

Go volunteer but don't ask for a letter. You don't have to get a letter from every person you associate with...

 

[krispy]

This is a newbie question, but is there any way the schools could contact her?

 

[ur2l8]

This is a newbie question, but is there any way the schools could contact her?

They could but the chances of them contacting anyone is low. Think about the thousands of applications--they can't contact everyone.

 

[krispy]

That's true

 

[Oxygen206]

This is a newbie question, but is there any way the schools could contact her?

Probably not.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. You don't need to ask her for a recommendation. You could just ask the doc you get to know for one (probably better anyway).

 

[NightGod]

This is a newbie question, but is there any way the schools could contact her?

Honestly, my gut says they'd only every contact if you made some sort of outrageous claim on your app. They *might* do some random checking on a certain percentage of apps, as well, I suppose. Even so, flaking out of volunteering because you were swamped and then returning when life slowed down is hardly the worst thing you could have done. A bit immature, sure, but it's not like you got drunk and drove your car through the ambulance bay.

 

[arfc6]

^Though if you do get drunk, drive your car through the ambulance bay, AND still get into med school you get SDN's premed of the year awawrd.

 

[theseeker4]

I've perused some of the volunteering threads but here's my question:

The hospital I was volunteering at required 4 hrs a shift on a certain day a week.

Anyways, I got burned out on medicine and volunteering toward the end of September and just up and quit volunteering and the idea of medical school- it was prob b/c I was involved in a job, research, ECs, studying, and gearing up for graduation in Dec (typical premed stuff)...so yeah, it was my bad, I flaked and now I'm making up for it.

Flash forward, I've graduated and now realize BAM that I do want to still go to medical school, I was just burned out/having doubts...but I feel like I may have burned a bridge with my coordinator for just quitting like I did. I called her, she's willing to reinstate me, but I don't want to risk a bad LOR from her...I have ~45-50 hours...should I restart at another hospital or just make up for being a huge flake to her? 😱

Plus, she wants me to have a set date (understandable) each week to come in for the 4 hrs at a time. I'm working full time now with a variable schedule so it's hard to say I'll be available on EVERY Tuesday at 9am, or what have you. She's not so flexible with this...advice, thanks....

No one cares about a volunteer coordinator LOR. No point in worrying about that at all. Apologize, say you overlooked giving her notice when you burned out, and go forward from there.

 

[cocoapelli]

"Plus, she wants me to have a set date (understandable) each week to come in for the 4 hrs at a time. I'm working full time now with a variable schedule so it's hard to say I'll be available on EVERY Tuesday at 9am, or what have you. She's not so flexible with this...advice, thanks...."

I don't think this was your main question, but I would say find somewhere else to volunteer, given that they want a commitment you don't think you can make.

Best of luck!

 

[kpcrew]

you didn't handle it well. you should probably try a different hospital, there are many fine hospitals with volunteer departments that might be able to accomodate your schedule.