Partly Completed Volunteer Internship

[rls303]

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Hi everyone,
I am currently a clinical care extender at a local hospital (Hoag) via the Cope health solutions program. I currently have about a good 100 hours volunteering so far. However, I might have to take an extended leave of absence this upcoming November, and it might be so long that I may have to quit the program.

The reason is, that I found a very nice Urgent Care to work at is near my home (within minutes). I also need to contribute more to the finances as my father's health has deteriorated and he isn't working as much as he used to.

In addition, I'm in my senior year and I have to complete three upper division Biology Labs, combined with my other stuff. So I have my hands full at the moment.

On my AMCAS, I put the program down as an EC and I have volunteered at several low cost clinics/hospitals in the past, would quitting the Clinical Care Extender internship, really hurt me? I also feel like I will be getting more exposure at my urgent care clinic experience. We are welcome to quit at any time, and I really feel like I can't do it anymore with these upcoming months ahead.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[bigbad]

Hi everyone,
I am currently a clinical care extender at a local hospital (Hoag) via the Cope health solutions program. I currently have about a good 100 hours volunteering so far. However, I might have to take an extended leave of absence this upcoming November, and it might be so long that I may have to quit the program.

The reason is, that I found a very nice Urgent Care to work at is near my home (within minutes). I also need to contribute more to the finances as my father's health has deteriorated and he isn't working as much as he used to.

In addition, I'm in my senior year and I have to complete three upper division Biology Labs, combined with my other stuff. So I have my hands full at the moment.

On my AMCAS, I put the program down as an EC and I have volunteered at several low cost clinics/hospitals in the past, would quitting the Clinical Care Extender internship, really hurt me? I also feel like I will be getting more exposure at my urgent care clinic experience. We are welcome to quit at any time, and I really feel like I can't do it anymore with these upcoming months ahead.

Thanks for any advice!

If you have to quit then do it. Volunteering is volunteering and it shouldn't matter where you do it.

Maybe you can volunteer where it's convenient and you could always reapply if you have the chance to. I'm not too sure about putting the program down on your app if you haven't finished it. If they call to confirm (unlikely but possible) the manager might let slip that you didn't actually "finish". On the other hand, you deserve all the hours that you have so far, so be careful how you list it.

Also, are you at the new Hoag in Irvine? I didn't know they had CCE's.

 

[Hifey]

I'd put it down. I'm a fellow Hoag graduate as well and spent some time on Lteam. You did those 100 hours and I think its ok to state that. Since you're not being kicked out of the program but leaving on your own due to other reasons, its not likely to reflect very negatively on you. People know that life happens. It does mean that you won't get an LOR from the program. The manager can neither confirm nor deny your hours though but I doubt that the schools would call for just 100 hours.


btw, if you need to transfer to another CCE location closer to your home or take a really long leave of absence, it is possible. Talk to your DC, they'd love to work with you on the problem.

 

[Catalystik]

Your reason for leaving is perfectly understandable. I don't think that not completing the program will reflect badly on you considering the circumstances.

It sounds like you already have plenty of clinical experience, so I doubt that leaving the program will adversely effect your application if you mention it in a future update letter (as you should if you marked the experience date span "to present").

 

[rls303]

Hi guys,
Sounds good. Thanks for the advice.

Let's say I go to a closer location and decide to continue and I get accepted this cycle for the class of 2015 and I still haven't finished my 240 hours (in order to complete the internship) by the time Med School starts, would I have to explain it to them at stage, or does it not require any explanation?

So I would be going there on a continuous basis, but still not have accumulated the hours necessary to graduate from the program.

Thanks in advance!

 

[jvesco22]

If you have to quit then do it. Volunteering is volunteering and it shouldn't matter where you do it.

Maybe you can volunteer where it's convenient and you could always reapply if you have the chance to. I'm not too sure about putting the program down on your app if you haven't finished it. If they call to confirm (unlikely but possible) the manager might let slip that you didn't actually "finish". On the other hand, you deserve all the hours that you have so far, so be careful how you list it.

Also, are you at the new Hoag in Irvine? I didn't know they had CCE's.

Don't listen to this guy...The program requires 240hrs for completion. So if you've only done 200 hrs and couldn't finish the 240, then don't bother putting the 200hrs on your application and let that whole year be for nothing, right?

And no, you wouldn't have to explain it. They won't even know that you didn't complete the program. If you don't need a LOR (which I heard is very generic anyway), then don't worry about it.

 

[bigbad]

Don't listen to this guy...The program requires 240hrs for completion. So if you've only done 200 hrs and couldn't finish the 240, then don't bother putting the 200hrs on your application and let that whole year be for nothing, right?

And no, you wouldn't have to explain it. They won't even know that you didn't complete the program. If you don't need a LOR (which I heard is very generic anyway), then don't worry about it.

I didn't mean put nothing down, I was talking about putting the number of hours he did vs. the program, in case they get funny and decide to verify (unlikely).

You never know though, especially with certain schools asking about stupid stuff like traffic violations it's better to be careful...

 

[rls303]

Your reason for leaving is perfectly understandable. I don't think that not completing the program will reflect badly on you considering the circumstances.

It sounds like you already have plenty of clinical experience, so I doubt that leaving the program will adversely effect your application if you mention it in a future update letter (as you should if you marked the experience date span "to present").

Hi,
Sorry for bringing this thread back up again!

I'm still barely trying to stay in the program but I'm probably going to quit soon. So I must inform the schools individually if I take a Leave of absence, quit the program, or don't work as many hours as I used to?

I've checked and I only have about 120 hours over a period of 1.5 years. I always thought that the amount of time you spend working at a particular place is more important than the hours you put in on a weekly basis and such?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Catalystik]

So I must inform the schools individually if I take a Leave of absence, quit the program, or don't work as many hours as I used to?

I've checked and I only have about 120 hours over a period of 1.5 years. I always thought that the amount of time you spend working at a particular place is more important than the hours you put in on a weekly basis and such?

I don't think it's essential for you to inform them of the change in venue. You are substituting one type of clinical experience for another. But if you send in an update letter, you could refer to the transition. Or send in the update letter before you leave if you didn't send one when fall grades came out.

Yes, longevity is important, and 1.5 years is a good amount of time. The hours per week is the lesser consideration IMO.

How is your application season going so far?

 

[rls303]

I don't think it's essential for you to inform them of the change in venue. You are substituting one type of clinical experience for another. But if you send in an update letter, you could refer to the transition. Or send in the update letter before you leave if you didn't send one when fall grades came out.

Yes, longevity is important, and 1.5 years is a good amount of time. The hours per week is the lesser consideration IMO.

How is your application season going so far?

Hi there,
My fall grades weren't so good due to a few personal issues. Would you suggest sending in an update letter without talking about my academics? I have had no interviews and I think I might have to re-apply because my january MCAT probably won't have a significant impact seeing as though most DO schools have already filled up and MD was a stretch from the beginning. Holding hope though.

Would you suggest constructing a letter that expresses my newly found clinical experience? Thanks you!

 

[Wermz]

I did like 50 hrs of cce and quit just because it was boring. On amcas I put it down as 50 hrs of volunteering...simple as that. Who cares how many hours you need to "complete" the program...what does completing it really mean anyway? Nothing.

 

[Catalystik]

1) Would you suggest sending in an update letter without talking about my academics?

2) I have had no interviews and I think I might have to re-apply because my january MCAT probably won't have a significant impact seeing as though most DO schools have already filled up and MD was a stretch from the beginning. Holding hope though.

3) Would you suggest constructing a letter that expresses my newly found clinical experience? Thanks you!

1) It's fine to talk only about classes where the grade reflected well on you, without mentioning the others. Or you need not mention it at all as it's not required.

2) Keep hope alive, as sometimes the January MCAT has an impact if you do well. But don't take the test if it is unlikely to be an improvement, like if you're sick, or other social stresses are in play. You can reschedule if you feel there's no way you'd be ready but beware of the last date where it's possible.

3) Absolutely!

 

[rls303]

Thanks for the responses guys!