Reappliant, wondering if current volunteering is necessary ... could use advice

[sepho]

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Just a little back story: Applied last cycle, interviewed at state school, rejected in April 2009. Since I thought I had a pretty good shot at getting in, I didn't prep for the upcoming app cycle. So after finishing up finals in May, I rushed to study for the mcat, line up research volunteering (which I'll start at the end of July), and some physician shadowing. Unfortunately, I've found that studying for the mcat (Kaplan class) is pretty demanding and I haven't had time for some traditional hospital volunteering (or any volunteering).

Do you think this will come up in a potential interview (why haven't you volunteered recently)?
If I started volunteering in August (after my mcat), will that be too late, even if I submitted my AMCAS at the end of August?
Or would I be best to submit my AMCAS earlier, without my hospital volunteering?

Your advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[mommy2three]

i can only speak from my own personal experience but i know it was one thing that was looked down on since i had volunteered until 2004 and then did not volunteer again until 2007. even though i never got to the interview process, when i called to find out what i could do to improve my app and chances, they told me i needed to get some more recent volunteer work in there.

it is a sticky situation though cause by waiting you are later in the process, but by submitting now you are leaving off the pending volunteer work. hmm. maybe place it on your application with a start date of aug 2009??

 

[Stratego]

If you have the average applicant's hours of volunteering already, like about 150 hours over a year and a half, then a three month hiatus is no big deal. If you have virtually no clinical experience to date, then having a month listed on your application makes it unlikely you'll be accepted anywhere. A month of research isn't going to help your application much either. Have you considered waiting until the next cycle so your application is as solid as you can make it? It looks like you don't have shadowing yet either.

 

[sepho]

If you have the average applicant's hours of volunteering already, like about 150 hours over a year and a half, then a three month hiatus is no big deal. If you have virtually no clinical experience to date, then having a month listed on your application makes it unlikely you'll be accepted anywhere. A month of research isn't going to help your application much either. Have you considered waiting until the next cycle so your application is as solid as you can make it? It looks like you don't have shadowing yet either.

I have a lot of recent shadowing actually, so no probs there. But that's the only clinical experience I have in the past 2 years. Previous to that, I have a lot of hours (working and volunteering). It's just that I've spent the last two years fixing the academic holes in my app (being a nontrad/career changer). I'd prefer not to wait ... I was just wondering if putting only a month of volunteering would help or hurt my app (start date Aug, and continue till interviews).

 

[gman33]

1 month will not make any difference. Focus on the MCAT.
After that is done, get as much volunteering time as you can.
You should have at least 200 hours.

 

[sepho]

1 month will not make any difference. Focus on the MCAT.
After that is done, get as much volunteering time as you can.
You should have at least 200 hours.

Thanks everyone for the advice.

What does the 200 hours encompass? All volunteering (medical and not)? During what time period? From college and up? Or recent? I'm 28.

 

[DrDre2001]

bump

I also am interested to hear how you all obtained your volunteering spots. I have applied/sent letters to 5 hospitals and not received anything back for a month.

 

[sepho]

Most hospitals have volunteer departments. Have you tried to call the main operator and see if they have one?

 

[gman33]

Thanks everyone for the advice.

What does the 200 hours encompass? All volunteering (medical and not)? During what time period? From college and up? Or recent? I'm 28.

I'd say to try to have 200 hours of recent direct patient contact.
That would be 4 hours a week for 1 year.

 

[gman33]

bump

I also am interested to hear how you all obtained your volunteering spots. I have applied/sent letters to 5 hospitals and not received anything back for a month.

If you give out some info on your location, there is probably someone who will have info about hospitals in your area.

I could give you some info for Philly, but that won't do you much good if you are not around here.

Generally most large hospitals have a volunteer dept. If you don't get a response via phone/email/letter, try stopping by the office. Tell them you are a premed and are looking to get some clinical experience. Sometimes they have a lot of people waiting for a limited number of positions. If that is the case it may take some time to get in. I think it took me 3-4 months to get my position at Penn.

 

[Stratego]

If the general hospitals don't want you, try VA hospitals, clinics, family planning centers, nursing homes, or residential facilities for those with chronic medical or mental conditions.