Should I do it?

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jd989898

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There's a summer internship opportunity for a $1000 stipend for me, but I'm not sure if it's worth my time. It's at a GED instruction program. I've been volunteering there (which involves teaching students trying to get their GED) for a few months now (have about 150 hours) and I've been extremely involved. The people there really like me, and that's why they want me to do the internship. It would be at least 20 hours a week, possibly 40.

Here's the pros and cons that I can thinks of:

Pros-
-Lets me help tons of people throughout the summer
-Build stronger relationship with students and staff (improved rec. letter if i need it)
-Shows long term and extensive commitment

Cons-
-Takes up tons of time
-Not really related to science (I'm a biology major with strong interests in science. I have a research position lined up for Fall 2013 though..)
-I started with the program to volunteer my time, and getting paid with a stipend would kind of defeat that


Should i just continue to volunteer there for 7-8 hours a week, or go ahead and jump right into the internship?

I'm just finishing freshman year, and just starting to build up my ECs.
 
If it's something you want to do, then do it. You don't have to do something science/research related, especially if it's the summer after your freshman year. Teaching is a big part of medicine, and it's good to have experience.
 
It's teaching and mentoring experience + you work with people.

It shows compassion and patience. I would do it.

If you can, you can squeeze ~10 hours hospital volunteer experience.
 
It seems like a great experience. If you like it, then do it.
 
Thanks for the responses everyone.

I realize it would be a great experience, but I'm just worried about the drawbacks.. Mostly these two --

-Takes up tons of time (I will be taking summer school as well as doing a scientific research program that helps undergrads learn basic research skills AND hospital volunteering on the weekends)

-I started with the program to volunteer my time, and getting paid with a stipend would kind of defeat that (should this not be a concern?)
 
Thanks for the responses everyone.

I realize it would be a great experience, but I'm just worried about the drawbacks.. Mostly these two --

-Takes up tons of time (I will be taking summer school as well as doing a scientific research program that helps undergrads learn basic research skills AND hospital volunteering on the weekends)

Don't burn yourself out.
What classes are you taking?

-I started with the program to volunteer my time, and getting paid with a stipend would kind of defeat that (should this not be a concern?)

No. You can explicitly state this in your application for ECs. You can split it as volunteer experience as a mentor/teacher + paid work experience as a mentor/teacher.
 
Thanks for the responses everyone.

I realize it would be a great experience, but I'm just worried about the drawbacks.. Mostly these two --

-Takes up tons of time (I will be taking summer school as well as doing a scientific research program that helps undergrads learn basic research skills AND hospital volunteering on the weekends)

-I started with the program to volunteer my time, and getting paid with a stipend would kind of defeat that (should this not be a concern?)

This is a non-issue. Volunteering experience becoming a paid position happens all the time, and adcoms don't care. It's what you're getting out of it that matters.
 
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