Should I still list these volunteer hours?

[gogogadget1499]

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Hey all,

A bit of an unusual story, but I will give it a go.

I have been a longtime volunteer at a local clinic and have 250 hours there. Last September, I had some health problems and took a leave of absence from the clinic and the volunteer coordinator at the time approved of my leave of absence. A few weeks ago I decided to return to my volunteering post, but when I started to communicate with the volunteer department I found out that the old volunteer coordinator who I had communicated with had left and a new one has come into charge. When I let the new coordinator know my desire to return, she said that she would have to dismiss me from the program due to the fact that I had been inactive for several months. I explained to her that I had been on an approved leave of absence and even forwarded her all of the emails verifying that to her. She refused to budge and I am left at a loss why she is behaving this way. I am still currently attempting to work it out.

Anyways, this experience was the best clinical experience that I had during my undergraduate experience. I actually put it in my Personal Statement and as one of my most meaningful activities. If the new volunteer coordinator refuses to reinstate me, should I change anything in my application in the places that I have incorporated this activity? I guess I am asking this because I am a little paranoid that if the new volunteer coordinator is my reference and needs to verify my hours she could put in a bad word about me unnecessarily

Also, in terms of a contact for the activities section on the MCAT, is it okay if I put the old volunteer coordinator's contact info, as for some reason I don't want the new volunteer coordinator to mess anything up for me when I haven't done anything wrong.

 

[drducky.]

Pretty sure when adcoms call, theyre only trying to verify the hours. Any badmouthing shouldnt affect you.

 

[LizzyM]

Of course you should list 250 hours that ended last year.
Two questions for you to reflect on as you think about what has happened here (you don't need to reply to these questions, they are just for you to think about):
1. Is there such a demand for opportunities to volunteer that the volunteer roster is full and someone who has been away for 6 months has been replaced and is no longer needed?

2. Was there something about your behavior as a volunteer that made the organization not want you back and they are using this "leave of absence" as a convenient way to dismiss you?

 

[gogogadget1499]

Pretty sure when adcoms call, theyre only trying to verify the hours. Any badmouthing shouldnt affect you.

Thanks! This is what I was mainly afraid of. I have never done anything that breaks the volunteer code, but she for some reason has a distaste for me.

 

[gogogadget1499]

Of course you should list 250 hours that ended last year.
Two questions for you to reflect on as you think about what has happened here (you don't need to reply to these questions, they are just for you to think about):
1. Is there such a demand for opportunities to volunteer that the volunteer roster is full and someone who has been away for 6 months has been replaced and is no longer needed?

2. Was there something about your behavior as a volunteer that made the organization not want you back and they are using this "leave of absence" as a convenient way to dismiss you?

@LizzyM I appreciate these questions. They really made me think a lot clearer about my situation. I know you said I don't need to reply, but I feel that the main reason she let me go is that she saw me leave of absence as being "poor attendance" when in fact I had a valid leave of absence. I believe that there is a misunderstanding but it is hard to work with anybody when they refuse to accept to see any evidence that you have.