Starting Clinical Volunteering 1 Year Before Applying - Box Checker?

[sushi18]

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Would starting clinical volunteering 1 year before I apply to medical school label me as a dreaded box checker? It's not that I wouldn't enjoy doing it earlier, but as a non-trad I'll most likely be working a clinical job/taking classes/doing non-clinical volunteering/research. And unfortunately, the only clinical volunteering opportunities nearby require a minimum 4-hour shift + 2-hour total commute. It would be a lot easier for me to make time for clinical volunteering after I've finished the bulk of my requirements, but that would be 1 year before I apply.

Side note, if 1 year is too late, when is the latest I need to start?

 

[bbdylan87]

Go with what adcoms say, not the 2 individuals who think its box checking volunteering for 365 days

 

[DoctorSwagger]

If you consistently volunteer for a year and rack up over 150 hrs I think you should be fine


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[LizzyM]

Do you have any other clinical experience (e.g. paid experience or shadowing) that started earlier than the clinical volunteering ? When did you decide to be pre-med? How long between deciding to be pre-med and actually starting some clinical exposure?

 

[sushi18]

Do you have any other clinical experience (e.g. paid experience or shadowing) that started earlier than the clinical volunteering ? When did you decide to be pre-med? How long between deciding to be pre-med and actually starting some clinical exposure?

I decided to become pre-med a few months ago after starting direct services non-clinical volunteering with disadvantaged individuals (being vague for anonymity’s sake) and reading books about how physicians have helped vulnerable populations, among other things like talking to doctors. I will most likely be starting a clinical job next week so will be getting clinical experience very soon after having become pre-med. I also have 20 hrs of shadowing from 4 years ago.

May I ask what your questions are getting at?

 

[LizzyM]

I decided to become pre-med a few months ago after starting direct services non-clinical volunteering with disadvantaged individuals (being vague for anonymity’s sake) and reading books about how physicians have helped vulnerable populations, among other things like talking to doctors. I will most likely be starting a clinical job next week so will be getting clinical experience very soon after having become pre-med. I also have 20 hrs of shadowing from 4 years ago.

May I ask what your questions are getting at?

If you get involved in testing your interest in medicine as a career shortly after deciding that you might be interested in pre-med, we really can't expect more than that. You don't have to have clinical volunteering if you have clinical employment. It is good that you have non-clinical volunteering.

 

[sushi18]

If you get involved in testing your interest in medicine as a career shortly after deciding that you might be interested in pre-med, we really can't expect more than that. You don't have to have clinical volunteering if you have clinical employment. It is good that you have non-clinical volunteering.

Thanks, that helps a lot to know 🙂