For one, UVM has its own medical school and teaching hospital basically on campus, and unlike what I've heard about places like Harvard and Columbia, UVM's medical school and its PBPM program are actually pretty friendly. We have access to the medical library, grand rounds, etc., and you're guaranteed an interview when you apply as long as you keep your post-bacc GPA above 3.5. The program advisors are friendly and knowledgeable, and it's a pretty small program (about 30 admissions a year, I think).
I also love love love Burlington. It is a college town, which has its drawbacks (namely, the large numbers of drunk 18-year-olds), but it really is a great little community with tons going on in the arts, music, and microbrewery scenes. Plus, it's close enough to get down to Boston if there's something interesting going on. To be honest, I probably would have gone to Bryn Mawr or Goucher if I'd gotten in, but I'm quite happy with the way things turned out.
I had a hard time pinning down my letter-writers (the drawbacks of asking arts school professors...), so I didn't submit until around Christmas. I don't believe that admissions here are rolling, though, so as long as you get it in before the priority deadline (March 1st for Fall), you should be all right.
The volunteer opportunities here are pretty vast. Burlington is a small town, but it's the biggest town and biggest medical community between Montreal and Boston, so there's a lot going on. Fletcher Allen has tons of volunteer opportunities (and ones which allow you a good amount of patient contact), and there are a number of nursing homes and at least a couple different ambulance services. As for non-medical areas, I'm interning with the local battered women's shelter, there are several food banks and homeless shelters, Habitat for Humanity has builds in the area, and there are absolutely countless opportunities if you're interested in small farming and/or ecology. I haven't looked much into doing research yet myself, but we have access to the Undergrad Research Coordinator (I think that's her title) to help us find opportunities there.
Let me know if you have any more questions! =)