Volunteer/community service or nah?

[Min:))]

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I volunteer regularly at my church as a Sunday school teacher. I prepare lessons, coordinate with other teachers, prepare crafts, bring candy, etc. does this count as volunteering in the eyes of med school adcoms? (The reason I’m asking is some said that this “part of the faith” but it honestly isn’t. You’re not required to serve...you choose/volunteer to do so)

I’m guessing altar service doesn’t count. I also clean the church and volunteer at summer church festivals.

Thanks folks

 

[Goro]

I volunteer regularly at my church as a Sunday school teacher. I prepare lessons, coordinate with other teachers, prepare crafts, bring candy, etc. does this count as volunteering in the eyes of med school adcoms? (The reason I’m asking is some said that this “part of the faith” but it honestly isn’t. You’re not required to serve...you choose/volunteer to do so)

I’m guessing altar service doesn’t count. I also clean the church and volunteer at summer church festivals.

Thanks folks

You're supposed to volunteer with strangers. Not all patients are nice people. Medicine is a service profession.

 

[Min:))]

You're supposed to volunteer with strangers. Not all patients are nice people. Medicine is a service profession.

I agree and I do volunteer at other places with “strangers”. But are you saying that my Sunday school service doesn’t count as community service? I sure hope it does...

 

[deleted915763]

I wouldn't give it much weight at all but yes I would count it as community service...

 

[ciestar]

Yes it counts as community service but i wouldn’t say it is the type of service many schools are necessarily looking for

 

[Min:))]

Yes it counts as community service but i wouldn’t say it is the type of service many schools are necessarily looking for

I thought you’re supposed to volunteer towards something you’re passionate for. I love kids and my faith, so that’s why I chose it. Why is this not regarded well?

 

[Min:))]

I wouldn't give it much weight at all but yes I would count it as community service...

Can you explain why? This is frustrating for me to hear since I spend so much of my time towards this service. I’m a leader in my church...how would this not get much weight?

 

[ciestar]

I thought you’re supposed to volunteer towards something you’re passionate for. I love kids and my faith, so that’s why I chose it. Why is this not regarded well?

True, you are, but they’re more looking at service to the less fortunate. Working with the homeless humbles you a lot. Working with domestic abuse victims gave me a new perspective entirely.

Point is to help those in need and to step out of your comfort zone to serve others. This is very much what mission based schools want to see. My volunteering involved serving kids in extreme poverty. It was asked about at every single interview.

 

[LizzyM]

Sunday school is clean and comfortable and safe. You can't always say the same for a homeless shelter or a soup kitchen or making the rounds with a needle exchange program. Try something that gets you out of your comfort zone.

 

[Min:))]

Sunday school is clean and comfortable and safe. You can't always say the same for a homeless shelter or a soup kitchen or making the rounds with a needle exchange program. Try something that gets you out of your comfort zone.

Thank you for your advice. Now let me ask you this: should I still count it as community service hours? Also, I’m going to start volunteering this week at homeless shelter. Is a year of volunteering ok since I apply next summer?

 

[Catalystik]

1) Now let me ask you this: should I still count it as community service hours?
2) I’m going to start volunteering this week at homeless shelter. Is a year of volunteering ok since I apply next summer?

1) You can still put it on your application. You perform volunteer service. If you lead others (not counting kids)/coordinate their efforts, orient them to tasks, take responsibility for a successful outcome, that would be important to mention in the same space.

2) Yes. One year is a decent amount of longevity.

 

[Goro]

I agree and I do volunteer at other places with “strangers”. But are you saying that my Sunday school service doesn’t count as community service? I sure hope it does...

Personally, I'd discount it. It's the type of thing one is supposed to do for one's religious community, I suspect. I want to see you help those less fortunate than yourself, not set up the tables at Wed night post-service meal.

 

[Min:))]

Personally, I'd discount it. It's the type of thing one is supposed to do for one's religious community, I suspect. I want to see you help those less fortunate than yourself, not set up the tables at Wed night post-service meal.

Well, that’s the thing: it’s not what “one is supposed to do” or required to do. It is purely service/volunteer based. I don’t know if you’re familiar with Christian teachings, but it’s not a requirement in one’s religious community. Many churchgoers leave right after mass; I stay for a few hours to clean, make food for the kiddos, and teach them.

 

[Goro]

Well, that’s the thing: it’s not what “one is supposed to do” or required to do. It is purely service/volunteer based. I don’t know if you’re familiar with Christian teachings, but it’s not a requirement in one’s religious community. Many churchgoers leave right after mass; I stay for a few hours to clean, make food for the kiddos, and teach them.

No need to get defensive...I'm just telling you what I like to see in candidates.

 

[Min:))]

No need to get defensive...I'm just telling you what I like to see in candidates.

I’m sorry..didn’t mean to sound defensive. Appreciate your help!

 

[LizzyM]

Well, that’s the thing: it’s not what “one is supposed to do” or required to do. It is purely service/volunteer based. I don’t know if you’re familiar with Christian teachings, but it’s not a requirement in one’s religious community. Many churchgoers leave right after mass; I stay for a few hours to clean, make food for the kiddos, and teach them.

The point is, you are part of a faith community and you serve others in your community. That's part of what you are supposed to do if you are a Christian. (see John 13:14). You can list that as volunteer/non-clinical and you can list it as leadership if you lead peers.

What we want to see in terms of volunteering is going outside of your own community and outside of your own comfort zone and reaching out to the people who aren't part of your community. The people no one wants to associate with. Find those people and see what you can do to help them through an existing social service agency.

 

[Min:))]

The point is, you are part of a faith community and you serve others in your community. That's part of what you are supposed to do if you are a Christian. (see John 13:14). You can list that as volunteer/non-clinical and you can list it as leadership if you lead peers.

What we want to see in terms of volunteering is going outside of your own community and outside of your own comfort zone and reaching out to the people who aren't part of your community. The people no one wants to associate with. Find those people and see what you can do to help them through an existing social service agency.

When you say through an existing social service agency, does that mean I can't just volunteer independently at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter? (I do volunteer sometimes at a soup kitchen with my church)

 

[LizzyM]

When you say through an existing social service agency, does that mean I can't just volunteer independently at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter? (I do volunteer sometimes at a soup kitchen with my church)

I mean you don't need to be the founder of a aid organization or go out on your own, by yourself (not safe!) saving junkies in abandoned warehouses. If your church runs a soup kitchen that is open to anyone who is hungry, that's a reasonable volunteer activity for you to take up.

 

[bluemamba7]

I thought you’re supposed to volunteer towards something you’re passionate for. I love kids and my faith, so that’s why I chose it. Why is this not regarded well?

If you’re so passionate about it (internal reasons for volunteering) why do you care that it’s not regarded as good as you thought(external reasons)? No one is saying that it’s BAD, rather that it’s not as good as you think it is. If you’re truly so passionate about this activity, you shouldn’t care and shouldn’t get so defensive about it

EDIT: And FYI, most religious people I know are involved with their religious site in one way or another. It’s not really anything special

 

[Min:))]

If you’re so passionate about it (internal reasons for volunteering) why do you care that it’s not regarded as good as you thought(external reasons)? No one is saying that it’s BAD, rather that it’s not as good as you think it is. If you’re truly so passionate about this activity, you shouldn’t care and shouldn’t get so defensive about it

No need to bash me, dude - I already apologized for sounding defensive. It didn't bother me that it's not regarded well...but I got worried when some said to NOT count it as vounteering. The reason being is because it's pretty much the only non-clinical volunteering I've been doing. I am passionate about it and enjoy it. However, I'd like to know if I need to do more so I don't set myself up for failure.

Your comment literally serves no purpose other than to pick on me smh

 

[bluemamba7]

No need to bash me, dude - I already apologized for sounding defensive. It didn't bother me that it's not regarded well...but I got worried when some said to NOT count it as vounteering. The reason being is because it's pretty much the only non-clinical volunteering I've been doing. I am passionate about it and enjoy it. However, I'd like to know if I need to do more so I don't set myself up for failure.

Your comment literally serves no purpose other than to pick on me smh

Yeah people who are defensive typically view comments that are not in line with theirs as attacking. My post was more for clarification purposes so that you understand what others were saying but I’ll leave it at that before you get offended at this post too. GL

 

[OneTwoThreeFour]

On a similar thread-how do you guys feel about mormon mission trips for 1-2 years? I've seen a few applications with these experiences and never quite know what to do with them.

 

[LizzyM]

On a similar thread-how do you guys feel about mormon mission trips for 1-2 years? I've seen a few applications with these experiences and never quite know what to do with them.

The honest Mormon will tell you at interview that the mission is evangelization not medical or community service although some missionaries will get involved in 1-2 hours of community service each week. It does give some, depending on assignment, an exposure to a different culture and language. That's never a bad thing but I would not equate it with Peace Corps or similar 1-2 year f/t community service projects.

Giving a lot of weight to Mormon mission (and achievement of Eagle Scout status) does tend to disadvantage female applicants (women seldom do Mormon missions and until this coming year were not candidates for Eagle Scout) so there is that consideration, too. In fact, I wonder if that is why U.Utah tends to skew heavily male in comparison to many other schools.... hmmm.

 

[fi3451]

I served an LDS mission and it was a great leadership experience, cultural/language experience, and opportunity to do something I am passionate about. I hope ADCOMS look favorably at it. However, like LizzyM said, its focus is not to serve the community (although a few hours are typically devoted to service each week). The focus is to find people who want to learn more about what we believe and teach them about it.

To follow up on LizzyM, I wouldn’t be surprised if you start seeing more Mormon applicants who are women that have served missions. The Mormon church lowered the mission age for women from 21 to 19 in 2012 and the number of female missionaries has actually tripled since then and from what I can tell, it's becoming more common for Mormon females to do missions.

 

[Goro]

On a similar thread-how do you guys feel about mormon mission trips for 1-2 years? I've seen a few applications with these experiences and never quite know what to do with them.

Primarily religious missions are to be included in your app to explain what you were doing during the time you were serving. This service does not hurt your application. If you are able to describe how these experiences developed your self-understanding or a deeper respect for the value of others' beliefs, these experiences (not the "mission") can give you a more interesting application. My pal @HomeSkool can attest to this.

Missions whose primary purpose is the conversion of others to your belief system fall flat as a resume builder, even though you have a constitutional right to pursue this activity. You don’t get bonus points for trying to convert the heathens.

 

[NeuResurgens]

Primarily religious missions are to be included in your app to explain what you were doing during the time you were serving. This service does not hurt your application. If you are able to describe how these experiences developed your self-understanding or a deeper respect for the value of others' beliefs, these experiences (not the "mission") can give you a more interesting application. My pal @HomeSkool can attest to this.

Missions whose primary purpose is the conversion of others to your belief system fall flat as a resume builder, even though you have a constitutional right to pursue this activity. You don’t get bonus points for trying to convert the heathens.

Yep, in my app I basically explained what I was doing and focused on the things I learned that would translate into a career in medicine e.g. interacting positively with others regardless of disagreements, learning about the language and culture that are different than my own and respecting/appreciating those, and recognizing opportunities to serve others where they arise (the community service activities that LizzyM mentioned) etc. I personally think I would be worse off, with less patience if I hadn't gone - really taught me to be a better team player and have more respect for everyone.

FYI, Mormons don't usually see proselyting as a "convert the heathens" type of activity. The general attitude is instead that this belief system has made a positive difference in their lives and as such is worth sharing, for those out there who might similarly benefit. Missionaries teach those who are interested and generally don't force the issue if someone says they're not interested (there are likely exceptions based on the personality of the individual missionary which might lead to some negative interactions or more pushy behavior - lot of missionaries going out at age 18 - but this is the minority of cases).

 

[Mednight]

Community outreach = community service.