Volunteer Hour dilemma

[gogogadget1499]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey guys

I am currently trying to put together my activity section for my med school app. For one of my clinical activities I volunteered for 180 hours. I recorded in my notebook my hour count in case something like this happened. Somehow the facility's computer only recorded me for 138 hours, as it seems like there was a problem with my login ID. I am very frustrated that something like this would happen as this place is quite a far commute for me and I have made the extra effort to attend extra shifts in the last couple months. I am currently trying to have the new volunteer director to help me out and I am trying to give him concrete evidence that I did go for those shifts. However, he seems to be quite stubborn. How should I approach this on my apps? I am scared to put down 180 hours even though I know I did it, because I don't want something stupid to cost me on my application. However, I feel that 138 hours grossly misrepresents my hour count. Would even putting down 150 hours be ok? I can provide the reference of a fellow volunteer who is now in medical school who can help me verify this if needed.

 

[907914]

Hey guys

I am currently trying to put together my activity section for my med school app. For one of my clinical activities I volunteered for 180 hours. I recorded in my notebook my hour count in case something like this happened. Somehow the facility's computer only recorded me for 138 hours, as it seems like there was a problem with my login ID. I am very frustrated that something like this would happen as this place is quite a far commute for me and I have made the extra effort to attend extra shifts in the last couple months. I am currently trying to have the new volunteer director to help me out and I am trying to give him concrete evidence that I did go for those shifts. However, he seems to be quite stubborn. How should I approach this on my apps? I am scared to put down 180 hours even though I know I did it, because I don't want something stupid to cost me on my application. However, I feel that 138 hours grossly misrepresents my hour count. Would even putting down 150 hours be ok? I can provide the reference of a fellow volunteer who is now in medical school who can help me verify this if needed.

If you put down 150 and they call to ask and find out 138, the 12 hour discrepancy is not going to keep you from getting admitted. In the description, you can put “4 hours a week every other week for 2 years” or whatever.

I am doing that with almost all of my activities because I did not track exact hours. “Well, I worked here for about 9 hours a week for a year, so let’s just put 450 hours and call it good.” Basically, as long as the person on the other end of the phone vouches for what you say then it doesn’t matter.

 

[gogogadget1499]

If you put down 150 and they call to ask and find out 138, the 12 hour discrepancy is not going to keep you from getting admitted. In the description, you can put “4 hours a week every other week for 2 years” or whatever.

I am doing that with almost all of my activities because I did not track exact hours. “Well, I worked here for about 9 hours a week for a year, so let’s just put 450 hours and call it good.” Basically, as long as the person on the other end of the phone vouches for what you say then it doesn’t matter.

Yeah, I just want to be careful. Do you guys think it would be too much to say 180 though?

 

[drducky.]

Those 40 hours wont make or break your app. Most people dont know their exact hours so even if adcoms call, im sure they encounter small discrepancies a lot like your case. But as long as its not like “applicant put down 200 hours but the supervisor’s only seen the applicant once” sorta deal, should be fine.

 

[Catalystik]

I just want to be careful. Do you guys think it would be too much to say 180 though?

For complete transparency, you might consider claiming the additional 42 hours in the narrative area as "additional volunteer hours not included above, and not documented due to computer issues." In the header claim the documented hours only.

 

[LizzyM]

Oh, please don't be this guy... (satire but it is funny because it is so close to the truth).

At the end of each shift, Malveaux records his "hours worked" in his PDA and makes a point of getting Perkins to sign off on it—a ritual Perkins has grown to detest.
"He can talk all he wants about how enriching this experience has been, but it's completely obvious that all he's thinking about is how good this is going to look on his transcript," Perkins said. "Here at the Salvation Army, we try to appreciate all the help God sends our way, but I draw the line with that little ****." Soup-Kitchen Volunteers Hate College-Application-Padding Brat

 

[gogogadget1499]

Those 40 hours wont make or break your app. Most people dont know their exact hours so even if adcoms call, im sure they encounter small discrepancies a lot like your case. But as long as its not like “applicant put down 200 hours but the supervisor’s only seen the applicant once” sorta deal, should be fine.

Yeah, I am not doing that. It is just a 40 hr discrepancy. Would it be better just to put 150 or 160 instead?

 

[gogogadget1499]

For complete transparency, you might consider claiming the additional 42 hours in the narrative area as "additional volunteer hours not included above, and not documented due to computer issues." In the header claim the documented hours only.

That is a good idea. I am have some character space issue in the narrative area of the activity section. Do you think it is okay for me to just estimate to conservatively estimate to 150 hours and leave it at that?

 

[Catalystik]

That is a good idea. I am have some character space issue in the narrative area of the activity section. Do you think it is okay for me to just estimate to conservatively estimate to 150 hours and leave it at that?

I doubt your med school will have issues with a mild hourly exaggeration.

 

[gogogadget1499]

I doubt your med school will have issues with a mild hourly exaggeration.

Thank you! I appreciate your input.

 

[Hi_I'mPaul]

That is a good idea. I am have some character space issue in the narrative area of the activity section. Do you think it is okay for me to just estimate to conservatively estimate to 150 hours and leave it at that?

Just put what you worked. You worked 180, so put it. If they call to verify (which is not likely at all...) then just explain the situation. You're not lying.

 

[gogogadget1499]

Just put what you worked. You worked 180, so put it. If they call to verify (which is not likely at all...) then just explain the situation. You're not lying.

Yeah, that is what I am leaning towards, because I know I did those hours. I just want to make sure that I don't put myself at risk for something stupid.

 

[Hi_I'mPaul]

Yeah, that is what I am leaning towards, because I know I did those hours. I just want to make sure that I don't put myself at risk for something stupid.

As long as you don't report something egregious, medical schools have no reason to check. The difference between 140 and 180 hours is negligible anyway, to be honest. As long as you can write and speak about the experience well.. medical schools will not check. Please don't feel like you need to under-report hours. No reason to handicap yourself on someone else's error when you're competing with other applicants.

 

[gogogadget1499]

As long as you don't report something egregious, medical schools have no reason to check. The difference between 140 and 180 hours is negligible anyway, to be honest. As long as you can write and speak about the experience well.. medical schools will not check. Please don't feel like you need to under-report hours. No reason to handicap yourself on someone else's error when you're competing with other applicants.

I am very confident I can speak about as it is one of my most meaningful. Thanks for the advice!

 

[aorta22]

Will adcoms really call every volunteer office to verify your hours? What if you don't have a direct supervisor?

 

[gogogadget1499]

Hey guys

Sort of an update on this thread. I called the volunteer coordinator of this program and asked whether she would be willing to input my hours that were not recorded and even provided her evidence that I went. She refused to do so and I had a slight argument with her because she refused to even acknowledge the evidence I provided.

Is it okay if I still write on my application that I have 180 hours? I am just a little paranoid that if the med school calls in verify she might put in a bad word after the argument that happened today.

 

[LizzyM]

Do you feel lucky? If you are very unlucky, the Med school will check, the volunteer coordinator will stick to her story and your offer of admission will be withdrawn.
Do you believe that the likelihood of being denied admission because you list only the hours that can be verified is higher than the risk of being denied admission due to the appearance of dishonesty?

 

[gogogadget1499]

Do you feel lucky? If you are very unlucky, the Med school will check, the volunteer coordinator will stick to her story and your offer of admission will be withdrawn.
Do you believe that the likelihood of being denied admission because you list only the hours that can be verified is higher than the risk of being denied admission due to the appearance of dishonesty?

I agree that it is not worth the risk.

The frustrating part is the fact that I am not being dishonest or lying. I really volunteered for those additional hours, but I am simply being denied them.

Might as well move on I guess.

 

[LizzyM]

I agree that it is not worth the risk.

The frustrating part is the fact that I am not being dishonest or lying. I really volunteered for those additional hours, but I am simply being denied them.

Might as well move on I guess.

What was your reason for volunteering? If it was to help those who needed help and you did that successfully it shouldn't matter that those hours don't appear on your application but other hours do. If you did this to gain more knowledge of the health care environment and the people in it, you have that knowledge and experience even if the number of hours listed on your application to this endeavor is lower than the actual hours spent in this way. No one can take that experience away from you. The only thing you are being denied is credit for doing this and in the scheme of things, 140 hours credit vs 180 hours credit is not going to make or break your application. But your attitude about always needing to be credited for what you've done, or a chip on your shoulder about being "cheated", might make life harder for you going forward.