Volunteer Hours

[jcfly21]

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Hi,
I am a sophomore in my undergraduate degree and i just got a job volunteering at the hospital near my home on the ICU floor. I know that you hear a lot of different numbers when it comes to amount of time needed volunteering, but im curious what you guys think a good number is? I was thinking 250 hours? Let me know guys and gals. Thanks

Josh

 

[Larsitron]

I've never really quite understood why people do this in terms of actual numbers of hours. Just make a commitment that you feel you can balance with your academics/other extra curriculars and go with that. The thing people are looking for is passion/commitment; its not like the high jump where you have to get over a certain number.

 

[kenmc3]

I agree with the above. Just make sure you volunteer in an area which gives you exposure to physicians. Because the main reason medical schools want you to volunteer is so you know what the life of a physician is like. So volunteering at a desk or reading stories to children, while fulfilling and a good thing to do, is not what medical schools are looking for. I also highly recommend that you get shadowing experience. I think that med schools value shadowing higher than just volunteering at a hospital.