Volunteer Ideas

[Athiker02]

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Aside from shadowing, what other types of volunteer activities have people done? How many hours have people volunteered? Does having a lot of volunteer work on your application really help out all that much?

Thanks!

 

[toothealer12]

Aside from shadowing, what other types of volunteer activities have people done? How many hours have people volunteered? Does having a lot of volunteer work on your application really help out all that much?

Thanks!

There is all types of volunteering out there. I'm president of an organization at my school, so I mostly do group-related volunteering for the community. The best advice I can give is Get Involved...usually school related organizations do a lot of volunteer work. You'll not only gain volunteer hours, but it shows a lot about your character.

 

[INFNITE]

I'm sure if you stop by the local hospital and ask for volunteering opportunities, you can find plenty of things to do. Also, there are programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters that are really worth looking into. Just look around, and you'll find volunteer work outside of dental shadowing.

 

[PDizzle]

Aside from shadowing, what other types of volunteer activities have people done? How many hours have people volunteered? Does having a lot of volunteer work on your application really help out all that much?

Thanks!

The importance of it varys between schools. I know for a fact that it is critical to have quite a bit of it at UCSF and Arizona. I think all schools want at least a little bit and having none will hurt your application significantly at most schools.

You could volunteer at a hospital, soup kitchen, VA clinic.....whatever you want. Do what you are truley interested in and not something just to fill up a space on the application.

 

[polarnut]

Do what you are truley interested in and not something just to fill up a space on the application.

That sounds peachy and all, but in all honesty, 90% of the people do volunteering and stuff to full up a space on the application. Now, with that said, you want to do something that will impress the dental adcom committee. Now what could that be? Volunteering in a healthcare field is the norm, but you might also want to consider taking up somethign that can show your dexterity. What could that be? I dunno!

 

[gsrthomas]

What was everyones extracircular activities, volunteer work, clubs at school, etc that they put on their applications?

 

[PDizzle]

That sounds peachy and all, but in all honesty, 90% of the people do volunteering and stuff to full up a space on the application.

This is true, every applicant has to have some but I say do something you already like to do. I say this becasue I had very little volunteer experience but I had a lot to say about it at my interview because I was so into it(at UCSF which are super big on that stuff). That's all they want to see. They just want to know if you are down with helping other people. If you do something you believe in then when asked about it in an interview you have more to say about it and will do better.

 

[gsrthomas]

What about those people who have a degree already took a year or two off to work? But now are getting back into things and want to apply?? I dont really have time to volunteer or do extraciricular things while working fulltime and taking some extra classes to boost up my gpa.

All I have is shadowing is a dentist for a year (which was alot of work, drove an hour one way just to get there while going to school).

Also, I was in the predent club at my old school. (UOP)

Thats it!

Am I screwed?? Seems like I dont have anything. Do people add things and lie?? Thats what I might have to do. I dunno.

 

[PDizzle]

What about those people who have a degree already took a year or two off of work? But now are getting back into things and want to apply?? I dont really have time to volunteer or do extraciricular things while working fulltime and taking some extra classes to boost up my gpa.

All I have is shadowing is a dentist for a year (which was alot of work, drove an hour one way just to get there while going to school).

Also, I was in the predent club at my old school. (UOP)

Thats it!

Am I screwed?? Seems like I dont have anything. Do people add things and lie?? Thats what I might have to do. I dunno.

I was in your boat except it was a 6 year break from college! As I said before, I had very little volunteer experience. I used what I did 3 summers ago and thats it.

I can't advise that you lie about it although I'm sure many do. Just try to fit it in somewhere. I don't think it has to be much, especially when you explain your schedule. They realize that if, for example, you have a full time job, taking pre-req's at night, shadowing on the weekends (that's tough to find!) and a wife and two kids, that any volunteer experience is sufficient.

 

[gsrthomas]

thanks

 

[golfmontpoker]

I have a friend that got accepted last month and completely flat out lied about his volunteer experiance... he told me "How can they verify it?"... Its the truth when I think about it really. So many people volunteer and it is hard to keep up with names at big places like united way and red cross... But the thing you gotta think about when you flat out lie about volunteer experiance. If you dont have the BS power to back it up during the interview, then they might obviously know you are lying. That, or when u look back 10 years later you will think "Wow, i completely lied to get my way into dental school" So its up to you... if you have any kind of dignity or ethics, then lying is not a good idea... If you could give a rats ass, Go ahead by all means, Im sure you can get away with it 😡

 

[paradigm2200]

during my columbia interview...the interviewer asked directly how i've helped out in the community. I say work at a local hospital, also starting working with senior citizens as well..

just my two cents.

 

[lgreen_aci]

Doing something you like is a great suggestion.

Doing something just so you can say you did comunity service is unfullfilling and a waste time. If you have to do it, do something you will get something out of beyond something to talk about.

I have a soft spot for the less fortunate, especially single parents, having been one of three siblings of a single mom, so I plan to try to do some type of volunteer work to help those people out. Probably will hit up the medical clinic and dental clinic.

There are lots of other good orgs that need help though, so do something you have a personal connection to, or enjoy.

 

[utahdent123]

I volunteer every summer at an Asthma Camp for kids. It's a week long camp that helps kids who have asthma learn how to control it. It is rewarding and it's a nice break to take off for a week and have some fun. If your interested check with your local American Lung Association. Also there are all kinds of camps, ie. diabetes, AIDS, Cancer...etc. Check them out, you might find something very fulfilling.

 

[food4thots]

there are volunteering opportunities everywhere. many occur during after 5pm or weekends. you just have to seek them out.

 

[Harvey]

Aside from shadowing, what other types of volunteer activities have people done? How many hours have people volunteered? Does having a lot of volunteer work on your application really help out all that much?

Thanks!

I have been a Big Brother through the Big Brother Big Sister program for the last two years, and it has been a great experience.

 

[Athiker02]

Thanks for all the great ideas and advice. I found this link on the web.

http://www.volunteersolutions.org/

 

[coral2005]

Do you like animals?

You could volunteer at the local humane society and help out with walking/training the dogs... keeping them company...showing them affection...raising funds!!

You don't have to necessarily work in a dental or medical field to get some good community service hours. Just show that you don't mind giving up your free time to help out your community.