Volunteer Question?

[deleted244469]

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Hey guys, so I just turned in my application for volunteering at the local hospital. I have a decent amount of free time, so would volunteering at my schools library also be a good idea to get some non-hospital volunteer hours?

 

[LiveUninhibited]

Hey guys, so I just turned in my application for volunteering at the local hospital. I have a decent amount of free time, so would volunteering at my schools library also be a good idea to get some non-hospital volunteer hours?

Yeah if you have free time you should definitely be using it to improve yourself and give back to society. Volunteering at the library suggests you have some intellectual curiosity and are interested in books and helping people with learning. If they have a tutoring program I'd suggest that too, as it will help you keep in touch with the basics (MCAT), demonstrate leadership and teaching ability, and be community service at the same time. Of course medical experiences would take higher priority if you had to choose.

 

[deleted244469]

Of course medical experiences would take higher priority if you had to choose.

Well of course it would 🙂 , but will volunteering at the Library help me with my volunteering for my med school "resume" if you will?

 

[LiveUninhibited]

Well of course, but will volunteering at the Library help me with my volunteering for my app?

Yes non-medical volunteering is still helpful for your app:

http://www.aamc.org/meetings/gsa/2009/admisspresentations/dunleavyoppler.pdf

See slides 33 and 34.

 

[deleted244469]

Thanks liveuninhibited.

 

[lstone13]

Hey guys, so I just turned in my application for volunteering at the local hospital. I have a decent amount of free time, so would volunteering at my schools library also be a good idea to get some non-hospital volunteer hours?

What will you get from volunteering at the school's library? What will the experience mean to you?

Look at your time volunteering in a non-medical setting as an opportunity to gain some really unique, life experiences. Typically, it's the non-medical volunteer work that can set your medical school application apart from others.

If you believe volunteering at the library will be a worthwhile experience, then go for it, but I would say keep your mind open to other forms of community service as well.

 

[Latuza]

I thnk med schools these days like to have multidimensional applicants, ie not just clinical experience.

But in any event, a meaningful experience you're passionate about counts way more than what type of experience it is. It's the best to serve in a position where you would achieve and demonstrate a measure of responsibility.

But any experience also depends on how your frame your asnwer as to what'd you take away from it.

 

[J ROD]

I volunteered for an animal shelter. Everyone liked that one! lol

Maybe try something like that.....