Volunteer/Research

[Audixgirl]

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Hi, everyone! I know you're supposed to have insane amounts of volunteer hours and research and junk like that, but how important is research vs. volunteering? Should I volunteer at a hospital or another non-medical place or both? I'm not applying for quite some time, I just wanted to get a gist of what other people were doing. Thanks in advance for all your replies and help!

 

[Shinobiz11]

Hmmm...I don't think it matters how much the ratio between the two is. Med schools want to see that you are liberal and have tried different things. IMO, you should volunteer in a hospital and another non-health related organization (i.e. Big Siblings, Salvation Army,etc.). I am not really sure with the significance of research with med schools, I guess they want to see you have explored different areas related to medicine. The best plan is to get a healthy amount of volunteer hours and 1-3 places (they want commitment too) and a good amount of research done.

Disclaimer: My answers probably aren't correct anyway, but I hope they can give you the basic idea.

 

[Frazier]

For research-intensive schools:
volunteering < research

For everyone else:
volunteering > research

However, the degrees of that inequality differ depending on the respective school obviously.

 

[Narmerguy]

For research-intensive schools:
volunteering < research

For everyone else:
volunteering > research

However, the degrees of that inequality differ depending on the respective school obviously.

I would disagree with this.

If the option is between absolutely no volunteering vs. absolutely no research, perhaps volunteering would be valued more at most schools.

However, if the option is between a lot of volunteering and moderate research vs. a lot of research and moderate volunteering, I think you'll find a lot of schools that value the latter besides just research-intensive schools.

 

[Mbeas]

...and research and junk like that, but how ...

😕 😕

 

[circulus vitios]

I'm doing 50 hours of clinical volunteering because it's a stupid waste of time. All I do is stand around like a jackass and I get nothing out of it. If it's "not enough," then too bad -- I'm sure I'll get accepted somewhere.

 

[chiapet874]

I'm doing 50 hours of clinical volunteering because it's a stupid waste of time. All I do is stand around like a jackass and I get nothing out of it. If it's "not enough," then too bad -- I'm sure I'll get accepted somewhere.

That'll show 'em!

 

[circulus vitios]

That'll show 'em!

Stick it to the man, fight the power.

 

[Audixgirl]

I was referencing things like MCAT scores, cGPA and things of that nature, but if I actually referred to them, people would likely get side-tracked.

 

[captaincbr]

I would disagree with this.

If the option is between absolutely no volunteering vs. absolutely no research, perhaps volunteering would be valued more at most schools.

However, if the option is between a lot of volunteering and moderate research vs. a lot of research and moderate volunteering, I think you'll find a lot of schools that value the latter besides just research-intensive schools.

Just wondering if you know what "a lot of research" means. Does this mean time wise or quality of experience? I know it's a little of both, but for someone who's actually going through it right now, I would like to know specifically what constitutes a "lot of research" you are talking about.

Thank you

 

[Narmerguy]

Just wondering if you know what "a lot of research" means. Does this mean time wise or quality of experience? I know it's a little of both, but for someone who's actually going through it right now, I would like to know specifically what constitutes a "lot of research" you are talking about.

Thank you

Well, I would say that a lot of that will depend on what the school typically receives in its applicants. However, if I had to say in general, I would say 2+ years of research including a summer and two if you're really committed. Quality of experience is a bit challenging to measure and so if you can speak competently (and even excitedly) about your research and maybe manage a poster presentation or two out of it, you'll present yourself as having engaged in good quality research for most schools.

Of course, if you do more than this it will be even more impressive and yadda yadda but if you can really do that, I'd say having only a moderate amount of volunteering would be compensated for. I'd encourage you to make sure you explain how much you got of the time you did spend volunteering.