Volunteer, study mcat, something else? Advice please :)

[tuffguy13]

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I'm out of school this semester due to health reasons and I'm trying to use this time to be productive. I've been studying for the MCAT several hours a day but I see an opportunity to squeeze some extra volunteer hours in potentially.

The only problem is that most of the volunteering around here is equivalent to filling water cups or taking the trash out; hardly what I call clinical experience. I know what hospital volunteering usually involves from doing it years ago, and it's usually washing beds and moving stuff to a stock room. I've also read on these boards many times that quality of the experience matters over the quantity of hours when it comes to volunteering.

I kinda feel that doing these menial tasks is more of an attempt to buff up my quantity of volunteering experience rather than acquiring quality experiences. I'm also under the impression that these experiences will be brought up in an admissions interview, so I'd rather not try to spin filling water cups as some huge humanitarian deed and get some higher quality stuff. Am I being too picky here?

Should I continue dedicating my time to the MCAT and wait for better volunteering experiences, or should I just deal with the less desirable volunteer experiences?

Thanks all! looking forward to your input!

 

[HimeMomo]

I'm out of school this semester due to health reasons and I'm trying to use this time to be productive. I've been studying for the MCAT several hours a day but I see an opportunity to squeeze some extra volunteer hours in potentially.

The only problem is that most of the volunteering around here is equivalent to filling water cups or taking the trash out; hardly what I call clinical experience. I know what hospital volunteering usually involves from doing it years ago, and it's usually washing beds and moving stuff to a stock room. I've also read on these boards many times that quality of the experience matters over the quantity of hours when it comes to volunteering.

I kinda feel that doing these menial tasks is more of an attempt to buff up my quantity of volunteering experience rather than acquiring quality experiences. I'm also under the impression that these experiences will be brought up in an admissions interview, so I'd rather not try to spin filling water cups as some huge humanitarian deed and get some higher quality stuff. Am I being too picky here?

Should I continue dedicating my time to the MCAT and wait for better volunteering experiences, or should I just deal with the less desirable volunteer experiences?

Thanks all! looking forward to your input!

Definitely keep studying the MCAT every chance you have. It's a tricky test and it really isn't defined by how much you know, it's more about how you think..

In regards to you wanting to do bigger and more effective volunteering experiences: I did the same, but it's more about the conversation and interactions with patients that mattered the most. I didn't have to tell them I brought water and change their sheets etc, that's a given. I told them what I learned by participating in with the patient and their family..

unless you are not a people person, then maybe you should go to Peru for a month to volunteer.

That said, I think it's what you make of your time. It can be quantity or quality depending on how you spend it.

 

[HoboCommander]

You'll get much more out of volunteering at a free clinic than a hospital. At a free clinic you get to serve a far more important role.

When you do your shadowing you are basically volunteering at a hospital anyway, except the docs will teach you stuff.

 

[manbeast]

I volunteered at a hospice center and was asked about it at every med school interview. The important thing about volunteer work is to know how you have grown personally from the experience.

 

[bellakk]

I'm out of school this semester due to health reasons and I'm trying to use this time to be productive. I've been studying for the MCAT several hours a day but I see an opportunity to squeeze some extra volunteer hours in potentially.

The only problem is that most of the volunteering around here is equivalent to filling water cups or taking the trash out; hardly what I call clinical experience. I know what hospital volunteering usually involves from doing it years ago, and it's usually washing beds and moving stuff to a stock room. I've also read on these boards many times that quality of the experience matters over the quantity of hours when it comes to volunteering.

I kinda feel that doing these menial tasks is more of an attempt to buff up my quantity of volunteering experience rather than acquiring quality experiences. I'm also under the impression that these experiences will be brought up in an admissions interview, so I'd rather not try to spin filling water cups as some huge humanitarian deed and get some higher quality stuff. Am I being too picky here?

Should I continue dedicating my time to the MCAT and wait for better volunteering experiences, or should I just deal with the less desirable volunteer experiences?

Thanks all! looking forward to your input!

A hospice is a good place to volunteer. I was a "patient support volunteer" and basically I went a visited a patient on home health for an hour a week and we just talked and sometimes I read to them. I got asked it about at interviews and was able to talk a little about end of life care and how appreciative people are of just knowing you care. The med school interviewers always seemed very satisfied with that answer. An important part of becoming a physician (and I think an underestimated one) is to understand death a dying. Depending on your chosen specialty, you may never have to deal with in practice, but as an MSIII and MSIV, you will most likely have a couple encounters with it.

Another good volunteering idea is something like habitat for humanity or big brothers big sisters or something else completely un-medically related.
Honestly I'm not a fan of medical volunteering, it's too boring. I got a job as a CNA so at least I'm paid to clean beds and bed commodes.

 

[Sh3rlock]

Volunteer doing what you love to do. I know it's easy to make volunteering one of those things you check off a list to make yourself a more competitive applicant, but right now you have a real chance to make a difference in somebody's life! Use it for the best!

 

[FutureCTDoc]

Volunteer at a nursing home. Read to patients or teach computer literacy. You will love it.