Volunteer time

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Being non-trad I have a full time job and many other responsibilities as we all do.

I have only have about 120ish, total volunteer hours over the last couple years. Will the medical schools hold this against me? I enjoy volunteering and I definitely learn things in the process, but I have to prioritize it lower than almost everything else.

Also would fund raising where I don't get paid for the work I do count for anything? I used to raise money for my ROTC detachment by working as a security guard at sports events. I'm not counting these in my app.

 

[DrMidlife]

I have only have about 120ish, total volunteer hours over the last couple years. Will the medical schools hold this against me? I enjoy volunteering and I definitely learn things in the process, but I have to prioritize it lower than almost everything else.

I think 120 hrs is plenty, as long as a big chunk was in a clinical environment. Take a look at the interview quiestions (top right of SDN, "Interview Feedback" to get a sense of what you're expected to know.

Also would fund raising where I don't get paid for the work I do count for anything? I used to raise money for my ROTC detachment by working as a security guard at sports events. I'm not counting these in my app.

That sounds like charitable giving, not fundraising, unless the security guard job was set up as part of a fundraiser. "Being" a fundraiser means you get other people to contribute money to a cause. I'd just put "security guard" in as a job, and if there's room in description box, say that your earnings went to support ROTC.

Best of luck to you.

 

[gman33]

Some schools will think that is not enough.
Not sure it would keep you out, but it may put you behind other candidates who have more experience. As a non-trad it can be hard to find the time to do everything. I'd try to get the hours up to 200 if at all possible. That is only 4 hours a week for 1 year; which really isn't all that much.

 

[nontrdgsbuiucmd]

Would suggest bumping up the hours a bit if you can, 200 according to schools that I spoke with is more clinical hours than many applicants have; this is a fairly simple way to avoid this area being a "red flag" for any school that you apply to and instead turn it into a plus. 120 hours over a couple years sounds like around an hour per week maybe?

On the bright side, when I was volunteering, no one ever complained about my putting in another hour or more -- hours added up quick when I got in a little early, stayed an hour or two late each shift.