Can any one give me some advice on what volunteer work they like to see? does it have to be med. based or just some community work? I am just getting started on my 4 year degree. Anyone want to pipe in and give some advice that they would have done differently to make them selves a stronger app., or perhaps some thing they did that worked well in their faver?(or dont do for that matter) Any one form Bowling Green (BGSU). On ec's i ahave alot of martial arts and play guitar do you think that is fine or something esle? Thanks alot for any help guys/gals.
volunteer work
- Thread starter gtnit
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Well as far as volunteer experience goes you have to decide that for yourself, but i think a little bit of each is good. I am no expert but i would think that medical based volunteerism is good because the adcoms will know that you have some awareness of what a doctors day is like. It shows that you have explored the career choice. Plus all hospitals are in need of good volunteers. Community volunteerism is really good too especially i think to DO schools. I know at OUCOM at least it seems as though they are really concerned with helping the region in which they serve (if you go to their website you will see the many different community programs that they have). As far as ec's go, don't do something just because you think it will make you look good. I am involved in no organizations or any clubs (explored a few didn't like it) and i got in so do what makes you happy.
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I suggest getting some medical exposure as well as performing some community service. For the former, steer clear of large hospitals if you can, since you probably won't get to do much except run errands for the nurses and docs. Instead, see if you can volunteer at a community clinic, or a free clinic etc. Such smaller places will allow you to do much more meaningful work. No guarantees though, so find out exactly what you'ld be getting involved in. As for community service, there are just too many options to list. Anything that would show that you care for more than yourself and are willing to contribute to the community, without expecting compensation in return, will go a long way with adcoms. Try tutoring, or a homeless shelter, or animal clinics etc.
My advice is to find a couple of things you like, and stick with them for as long as you can. Don't volunteer just for a couple of months and then move on. Longer stays convey a sense of committment.
As for you ECs, don't do anything to please anyone besides yourself. These should be things you enjoy, and enjoy them while you still have a chance.
Good luck in your studies!
My advice is to find a couple of things you like, and stick with them for as long as you can. Don't volunteer just for a couple of months and then move on. Longer stays convey a sense of committment.
As for you ECs, don't do anything to please anyone besides yourself. These should be things you enjoy, and enjoy them while you still have a chance.
Good luck in your studies!
Amy B
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Hi and welcome to SDN,
You will really need clinical based experiences on your application. Here's why. The adcoms want to make sure you have been around a medical environment, you have been around sick people, you know what a doctor does other than what you see on TV, etc..... They want to be sure you have investigated the medical field and still want to become a doctor.
Case in point..... I volunteered at a free health clinic for 3 years. I saw many volunteers come through, big group usual in Feb and stayed till June just to put it on their applications. We had so many people that found out they really didn't like being around sick people, or patients that were homeless and smelled badly, etc...
Volunteering at free clinics give you a sense of what you will have to deal with as a doctor. smelly hair, stinky body odor, bad teeth and breath, people with no means to get the medicine you want to perscribe so you have to look for another pill that may not be as good but one you have in stock, young girls getting pregnant and not knowing what to do, families with no money to buy toothpaste for their kids and now their kids teeth are rotting,etc..... These are things doctors can face. Medicine at times is not a pretty thing like TV seems to show.
So that is why adcoms want to make sure you have been exposed to some things in clinical settings. Get your clincial volunteering done now and do it regularily. That shows dedication and is much more impressive than haveing 3 months of something in the 3 months leading up to applying. You can also do non -clinical things. There are some great things out there, meals on wheels, reading tutor programs, etc..., just make sure you have a good amount of clinical experiances, such as free health clinics, hospitals volunteering postitions, nursing homes, EMT, etc......
Good luck
You will really need clinical based experiences on your application. Here's why. The adcoms want to make sure you have been around a medical environment, you have been around sick people, you know what a doctor does other than what you see on TV, etc..... They want to be sure you have investigated the medical field and still want to become a doctor.
Case in point..... I volunteered at a free health clinic for 3 years. I saw many volunteers come through, big group usual in Feb and stayed till June just to put it on their applications. We had so many people that found out they really didn't like being around sick people, or patients that were homeless and smelled badly, etc...
Volunteering at free clinics give you a sense of what you will have to deal with as a doctor. smelly hair, stinky body odor, bad teeth and breath, people with no means to get the medicine you want to perscribe so you have to look for another pill that may not be as good but one you have in stock, young girls getting pregnant and not knowing what to do, families with no money to buy toothpaste for their kids and now their kids teeth are rotting,etc..... These are things doctors can face. Medicine at times is not a pretty thing like TV seems to show.
So that is why adcoms want to make sure you have been exposed to some things in clinical settings. Get your clincial volunteering done now and do it regularily. That shows dedication and is much more impressive than haveing 3 months of something in the 3 months leading up to applying. You can also do non -clinical things. There are some great things out there, meals on wheels, reading tutor programs, etc..., just make sure you have a good amount of clinical experiances, such as free health clinics, hospitals volunteering postitions, nursing homes, EMT, etc......
Good luck
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i second the clinical volunteer work... how are they going to believe you want to be a doctor when you have no clue what its like?
but its also good to do things that are fun and interesting. dont just volunteer in the ER for 4 years, b/c that wont really give you that much to talk about. volunteer at your school blood drives, and feed cookies to people, register people to vote on your campus.... stuff like that. there are tons of things you can do that arent clinical, and just as important. it makes you look interesting, which you obviously are for doing such interesting things! and be wary of some clinical volunteer opportunites, b/c you might just end up making beds. so pick wisely. and have fun!
but its also good to do things that are fun and interesting. dont just volunteer in the ER for 4 years, b/c that wont really give you that much to talk about. volunteer at your school blood drives, and feed cookies to people, register people to vote on your campus.... stuff like that. there are tons of things you can do that arent clinical, and just as important. it makes you look interesting, which you obviously are for doing such interesting things! and be wary of some clinical volunteer opportunites, b/c you might just end up making beds. so pick wisely. and have fun!
I volunteered at a local hospital but did not get any exposure to patients or doctors for that matter-- all I got to do was deliver mail and answer phone calls (this lasted about a month.. it wasn't exactly what I was looking for). My best experience was just shadowing doctors in the area.. there are a lot of doc's really enthusiastic about having people coming in and shadowing and will tell you all there is to know about the profession.. while others might not be as receptive. You don't have to shadow for long- I know someone who rotated through different specialties for one month, which gave her great exposure and really impressed the admissions committee.. Also volunteering at a free clinic I believe is an excellent idea, and may be better than the volunteer programs offered at the hospital (in terms of patient exposure, etc) ... Hope this helps a bit!
Amy B
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Delivering flowers at hospitals or nursing homes is a rewarding experience.
I used to volunteer at a cancer center and I delivered snacks and drinks to people waiting for chemo and radiation and to people getting chemo. A smile goes along way when doing this job.
I used to volunteer at a cancer center and I delivered snacks and drinks to people waiting for chemo and radiation and to people getting chemo. A smile goes along way when doing this job.
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Shadowing physicians in clinical settings may help your application...1) as volunteer experiences and 2) letters of recommendation. Especially if the D.O. is an alumni of the school you wish to apply to.
As an undergraduate I made the mistake as an eager volunteer in a cancer center to "help out"...I ended up fixing computers! I gently eased up to the patient floors where I handed out books and blasted patients with my squirt gun!
The laughter was good as I was ambushed often...
Jim
As an undergraduate I made the mistake as an eager volunteer in a cancer center to "help out"...I ended up fixing computers! I gently eased up to the patient floors where I handed out books and blasted patients with my squirt gun!
The laughter was good as I was ambushed often...
Jim
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