Volunteering and Research

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Currently a freshman pre-medical student.

I'd just like for someone to breakdown some fundamental knowledge in regards to volunteering and research as a pre-med student.

1. What's a good amount of volunteer hours to complete?
2. Would volunteering in a hospital be preferred over volunteering at a hospice center?

1. What's a good amount of research hours to complete?
2. Describe the different types of research opportunities.****
3. Discuss the controversy between these different types of research opportunities, and also touch upon which is generally preferred.

Don't mean to propose this as a test or anything, but these are some questions I have. Definitely share any additional knowledge that doesn't necessarily fit under the above questions.

Thank you for any input, opinions, and/or comments offered.

 

[mimelim]

Search, read, post, in that order.

 

[texan2414]

As a freshman, I myself was asking the same misguided questions.

 

[Hobakie]

1. Depends 1000% on your school schedule and what you can handle. If you are taking more credits volunteering at the hospital for 10 hours a week isn't exactly smart. Remember most shifts are 4 hours anywhere you volunteer.

2. Again up to you. Don't volunteer somewhere just to volunteer it will be a waste of your time and theirs. I think the advantage with hospitals is that they often have college student programs and the options for the area you will work in is larger. Disadvantage is that sometimes the hospital sees a volunteer as free labor and have you do things you don't like.

1. That depends on you lab PI and type of research. I hear stories about being stuck doing bench work all the time but I never ad to do those things. My lab got me started with a project right away. Once you get into a lab that will be a discussion you have with them. For example mine gave me a baseline of 10-15+ hours a week but that excludes lab meetings, readings that I have to do and papers on my project etc.

2. Go to your schools department website and look at each professors cv and reserch profile.

3. I'm no expert but do not try to cater your research to what you think medical schools look for. Research has to be something you are personally interested in. The men and women that you could possibly work do research as their job not a hobby and resume builder like the students so don't waste their time if you do not like it. Research is research. I think emphasis is placed on it because it shows a dedication to learning beyond just whats assigned to you in classes. It also shows dedication and investment into the field BUT you can do that many different ways. While I do research myself and I'm happy that its something to help my resume I would not be wasting 15+ hours a week if I did not enjoy it. That being said do which ever type is best for you and your needs.

 

[Shirafune]

Currently a freshman pre-medical student.

I'd just like for someone to breakdown some fundamental knowledge in regards to volunteering and research as a pre-med student.

1. What's a good amount of volunteer hours to complete?
2. Would volunteering in a hospital be preferred over volunteering at a hospice center?

1. What's a good amount of research hours to complete?
2. Describe the different types of research opportunities.****.
   [*]Discuss the controversy between these different types of research opportunities, and also touch upon which is generally preferred.

Don't mean to propose this as a test or anything, but these are some questions I have. Definitely share any additional knowledge that doesn't necessarily fit under the above questions.

Thank you for any input, opinions, and/or comments offered.

Volunteering depends on you. At whatever point you feel comfortable with going into medical school with or get a good feeling about the healthcare process. Also, consider doing some non-clinical volunteering as both have their own benefits and purposes. As for the hospice vs hospital bit, it doesn't really matter and I really do think it depends on the adcom. But the take home message is, if you can smell the patient, it's a good clinical experience.

Research part:
1. Again, depends on you. If you like doing bench work or clinical research, then do it because you like it. Don't continue a research stint if you don't enjoy it because chances are you are wasting your time and your supervisor's time. But since you probably want a more "sound" answer, usually 1 semester or summer of research is enough to satisfy the unspoken research requirement for top tier medical schools.
2. Basic science, translational medicine, or clinical. Look it up. Fairly easy to understand. And any kind of research that is hypothesis/experimentally driven is best. That is to say, anything where you have a part in designing experiments is best, but working on such projects and having a good understanding of its logic and goals is good enough.