Volunteering/application question

[Tsunn]

From what I can understand there are blocks (around 15) where you place your volunteer/EC/shadowing/research on a Med School application.
My question is this:
I volunteer at 3 places right now, which are all long-term (freshman year-until I *hopefuly* go off to med school).
The first is working with mentally disabled individuals (not clinical), the 2nd is the big brother/big sister program, and the third is at a clinic.
I haven't had any luck with shadowing yet (got a no for every clinic I could find within a 30 mile radius), but I'll continue trying with that.

It is starting to look like this is not enough, even though by the time I graduate I will have over 500 hours.
But if there are 15 blocks, and I can only fill out maybe 4... that just doesn't sound good.
I don't think I would be able to add another organization to my schedule, maybe 1 if I had too, but I don't want to take time away from the places I am currently volunteering because I truly love them.
Is filling out only 4 of the 15 blocks horrible?
Should I start volunteering at more places?

Thank you.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[LoveBeingHuman:)]

You don’t have ANYTHING else?

Hobbies?
Sports?
Research?
Work?
Leadership?
Clubs?

The average applicant has 8 activities. Now these are definetly not all at once. But sprinkled out and spread over 3-5 years (depending on the time of application).

 

[LizzyM]

Volunteering is only one aspect of what you can put on the application in the experience section.

If you are engaged in research, either in a summer program or during the academic year - even if done for college credit- you can list that under "research".
If your research leads to a publication or a presentation at a meeting, you can list that.
If you win an award, you can list that.
If you engage in artistic endeavors like playing in an orchestra or taking part in a dramatic production, you can list that.
If you play sports, you can list that.
If you have hobbies/advocations, you can list them.
If you belong to a club on campus, you can list that.
If you have a leadership position in a club or a group, whether on campus or not, you can list it.
If you have a job, list it.
You should get some shadowing before you apply and you should list it.

 

[Tsunn]

You don’t have ANYTHING else?

Hobbies?
Sports?
Research?
Work?
Leadership?
Clubs?

The average applicant has 8 activities. Now these are definetly not all at once. But sprinkled out and spread over 3-5 years (depending on the time of application).

I am 25 so I do work part-time as well, I wasn't aware you could put work on there. But I am hoping to do some research next summer. For some reason I was under the impression that it could only be volunteer experiences, not hobbies! I do play the piano and am the founder of a book club in town, but I didn't think that was stuff you could put on the application (clearly I don't know that much about it haha).
Thank you for the reply, will keep all of this in mind! Since I'm able to add the additional/not volunteer stuff, I should be able to bring in around 8.

 

[Tsunn]

Volunteering is only one aspect of what you can put on the application in the experience section.

If you are engaged in research, either in a summer program or during the academic year - even if done for college credit- you can list that under "research".
If your research leads to a publication or a presentation at a meeting, you can list that.
If you win an award, you can list that.
If you engage in artistic endeavors like playing in an orchestra or taking part in a dramatic production, you can list that.
If you play sports, you can list that.
If you have hobbies/advocations, you can list them.
If you belong to a club on campus, you can list that.
If you have a leadership position in a club or a group, whether on campus or not, you can list it.
If you have a job, list it.
You should get some shadowing before you apply and you should list it.

Thank you for your reply! Thanks to you guys I am now realizing that you can post more than just the volunteer experiences in those blocks,
which is a huge, HUGE sigh of relief. Thanks again!!

 

[Tsunn]

Before you go over the edge of premed paranoia, go read about the application

Exactly what I needed, thank you!