Volunteering at a Day Care

[The Deep]

Hello, this is my second post ever on the forum. I was wondering whether my current volunteer position at my school’s Day Care was worth It. It’s for children of faculty and students and it’s mainly playing around with them and occasionally reading them a book. It’s conflicted with times of other programs I’ve wanted to do (volunteer at a correctional facility, etc). Is It worth sticking with It or does It have no real value when applying to medical school.
P.S: I’m a sophomore and I currently volunteer with GC where I teach 7th graders in Harlem (Civics). I also volunteer at a biopsych lab.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[LizzyM]

Volunteering to help those who are unable to help themselves is valued as it shows that you are willing to help those who can't reciprocate. It also teaches you about human nature and about people who have had lives that are different from your own. It is nice to volunteer at a Day Care but the need might be greater in a correctional facility and you might learn more about people whose lives have been different from your own. If you've done the daycare thing for at least a semester, it would be okay to switch it up. If you only started a month or two ago, stick it out this year and switch in the coming year (calendar year or academic year - your choice).

 

[The Deep]

Volunteering to help those who are unable to help themselves is valued as it shows that you are willing to help those who can't reciprocate. It also teaches you about human nature and about people who have had lives that are different from your own. It is nice to volunteer at a Day Care but the need might be greater in a correctional facility and you might learn more about people whose lives have been different from your own. If you've done the daycare thing for at least a semester, it would be okay to switch it up. If you only started a month or two ago, stick it out this year and switch in the coming year (calendar year or academic year - your choice).

Ok, thanks for the advice! Today was my first day, actually. I admit that It would be awkward to just leave but there wouldn’t necessarily be repruccusions. It just wasn’t really what I expected... I was hoping It would be much more of a teaching early math and English type thing but it’s more of a playtime helper/aid to the daycare workers.

 

[DokterMom]

One other thing to consider -- If you are a young woman, working at a day care plays into gender stereotypes while volunteering at a correctional facility works against them. Depending on your career goals, that could be something to factor in.

 

[The Deep]

One other thing to consider -- If you are a young woman, working at a day care plays into gender stereotypes while volunteering at a correctional facility works against them. Depending on your career goals, that could be something to factor in.

I’m actually a man

 

[DokterMom]

I’m actually a man

In that case, I'd agree with @LizzyM about staying through the semester. Day Care for men is bonus points...

 

[Ms Procrastinator]

In that case, I'd agree with @LizzyM about staying through the semester. Day Care for men is bonus points...

I've actually noticed that men are starting to move towards the daycare/preschool scene. It's so cuuuute.

 

[Planes2Doc]

My wife used to be a pre-school teacher. She got a pretty low salary, and the kids paid enormous sums of money to be there. Unless it's for the underserved or something like that, it may be viewed as free labor.

 

[The Deep]

My wife used to be a pre-school teacher. She got a pretty low salary, and the kids paid enormous sums of money to be there. Unless it's for the underserved or something like that, it may be viewed as free labor.

They are the children of students at my state school. The fees to be there are relatively cheap and there’s financial aid available. Overall, it’s not easy to tell if any come from a less privileged high school.