Volunteering at the SPCA

[Potato!]

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I'm looking to start some new volunteer work in the near future. I completely agree with everyone that says that you should use your volunteering time to do something you really want to do, as oppose to doing something for the sake of putting it on your resume for med school. At the same time though, I've got to make sure medical schools would be somewhat interested. In any case, what do you think about this volunteering position with the SPCA:

Basically once a week, I'd go to the home of a recently adopt pet and I'd check things out. I'd make sure the owner was treating the pet right and all that good stuff. I'd then write up a brief report and give my recommendation to the SPCA. So do you think med schools would think this is a worthwhile pursuit, or should I try to hook up with an AIDS society, or long-term care type of volunteering position? Thanks for the input.

 

[DianaLynne]

Hey Potato,

I think schools want to see some activity that has something to do with medicine. However, they also want to see passion about what you do. If you can speak passionately about helping animals live in good environments in an interview, then that activity would certainly help your application. But I think that somewhere along the line you'll need another activity that has some patient contact and has you working closely with other people.

My $0.02.

Diana

 

[VienneseWaltz]

I agree with Diana. I think your activity with the SPCA is great, and IMHO I think you should continue it, but you definitely want to supplement with something clinical--otherwise you will spend your interviews talking about why you didn't apply to vet school.