Volunteering Conundrum

[CoolGuyWow]

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TLDR: All my nonclinical volunteering (150hrs currently plus another 150 gap year) is in a hospital setting. I just realized this looks kinda weird. Am I screwed?

So I have submitted all but one of my secondaries, and even have an II at a top choice school of mine, and was feeling good, but then I realized that I might have a hole in my app non clinical volunteering. I mostly have a stat heavy (3.9x 52x) and research heavy (700ish hrs, a pub and another potential submitted) app, but have 300 hours at a local hospital volunteering. 150 of these were through a university program and I have labelled as clinical volunteering in amcas because it was all working with patients, getting supplies, etc. the other is just normal old fashioned hospital volunteering, mostly front desk and helping visitors out but also some checking on patients and stocking things, and this one I’ve labelled non-clinical because its mostly desk stuff. The non-clinical one I have 150 hours in plus another 150 planned. I have no other volunteering, and just realized that since this “non-clinical” volunteering is borderline, and am kind of panicking because I can’t go back and start doing other nonclinical things (eg soup kitchen) for this cycle since all secondaries/primaries are submitted. I’ve planned (and written about in secondaries) this gap year mainly being focused on more clinical experience through scribing etc and am starting to feel like I made an oopsie. Am I being neurotic? What should I do?

 

[LizzyM]

You can't change the past. Your application is not unusual among the T20 interviewed applicants I've seen in the past few years. Don't worry about it. While we do like to see applicants who step up to help neighbors in need in non-clinical settings, it isn't expected that 100% of otherwise strong applicants will have that experience.

If you feel the spirit move you in your gap year, get involved in your community but don't worry about an "oopsie" you can't change.

 

[CoolGuyWow]

You can't change the past. Your application is not unusual among the T20 interviewed applicants I've seen in the past few years. Don't worry about it. While we do like to see applicants who step up to help neighbors in need in non-clinical settings, it isn't expected that 100% of otherwise strong applicants will have that experience.

If you feel the spirit move you in your gap year, get involved in your community but don't worry about an "oopsie" you can't change.

Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better! I already found a volunteer group I want to get involved with over the gap year and am just happy to know it won’t sink me this cycle!