Volunteering decision. Advice needed

[MElobstah]

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So I am a new freshman at a university in Boston and am trying to decide which volunteer opportunity to pursue. The two I am most seriously considering are a position at Beth Israel Deaconess (which would be like four hours every week), and a program at my school called Peer Health Mentors. This would involve about ten hours a week. Peer Health Mentors are trained as health teachers, and are sent to local schools to educate freshmen about body image issues, sexual health, etc. If I am equally interested in both these opportunities, which do you all think would look best to an adcom? I am honestly considering doing them both, although I obviously don't want to do anything that would cause me to not do as well in school. Thanks for the advice

 

[Morsetlis]

Depends on what you need. The Beth Israel Deaconness one sounds like clinical experience, which would be more helpful. Of course, you're welcome to do what you like best and are most likely to achieve success and continuity in, but remember that you need to fill out your clinical experiences too.

If you can, doing them both would be great.

 

[Barcu]

Both sound good. Morsetlis is right about the clinical experience. However, that's usually pretty easy to find, and your experiences with that can vary. If it seems like some generic volunteering thing, then I would skip it. You don't need to start clinical experience right away (but don't wait too long).

The positive aspect about the Peer Health Mentors is that teaching experience is very good experience for your application and can easily be spun into leadership experience, another essential aspect of your app.

Honestly, I think the Peer Health Mentors might be a better place to start, unless your worried about the extra commitment.

Either should be ok though.

 

[kpcrew]

I talked to a freshman from my school who did both and was doing okay in school in April so it's definitely possible. Just don't overload with too many difficult courses and you should be able to handle it.

 

[Morsetlis]

I talked to a freshman from my school who did both and was doing okay in school in April so it's definitely possible. Just don't overload with too many difficult courses and you should be able to handle it.

Overload in Freshman year? In what, Latino History and Bio 2? Lol... 😛

It's the junior year with ochem and labs and biochem and genetics and research and LOR's and thesis and applications that you'd have to worry about.

 

[JonnyL]

I think either would be fine honestly. I say just pick one and stick with it, your grades are more important. If you think you can handle both, do them with caution.

 

[whatsupdoc89]

I think your referring to Peer Health Exchange. If you are then go for it! I did it last year and it was such an amazing experience! It takes up a lot of time because you have to learn a curriculum that is taught practically word for word so you have to study it before they allow you to go out and teach. Since it takes up time I would do it this year when your load is not as heavy, you wont regret it. 👍

 

[kpcrew]

Overload in Freshman year? In what, Latino History and Bio 2? Lol... 😛

It's the junior year with ochem and labs and biochem and genetics and research and LOR's and thesis and applications that you'd have to worry about.

I took honors chem and physics with labs in freshman year. It sucked. I thought ochem, biochem and genetics were easy. I think it's the differences between high school and college that made a big difference, since I was responsible for myself without any parental influence.

 

[hot sauce]

I think the Peer Health Mentors program sounds more interesting. The description sounds more like volunteer work that is actually going out and helping someone than a generic hospital volunteer (many premed hospital volunteer service activities read as self serving just trying to get clinical experience for an application rather than actually helping people).

Unique things are more likely to be noticed. It may provide experience that you can use in a personal statement or in interviews; particularly if you continue it for several years.

Of course you didn't really say what you would be doing at Beth Israel Deaconess so maybe it is unfair of me to assume it is a typical hospital volunteer job.

PS I wouldn't sign up both to start. Focus on one and figure out your time management. Some people have no trouble transitioning to undergrad but some people do. You can always add stuff but if you start something and then stop you are just wasting everyone's time.

 

[LifeTake2]

I know this should be obvious, but as I've seen several similar threads lately I'm going to say it:

Volunteering is to show you are decent person that cares about the world; not something you do to pad your application. Find something you are truly interested in and do it.

If you do it based upon how it looks on your application, it will be obvious. Do it for the right reasons and it will go 10x as far.

 

[hot sauce]

I know this should be obvious, but as I've seen several similar threads lately I'm going to say it:

Volunteering is to show you are decent person that cares about the world; not something you do to pad your application. Find something you are truly interested in and do it.

If you do it based upon how it looks on your application, it will be obvious. Do it for the right reasons and it will go 10x as far.

People volunteer for lots of reasons and many times it is to pad an application and it isn't always easy to identify (how would it be so obvious?).

Sure it is nice if they are doing it because they are a good person and you are more likely to stick with it and enjoy yourself if you are interested. But if volunteer because you wanted to impress a girl (or an adcom) and end up making a positive impact at least you still did something good even if your motivation wasn't "pure."

The OP said he was interested in both. So what is so wrong with the deciding factor being advancing your future career prospects?