Volunteering Duration

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I was wondering, for those who have done volunteer work, for how long did you do it? I've been volunteering at a hospital's ED since Feb. for about 100 hours, but classes and other things are really stressing me out. I'm thinking about stopping, not afraid that it will look like I did it just for the applications. Thanks for your feedback!

 

[terzian]

February to September is nothing to sneeze at. I did most of my medical ECs over the summers (May-September) so they wouldn't interfere with my schoolwork and school ECs. If it's stressing you out, cut back your hours or consider quitting. Remember, schools look at GPA as well as ECs. 🙂

 

[Psycho Doctor]

i've engaged in different voluntary services for varying amounts of time. Some i only do when i go home but i've been doing it for many years; others i have done full time over summers, and another i've been doing about 20 hrs a week for 3+ years. But i've always been involved in some sort of volunteer service.

do they only want to know what you did while in college? what if something you do started before you went to college and extends into it? do you include those years?

 

[dnelsen]

I've heard time and time again that adcoms are looking for quality, not quantity. They want to see volunteering that possibly has some special meaning to you and they want to see that you stuck with it for a while. Just doing 4 hours a week in the ER for a summer isn't going to cut it. Also, doing about 100 ECs for a week or two isn't going to look as impressive as 5-10 quality ECs.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

I've heard time and time again that adcoms are looking for quality, not quantity. They want to see volunteering that possibly has some special meaning to you and they want to see that you stuck with it for a while. Just doing 4 hours a week in the ER for a summer isn't going to cut it. Also, doing about 100 ECs for a week or two isn't going to look as impressive as 5-10 quality ECs.

I hope that wasn't directed at me b/c all my volunteering stints are meaningful to me and have been continuous; and none were done just to embellish a resume or application

 

[dnelsen]

I hope that wasn't directed at me b/c all my volunteering stints are meaningful to me and have been continuous; and none were done just to embellish a resume or application

No, it wasn't aimed at you (I thought my post looked pretty generic).

I was simply passing along what I've heard about what adcoms look for in ECs and volunteering. Trust me, I have a few generic ECs on my application (hospital ER X2, etc.)

 

[Psycho Doctor]

No, it wasn't aimed at you (I thought my post looked pretty generic).

I was simply passing along what I've heard about what adcoms look for in ECs and volunteering. Trust me, I have a few generic ECs on my application (hospital ER X2, etc.)

yea but it was indented after mine which generally means in response to.... 😕

anyway Happy Birthday!!!! have a great day!!! 😎

 

[dshnay]

I've heard time and time again that adcoms are looking for quality, not quantity. They want to see volunteering that possibly has some special meaning to you and they want to see that you stuck with it for a while. Just doing 4 hours a week in the ER for a summer isn't going to cut it. Also, doing about 100 ECs for a week or two isn't going to look as impressive as 5-10 quality ECs.

Yeah I heard the same thing too, from stanford adcoms. They want you to be dedicated to something that you do. Also do something that you like. Don't do it for the medschool do it for yourself.

 

[dnelsen]

yea but it was indented after mine which generally means in response to.... 😕

anyway Happy Birthday!!!! have a great day!!! 😎

Thanks for the birthday wishes

(it wasn't indented or quoted on my screen 😕 )

 

[Psycho Doctor]

Thanks for the birthday wishes

(it wasn't indented or quoted on my screen 😕 )

I use threaded mode; you must use linear mode

 

[dnelsen]

I use threaded mode; you must use linear mode

That must be the difference