Volunteering Hours

[Studoc28]

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Hey all,

I know that most schools specify 100+ hours of shadowing to be given highest consideration, but how does it work for volunteering?

Has anyone seen specific hours or what type of volunteering is desired?

Thank you!

 

[I want to go to there]

Only few schools require("recommend) good amount of hours of volunteering. Others don't put much weight on it.

 

[Pro-Dentite19]

Although volunteer hours sound good in theory, most of the admission decision is based on your numbers, and then of course your interview.

 

[CaliforniaDMD]

Would research-heavy schools like UCSF, UCLA, Harvard, etc put much weight on volunteering hours? I mean, I did lots of volunteering in high school so I wanted a different experience in college so I went with research. By the time I apply, I'll have 4 years of research under my belt and very little volunteering (counting only from college onwards). I just wanted to know if devoting some time to volunteering would be beneficial or if I should focus on my research.

 

[omed-hospdent]

Were your volunteer hours in something that you could talk about?
I think the volunteer stuff would come up during an interview. Like if they asked you for more details in what you did, could you tell them more about it?

That's just my opinion. I would say because you've done 4 years of research, it's WAAAY more likely to come up than your volunteering 🙂

 

[OSUkid]

Would research-heavy schools like UCSF, UCLA, Harvard, etc put much weight on volunteering hours? I mean, I did lots of volunteering in high school so I wanted a different experience in college so I went with research. By the time I apply, I'll have 4 years of research under my belt and very little volunteering (counting only from college onwards). I just wanted to know if devoting some time to volunteering would be beneficial or if I should focus on my research.

Wow your so lucky, some of us cant even get research positions. Man I know this guy who has two research positions but he sucks in academics, he doesnt even do anything but still gets research experience for plugging some data in. Its because the man has "connections". I would love to do research in physiology, but noooooo
Sorry for the rant lol.
I wish schools had a more research orientated program for those interested.

 

[predent_mathlete]

Wow your so lucky, some of us cant even get research positions. Man I know this guy who has two research positions but he sucks in academics, he doesnt even do anything but still gets research experience for plugging some data in. Its because the man has "connections". I would love to do research in physiology, but noooooo
Sorry for the rant lol.
I wish schools had a more research orientated program for those interested.

Is it really that competitive to find research positions in the States? At my university in Canada it's fairly easy to get research positions. I don't know anyone who wanted a position and didn't get one. Mind you, getting grants so you get paid is a totally different story.

(sorry for the off topic post OP)

 

[omed-hospdent]

Is it really that competitive to find research positions in the States? At my university in Canada it's fairly easy to get research positions. I don't know anyone who wanted a position and didn't get one. Mind you, getting grants so you get paid is a totally different story.

(sorry for the off topic post OP)

I think this depends on what undergraduate institution you go attend. The big schools will generally have more opportunities for research. Of course smaller institutions will have less opportunities, generally.

I went to UNC Chapel Hill for undergrad (big state school) and if you were really, really interested, you could get a research position.

Hope this helps 🙂

 

[GinaS2K]

Would research-heavy schools like UCSF, UCLA, Harvard, etc put much weight on volunteering hours? I mean, I did lots of volunteering in high school so I wanted a different experience in college so I went with research. By the time I apply, I'll have 4 years of research under my belt and very little volunteering (counting only from college onwards). I just wanted to know if devoting some time to volunteering would be beneficial or if I should focus on my research.

I received an interview from one of the schools with very little volunteering and a lot of research experience. However, since you already accumulated many hours of research from undergrad, it might be best to focus on volunteering to be more a "well-rounded" applicant.

 

[OSUkid]

I think this depends on what undergraduate institution you go attend. The big schools will generally have more opportunities for research. Of course smaller institutions will have less opportunities, generally.

I went to UNC Chapel Hill for undergrad (big state school) and if you were really, really interested, you could get a research position.

Hope this helps 🙂

I got to one of the biggest universities in the U.S., you can imagine when you try to find a research positions it becomes saturated with applications.

 

[omed-hospdent]

I got to one of the biggest universities in the U.S., you can imagine when you try to find a research positions it becomes saturated with applications.

Wow... I didn't really think about that... ^^;;;