Volunteering rut: should I go somewhere else?

[Dandine]

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I'm in a situation right now with clinical volunteering which is making me a little edgy.

I normally volunteer at a small clinic, but they couldn't find a time which fit with my schedule so I won't be able to volunteer then again until next semester. I admit it's partly my fault because I'm sure they could have put me somewhere if I had told them I could volunteer earlier, but I had to make sure my research schedule was finalized for the semester first (because, frankly, I'm more concerned about that right now).

This happened to me last spring semester, and I am considering volunteering again this upcoming spring. However, I also plan on taking the MCAT as well as working on research-related things (depends on how much I get done this semester). I plan on applying that year as well.

So far I've volunteered at the clinic for a year during school (~5-6 months, 4 hr a week) and two months in the summer (4 hr a week), so I am familiar with it and have seen several interesting things there.

Given that I will be going another semester without volunteering at this clinic and that more people seem to be interested in it, would it be worth volunteering somewhere else in the meantime (and stay on for the spring), possibly leaving my current place if I have to? I don't expect it to have as much weight as the time in my current place, but at least I'll be getting clinical experience.

I'm just making sure people know I've spent enough time exposed to patients. Any thoughts would be helpful!

 

[Holmwood]

I'm in a situation right now with clinical volunteering which is making me a little edgy.

I normally volunteer at a small clinic, but they couldn't find a time which fit with my schedule so I won't be able to volunteer then again until next semester. I admit it's partly my fault because I'm sure they could have put me somewhere if I had told them I could volunteer earlier, but I had to make sure my research schedule was finalized for the semester first (because, frankly, I'm more concerned about that right now).

This happened to me last spring semester, and I am considering volunteering again this upcoming spring. However, I also plan on taking the MCAT as well as working on research-related things (depends on how much I get done this semester). I plan on applying that year as well.

So far I've volunteered at the clinic for a year during school (~5-6 months, 4 hr a week) and two months in the summer (4 hr a week), so I am familiar with it and have seen several interesting things there.

Given that I will be going another semester without volunteering at this clinic and that more people seem to be interested in it, would it be worth volunteering somewhere else in the meantime (and stay on for the spring), possibly leaving my current place if I have to? I don't expect it to have as much weight as the time in my current place, but at least I'll be getting clinical experience.

I'm just making sure people know I've spent enough time exposed to patients. Any thoughts would be helpful!

-If you continue to work this semester and spring semester on your new clinic volunteer work, you should have 100-150 hours committed. Which seems fine to me. Sifting through applicant stats at other schools on the west coast, 50-75 hours is the typical commitment (and that seems like something you're checking off the list).

-I'm a bit concerned about research since you're really committing only a semester's worth of work in something people typically commit to for years. I think it should be fine so long as you make good contributions to the project and have a lot to talk about. Ideally you want to start this semester though since it takes time to get into labs, let alone be initiated into the group and learn the ropes.

-I think realistically speaking, you are rushing a bit for the MCAT. Since you will be doing MCAT studying on top of school/research/(maybe volunteer), I'm a little worried that you're not committing as much into the MCAT as you should if you start studying during spring. I don't think it'd be an issue if you start studying this semester, and just break it down into bits throughout the two semesters + winter session.

 

[Dandine]

-If you continue to work this semester and spring semester on your new clinic volunteer work, you should have 100-150 hours committed. Which seems fine to me. Sifting through applicant stats at other schools on the west coast, 50-75 hours is the typical commitment (and that seems like something you're checking off the list).

-I'm a bit concerned about research since you're really committing only a semester's worth of work in something people typically commit to for years. I think it should be fine so long as you make good contributions to the project and have a lot to talk about. Ideally you want to start this semester though since it takes time to get into labs, let alone be initiated into the group and learn the ropes.

-I think realistically speaking, you are rushing a bit for the MCAT. Since you will be doing MCAT studying on top of school/research/(maybe volunteer), I'm a little worried that you're not committing as much into the MCAT as you should if you start studying during spring. I don't think it'd be an issue if you start studying this semester, and just break it down into bits throughout the two semesters + winter session.

Thanks for your thoughts! I am currently looking for another place, and I think I have one in mind, so I'll see what happens with that. (hopefully something good!)

I should clarify because I have been working in the same lab for at least a year now--I was just continuing what I already was doing.

I am definitely not going to start studying during the spring either...got a bit of a head start this summer...but yeah, I would be panicking if I was starting that late!