Volunteering vs. turning in my application.

[RedArmyof1]

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Hello SDN,

I have a huge dilemma. I don't have any volunteer hours due my criminal background holding me back from getting a position. I held off on turning my application in this cycle because I though I'm going to get a volunteer position, but I didn't get it. I applied for another volunteer position that seems promising, but I have to wait another 2-3 weeks to find out if I will get it or not. However, after my most recent incident I'm hesitant to waste more time.

My question is: Is it worth it to wait for this volunteer position (hospital), or should I just turn my application in right now and try to beat whatever crowd is left?

Just for reference:
MCAT: 38Q
GPA: 3.8
About 40 hours of shadowing.
4 years in two different research labs.(UCSD and UCSF)
Second author paper published.

 

[Oxygen206]

Hello SDN,

I have a huge dilemma. I don't have any volunteer hours due my criminal background holding me back from getting a position. I held off on turning my application in this cycle because I though I'm going to get a volunteer position, but I didn't get it. I applied for another volunteer position that seems promising, but I have to wait another 2-3 weeks to find out if I will get it or not. However, after my most recent incident I'm hesitant to waste more time.

My question is: Is it worth it to wait for this volunteer position (hospital), or should I just turn my application in right now and try to beat whatever crowd is left?

Just for reference:
MCAT: 38Q
GPA: 3.8
About 40 hours of shadowing.
4 years in two different research labs.(UCSD and UCSF)
Second author paper published.

uhhhmmmm if you can't even get a volunteer position to overlook a criminal history how are you going to get a medical school to overlook it?

Or you are attempting to troll.

 

[Verum]

Need more info. What did you do?

 

[Porfirio]

Did you take to playing Grand Theft Auto in real life?

 

[RedArmyof1]

No I'm not attempting to troll, this is the ****ty situation I'm in. I actually applied last year(just found out there is a reapplication subforum sorry) and got 3 interviews, but no offers. I figured if they really cared they wouldn't even given me the interviews.

 

[BigBlueBear]

No I'm not attempting to troll, this is the ****ty situation I'm in. I actually applied last year(just found out there is a reapplication subforum sorry) and got 3 interviews, but no offers. I figured if they really cared they wouldn't even given me the interviews.

I don't think the schools run the background checks until after they decide to accept you, which would be post-interview. I may be wrong, though.

 

[RedArmyof1]

I don't think the schools run the background checks until after they decide to accept you, which would be post-interview. I may be wrong, though.

There is a section on the AMCAS application where they ask about your criminal record. So all the schools are aware of my situation as soon as I turn in my primary app. I can get the record expunged later this year, but I would like some advice on what to do right now. Specifically, how much will I lower my chances of getting in, if I wait another 2 weeks to turn in my app.

 

[LuciusVorenus]

There is a section on the AMCAS application where they ask about your criminal record. So all the schools are aware of my situation as soon as I turn in my primary app. I can get the record expunged later this year, but I would like some advice on what to do right now.

At some point in this thread, you're going to have to say what your offence was if you want real help.

Other than that, I would not apply with basically no ECs other than research. Can you answer why medicine and not research any better than a person in high school can? In other words, can you say you've seen it first hand and love specifics about it, or will you have to stick with "I love science/helping others."

But then again, you got 3 interviews last time. Did they say/mention anything?

At the very least, do some non-medical volunteering at a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, etc.

 

[LuciusVorenus]

I would like some advice on what to do right now.

You're not the OP...

 

[BigBlueBear]

You're not the OP...

2 Troll accounts maybe? 😳

 

[Ironmandoc]

If your offense precludes you from volunteering in a hospital, it will also preclude you from working in one regardless of your stats.

Definitely true.

 

[LuciusVorenus]

2 Troll accounts maybe? 😳

Caught troll handed 😛

EDIT: And now the account is gone. Uhm...

 

[TheShaker]

Caught troll handed 😛

EDIT: And now the account is gone. Uhm...

Unless...this second troll is just trolling the OP!

 

[Xiao]

Unless...this second troll is just trolling the OP!

Trollception.

 

[RedArmyof1]

At some point in this thread, you're going to have to say what your offence was if you want real help.

Other than that, I would not apply with basically no ECs other than research. Can you answer why medicine and not research any better than a person in high school can? In other words, can you say you've seen it first hand and love specifics about it, or will you have to stick with "I love science/helping others."

But then again, you got 3 interviews last time. Did they say/mention anything?

At the very least, do some non-medical volunteering at a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, etc.

Really appreciate your response LuciusVorenus. I'll be taking your advice and apply with more ECs. For the interested parties I was 19(26 now) and I was convicted of Misdemeanor Burglary. Lesson of the day: Kids don't take stuff that's not yours, it'll ruin your life. Thanks for everybody for your input, even your trollception.

P.S.
I assure you this was not a troll.

 

[Cambino]

👎

Really appreciate your response LuciusVorenus. I'll be taking your advice and app👎ly with👎 more ECs. For the👎 interested parties I was 19(26 now) and I was convicted of Misdemeanor Burglary. Lesson of the day: Kids don't take stuff th👎at's not yours, it'll ruin your life. T👎hanks for everybody for your input, even your trollception.

P.S.
I assure you this was not a troll.

wat

 

[LuciusVorenus]

Really appreciate your response LuciusVorenus. I'll be taking your advice and apply with more ECs. For the interested parties I was 19(26 now) and I was convicted of Misdemeanor Burglary. Lesson of the day: Kids don't take stuff that's not yours, it'll ruin your life. Thanks for everybody for your input, even your trollception.

P.S.
I assure you this was not a troll.

I would probably ask someone who's more knowledgeable on this kind of stuff (an adcom like LizzyM maybe) to see if a burglary charge that long ago would really keep you out of medical school.

I do, however, know that even if it gets expunged you still have to list it on your application (the idea being that if they ever figure out down the line that you lied about not having an offence, you will be kicked out of school or lose your license).

good luck!

 

[Lexicon0]

I'd definitely look into getting some professional, legal advice to see if you can get that expunged before applying. Since it did happen 7 years ago and you seem to be a competitive applicant, I would assume it shouldn't get your app tossed (which may very well have been the case post-interview at the 3 schools you interviewed at)...