Volunteerships in Ithaca, NY

[Flack Pinku]

Hi,

I have some trouble finding out what volunteer positions are available for Cornell undergraduates (Ithaca, NY).

Does/did anyone go there? What volunteering positions are available for 18 year old sophomores? I do not know where I can get any type of clinical experience there. Any help would be awesome!

If I can't get clinical experience, then what can I do to make up for it (so medical schools don't get mad at me)?

P.S. I've tried the Campus Health center (Gannett)and they're filled for the year. And, I think their local hospital requires College undergrads to be Juniors or Seniors.

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[jintonic5]

Flack-
hehe, not only do i go to CU but i'm here this summer too- go figure!

I'm not 100% sure if it's open, but try going to the public service center in barnes hall- same building that career service center is in... if not, register online at <a href="http://www.psc.cornell.edu." target="_blank">www.psc.cornell.edu.</a> once you register you have access to all the postings that cornell receives concerning community service. If looking for something paid, bear access--&gt;student services---&gt;student jobs and internships. last time i checked there wasn't much in terms of medical related experiences, nothing you can get without a car at least.

hope this helps!

 

[Flack Pinku]

Hey jintonic5, nice to talk to you!

I have a question--what volunteer work can we do there that is near to campus? I have no car, neither do I have money. I don't want to spend money to volunteer.

I appreciate your help a lot. Gee, I hope I wasn't this stressed out about volunteership. I hope playing a sport and belonging to a few clubs actively were enough...

 

[BPShug]

Hey guys,
I am a Senior at Cornell, and I also have had a very difficult time finding clinical experiences in Ithaca (especially without a car). I would appreciate it if either of you could let me know about any opportunites you may come across, but if you are looking for general volunteer experiences, I recommend tutoring at Beverly J Martin (3-5pm). It was really a great experience.

 

[jintonic5]

Hey cornellians!
honestly, i haven't had much luck at all at finding clinical experience in the area- and for community service opportunities close to school- honestly, the public service center website is awesome, and a far better resource than i am <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />

 

[Flack Pinku]

BPShrug - How far is that school you mention from Campus?

 

[hobbes007]

hey flack,
cornellian here too. you can volunteer at cayuga medical center. there may be some kind of transportation, like a tcat going there, but you will have to figure this out. i also tutored at beverley j martin, and it was a really good experience. its not that far..right off the commons. there are other schools that you can volunteer at, and one is in upper collegetown, so that would be the closest.
good luck

 

[Flack Pinku]

I guess all I can do in terms of community service is volunteer as a tutor (which thankfully is something I am good at).

What else can we do there? I mean Cornell has very good admissions rate for M.D. schools in US. But, what are all those people doing in terms of clinical work? They can't all be going to Cayuga Medical Center--that's about a couple of miles from campus.

I don't know what to do!?

 

[jintonic5]

flank, since you are just a sophomore(by that i mean you are young, not that you are inferior or anything :wink: ), why don't you look into the first response/ems class that the school offers? it's a lot of work- twice a week for the whole year, but if you get certified, i know that provides kids with clinical experience- a lot of kids i know who took that class ended up working hard on slope day tho <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> :wink:

 

[scootad.]

Hey, I'm a Cornell alum and I volunteered for 4 semesters as a Medical Assistant at Gannett Health Center. I and the other MAs were responsible for bringing patients into the room, taking their vitals (pulse, RR, bp) and helping clean and setup the rooms and bringing specimens to the lab. I'm not sure if this volunteer program is still available though because when I graduated the woman in charge of it was retiring.

It was a great, great experience though.

good luck.

by the way, there is also a Cornell externship program to take part in over winter breaks to shadow a clinician for a few days. there is also a mentorship program also sponsored by Gannett where you can shadow a physician in the Ithaca area. You need to apply for both though.

 

[scootad.]

...and by the way, PLEASE enjoy your time at Cornell. College goes by so fast and it was the best years of my life (esp. during the hot weather months in Ithaca).

 

[Daredevil]

I totally agree with the previous poster. I felt like I missed out on a lot of things that were available in Ithaca, fortunately, I was able to make it up whenever I visit my girlfriend, who was a senior there.

Also, I suggest volunteering during summer and winter vacations. There really aren't that many opportunities out there for people without cars. Commuting will also be a pain, especially when it's cold and snowing outside.