WAMC high stats, mid ecs

[bunsglazing4]

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removed for privacy, thanks for all the advice 🙂

 

[Mr.Smile12]

You can bank about 50 hours from scribing as "shadowing," but I would consider some shadowing in hospital settings if available, especially in departments not represented by shadowing.

Non-clinical volunteering is suboptimal. You must have in-person experience, and virtual crisis text line does not cut it. You must have at least 150 hours to avoid getting screened out at most schools, but if you are shooting for "brand schools," I always recommend 250 hours minimum, which still is below THEIR pool average (many other applicants will have hundreds to thousands of hours of service orientation). Food distribution fits service orientation, but can you get enough hours in this bucket before applying to optimize your chances?

 

[bunsglazing4]

You can bank about 50 hours from scribing as "shadowing," but I would consider some shadowing in hospital settings if available, especially in departments not represented by shadowing.

Non-clinical volunteering is suboptimal. You must have in-person experience, and virtual crisis text line does not cut it. You must have at least 150 hours to avoid getting screened out at most schools, but if you are shooting for "brand schools," I always recommend 250 hours minimum, which still is below THEIR pool average (many other applicants will have hundreds to thousands of hours of service orientation). Food distribution fits service orientation, but can you get enough hours in this bucket before applying to optimize your chances?

Got it! It's a bit difficult for me to get shadowing in a hospital setting in my area with my school being pretty restrictive (will try for my gap year in my hometown, where it's slightly easier but obviously won't count as much for my app). Would you recommend certain specialties, outside of primary care?

For non-clinical volunteering, does my 75 hrs at the non-profit count, or would it be more so looked at as tutoring? It'll be hard to get to 250 for sure with my work and school schedules, but I'll try to make a push for it. If I were to volunteer at multiple different food distribution orgs/sites, would it be okay to group them all into one bucket as an activity or would I need to separate out the different ones?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

For non-clinical volunteering, does my 75 hrs at the non-profit count, or would it be more so looked at as tutoring?

Well, describe how you "tutored" these kids to write. Was it more like ESL? What expertise did you bring? Yes, I'm under the impression it's an academic activity more than a "service" activity since it's unclear how your involvement improved their lives.

It'll be hard to get to 250 for sure with my work and school schedules, but I'll try to make a push for it. If I were to volunteer at multiple different food distribution orgs/sites, would it be okay to group them all into one bucket as an activity or would I need to separate out the different ones?

It would be easier to maintain as one activity (depending on how many hours you have at each venue) so it doesn't look like you're padding your resume.

 

[bunsglazing4]

Well, describe how you "tutored" these kids to write. Was it more like ESL? What expertise did you bring? Yes, I'm under the impression it's an academic activity more than a "service" activity since it's unclear how your involvement improved their lives.


It would be easier to maintain as one activity (depending on how many hours you have at each venue) so it doesn't look like you're padding your resume.

It's basically a non-profit that organizes writing programs to help encourage them to write. I help out with (a) workshops for young elementary school students at local schools (oftentimes ESL due to the area, but not always) so they, as a class, write a "story/book" and become "published authors," (b) an after-school program for older elementary school children that similarly gives them guidance to improve their writing and stories that eventually get published by the org. I'm basically there for writing and idea development support.

Explaining this, I see this probably wouldn't count as "service orientation" so will need to definitely push for the 250 hrs in that front. Along the lines though, would you see this more as tutoring than non-clinical community service (classified in my activity section)?

 

[LeaveNoTrace]

I am not sure. I will be more optimistic about the virtual crisis text line...however, you do need in-person experiences with those less fortunate than you. Your stats are above average everywhere; make sure your ECs are pack fodder and you're a platinum grade rock star. As you are, you'll get some top-20 bites but have a slightly uphill battle to convert them into acceptances.

Whatever you do, have WashU on your list. @Goro might know some other high-stat-loving schools.