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- Oct 14, 2011
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Hello,
... I didn't start any form of clinical volunteering until late October of 2018 at a hospice. I volunteered from October till mid December, then I graduated in December and started working as a clinical research assistant at a top 20 medical school in January. Due to long waiting lists and logistics, I will start volunteering again next week ( volunteering at children's hospital with kids on Saturdays and hospice on Sundays).... by the time I apply I should have a total of about 200 - 220 hrs. I will continue these activities until matriculation, so I should have expected hours of ~150 hrs as well.
Questions:
1) How bad is this?
2) Should I ditch the Saturday volunteering at the children's hospital and instead volunteer at the hospice both Saturdays and Sundays?
3) Should I take another gap year?
4) Will my experiences/exposure from the African country help me a little?
1) Not bad. Everyone is dealt circumstances when it comes to volunteering in a clinical environment. Keep doing what you like to do and you should be okay.
2) I think since you're out of school at this time, I don't think it matters. It goes to the argument of quantity of activities versus depth of involvement, but I don't see any real need to change, though I'll let others chime in if they think differently.
3) I don't think you need to take a gap year as long as you are properly strategic in choice of schools to apply to.
4) It helps a little if you are able to explain why it was significant in your future role as a physician.