Which is better when volunteering? Consistently volunteering somewhere for 2-3 hrs every week (i.e planned parenthood), or somewhere for a full 8-12 hour day once a month (say health fairs for organ donation)? Both for say 2 years. Does it matter how often you do the hours, or do they just look at total amount of hours?
Which volunteering is better?
- Thread starter sena
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Either is fine, but I'd recommend the 2-3 hour one because it's a consistent time sink. If you manage to get good grades while spending time doing that, it'll look better. It also teaches you time management skills.
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I had kind of been wanting to know this too, what is a good total number of hours to have?
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AMCAS asks you for hours/week, so I'm guessing that a weekly commitment might look better. Of course, make sure you can meaningfully talk about it during interviews!
As for hours, by SDN-standards, you should have a few hundred hours worth of volunteering. By the real-world standards, an average run-of-the-mill applicant probably will have 100-150.
As for hours, by SDN-standards, you should have a few hundred hours worth of volunteering. By the real-world standards, an average run-of-the-mill applicant probably will have 100-150.
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No its not like that at all, I would just like to have a few hours with my girlfriend a week at least. If it is better to have more, then I would need to squeeze more in. Did not mean to sound that way at all.
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Unfortunately that's part of the game. I'm a non-trad, and during my undergrad years, I never knew anyone that volunteered with such a commitment (no one was pre-med).
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I'd like to see someone who has never had an ulterior motive for anything resume-specific.
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it doesn't matter. You just need to be able to talk about it as a meaningful experience in terms of quality exposure to medicine and adding to your desire/confirmation of wanting to become a doctor.
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Lot's of people volunteer to serve the community.
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AMCAS asks start date, end date (or "to present") and average hours per week.
If you have a 2 year commitment with an average of two hours per week it doesn't matter if you did those as 8 hours once every 4 weeks or 2 hours every week.
If you are asked about the activity, you'll be more impressive if you can show some passion for the activity.
If you have a 2 year commitment with an average of two hours per week it doesn't matter if you did those as 8 hours once every 4 weeks or 2 hours every week.
If you are asked about the activity, you'll be more impressive if you can show some passion for the activity.
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i think you should pick whichever you enjoy doing. i was helping conduct interviews for a competitive position at my job and lets just say that it was really easy to spot those who were truly interested/passionate
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I'd do both.
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