Will not volunteering bite me in the rear, and should I speed up my program?

[kaihire]

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Hi all,

Naturally, volunteering would be ideal on anyone's application, but I'm trying to figure out how I can possibly squeeze in volunteering on top of everything else.

Here's a basic rundown: I was a volunteer, then paid, EMT for 3 years. I had a lot of volunteer experience in high school and some in college. Post-college, I've been working full-time as an MA (first in private-practice derm, now in a well-known cancer center).

My first question is whether I should still try to do some form of volunteering. I work 8:30am-5:30pm M-F, see my bio tutor one night out of the week right after work (which gets me home about 9pm), and have class from 9am-4pm on Saturdays. I get pretty fried because of this, especially since my partner of nearly a decade lives overseas and I have to sit my butt at a computer in order to talk to her.

I suppose what I'm really asking is, should I bite the bullet (and cut back on study time) to volunteer at my hospital (or elsewhere) on the weekend? I do some foster work for my local SPCA; I'm not sure that's at all relevant, but it shows I'm doing SOMETHING un-selfish. 😉

I've opted to take time with my post-bacc: instead of doing it in 18mo, I'm stretching it to about 4 years (bio first, then chem, physics, orgo, with a bit of math doubling up some of my semesters--would also love feedback on whether this is a good way to lay it out!). This is primarily because of financial reasons: as a single woman still chipping away at the last stubborn $6k of college debt, my tax bracket keeps me in the "hanging on by the skin of my teeth" category (boy, that paycheck looks so much better before Uncle Sam takes his 36%..!).

What I'm wondering is whether it'd make sense to take a leave and take orgo and physics together so that I save a year, then go back to work during the "gap year", or whether the slow-and-steady method is better. I'm sure I'm not the first or last person here to be antsy about getting on with life and getting into medical school (hopefully). I'm 26 right now, but I would like to do plastics, potentially with a focus on breast reconstruction, so I know it'll be a long, long road. At the same time, I'm a fairly cautious person, and taking out a $25k loan just to save a year (with no guarantee that I'll get in) seems rash...

Any thoughts/ideas would be much appreciated!

 

[dragonfly99]

Since you are already working in a health care field, I think volunteer health care work is much less important for you vs. some other applicants.

If you truly want to do plastic surg, you need to get yourself into med school ASAP because the residency I believe is 7+ years. It's going to be really, really hard to get, as well. Would you consider other medical fields if you couldn't do plastics (i.e. would you consider general surgery, or internal medicine?). It's risky to go to med school banking on getting into a field like derm, plastics or urology, b/c most students who start out wanting to do these residencies will not in fact be able to do them in the end.

 

[Mobius1985]

My first question is whether I should still try to do some form of volunteering.

I do some foster work for my local SPCA; I'm not sure that's at all relevant, but it shows I'm doing SOMETHING un-selfish. 😉

This IS volunteering. You don't have to work with people for it to "count," considering you get more-than-adequate clinical experience at work.

 

[beckhunter116]

I just wanted to add that some volunteer places, either medical or non-medical, are very willing to have volunteers only twice a month or possible once a month.

Most places are so desperate for help that anytime you can give is appreciated.

About the time-line, I don't have much advice on that. I took classes when I could afford them. In hindsight I wish I could have planned things slightly better, but I'm that it will all work out in the 2010 apps cycle!

Good Luck!

 

[kaihire]

If you truly want to do plastic surg, you need to get yourself into med school ASAP because the residency I believe is 7+ years. It's going to be really, really hard to get, as well. Would you consider other medical fields if you couldn't do plastics (i.e. would you consider general surgery, or internal medicine?). It's risky to go to med school banking on getting into a field like derm, plastics or urology, b/c most students who start out wanting to do these residencies will not in fact be able to do them in the end.

I know the residency is going to be long. I'm just concerned in this economy that taking out ...let me see, it'd be about $30k per year for two years, so $60k in loans to keep myself from needing to work + go to school full time would be a really, really risky proposition. I wouldn't even be able to pay off the interest on those loans with my current job + cost of living if I didn't get into school right away (and of course there's no way of knowing if I'll get in the first go round).

As for being flexible, I definitely am. I'm very interested in plastics but I'm not one of those people who is all "X specialty or nothing". I would definitely consider other fields, and really, who actually knows what they're into before med school anyway? 🙂

 

[NTF]

The short of the answer to your question is yes it could, but maybe it won't. It all depends on the school and the strength of your overall application.

That being said you have to measure for yourself whether adding volunteering will hinder your other (and ultimately more important) pursuits (ie getting A's and paying the bills).

What I would suggest is you search around for something simple and meaningful to do and trying to see if it fits your schedule. Volunteering doesn't have to be grueling. Even a 1hr/week gig done for a sufficient span of time is great. I'd suggest tutoring HS science. Having experience with and a love of teaching always looks good to med school adcoms because teaching our colleagues & patients and mentoring our juniors is such a huge part of a medical career.

 

[gman33]

Volunteering is more of a way for pre-meds to get experience dealing with patients. It won't matter as much for you.

As was said above, make sure you are interested in other fields besides plastics. Just based on numbers, it is more likely that you won't end up in that field.

Another way to look at the idea of borrowing more money now, for every year you delay, you are delaying the time until you start getting paid an attending's salary. Borrowing $30k now, to make $200k a year sooner if probably not a bad trade. That being said, there is nothing wrong with the slow and steady plan you are currently on.

 

[doctor712]

to your question is... IT COULD.

Is that enough of an impetus to have you do it? Only you know.
Just know that LOTS of other apps will have this "Box" ticked off their ad com checklists.

D712