Wondering if I've created a huge problem

[thegreypilgrim]

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Hey everyone.

This is only my second post here, and I honestly don't even know if this is the right place to ask this, but here goes. Without going into too much detail, I attend a private university which requires a certain amount of hours of volunteer work which have to be completed by the end of your junior year.

Well, to make a long story short I'm not exactly a "traditional" student and I have kind of a lot on my plate (work 72 hours/week, full-time student enrolled in 13 quarter units...). I'm not using that as an excuse, but it turns out I completely lost track of when the volunteer hours were due (along with several other miscellaneous assignments that have been due intermittently throughout the year), and they were actually due today. As of yet I haven't had a chance to do any volunteer work. So, I'm screwed, I'm going to get an "Unsatisfactory/Incomplete" for the assignment (even though I've turned in everything else on time). It's not something that will affect my GPA (at least I don't think), but it's a "blotch" on my transcript now.

How big of a problem could this be for admissions board? Am I going to have to do some "interview magic" to help smooth this over? Any input will be much appreciated.

 

[lord_jeebus]

How does the registrar record this volunteer work on your transcript?

 

[mdbound1987]

You are fine. Just explain the situation and they will understand. They don't care about your school's requirement compared to how much they care about you doin some meaningful community service, preferably both non-medical and medical. If you don't have any community service at all when you apply, there is a good chance you may not even get an interview anywhere.

 

[thegreypilgrim]

How does the registrar record this volunteer work on your transcript?

As far as I know, it just goes down as "Complete" or "Incomplete". There's no grade attached to it. Just something you have to do. 😕

You are fine. Just explain the situation and they will understand. They don't care about your school's requirement compared to how much they care about you doin some meaningful community service, preferably both non-medical and medical. If you don't have any community service at all when you apply, there is a good chance you may not even get an interview anywhere.

Cool, I was hoping this would be the more likely case. I already have some community service time - I used to coach youth baseball and I was a volunteer Explorer for a local fire department (kind of like a "youth group" for the fire service). Although this was like 5 or 6 years ago now...looks like I should probably have something more recent to put on my app.

 

[mdbound1987]

As far as I know, it just goes down as "Complete" or "Incomplete". There's no grade attached to it. Just something you have to do. 😕

Cool, I was hoping this would be the more likely case. I already have some community service time - I used to coach youth baseball and I was a volunteer Explorer for a local fire department (kind of like a "youth group" for the fire service). Although this was like 5 or 6 years ago now...looks like I should probably have something more recent to put on my app.

Yeah they won't even take that community service into consideration because if it was 5-6 years ago, I am assuming it was in high school. They could care less what you did in high school. For the most part, the only things on AMCAS should be from college. Are you planning on applying this summer considering it is the end of your junior year? If so, that may not be the best idea because like I said, an applicant with no community service is going to have a tough time getting an interview, let alone an acceptance.

 

[lord_jeebus]

As long as AMCAS does not interpret it as a course (eg. if it had credit hours attached), I don't see how it would come up. You should be able to complete your med school application without divulging this issue in any way, and as long as you graduate on time you're golden.

 

[thegreypilgrim]

Yeah they may not even take that community service into consideration considering it was so long ago. You definitely need some recent community service. When are you planning on applying?

Yeah, I figured as much. I don't plan on applying for at least 2 more years as I'll have to do a post-bacc program after I finish my BS.

As long as AMCAS does not interpret it as a course (eg. if it had credit hours attached), I don't see how it would come up. You should be able to complete your med school application without divulging this issue in any way, and as long as you graduate on time you're golden.

Yeah I'm not seeing any credit hours attached to it, unless I'm missing something.

 

[mdbound1987]

Yeah, I figured as much. I don't plan on applying for at least 2 more years as I'll have to do a post-bacc program after I finish my BS.

Yeah I'm not seeing any credit hours attached to it, unless I'm missing something.

ok then you have plenty of time, but you should probably get on that community service like...now. Try to find something long-term as opposed to something here and there. The little projects are great though as long as you have a long-term community service activity too. Adcoms love to see commitment.

 

[Disinence2]

Like above.. I would be a bit more concerned that you haven't done any community service.

Because your a non-trad schools will most likely understand that because of your work and other stuff you might not be able to engage in the same types and amounts of volunteerism other pre-meds might.

But you still need to do something!!