Work-study as undergrad

[Deleted member 737595]

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Hi all,

I worked around 500 hours in the first two years of undergrad doing Federal Work Study in a university office job and also some in a lab. I needed to work as part of my financial aid package and the money I made was essential in order to survive at a bare minimum to eat and for books.

Due to work-study I found little time to volunteer in my first year of college and have just started this my sophomore year to volunteer and will be applying next year. I will have hundreds of hours clinical and non-clinical but just condensed into the last two years where I know how to handle more work than before. Will medical schools ding me for just working the first year of college and a little shadowing? Do they see work-study in a certain light?

 

[Gilakend]

I don't think it will look bad over 2 years but you don't have an excuse for not volunteering. Don't say you didn't have time, say you mismanaged your time.

I worked over 400 hours my freshman year under work-study (also worked elsewhere) and didn't volunteer. I didn't not volunteer because I was incredibly busy, but because I was incredibly inefficient.

I've worked all through undergrad (the same or more than freshman year during the year and full time in the summer) and have found time to do everything. And some people have way more on their plates and do more than I did.

 

[Deleted member 737595]

I don't think it will look bad over 2 years but you don't have an excuse for not volunteering. Don't say you didn't have time, say you mismanaged your time.

I worked over 400 hours my freshman year under work-study (also worked elsewhere) and didn't volunteer. I didn't not volunteer because I was incredibly busy, but because I was incredibly inefficient.

I've worked all through undergrad (the same or more than freshman year during the year and full time in the summer) and have found time to do everything. And some people have way more on their plates and do more than I did.

Word, I didn't volunteer because I mismanaged my time. I had PLENTY of time now that you say that, and procrastinated a ton, but I was trying to follow the advice of not doing too much at once I guess.

Do you mean when/if they ask why I didn't do much my freshman year?

 

[Gilakend]

Word, I didn't volunteer because I mismanaged my time. I had PLENTY of time now that you say that, and procrastinated a ton, but I was trying to follow the advice of not doing too much at once I guess.

Do you mean when/if they ask why I didn't do much my freshman year?

Yep, it would look like making excuses imo. Like blaming a professor for a grade.

Some people work full time and find time