Working at a non-profit vs non-clinical volunteering

[HartsRCool]

I just wanted some opinions on this.
I am applying in the upcoming 2021 cycle.

I have 5 years of experience working for a non-profit that works with disadvantaged communities in urban areas (>1000 hours), but the position was paid and thus is not considered community service. In terms of unpaid community service, I have 80 clinical and 25 nonclinical hours (this is ongoing so I can project). My community service hours are very low, but I was wondering if my experience working for a non-profit can compensate for this.

Thank you everyone for your help!

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[Catalystik]

I have 5 years of experience working for a non-profit that works with disadvantaged communities in urban areas (>1000 hours), but the position was paid and thus is not considered community service. In terms of unpaid community service, I have 80 clinical and 25 nonclinical hours (this is ongoing so I can project). My community service hours are very low, but I was wondering if my experience working for a non-profit can compensate for this.

While there are exceptions, like Peace Corps, Military Service, Teach for America, and similar (more information on your part would have been helpful), as you were PAID for the work you did for the nonprofit, you need a better demonstration of your altruism than 25 hours suggests. As you plan to apply in the upcoming cycle, I suggest you boost your volunteer hours fast, or wait a year to apply.

Your clinical hours are low, too. Get moving on that as well.

 

[HartsRCool]

While there are exceptions, like Peace Corps, Military Service, Teach for America, and similar (more information on your part would have been helpful), as you were PAID for the work you did for the nonprofit, you need a better demonstration of your altruism than 25 hours suggests. As you plan to apply in the upcoming cycle, I suggest you boost your volunteer hours fast, or wait a year to apply.

Your clinical hours are low, too. Get moving on that as well.

The non-profit I worked for is *** that works with disadvantaged school aged children. I was a site director, so I managed a site of over 150 students.

I also did not put this in the thread, but I have >1000 clinical hours as a scribe and nursing assistant.

I am currently volunteering for a non-profit that works with Refugee status children, but it is only around 1.5 hours a week. I hope to continue to gain more hours with them during my application year.

Do you think this information better improves my chances on getting admitted this year? Thank you for your time.

 

[Catalystik]

The non-profit I worked for is [redacted] non-profit that works with disadvantaged school aged children. I was a site director, so I managed a site of over 150 students.

I also did not put this in the thread, but I have >1000 clinical hours as a scribe and nursing assistant.

I am currently volunteering for a non-profit that works with Refugee status children, but it is only around 1.5 hours a week. I hope to continue to gain more hours with them during my application year.

Do you think this information better improves my chances on getting admitted this year? Thank you for your time.

You're fine with your combination of paid and volunteer clinical hours. I am hugely relieved to see this additional information. For schools that clump all volunteering together when they score you, clinical plus nonclinical, you might be OK.

Future hours don't count for much on an application. All too often "life happens" and you are kept from completing your predicted hours. Can't you increase from 1.5 hours a week? Can you manage to complete 50 total hours (including the 25 you've got) before you submit your application? That's not to say I'd want you to stop developing that aspect of your application, for the sake of Secondary essays, update letters, interview conversations, and in case you need to reapply.

What does your role entail with the nonprofit? Are you the tutor/mentor interacting with the kids, or do you manage others who have that role?

 

[HartsRCool]

You're fine with your combination of paid and volunteer clinical hours. I am hugely relieved to see this additional information. For schools that clump all volunteering together when they score you, clinical plus nonclinical, you might be OK.

Future hours don't count for much on an application. All too often "life happens" and you are kept from completing your predicted hours. Can't you increase from 1.5 hours a week? Can you manage to complete 50 total hours (including the 25 you've got) before you submit your application?

What does your role entail with the nonprofit? Are you the tutor/mentor interacting with the kids, or do you manage others who have that role?

With the non-profit I was a site director for, I both taught tennis and literary instruction (through workshops and the such). I started as a volunteer for this non-profit when I was in high school and had more than 250 hours doing this, but as this was in high school, I did not add this. As a director, I do consider this to be a slightly more substantial position. I also helped with fundraising for this non-profit, as it was a big component of my teenage years.
For the second non-profit, I am an ESL tutor to help compensate for their lacking of immersion in schools at the moment. Sadly I do not think I can hit the 50 hour minimum.
My mcat does expire after this year as I took it in 2019, so I would prefer to apply this year.

 

[Catalystik]

With the non-profit I was a site director for, I both taught tennis and literary instruction (through workshops and the such). I started as a volunteer for this non-profit when I was in high school and had more than 250 hours doing this, but as this was in high school, I did not add this. As a director, I do consider this to be a slightly more substantial position. I also helped with fundraising for this non-profit, as it was a big component of my teenage years.
For the second non-profit, I am an ESL tutor to help compensate for their lacking of immersion in schools at the moment. Sadly I do not think I can hit the 50 hour minimum.
My mcat does expire after this year as I took it in 2019, so I would prefer to apply this year.

Though the tennis and literary instruction volunteering started in HS, since you are still with the same organization, and especially if it continued after HS graduation and perhaps somewhat into the college years, you may include those 250 hours as Volunteer/Community Service. At the end of the entry, note your promotion and transition to employee, which is "detailed in another space." Consider using the Repeated feature on AMCAS to divide the hours into HS and College involvement.

 

[HartsRCool]

Though the tennis and literary instruction volunteering started in HS, since you are still with the same organization, and especially if it continued after HS graduation and perhaps somewhat into the college years, you may include those 250 hours as Volunteer/Community Service. At the end of the entry, note your promotion and transition to employee, which is "detailed in another space." Consider using the Repeated feature on AMCAS to divide the hours into HS and College involvement.

Reread my last response, as I added more information after you quoted it.

This is incredibly promising! Thank you for your wisdom on the subject matter. I will heed your advice.

 

[Catalystik]

This is incredibly promising! Thank you for your wisdom on the subject matter. I will heed your advice.

I agree. Including those justifiable HS hours will make a difference.