Would you consider this volunteering?

[Geekchick921]

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Acting as cantor (song leader) for your church at Mass? I have no reason to believe this is a paid position, so it is an unpaid service to the community. I kinda need to volunteer close to home, as I have to do it when my husband is home with our daughter and the less time I spend commuting the better.

 

[loveoforganic]

I'd see that as more along the lines of playing an intramural sport.

 

[Geekchick921]

I'd see that as more along the lines of playing an intramural sport.

That's an... odd comparison. I honestly don't see how you're relating the two.

 

[loveoforganic]

I'd see it less as something of service and more as something you'd do for your own enjoyment. Obviously there's still a service aspect to it (which there isn't in sports), but I'd still view it more in the same category as participation in a sport.

 

[Catalystik]

I'd call it an Artistic Endeavor, with a leadership component if you are directing the group.

 

[Dannyw]

Seems more like an everyday activity you'd do for fun. I wouldn't list it.

 

[rHinO1]

I wouldn't necessarily call it community service, but there is a leadership/service element. I would include it in your app b/c it may make you more well rounded. However I would make sure I had other volunteer work on my application as well.

 

[SevoInduction]

Acting as cantor (song leader) for your church at Mass? I have no reason to believe this is a paid position, so it is an unpaid service to the community. I kinda need to volunteer close to home, as I have to do it when my husband is home with our daughter and the less time I spend commuting the better.

Hmm.. I dunno..

Do you think an altar boy should list serving as volunteering?

 

[LizzyM]

Some cantor positions are paid. However, if it is not, it could be listed as "volunteer, non-clinical". You wouldn't be the first to do so. That said, it isn't held in the same regard as service at a soup kitchen, homeless shelter or other place where you wouldn't otherwise be spending your time (presuming that you would be attending worship services even if you were not cantoring).

 

[Geekchick921]

Alrighty, thanks guys. Like I said, I'm just trying to find something nearby.

I have some volunteering at a cat rescue from a few years ago, but I'd like to add some more. My first thought (and I'm waiting to hear back about this) is volunteering at the hospital where I work. I used to have a position on a nursing floor but I transferred to a position in one of the offices and I REALLY miss the patient contact. But since I already have plenty of clinical experience, I'm not sure if it would be better to get some non-clinical volunteering that involves humans. There are other volunteer opportunities nearby, and I'm planning on callling some of the schools nearby to see if they have any kind of tutoring or after-school program that takes volunteers as well.

 

[rHinO1]

maybe if you elaborate more on "plenty" of clinical experience we could let you know how much of a priority persuing volunteer work in the hospital should be.

 

[Geekchick921]

maybe if you elaborate more on "plenty" of clinical experience we could let you know how much of a priority persuing volunteer work in the hospital should be.

Worked on a hospital floor full-time for a year, then about part time for the year after that. So about 3000 hours.

 

[AdamS]

As it has been mentioned, it sounds like a great leadership experience. Although I am not sure what your position was as an employee, it sounds like you have plenty of clinical experience. However, volunteering in a clinical setting may present a different perspective than when you were an employee...

Also, have you had the opportunity to directly shadow physicians?

On another note, I would look at the website(s) of the school(s) you really want to go to - look at their mission, vision, values, etc. It is wonderful when you are able to relate your activities to the school. (Is the school dedicated to serving certain populations? Do they emphasize certain areas of medicine, or perhaps research? Obviously you won't direct things to a certain school on your primary app directly, but once you get to secondary and interview phases, it will prove helpful.) It also gives you an idea of what may be of more or less importance to them.

 

[Geekchick921]

I was a unit secretary, but I would be in the rooms with patients quite a bit, bringing them water or an extra blanket, stocking the med drawer with more supplies, etc. I also got to be a fly on the wall quite a few times as doctors spoke to patients and family.

I haven't officially shadowed any doctors. Like I said, I've been around them plenty as they interact with patients and their relatives, and I've been in the room for a handful of thoracenteses and chest tubes (moreso than anything else, as the floor where I worked got a lot of respiratory patients). I shadowed a nurse-midwife for a day, but not any doctors. I actually spoke to a cardiologist at the hospital yesterday about shadowing someone in his group (I know them from when I worked on the nursing unit) and he said sure and to call his office. I also want to shadow at least one other doctor as well, though I'm not sure who yet (I have some ideas, though).

My first choice is Jefferson, which has less of a focus on research and more on training great clinicians. I know that having more community service will strengthen my app for them more than anything else (my GPA is around their average and I'm hopeful for a score above their median MCAT).

 

[AdamS]

Cool stuff. It sounds like you have had some great experiences and you have an idea of what the schools you are interested in are looking for, which is great. The 'official' shadowing will likely be a plus, and it sounds like you're on top of that. Good luck!!!

 

[rHinO1]

I was a unit secretary, but I would be in the rooms with patients quite a bit, bringing them water or an extra blanket, stocking the med drawer with more supplies, etc. I also got to be a fly on the wall quite a few times as doctors spoke to patients and family.

I haven't officially shadowed any doctors. Like I said, I've been around them plenty as they interact with patients and their relatives, and I've been in the room for a handful of thoracenteses and chest tubes (moreso than anything else, as the floor where I worked got a lot of respiratory patients). I shadowed a nurse-midwife for a day, but not any doctors. I actually spoke to a cardiologist at the hospital yesterday about shadowing someone in his group (I know them from when I worked on the nursing unit) and he said sure and to call his office. I also want to shadow at least one other doctor as well, though I'm not sure who yet (I have some ideas, though).

My first choice is Jefferson, which has less of a focus on research and more on training great clinicians. I know that having more community service will strengthen my app for them more than anything else (my GPA is around their average and I'm hopeful for a score above their median MCAT).

It may just be the way you explained it, but that doesn't really strike me as having "plenty" of clinical experience. Not that it seems bad or anything. Also, you speak of it as past tense. I don't know how long ago your most recent clinical experience was but I would have something very recent preferrably ongoing when you apply.

I also used my work contacts to set up some shadowing and it worked out very well. I highly recommend you take the cardiologist up on shadowing him. It may be a nice way to round out your clinical experience.

 

[Geekchick921]

Well, it certainly fit LizzyM's definition of a clinical experience, so there you go. And I said "quite a few times" not "a few times". If you want me to be clear, every freakin' day, if you consider the doctors speaking to loved ones at the nurse's station, and probably at least once a week I'd be in a patient's room at the time. It gave me plenty of insight on the career I'm getting into.

I left a few months ago. I wish I could have stayed, as I really enjoyed my job and my coworkers, but I needed more hourse, and the higher-ups were refusing to honor an agreement I'd made with my supervisor regarding my schedule months prior, which then made it impossible to pick up my daughter from daycare.

 

[LizzyM]

3,000 hours on an inpatient unit is enough clinical experience by anyone's definition!

 

[Geekchick921]

3,000 hours on an inpatient unit is enough clinical experience by anyone's definition!

Lizzy hath spoken! 😀

 

[rHinO1]

LizzyM would know far better than me. The only reason I asked was that the few lines on your MD apps made it sound like you were answering phones, and generally what you did in your job is more important than the number of hours. Obviously you did much more than that. Good luck .

 

[Geekchick921]

Ah, those are two different jobs. I was the operator at the answering service before I was a unit secretary. I answered phones plenty on the floor, but I did a lot more than that, too.