<p>So, maybe you've seen me post this elsewhere, but I tried volunteering at a local hospital and it SUCKED. I won't get into that, but what I would like is an honest assessment of my medical extracurriculars. I still may volunteer at another hospital next year (my senior year) but I'm not sure.</p>
<p>~Freshman year: Science fair project on running injuries; advanced to the state fair, but nothing amazing.</p>
<p>~Summer after freshman year: job shadowed a physical therapist for a week</p>
<p>~Sophomore year: volunteered at a hospital for 3 months...for a total of around 36 hours.</p>
<p>~Summer after sophomore year: job shadowed a cardiothoracic surgeon for 2 days, and a trauma nurse for one day. I also shadowed a cardiologist and a med student for one day each (as part of a class offered by the local med school for HS students). </p>
<p>~Junior Year: went to seven 2-hour classes offered by med students--focused on anatomy, applying to med school, being a pre-med in college, etc. (We got to watch a cadaver dissection, which was really cool)</p>
<p>~Summer after junior year: 8 week research internship in the department of neurology at the local med school's teaching hospital--8 hours a day, 5 days a week for 8 weeks.</p>
<p>I have two questions:
If I have a chance to volunteer again, do I really need to? Everything I've listed above I did because I enjoyed it, and even if I find a decent volunteer program, it still probably won't be as much fun as everything else I've done. Is what I've done "sufficient"? (ie, in the range of the kids that are accepted to the BS/MD programs)</p>
<p>Anyway, thanks in advance for your responses.</p>