volunteering vs shadowing

Post Reply
User avatar
Raio
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:09 am

volunteering vs shadowing

Post by Raio » Mon Oct 11, 2010 4:56 pm

Hi, I'm currently a junior undergrad.
I'm trying to get experiences and become a good candidate for medical physics.
I did a summer Internship at a cyclotron facility this summer, and right now I inquired about shadowing or volunteering at a proton therapy center.
but I wanted to know which would be more beneficial to me.


thanks in advance for your answers.

geshi
Posts: 200
Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2009 12:01 am

Re: volunteering vs shadowing

Post by geshi » Mon Oct 11, 2010 9:47 pm

I don't think I understand your question. Are you asking if shadowing or volunteering is better for your resume? I'm not sure I understand the distinction here.

User avatar
Raio
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:09 am

Re: volunteering vs shadowing

Post by Raio » Mon Oct 11, 2010 9:53 pm

yes, I'm asking which would be better for my resume.

User avatar
HappyQuark
Posts: 762
Joined: Thu Apr 16, 2009 2:08 am

Re: volunteering vs shadowing

Post by HappyQuark » Mon Oct 11, 2010 10:01 pm

I'm also not sure that I understand your distinction between shadowing and volunteering. I understand shadowing to mean that you are working under the direction of someone and volunteering to mean you are doing it for free and for the experience. I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. Are you asking about whether being a volunteer vs a paid intern/assistant makes a difference?

User avatar
WhoaNonstop
Posts: 853
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:31 am

Re: volunteering vs shadowing

Post by WhoaNonstop » Mon Oct 11, 2010 10:12 pm

Try to get any research you can, however it is acquired, doesn't really matter.

Don't think into it this much. I don't think application committees have that much time to look at all these details.

"Omg, he volunteered instead of shadowed! -decline pile-" - Not happening. =)

-Riley

pqortic
Posts: 398
Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:24 am

Re: volunteering vs shadowing

Post by pqortic » Tue Oct 12, 2010 12:40 am

if shadowing means you will be working under supervision of a technician or physician do that one while volunteer means you are there just for diversion. generally consider doing the one which is more goal oriented.

User avatar
Raio
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:09 am

Re: volunteering vs shadowing

Post by Raio » Tue Oct 12, 2010 1:04 am

wow this actually make sense.
I think I wasn't sure about the difference between the two, and this is why I asked for both.
the director of the institution told me there was a difference, and asked to state which one I was interested in.
I told him both, was this a mistake?

User avatar
grae313
Posts: 2296
Joined: Tue May 29, 2007 8:46 pm

Re: volunteering vs shadowing

Post by grae313 » Tue Oct 12, 2010 6:50 pm

I thought shadowing was following someone around, volunteering was doing something without pay. Doing >> watching.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_shadowing

User avatar
Raio
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:09 am

Re: volunteering vs shadowing

Post by Raio » Tue Oct 12, 2010 7:36 pm

yeah it make sense too :(

User avatar
HappyQuark
Posts: 762
Joined: Thu Apr 16, 2009 2:08 am

Re: volunteering vs shadowing

Post by HappyQuark » Tue Oct 12, 2010 9:08 pm

Raio wrote:yeah it make sense too :(
I think the most logical thing to do is to ask the professor exactly what he/she means. Ask what 'shadowing' and 'volunteering' would entail and then, based on his/her descriptions, pick the one that will involve you doing the most work.



Post Reply