Top Medical Volunteering Ideas for High School Students

Summary: Medical volunteering opportunities for high school students are a mutually beneficial opportunity that college admissions boards value, especially for those with aspirations of a career in medicine. Discover the details of volunteering, plus other ways to stand out with pre-college online medicine courses.

Key Points:

• 13.3 million teens volunteer 2.4 billion hours annually—worth $34.3 billion to the U.S. economy
• According to Time Magazine, teens who volunteer are 34% more likely to be in excellent or very good health, 66% more likely to be considered “flourishing” (a positive measure of overall well-being).
• For teens setting their sights on more esteemed careers, such as those in medicine, volunteering is a necessity to ensure entrance into the school of your choice.
• Volunteering is a great way to enhance your college application and demonstrate your dedication to helping others.
• Medical volunteering opportunities for teens with the Red Cross are a national opportunity.
• Pre-college online courses in medicine are another great asset when building your college applications.

Did you know that 13.3 million teens volunteer 2.4 billion hours annually—worth $34.3 billion to the U.S. economy? Youth volunteering has increased steadily over the past ten years, and with good reason. According to Time Magazine, teens who volunteer are 34% more likely to be in excellent or very good health, 66% more likely to be considered “flourishing” (a positive measure of overall well-being), and 35% less likely to have behavioral problems when compared to kids who hadn’t participated in community service in the past year. 

These statistics underscore the importance of volunteering from a self-care perspective. Incorporating volunteering into college applications is also essential. For teens aiming for more prestigious careers, such as those in medicine, volunteering becomes a necessity to differentiate themselves from other hopeful medical students.

In this article, we’ll review the benefits teens like you will experience with volunteering, options for those studying medicine, and touch upon other methods to elevate your status when working toward medical school. 

First, let’s address why volunteering is beneficial for you. 

Benefits of Volunteering as a Teen Interested in Medicine

• It can be the defining factor in your future in medicine. Medical schools stress the importance of extracurricular activities when applying.
• Volunteering is a great way to enhance your college application and demonstrate your dedication to helping others.
• You may experience areas in medicine that you may not have considered. 
• It will help you develop qualities and skills essential to a career in medicine, such as communication skills, compassion, and empathy. These are all valuable qualities to develop, as admissions committees look for them in their applicants. 
• Leadership skills are also excellent to work on, and volunteering offers you a chance to challenge yourself to become a better leader.

What types of volunteering are best?

Best Types of Volunteering in Medicine for Teens

Remember, volunteer work is a great way to demonstrate that you possess the qualities schools seek in their students, such as leadership, compassion, and dedication. Search for opportunities, such as medical volunteering opportunities for teens with the Red Cross, that challenge you and build on your current skills, learning new ones along the way. Keep in mind, volunteering can be connected either directly or indirectly to healthcare: 

Direct Healthcare Opportunities:

• Hospitals: Many hospitals have volunteer programs specifically for teenagers. These roles can include clerical duties, gift shop assistance, patient escorting, and even music therapy. Some hospitals may have specific requirements, such as minimum age or physical capabilities, for particular roles.
• Clinics: Local clinics may also offer volunteer opportunities for teenagers, allowing them to gain experience in a healthcare setting.
• Nursing Homes: Volunteering at nursing homes can involve similar tasks to those in hospital settings, providing companionship and support to residents.

Indirect Healthcare Opportunities:

• Meals on Wheels: Delivering meals to homebound individuals can be a valuable way to support the elderly and disabled, many of whom may have health needs.
• Food Pantries: Volunteering at food pantries can indirectly support community health by ensuring access to nutritious food.
• Non-Profit Organizations: Many non-profit organizations that focus on health-related issues, such as mental health or specific disease awareness, may have volunteer opportunities for teenagers.
• Crisis Hotlines: Volunteering with a suicide crisis hotline can provide valuable support to individuals in need and foster communication skills.
• Tutoring: Helping others with their studies is an excellent way to give back to the community. There may be underserved individuals in your area who require additional support. That’s where you can come in.

Beyond volunteering, other methods to bolster your college applications include pre-college online programs from top universities. 

Pre-College Online Courses in Medicine for Teens

Prelum, Powered by Kaplan, partners with top universities to bring you pre-college online courses in a variety of topics, including medicine. The flexible format allows you to study anywhere, at any time that fits your schedule. Hear from renowned faculty, and enjoy the support of seasoned mentors who will answer your questions and guide your learning experience. Each course finishes with a Capstone Project that, successfully delivered, earns you a Certificate of Completion.

Let’s review.

From the mechanics of breathing to the complexities of the cardiovascular system, the Harvard Medical School Pre-College Online Certificate Program course, Physiology: Inside the Body's Inner Workings, provides valuable insights into the fascinating world of human physiology, where you’ll discover a comprehensive understanding of how organ systems function, adapt, and interact.

In the Georgetown University Pre-College Online Program course Anatomy & Physiology: How the Body Works in Harmony, you’ll receive a comprehensive overview of the major body regions and systems through engaging course videos that feature a variety of educational tools and procedures, including cadaver dissection. Explore the musculoskeletal, nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and gastrointestinal systems.

The Northwestern Pre-College Online Program also boasts a physiology option. In the online course Physiology: Understanding the Body's Systems, you’ll experience an exciting journey through the human body, exploring the functions of vital organs like the kidneys, lungs, heart, and pancreas. You’ll analyze real-world patient scenarios and hear from actual clinicians in the field.

Are you fascinated by how the human body operates? Do the inner workings of various organ systems intrigue you? This course from the Rice University Precollege Program,

Physiology: The Foundations of Medicine offers a comprehensive examination of the nervous, muscular, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems, exploring how they function in harmony. Hear from practicing physicians who will describe the pathological complications they may encounter.

As you can see, there are many options to round out your pre-med experience while in high school. Volunteering is a gratifying and mutually beneficial experience. Building volunteer work—and some pre-college online courses—into your extracurricular schedule will provide you with a leg up on other applicants, in particular if you are aiming for a career in medicine.

Last reviewed by Ashley Simmons on 11/26/2025.