<p>I'll start by saying I already know that business and for that matter law schools don't care about extra curricular's you do not related to business or law respectively, BUT is community service an exception to this rule? At the very least I would think an essay focusing on a unique aspect of your community service might help your application. </p>
<pre><code> On a slightly unrelated note, I was wondering if anyone could tell me wether the top business school applications generally have a place to list extra curricular's and/or could provide me a link to a sample business school application (I've been unsuccessful in my search so far). Thank you for your help.
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<p>It would only be appropriate if there are business aspects to the volunteer work. This can certainly be the case if you started or manage a charitable organization. If you can explain how community service strengthen your business skills and how it has made you a better applicant to business school, then perhaps it would work. I don't think it would be beneficial simply from the standpoint of making you sound like a generous person. </p>
<p>Graduate and professional schools don't care about ECs because you aren't going there to be a well rounded student, you are going there to achieve a certain narrowly focused goal, whether that be a PhD, MBA, or MD.</p>
<p>"It would only be appropriate if there are business aspects to the volunteer work."</p>
<p>not true - but it would be a plus. start a non-profit or something.</p>
<p>"This can certainly be the case if you started or manage a charitable organization. If you can explain how community service strengthen your business skills and how it has made you a better applicant to business school, then perhaps it would work. I don't think it would be beneficial simply from the standpoint of making you sound like a generous person."</p>
<p>not true. you are also overgeneralizing for all b-schools - needless to say w/o evidence.</p>
<p>"Graduate and professional schools don't care about ECs because you aren't going there to be a well rounded student, you are going there to achieve a certain narrowly focused goal, whether that be a PhD, MBA, or MD."</p>
<p>an MBA is <em>NOT</em> a focused degree....for ex...Harvard Business has a general management orientation....emphasis on general (ie grand strategy, big picture etc.) Ecs do matter. But quality and leadership in EC matters more than scattered efforts trying to appear generous...which is probably what sky meant.</p>
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an MBA is <em>NOT</em> a focused degree...
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<p>Sure it is. As is an MD, JD, or PhD. When compared to a bachelors degree, it is very much a focused degree. It certainly depends on what you consider as focused, but my point was that a B-school won't care that you read to old people 10 hours a week. </p>
<p>The relevance of the community service would depend on what he/she did and how the OP could 'spin' the service as being a benefit towards B-school admission. </p>
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not true. you are also overgeneralizing for all b-schools - needless to say w/o evidence.
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<p>What evidence do I need to show that irrelevant activities are beneficial towards application in graduate/professional schools? It has been fairly consistently said and confirmed to be true that admissions committees in professional and graduate schools don't care about extra curriculars. </p>
<p>They are certainly on the bottom rung of importance, and I was just making that point clear. If you were president of an entrepreneurship club and raised $500k for your local boys & girls club, then those activities are relevant and could boost your application. However, being president of your fraternity don't count much. Frankly, none of it really matters, since it doesn't count as work experience. </p>
<p>The answer doesn't change, community service won't help your application much. Work experience, GPA, and GMAT are all that really count (and arguably connections/pedigree). If the application essay topic lends itself to a discussion about your community service and your generousity (assuming its more significant than reading to old people or serving food at a kitchen for 1 hour a week), then by all means write about it.</p>
<p>I'll admit my statement might have been a bit overreaching, and I'll add that community service is more important than extra curriculars. Certainly B-schools want socially responsible applicants and graduates. Therefore, if community service is an integral part of who you are then by all means include it in your application, as it can help. </p>
<p>However, community service will not replace or makeup for the more important things I mentioned in my previous post.</p>
<p>well... I would say if you're just a volunteer that spends 10 hours a week doing whatever (reading to old people, being a "big brother") it would pretty much amount to 0 on the application. maybe a 5th followup question in the last minute of your interview.</p>
<p>Making your essay about it when not specifically asked about EC or community service makes your work experience look weak.</p>
<p>All of this is of course trumped if you manage volunteers and have some sort of experience organizing and running the charitable organization. However, if you dont, I wouldnt put too much weight on your volunteering.</p>
<p>and yes, all the apps have a place for your EC's to list.. usually at the end, and usually very small and unimportant. Some even ask for an essay usually 250-500 words. I've only seen this from schools that ask for 5 essays though. Anyplace that asks for 3 or less, usually doesnt ask about your EC's</p>