<p>I'm a junior in a very competitive school in MA and am trying to close out the school year with an extracurricular activity. I have plenty of work experience to beef up my resume but much less so in terms of community service (activities involving no pay). I have recently learned of an internship to pursue to throuh my school and I don't know how admissions offices would view a substantial program in terms of receiving pay versus not receiving pay. A stipend is offered for the 60 hour internship to research and outline plans to construct a community teen center. But I'm wondering if it might look better to sacrifice the money for a community service credential. I've been told that such a program can be portrayed just as well under work experience on a college application through mention of it in essays and recommendations. If it won't appear lesser under the category of a job, I would rather play it that way. But what's the scoop; do colleges prefer to see community service over a paying internship?</p>
<p>The two are not mutually exclusive. This internship quite ideal. Esp. if you are from a low-income background. Colleges will also realize that the money will not be substantial, but really will just defray some expenses. So go for it!</p>
<p>Yes, I am 100% certain they prefer no pay OVER pay. What seems more honorable, doing a choir around the house for 10$ or doing it as a favor? Ill tell you what the USAFA looks for (but I dont know the school you want to go to) they look for people who help the COMMUNITY in daily activities in order to achieve a smile on everyones faces. So 100 hours of community service is better than 100 hours of work.</p>
<p>I agree with the first response. There is nothing wrong with taking money if you are doing work, especially if you are using it to pay for college or other expenses (or savings). As long as you portray how you were interested in and affected by your work, I don't think it will significantly matter whether it's volunteer or an internship. </p>
<p>Personally, I chose to do a full-time paid internship for two summers (with ~40 hours of volunteer work each year during the winter), and I did well with college admissions. If you can do both types of work at different tiems, that's probably best, but don't refuse pay just because you think volunteer work MIGHT look better for college.</p>
<p>Likewise. In fact, pay is typically an indicator of the value of your work. An unpaid intern freq. gets stuck w. grunt work; a paid researcher (even at a nonprofit) is still doing altruistic work, but is doing work that is considered more valuable to organization. Furthermore, you will accomplish much more for the good of the community when you are in a paid position (however modest those wages will be) because you will be able to focus more of your energies to that.</p>
<p>I speak from 3+ years of paid experience w. nonprofit organizations, and too many hours to count of volunteer/community service. Your wages--if you do accept them--will be exceptionally meager, and you <em>will</em> put in more than 60 hours; you just won't be paid for those. I frequently worked 60+ hours a week at my nonprofit job, got paid maybe $250, and then would waitress another 20 hours to make ends meet. I don't think my "honor" was at all diminished by the fact that I was compensated for my work; I don't think I made fewer sacrifices--living in a bad neighborhood, not seeing my friends, eating rice and beans, no health insurance, etc.--to do so, either. And it paid off: it made me a candidate for transfer admission at some top schools.</p>
<p>like I said, the USAFA thinks diffrently. Ivies might think wages are good depending on your value of work but at USAFA they dont really care that you got a job waitering (unless a major internship).</p>
<p>No, I was a waitress on top of several (v. "major") internships/jobs. As well as doing volunteer work with other groups on the weekends. Furthermore, technically speaking, if you work 60 hours a week at a minimum wage of $8 an hour, but only get paid $250, then about 28 of those hours are volunteer. Hence, "paid" internships and volunteer work are not mutually exclusive.</p>
<p>as has been said -- paid work is seen as more valued.</p>
<p>think about it -- an unpaid person may set up chairs for a conference, copy off papers, or other grunt work. College know that a paid person has specific duties that they have assigned a value to.</p>
<p>I don't know about the military, but if you aren't planning on going there -- I would go with the paid internship! It sounds great!!</p>
<p>could you add in some community service? a weekend helping at a cub scout camp? Weekend environmental work? Surely you can find some type of opportunity.</p>
<p>My son's volunteer activities include the youth Library council, teen court, environmental work, an unpaid internship and few other odds and ends. A few weekends of work add up quick.</p>