Community service vs. work experience?

Applying to College
1

<p>When applying to colleges, do admissions typically place more emphasis on community service or work experience?</p>

<p>I am relatively active within my community and have 200+ community service hours. That said, given my family's financial situation, I've devoted a lot more time to my paid job than to community service -- I'm currently a senior in high school, and I've continually held a job for the past four years, since the summer after eighth grade (three years through a work-study program at a local museum, and the past year at a dental practice -- I've worked full-time every summer in addition to 25+ hours each week while school is in session. I now earn nearly three times my starting hourly salary four years ago at my first job, which is about double the current minimum wage in CA, so growth/promotion is certainly something that I can play up in my apps.). </p>

<p>My scores and stats are all quite rigorous, so that's not really my concern -- I'm just wondering if my work experience could somehow be held against me when I'm applying to schools. I hope to attend a small, private liberal-arts school. (For more specific info: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/570415-chances-small-liberal-arts-schools.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/570415-chances-small-liberal-arts-schools.html&lt;/a> ).</p>

<p>Thanks for the help!</p>

2

<p>Bump . . . just because I'm impatient. :)</p>

3

<p>Your work experience will be a definite positive in your favor. Maintaining employment during the school year while excelling in a rigorous curriculum will be very impressive.</p>

4

<p>Bump. Falling fast . . .</p>

5

<p>Work experience is always a MAJOR plus point!</p>

6

<p>Neither is seen as better than the other. As you can surmise, some kids MUST work to help support their families or must come home immediately after school to watch sibs or elderly people in the home. Not everyone can do all the nice ECs. The adcoms know this.</p>