<p>I have no clue where, how, or when to start community service. What are some places that I can volunteer at? </p>
<p>Anywhere… your local soup kitchen, food drives, etc. There’s so many options. </p>
<p>Every time I try to ask my guidance counselor questions about community service, he responses with a very vague explanation. </p>
<p>Is it good to get started now? I’m a freshmen in high school btw.</p>
<p>@Maddie929 The sooner the better!</p>
<p>Do universities like it when you volunteer at different places or rather the same place? I’m sorry if it seems like I’m asking too many questions. The staff at school don’t really tell us about any of this.</p>
<p>Do you know where we can get the voluntary forms to volunteer?</p>
<p>Your extracurriculars can involve community service, but they don’t have to. (College applications don’t ask about volunteer hours.) </p>
<p>Quote from a Yale admissions officer ([source](<a href=“Q. and A.: College Admissions - The New York Times):”>Q. and A.: College Admissions - The New York Times)):</a></p>
<p>“The thing we are looking for outside the classroom is not a series of check boxes on a resume; we’re looking instead for a high level of engagement or leadership in whatever it is that the student cares about most. For some students, community service is at the forefront of their extracurriculars, in which case we pay a lot of attention to what they have accomplished in that area. For other students, some other passion or interest holds primary sway, and we evaluate the engagement in that area. We know that very few students can fully engage more than one or two primary activities at a high level. Though it is fine for a student to have varied interests, a significant number of students make the common mistake of spreading themselves too thinly in a resume-building exercise.” </p>
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They want to see focus and commitment, but don’t be afraid of trying out different places. </p>
<p>Thank you so much! </p>
<p>Does doing community service during the summer count?</p>
<p>Yes, just like any other summer extracurricular. Community service isn’t differentiated from other kinds of activities, at least not on the Common App. </p>