Community Service???

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hi everyone! I have a question on a community service project I’ve been working on

During the Summer before ninth grade, I went to Ethiopia and taught at a school for orphans. I really enjoyed it there so, at the end of the school year, I lead a fundraiser at my school for new/used (but in good condition) school supplies. I plan on taking them to the orphanage this summer, since they pretty much don’t have anything there :/. Additionally, I plan on teaching again this this summer and the rest of my summers in high school for about a month, and will hopefully continue to have fundraiser and drive at my school for years to come.

NOW don’t get me wrong, cause I love helping these kids out :). However, I’m just wondering how would this look on a college app? I mean am I doing enough or too little in the eyes of an elite college (such as Princeton)? Because I know most kids applying are do something sterllar… And also, I have been told that doing things like going to a third world countrry to help out ourphans is something that is considered to be “cheesy” on an app, but honestly I’m doing it because I want to. However I don’t know if the reader of my application is going to know that.

So in conclusion my main questions are:

What do you think of what i am doing?
Should I do more?
Is it “cheesy”?
Ideas on how to get local community/school involved AND how to raise more money?

Thanks so much for reading it (if you actaully go through the whole thing xD) , ask any questions, and please resond asap!

2

You should do what you really love doing. If you are, the chance of it coming off as “cheesy” is unlikely. I would strongly discourage anyone from trying to become a fit to what they think elite colleges are looking for. Admissions counsellors read thousands of applications every year and I am sure it doesn’t take them long to spot a “canned” application in the pile. Authenticity is not just better on an application, but for life as a whole. If you can have the confidence to do what you enjoy and to take initiative (leadership) and some healthy risks, those will be the most valuable in the long run, and they will make you a great candidate for many opportunities - not just college.