Community Service?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>I'm a junior in high school who faithfully volunteers at my local Humane Society. After reading these stats/results threads, I'm beginning to think that this isn't enough. </p>

<p>It's not because I'm volunteering at only one place, which I am, or that I don't have enough "hours" (because I saw someone who was rejected EA with 1000 hours and good scores) but that my community service doesn't reflect much leadership. I do a lot at the shelter, but I'm not on a council, and I haven't organized drives/races/etc. </p>

<p>So, my position is kind of normal: I volunteer there, and that's about it. </p>

<p>HOW should I do something more, and is it NECESSARY? </p>

<p>Any current Yale students who can provide perspective? </p>

<p>Much appreciated and thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>Yale has no formal community service requirement, and racking up hours of community service is neither necessary not sufficient for admissions purposes. Yale is looking for applicants who have contributed to the broader community, engaged beyond the classroom in some meaningful way. There are many ways to do this without doing formal community service.</p>

3

<p>wjb is right. Yale wants people who contribute to their communities (whatever those communities may be) in a meaningful way. </p>

<p>Personally, I think that this piece gets to the point quickly: [Closing</a> Of Homeless Shelter Leaves College-Application-Padding Students With Nowhere To Turn | The Onion - America’s Finest News Source](<a href=“The Onion | America's Finest News Source.”>The Onion | America's Finest News Source.)</p>

4

<p>Also wanted to add that I think it’s great that you volunteer at your local Humane Society. Doing so surely gives you insight into an immense range of ethical concerns regarding values, resources, priorities, medicine, legal questions, and more.</p>

5

<p>I winced at the whole article (gotta love The Onion); thanks for providing it. I want to clarify that I volunteer at the Humane Society because I love animals, and it IS a huge interest in my life. But I feel that because I’m not contributing in a more meaningful way, as I’ve seen in other applications, Yale will see it as a “obligation” thing, which it isn’t. </p>

<p>What approach should I take, if any?</p>

6

<p>^Neutralmilk, again, it’s a great thing that you sincerely care about the community service you do! If you enjoy it, I would keep continuing it and it just might come in handy for answering certain short answers or essay questions.</p>

7

<p>as an acceptee, i can tell you that the community service i did and continue to do isn’t the most fascinating or ground-breaking stuff on the surface, but i enjoy it, and i think yale saw that! just keep doing it, and stress your pure enjoyment of it when possible (e.g., write your activities short answer about it). don’t worry about it looking like an obligation! you know that it isn’t!</p>

8

<p>dude…i did 1000 hours at a theatre that I loved alot…and i STILL got deferred</p>

9

<p>Thank you, everyone! Esp. Tres Elefantes.</p>

<p>Any other opinions?</p>

10

<p>Sorry - bumping this just in case I get another response.</p>