<p>Is community service THAT important with American universities? Because people here are always talking about it...</p>
<p>It depends on what you mean exactly by “THAT”. Of course community service is important among your ECs, but not as important as you GPA, research experience and the like. The EC itself is not important, what’s important is what you have learned through the experience–in that way, if you’ve learned a lot from community service, it’s important. if not, then it’s not.</p>
<p>I meant, is community service something that Universities considered important? Like if someone had great grades, great extra-curriculars, etc. but didn’t do community service, would that harm their chances of getting in?</p>
<p>Colleges and universities in the US are well aware that different countries have different traditions relative to community service. It is normal for students in the US to participate in community service, and some high schools require a certain number of hours in order for the student to graduate.</p>
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definitely NO I don’t know what makes you worry about that. Community service is not compulsory like SAT or Recommendation letters; many strong applicants have no experience in community service at all(particularly for int’l applicants). So, Hakuna matata! 
and pay more attention to other parts in your app.</p>
<p>Oh right! Okay thanks!</p>