Community Services

<p>I heard that Community Services (Volunteer hours) is also very important when applying for a College. They say to join clubs, and get "involved." How big of a part does Volunteer hours and clubs take?</p>

<p>Also, if it does take a significant role, can someone give me advice on where I can go to get some volunteer hours done? How can I get involved with the community? Also, in order to verify that I have done these volunteer hours, do I have to sign a special paper, or record them?
Also, so far I'm a Sophomore in High School. Is it possible for an internship? </p>

<p>Thanks for any replies. Really, I find the idea of volunteering fun, as I like helping people.</p>

<p>I’m currently in the process of submitting college applications. One thing I’ve regretted in my four years of high school is not doing the things i TRULY wanted to do…</p>

<p>It might seem cliche to say that you should follow your passions and do what you REALLY want to do, but it really IS true…</p>

<p>Don’t waste time volunteering if you think it wont be meaningful to YOU. If it’s not meaningful to YOU, it’s not meaningful to your applications.</p>

<p>Trust me… I look back now at my four years and, although I’ve accomplished more than most, I still look to the past with pity knowing that I could have done more AND enjoyed it a lot more in the process…</p>

<p>@StanfordWOW: But nonetheless, Volunteer service is important? From what you typed, I’m assuming it is. It’s just you’re telling me to volunteer and get “involved” in ways that would benefit the major I want to obtain in the future, right?
The thing is, I am trying to. However, that’s the thing. I need some assistance in where I can find volunteer services, and if I need to sign any papers prior so that it can be verified. Also, is it possible for a Sophomore in High school to apply for internships?</p>

<p>Anyways, good luck on your college applications!</p>

<p>This is a survey of college admissions counselors at half of the top 50 US news colleges. <a href=“https://www.dosomething.org/college-survey”>https://www.dosomething.org/college-survey&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Community service is definitely very important to them, but keep in mind that they can tell when you’re just doing community service to help your application and when you’re actually doing it because you’re invested in the cause. If you do community service/volunteer work, they want to see consistency (you should do it for many years) and initiative. Initiative means that you should try to do something about that particular cause yourself. For example, if you work at a homeless shelter, they’ll be very impressed if you start a school fundraiser to spread awareness and help on your own.</p>

<p>If you go down the community service route, remember that all other top applicants to colleges have done hundreds of community service hours. You have to set yourself apart from them by contributing to the community with your own initiatives.</p>

<p>Also, it is possible for a soph to apply for internships, but its hard unless you have some connections in the field you want to go into</p>

<p>Honestly, if you are having trouble finding an organization, try making your own with other people! One of my first volunteer experiences was with a very small group of teens at a library informally organized by a library staff member. It was only 3-5 members at first, but now we have almost 30 members. </p>

<p>Voluntarism is important. But not having ANY voluntarism, if involved in other things, is just as fine. It’s a MYTH that a competitive applicant must log hours and hours. @DidYouKnowThat‌ It’s wonderful you’ve found meaningful ways to serve. I hope you keep that up the rest of your life and impart it to your kids, too. But don’t stress too much about linking it to your college apps. If you have it, fine, accept the credit for it. But way too often you find most HS kids are just mercenaries – hoping to fill in what they perceive is a gap in their application… Don’t be like this:</p>

<p><a href=“Closing Of Homeless Shelter Leaves College-Application-Padding Students With Nowhere To Turn”>http://www.theonion.com/articles/closing-of-homeless-shelter-leaves-collegeapplicat,2461/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>It’s the balance, the idea you can do more than just what interests you or your friends. That you can do for others, because you see a need. Yup, this is contrary to the notion of “passion,” (which drives kids in different ways.) For some kids service can take different forms. You can always start with a local religious org- they usually have ideas of where there is a need. This isn;t something you have to do every weekend. But doing it over time is good. </p>