<p>I am filling out my application for National Honor Society and I feel kind of awkward with the big blank space of "Community Service." I am looking into top colleges and since everyone who applies there seems to have 5000 hours of community service, is it absolutely necessary for one to do so?</p>
<p>No…</p>
<p>Hmm, community service is like, “oh look, I’m this great and all, I’m so smart, but do I even care about other people in need? Well of course I do. Oh darn, community service shows that pretty well”</p>
<p>I guess it’s a way for colleges to know how down-to-earth you are, and how much you are willing to give back and care for the community that gave you so much. I don’t think it’s necessary. 
But it’s definitely a plus.</p>
<p>My son’s “community service” totaled about 300 - 400 hours and was writing a program for a teacher. I don’t think he categorized it as community service anywhere. He got into several non-Ivy top colleges (and was rejected at only one school, and that was after being put on the waitlist).</p>
<p>Certainly if you are low-income and have to work for pay, nobody expects you to give your time away as well.</p>
<p>Colleges want students who will contribute to the campus community, not just sit in their rooms and study. A previous commitment to community service is one way to gauge your willingness to get off your butt and engage, but it’s not the only way.</p>
<p>No you don’t need it at all. But the feeling that meaningful community service brings you is priceless. ^As said above, if your not volunteering, do something so your not on your lazy butt all time. Doing nothing is the worst possible scenario. :)</p>
<p>Use the Search function. Extracurriculars are good. Community service is a type of EC. It is good to have, but not any better than other ECs. And adcoms are good at sniffing out resume padders who do a smattering of school required CS and try to pass it off as a real passion for helping others. Unless you’ve donated huge portions of your time to one charity or raised a significant amount of money, it’s unlikely to impact your app.</p>
<p>NHS, however, is another issue altogether. CS is a requirement for all members and is likely expected of applicants.</p>
<p>My son got into Rice, Emory and UVa. He didn’t do any community service.</p>
<p>He did have pretty good ECs though.</p>
<p>My daughter had only ‘community service days’ at her boarding school and not many opportunities because of school comittments and lack of time/means to go off campus. However, in a boarding environment, and I’m sure at ANY school, there is service to give to your school community, be that dorm prefect, Student Body officer, and a million other service oriented positions that use your time and energy. She had some other one-off volunteer experiences and fund raisers that didn’t end up on the application.</p>
<p>However, students who do hundreds of dedicated hours to a volunteer effort are special for that and it is a very strong point. Unfortunately, it has to be backed up by one of your Letters, I think, because of the few who try to fake it.</p>
<p>Depends on the school. When we visited Georgetown they drolled on and on about community service. Other schools just want EC’s that show commitment beyond schoolwork.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone. I am going to participate in Key Club this year and try Habitat for Humanity to see how I like it. If I do not, I will develop my other ECs. I realize that you just need to show passion for whatever they may be, but my parents seem to think that I will go to Community College if I don’t have community service. Lol.</p>