<p>it makes me so mad when I'm not "allowed to volunteer" because its a waste of gas and time. I know that it'll benefit me and i try to explain it to my parents but they WONT UNDERSTAND. they get so mad over it to the point where i just want to smack someone because they overreacte about everything!</p>
<p>No they think its important maybe you could tutor little kids and have them come to your house or you could tutor kids at you school.Or you could get a ride from a friend good luck :)</p>
<p>Ok…well, so I’m a parent now, but your post caught my eye on the home page…I had exactly the same issue when I was in college. I spent a ton of time working with Circle K (service organization which is the college level of Kiwanis) and eventually worked my way through state offices culminating with being Circle K Governor my senior year. My Dad’s favorite line was that I should “get a job that pays.” Well, I graduated and ended up getting a great job at one of the 50 largest companies. I had good grades, but what distinguished me was the leadership I learned through that “volunteer” club. </p>
<p>Try to find some common ground that is acceptable to your parents, so that you can follow your own convictions.</p>
<p>I’m sorry to read that your parents feel that way. </p>
<p>Mine are actually rather supportive of volunteering. While they aren’t completely 100% ok with driving me there all the time since I can’t drive that good yet they believe it’s better for me to get out and learn about the world rather than sit at home and watch TV. And, as corny as it sounds, I’ve actually found volunteering to be quite useful. Not financially, but more like way to improve myself while learning about work experience.</p>
<p>To be honest, it is a waste of time; most people just lie about it anyways and everything works out fine. Many of my friends and I do little to no volunteering but I imagine that we’ll all probably exaggerate everything on applications. Don’t waste your time; rather, spend it on your hobbies or your studies.</p>
<p>^ Don’t listen to her. Volunteering a total enriching experience, something studies can’t give you. It helps you get involved in your community, help others, and build your yourself too.</p>
<p>Maybe your parents would be more supportive if they talked to your HS counselor ! You could tutor someone after school ,and then go home - no extra driving !</p>
<p>sadly, essay2011 is right</p>
<p>I’m with tofugirl101: volunteering is about more than applications.</p>
<p>Essay2011 is clearly butthurt by the fact that he or she didn’t have an awesome volunteering experience.</p>
<p>I don’t see how helping people/helping your community could possibly be a waste of time, and neither does my mother.</p>
<p>I wish my parents felt that way. they are like the exact opposite. -_-</p>
<p>essay is right abotu the lieing though. From everyone: “oh I just sit there and get free food,” “oh I go there for 2 hours but they mark for 8,” “oh I get paid for that”</p>
<p>there is no need to lie. volunteering is not even an interesting EC because everyone does it. you can get in to HYPSM without doing it. you might even be more likely to get in without it because it’s so overdone by the million kids listing 500+ hours.</p>
<p>@WWilson… I’m pretty sure having 500+ hours is not common.</p>
<p>^ it’s probably really rare. but countless people on CC list crazy hours anyway, and i’m sure plenty of applications list crazy hours. it’s impossibly to verify 500 hours spent picking up trash, anyway</p>
<p>Volunteerism/community service is a wonderful thing to do. Those who have committed the several hundered hours to it can probably explain this level of commitment to service well in an essay, and probably can get wonderful letters of recommendation from people at the organization for whom they served (not that that should be the reason to do it, but it is a nice benefit).</p>
<p>Misslana-Sorry your parents have this attitude. That is most unfortunate and is certainly frustrating. What do they think you should be doing instead with your time? Will they support you if you join more clubs? Will they provide transportation, or let you drive/take public transportation or what have you, if you do something else with your time? Does it have to be a paid job or would they support an extra curricular? </p>
<p>Giving back to others is a wonderful, generous and very rewarding thing to do. Glad you understand that. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Long-term, volunteer opportunities can give you references in lieu of prior work experience. Just sayin’.</p>
<p>for me , they don’t allow me to do any work. they said that reading books at home is better. So at my work experince in app form is blank</p>
<p>um they practically force me to. I HAVE to have 500 hours, at least. :(</p>