My D started a very small business a couple of years ago, doing something she loves and donating all profits to two favority charities - she happens to do volunteer work for both charities as well.
Her guidance counselor, who is lovely but inexperienced, is very excited about the business and wants her to highlight it on her resume as “entrepreneurship.” However, my D would like to list it under “community service” right above the fact that she also does extra work for same charities. Community service is a big part of her life, she has done a lot of it, and as an aside, is not planning on applying to a business school. She started the business to help these charities, and that is what is the most important aspect of it, in her opinion. However, I know the business might be skimmed over in the way, or maybe not get as much attention, so I’m torn. (I think it’s pretty great what she did - she tends to think it’s less of a big deal.)
I haven’t looked at a Common App in a while, so I’m not sure if this issue will come up on the actual app as well - if it will, then will need some guidance on that too.
Advice on this?
Thank you!
She can have it both ways by describing it as Social Entrepreneurship
I’d be inclined to put it under work experience. Started a small business doing xyz. Then in the space for volunteer work she could talk more about the giving part of the puzzle. I’d encourage her to think about where she could write about this - I don’t know what the essays will look like, but it might make a good topic for the main essay or if they still have it, “my favorite EC”. My son wrote about a community service project for the EC essay. He’d thought about using it for his main essay, but felt it wasn’t enough about him, although I think in some ways it was a better essay than his main essay. His main essay was about what he learned from origami including his little business selling origami earrings, but he was less altruistic and kept the proceeds.
Like all these things there’s no one right answer - what you want to do is make sure that you’ve put everything somewhere and that there’s some coherent message about who you are.
ReadyToRoll, with all due respect, I think you need to breath and relax. These very minor details aren’t going to break or break your child’s application.
Yes I also doubt it matters that much. Let her present herself the way she sees it. You’re lucky you have a GC who even has time to look at her app much less try to advise.
Also, what is this even for? As I recall the common app has some pretty broad sections. There isn’t a section for “social entrepreneurship”. Somehow my daughter managed to get through college applications just filling in the application, no resume. I wonder if they appreciate extra paperwork they didn’t ask for.
I’m with the counselor. Even if she doesn’t plan to major in business, your dd is showing initiative and putting it under an Entrepreneurship header or under Employment will help the activity stand out. She can refer the reader to the rest of the info under her Volunteerism category.
I also like mathmom’s suggestion to think about writing about it, which will tie in the business and volunteerism.
Per romani’s comment … I am glad that you are being thoughtful about how to help your dd. Just save all your questions for us and don’t let dd or counselor see you stressing. 
My S started a DJ business that was for-profit and listed it under EC/Work experience. However, he also DJed at various school and charity events in the area for free, and put that under community service. I think you can have it both ways as long as it’s described accurately.
@romanigypsyeyes - I don’t know why you think I’m not relaxed. I love hearing gathering input about this stuff, and we have plenty of time to gather opinions on it and move forward. Isn’t that what CC is for? Such a funny thing for someone with over 24,000 posts to say to someone with 1,350 posts! I probably spend much less time here than you do - and this is my fourth kid! (I’m probably asking more questions right now because I just finished a project for work and my next one starts next week, but I’m rather enjoying it and don’t feel stressed at all. Can’t speak for next fall though!)
@mathyone - I think it’s primarily for (1) her faculty recommenders and (2) her interviewers. I suppose that thinking about it and getting it on paper may also help her fill out her apps more easily, but I really don’t know what any particular individual app will require, so not sure about that part yet.
I’d like to point out that any student who includes information about running his/her own business (even if all profits are donated) on college applications better be reporting this income on his/her income tax return (1040 Schedule C).
RTR, this is your fourth kiddo. Did the other three apply to college? What did you do with information for,the others of your children. I realize this sounds like she has a different set of things to put on her application…but really…you e probably done this three times before.
Re: this particular job…I don’t think it matters where you put it.
@madison85, not if they made less than $6,200, or whatever the applicable year’s minimum earnings to file return were.
^^Nope, that is NOT the filing requirement threshold for self-employment income.
@cameron121
^^ @Madison85 is right about this. When my D was a junior in HS, four years ago, she started a blog geared toward teenage girls and was able to generate income by having advertisers “pin” advertisements on her site using a Google program, if I remember correctly. She made about $2500 and Google sent her a 1099 at the end of the year. She had to file an income tax return to pay self employment taxes on those earnings.
@ReadyToRoll - My D used that experience, the ups and downs of starting and running a business, as the basis for several of her essays. She received good feedback from several schools as well as some follow up questions from adcoms and I really think it helped to get her into the program she’s in now. I think your D shouldn’t gloss over this but in the end it is her decision.