<p>Today my friend suggested to me that I put on my college apps that I tutor, but I don't officially do any tutoring. In math/science classes, I am one of the stronger students and many times people come to me for help (not just answers), and now that I think about it I suppose I do spend a lot of time helping people out with the tougher problems. My friend says this qualifies as a kind of tutoring and I should include it on my apps...is this legitimate? It would be nice because I don't have any community service to include, but I don't really want to "make up" things that I don't do; so I guess my question is, how official does something need to be to include it on my application?</p>
<p>would the teachers in those classes consider you a tutor?</p>
<p>Ummmm....NO! Just about everyone could be a tutor then. I mean, ECs don't have to be super official, but this would be lying or "bending the truth" if you will :p</p>
<p>While what you are doing is helpful, it should not be considered "tutoring" on applications. You were not hired and were not affiliated with a school, organization, etc, so what you are doing is technically not work or community service. </p>
<p>It may, however, be something you could discuss in an interview or essay. But not in a resume/application type of thing.</p>
<p>Yeah I didn't really think it would count...I suppose it's something you could probably fudge and get away with on an app, but I'm not going to waste my time with it. I don't think one act of community service will make or break my chance at getting in. I think my friend was basing her argument off of a presentation that UC gave a couple weeks ago. The woman presenting basically said lots of things can be considered ECs and that you can make them sound better than they actually are. Her example was that if you have done any babysitting you could put that you are a "Child Care Provider"...personally it sounds like a lame way of making yourself sound good for colleges. Thanks for the input.</p>
<p>Mercinator,
Why would you even ask if "it counts?".
Frankly, people like you who even have to ask whether or not it is plausible to pad your applications make people like me sick -- that is, those of us who have tutored (like me, since 8th grade) without looking for a "what's it gonna do for me" angel.</p>
<p>Geez, I hope the colleges see through that, but, unfortunately, most likely they don't -- so those of us who genuinely care that we've made a difference in a peer's outlook, approach and/or success in a course seems almost all for naught, because there are people like you who are looking for: "how can I make this payoff for me."</p>
<p>Sheesh!</p>
<p>Of course it's not for naught to us...the satisfaction comes in "helping" without expectation of any other reward.</p>
<p>Do you help people because you're looking for something out of it besides the self-satisfaction? Only you can answer this by this point in your life (I hope).</p>
<p>Hey bro, take it easy. Maybe if you had actually read my last post you would have realized I have no interest in putting it on my apps unless it could be considered something legitimate. That's why I came here to ask instead of just throwing on there; I'm not trying to make myself sound better for the sake of getting in to college, but if it's something that I could have legitimately put down as something I've done, it would have been silly not to. If I was one of those people looking for ways it could pay off I would have signed up for official tutoring, but I didn't because I just enjoy helping people out, even if it's "unofficial". My friend merely suggested that perhaps I could include this on my apps, and I just investigated it further to see if this would be acceptable or not. Try not to judge people based on a post on the Internet.</p>
<p>Sorry Mercinator...
It just is so disappointing to see how many folks keep looking to "game" admissions around here, and everywhere else it seems, so, I finally blew off some steam about that. Sorry I misplaced it.</p>
<p>It's all right, I do understand exactly where you are coming from. It's very frustrating. I am one of those rare people out there I think that is a good student in school, good grades, test scores, etc., but does not do very many ECs or clubs, like many of those "overachiever" types tend to do. The reason I don't is because I only do things I truly enjoy; I'm not looking to impress anyone. If I need to show a side of me that doesn't exist for colleges to accept me, then I probably don't want to go there in the first place. So many clubs and organizations out there seem designed soley to strengthen one's college app. But that just seems so lame to me. So many people I know are in every club they can come up with at school. They do things like run for president of a club that doesn't really do anything significant just so they can say they have a leadership position (that really was a reason for one of my friends, the club met like twice a year to collect dues). I think many people lose sight of what really matters because all they can think about is what they need to do to get into Harvard. Of course I suppose there are some people out there that really do like to have a billion clubs and be president of every one and volunteer a thousand hours at the hospital...but I'm guessing most people that do this are not doing it just because they truly want to; there's always that thought in the back of their head that says "Harvard, here I come!".</p>
<p>At any rate, I appreciate the appology. Everybody gets frustrated sometimes, including me. No hard feelings.</p>