Hi, im a freshman in high school and im trying to build up my “resume” for college. I have planned activities for every summer (volunteering at a hospital, helping out in a summer camp, etc). My family informed me that we’re going to cuba to visit my family this summer, and it put a stop to my plans. Theres a clinic near my grandmas house in cuba and it would be really easy for me to work there through some family friends. I would either be shadowing a cardiothoracic surgeon or just helping out in the hospital. I’m hoping i can use that as my summer activity for this year, since the trip impeded my plans at volunteering at a hospital here. Im just wary this won’t seem official enough. I can make a contract or document and have someone over there sign it as proof of my work. Any help is greatly appreciated.
It would make for an interesting essay – especially if you put it in a larger context of your cultural identity as a Cuban American. But in general volunteering abroad is seen as something relatively few privileged kids can do since you are, in fact, paying to volunteer (someone had to pay your airfare to Cuba and living expenses there.) In and of itself if won’t carry significant weight.
It is often seen as poverty tourism which can be a negative. It would be an EC.
I wasn’t planning on using it for my essay. I don’t think i was clear enough in my post. Basically my question is, does this count? This was just a family trip but since it put a stop to my original plans, to volunteer at a hospital here, i was hoping to make up the work over there. I would most likely be shadowing a surgeon and helping out around the hospital. This isnt a volunteering trip. thank you for your quick reply, i really appreciate it
The thing is i was actually just going to volunteer here as usual, but the trip to Cuba affected my plans. Basically i was wondering if i can do the same work i was planning to do here, but in Cuba. Im taking the trip anyway, we’re just visiting some family in cuba. I just want to know if its credible, can i use it on my application as an extra curricular. Thank you for your help
I would think it has the same impact as volunteering here at home.
Alternatively, is your family going for the entire summer? If not then maybe you can volunteer locally for whatever time you are at home.
we’re probably going for a month. Most local volunteering opportunities have time commitments that i wouldn’t be able to fulfill. Im going to keep looking anyway
Of course it counts! It sounds like a great experience!
I think you should do it. But planning out all your summers and activities in general beyond next summer seems nuts. Colleges expect students to explore new interests and figure out what they do and don’t like during their HS years. A carefully “mapped” sequence can appear pretty contrived, and keep you from genuine growth in HS. Colleges want interested, interesting, genuine applicants. Don’t worry so much as a freshman. Be open.
thank you for your help 
Yeah of course. I like planning ahead to make sure ill have an activity for each month. ive had a pretty defined career path from a young age, so i can build my interests around it. Ive always wanted to gain hospital experience and help others, so i think this is a good opportunity for me. Thank you for your help
When you ask “does it count”, the answer depends on what you want to use it for. Some examples of differing situations:
- If your high school has a requirement that you volunteer at least a certain # of total hours in order to graduate, then check with your high school about whether this type of volunteering fills their requirement.
- If you are going to be applying to colleges that have admissions that are mostly metric based (hard cutoffs for grades, test scores, etc.), then some of those probably also would "count" total volunteer hours as something they care about and the type of volunteering you're describing would likely qualify.
- If you are planning to apply to selective colleges with holistic admissions, then you're viewing volunteering in a way that's unlikely to help your application. Volunteer if you want to or don't, but don't do it because you think a college will be impressed. Selective schools aren't looking at a check list and if you have put in at least X hours, you're admitted. They are much more concerned about what you spent the time doing. Was it meaningful, was it interesting, does it fit with what you want to study or how you want to grow, what did you learn, what impact did you make, how did it change you, does it show you're diving into your interests and getting deeply into advanced subjects? Those are the things that matter. Filling in a line that states you spent 100 hours shadowing a surgeon does little to nothing to increase your chances of admission at a selective college. On the other hand, a well written essay on how your experience volunteering in the Cuban healthcare system, explaining how that system differs from the American system and how your experience prompted you to become more interested in _______ would be a great start to getting an AO's attention. If you follow that up with how you then went on to continue to research ______ issue when you returned to the US and have become involved in ______ issue through __________ other activities (publishing article(s), volunteering related to _____ issue, forming organizations, doing more research about this issue) that becomes even more meaningful and helps create a very compelling narrative of not just you as a person but how deeply you have pursued your interests. In other words, volunteer as a way to explore your interests, grow your knowledge, contribute to solve a problem and as a springboard for further action, not just to check off that you spend X hours "volunteering."
A little off topic, but I put “volunteering” in quotes because some people can be very self-serving about what they describe as volunteering. Volunteering should be about service, about giving your time and energy to help others or the community. Shadowing a surgeon doesn’t help others, doesn’t improve the community, doesn’t provide any service - it’s all about you. It’s not volunteering.
yeah i was just wondering if volunteering abroad would count as an EC. this really helps me out with the career i haven mind, since i want to be a physician. i had to simplify it in a way that was easiest for people to understand so they could help, but of course theres more meaning going into it. im volunteering anyway, but i wanted to know if i can list it as an EC. thank you for spending your time writing that out, i appreciate it.
To me this sounds like a great opportunity. I think that you will learn a LOT from the experience.
Yes, you can list it as an EC.