<p>Are they they essentially the same thing? i.e. could I "make up" for not playing on a varsity team or doing summer research by doing a lot of community service [If all goes as planned I'll have about 400 by the end of this year]? Because I'd honestly rather do the community service.</p>
<p>If you like doing community service and you don't like playing a varsity sport or doing research then you should do it. It does make up for EC activities in the sense that you anyway list it under EC on the common app online (if that's what you're using)</p>