<p>Just I pattern I noticed.</p>
<p>Yeah, about 20 people I know do that. It's such a common ec... I don't think it's really "impressive," unless it's a significant internship. It really seems like everyone wants to be a doctor.</p>
<p>Why does it seem that way? Because it is that way. Are you feeling left out?</p>
<p>maybe because its fun to volunteer in a hospital</p>
<p>I kind of agree that it's not that "impressive," probably because it's so common. It's a wonderful activity and I'm sure quite rewarding, but I think it's hard to utilize as a unique experience. I never did any consistent community service work (as in three times a week or 10 hours a week or twice a month or whatever) throughout high school, but I did have about 800 hours of random, interesting community service (most of it concentrated in summer trips), and I think that definitely helped me.</p>
<p>Yea, it's not that impressive, however most people do it because they want to, not because it will beef up their applications</p>
<p>how do you get C+S from summer trips?</p>
<p>and too bad i can't work at a hospital. i live in a communist country :)</p>
<p>some do it because they care. many others do it cuz it looks great.</p>
<p>I did research for a summer and it was partly for both reasons.</p>
<p>Volunteering at the hospital is probably the dullest job I've ever had.</p>
<p>Yeah alot of people volunteer at hospitals because they want to help out. But quite of few of those people also want to get work experience in a hospital (i.e. those who are aspiring to be nurses or doctors) and can not only get volunteer hours on their app but also show admissions that they have passion and done work on their prospective major.</p>
<p>I think a LOT of the ECs people list on here are cookie cutter ECs. It seems like everyone is on a random sports team, does research, has raised funds for some random cause, and volunteers at a hospital. Boring!</p>
<p>I don't really think there is such thing as an unimpressive community service project. Whether or not you are volunteering at the local hospital, or the local homeless shelter or what have you, you are still donating your time to the greater good of the community. Yes, most students do similar community service projects because it is what is most readily available to them, but that doesn't devalue their time.</p>
<p>However, obviously if you volunteer somewhere completely spectacular and in the same area that you want to major in and very unique etc it will look amazing on your application. </p>
<p>But I don't think that community service should be done just to look good to colleges, that's defeating some of the point. You are supposed to volunteer and help the community in a way that sparks your interest, not just so colleges will see it as a hook.</p>
<p>I hate hospitals....funny b/c my mom works at one, lol.
But yeah, volunteering at hospitals can mean three things
1) the kid is a humanitarian and likes helping people out
2) the kid is interested in doing medicine or something medice-related
3) the kid is looking for more volunteer hours and it was the most obvious place to volunteer. </p>
<p>I think though my ECs might not be that impressive or anything, they aren't very cookie cutter-ish. At least, I hope not.
For example, I doubt that many people applying to top colleges will have an online business where they sell handmade clothing and accessories they created themselves and donate the proceeds to charity (should be set up by August), and also volunteer at a historical society. Hopefully this is less cookie cutterish</p>
<p>I agree with alamode. My reasons were (1) and sort of (2)-- I thought I might be interested in medicine and wanted to learn more before getting caught up in the pre-med madness. I eventually decided that it wasn't the right career for me, but I continued to volunteer even after that because I liked helping people, as clich</p>