Fake volunteering?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Ive read that many people return to the countries of the parents to basically vacation and volunteer a little on the side as "volunteer work". I personally am Chinese, and I did go back to China last summer to work...but nothing like vacationing or what is suggested here. </p>

<p>I went back to work in China because I felt that now that I had the opportunity to really give back to my home country, that I should try to help in some way. I worked in a rural village...far from Shanghai, where I'm from. This was no cakewalk...I mean I worked with sick orphans who lived in places only our nightmares can relate to. </p>

<p>Im even planning on writing an essay on this experience...will colleges still be skeptical of all this? Attributing this to just some vacation and fake volunteer work?</p>

2

<p>No, colleges usually call in the volunteer work to assure validity.</p>

3

<p>Even if they are skeptical, what can you do about it? </p>

<p>Just put down what you've done as accurately as possible. You can't ever control whether other people believe you or not.</p>

4

<p>yes, most likely some will believe and others won't. hopefully those of us who are honest won't get penalized.</p>

<p>and actually colleges don't usually call to check, but there's always the possibility. in your case =) i hope they do.</p>

<p>ooo and btw ! lol i totally feel for you =) been there, done that (not in the derogatory tone!)</p>

5

<p>You may be doing good work and it is good. But I think adcoms would look on following points....</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Why spend $3k-5k and do volunteer work when one can do the volunteer work at home for much less.</p></li>
<li><p>People who have done volunteer work through out life; it is okay to go outside and travel and volunteer. But if someone just starts doing volunteer work in say 11th or 12th grade- that shows it is for just for the sake of college.</p></li>
<li><p>It is better to do volunteer work in your own communities when one is young and then go abroad for volunteer work.</p></li>
<li><p>Volunteer work is a life long passion; it should not depend on only to fill something on application.</p></li>
</ol>