How important are Volunteer Hours?

[Determined123]

<p>Okay, I know volunteer hours are important in the college admissions processs (it'd be dumb to assume not), but just how important? I'll be a senior soon, & I have several hours under my belt. I am of course volunteering a lot this summer since I've already signed up to do community service at a 6-wk musical camp I also volunteered at last summer, in addition to other stuff.</p>

<p>Anyways, i have really good grades & ecs, but I'm lacking in hours. I'll be applying to USC, Cal, Duke, & UCLA. I know some schools highly favor hours, while other not so much. But from ppl already admitted to these 4 schools I've just mentioned, what is a good amount of hours I can work towards? And how important hours is too them?</p>

[michaelb1525]

<p>It’s good that you have good grades, but consider investing your time in extracurriculars that you’re really interested in & will give you leadership positions. Also consider that colleges will look at your extracurriculars and see if you have exhibited a demonstrated interest in your major. For example, if you want to go on the pre med route and plan to major in biology, then you should think about working as a hospital volunteer.</p>

[Determined123]

<p>Well I guess my ecs are okay. I’m only lacking hours. Here’s my ecs:</p>

<p>-2011 CA Girls State Delegate
-played basketball for 4yrs (captain last year & this year)
-treasurer of Christian club(member for 4yrs, ran for VP & lost:p)
-treasurer of Youth Group @ church
-went to state in nat’l history day competition 2010
-I play the piano</p>

<p>I guess my leadership is okay, but I’m lacking hrs! Does anyone know if babysitting & yard cleaning at my church count as hours? I mean it IS nonprofit</p>

[mikemac]

<p>

I know volunteer hours are important in the college admissions process

How do you know that? I’m sure all your friends are convinced that colleges select students that have shown how altruistic they are, but the funny thing is that when you look at what the colleges themselves say about ECs you won’t find that. Here’s what Stanford, for example, says about ECs in its app

Remember there are no right answers. No club or activity is more important than another, and no essay topic will ensure your admission. Be yourself, and complete this form carefully and honestly, as we expect you to complete your entire application.</p>

<p>We are more interested in the depth of your commitment and achievement than in the sheer quantity of your activities. An exceptional experience in one or two activities demonstrates your dedication more than minimal participation in five or six clubs. We want to see the impact your participation has had on that club or organization, in your school, or in the larger community.</p>

<p>Merely being involved in many clubs is not what is most important; your depth of commitment in whatever you do interests us the most.

The question about impressive ECs comes up regularly on the forum. There is a thread with comments by Northstarmom, a Ivy alum interviewer, about what constitutes impressive ECs from the point of view of the most selective colleges in the HYPS category. Again, no mention of volunteer hours per se. You might want to take a look, even though the colleges you mention are not as selective as those. The post is at <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-what-s-good.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-what-s-good.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>2 very interesting articles about ECs that stand out and how to get them (same author, different examples) are at [How</a> to Be Impressive](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/05/28/the-art-of-activity-innovation-how-to-be-impressive-without-an-impressive-amount-of-work/]How”>The Art of Activity Innovation: How to Be Impressive Without an Impressive Amount of Work - Cal Newport) and [Save</a> This Grind?](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/09/12/case-study-how-could-we-save-this-ridiculously-overloaded-grind/]Save”>Case Study: How Could We Save This Ridiculously Overloaded Grind? - Cal Newport) While I don’t agree with everything in them, take a look at these 2 articles and I think you’ll get some original ideas.</p>

[collegestandard]

<p>Volunteering isn’t all that important when you have other extracurricular activities.</p>

[kameronsmith]

<p>A lot of people, including you, seem to have some mistaken idea about how volunteering works with college apps.</p>

<p>Community service is just like any other EC. You don’t even necessarily need community service ECs to apply.</p>

<p>There is no box on the application where you write your “volunteer hours.” Even if you have some community service, you list the specific activity (ex. tutoring) and the hours/week + weeks/year.</p>

[iStabBunnies]

<p>Hm. 2 girls from this yrs graduating class went to Duke. Both were members of NHS & Beta Club. Idk that they did very many hours outside of those. Beta requires 36 “points” (1 pt for every 2 hrs…so really 72 hrs of legit work) and NHS requires 40 I believe. On top of pretty heavy coureloads, I doubt it. So, like other people say, do what you can, and show them the things you’re really interested in.</p>

[Determined123]

<p>Thanx guys! That makes me feel so much better knowing an enormous amount of hours is not essential. See I’ve chanced some people on here, and it’s so intimidating when some kids have 200+ or even 400+ hours!! Like where do they find the time?!?</p>

<p>Anyways, I’m very involved with basketball and my church(hence Christian club @ school). So would it be a good idea to volunteer at my church doing small things that might hopefully add up? And for basketball, I get hours for helping out the jv team, like tips, ect during their practice. I was hoping this way adcoms could see my dedication to basketball and church, as opposed to just a bunch of random hours at like a clinic, tutoring, cleanups, food drives, and etc(not that any of them are bad!).</p>

<p>Is that a good idea? Because I’ve read a lot on here that adcoms like to see dedication and committment, not just a gianormous list of random ecs.</p>

[kameronsmith]

<p>

I was hoping this way adcoms could see my dedication to basketball and church, as opposed to just a bunch of random hours at like a clinic, tutoring, cleanups, food drives, and etc(not that any of them are bad!).

Yes, that is is a Good Idea. A few dedicated activities are always better than a long list of superficial ones.</p>

[M_s_Mom]

<p>No, you don’t need to volunteer to do small things at your church so you can pack hours. As an interviewer with an HYPMS, I can assure you that no one cares how many hours you put into volunteer work or if you did any at all. I’m interested in what you’ve accomplished with the ECs that you have participated in.</p>