How important is it to volunteer?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Do schools look at students who have hundreds of EC's (volunteering, being class officers, ect) and think oh wow this person is amazingly well rounded!</p>

<p>Or do they understand that many of these students who have amazing EC's spend day and night doing school/things that help them get into school?</p>

<p>For example, not to be racist or anything but lots of asians have resumes that include 2200+ SAT's, 100's of hours of community service, normally soccer/cross country varsity players, ect ect. However, when you talk to students with these resumes (any race really) they seem to be a little socially awkward/only focused on school, and, too be honest, they aren't always "capable." I read someone say that students like this are "generic." Do colleges look into a person? I'm not really sure how I can express on paper how capable I am, and I feel like the advantages I have over "generic" students are definitely seen in person; however, on paper not so much...</p>

<p>I guess my question is do typical American students who excell in the classroom (3.9+, 2000+ SAT) but don't really spend too much time getting 4.0's and 2200+ SAT scores still stand a chance at getting into good schools? I mean I guess for me (3.9, 30 ACT, 1970 SAT, I'll retake it and get over 2000 for sure) I'm just a little worried about getting into schools with so many of these types of students applying. Too be honest I've never really tried in school, I put in enough effort to do very good (I'm the smartest person in my class of 70ish at a private school) but I'd rather spend time socializing then spending hours getting a 97% instead of a 93%.</p>

<p>Now don't get me wrong, I do have a few of EC's including Varsity football 3 years, varsity basketball for 1 year, I've been on a couple of mission trips, ect, I got some award for getting in the top 99% of the students who took the PLAN test.</p>

<p>I don't know if I'm really expressing my question very well, maybe I am though and someone can answer it?</p>

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<p>if you don’t volunteer enough your next door neighbor will eat your first born’s esophagus until the cops bust through the door</p>

<p>In all seriousness though you don’t need 2387294439732 hours of community service to be considered a competitive applicant. And OF COURSE a 3.9 2000 SAT student can be more competitive than a 4.0 2200+ student. </p>

<p>In your situation I’d spend some more time getting a SAT score that screams sex, and (don’t think I’m contradicting what I said before) do some kind of volunteer work - enough, but not too much to murder your life - and after that, do your thing.</p>

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<p>Thanks Tenors. I guess that is kind of the answer I was hoping for. I got a 1970 on the SAT without really studying or anything (maybe an hour or two in a Princeton Review book) so I’m hoping to get around a 2100 on it in the fall.</p>

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<p>You got a 1970 on the SAT yet scored in the top 1% of PLAN students?</p>

<p>I think you should focus on retaking the ACT instead</p>