how important is volunteering, community service...?

<p>How important is volunteering and community service to colleges? </p>

<p>Would it really hurt my chances of getting into the colleges I want if I haven't done any community service or volunteered in a nursing home, day care, library, etc.?</p>

<p>got a stellar GPA?
got a stellar ACT or SAT score?
incredible writer(34+ on writing or SAT eq.)?
(all these above and the national avs.)
still you can not depend on grades, test scores, and writing abilities!! those who do not do any volunteering are learning that this is a downward slide, since those ^ 3 things are not the most important anymore, it is more of what made you well rounded. besides all the academic crap.</p>

<p>At so many elite schools, community service projects in your intended fields speak mounds on your dedication, commitment, potential, and capabilities. And often time, a great example of community service project, especially a self-initiated one, like mine (as I was told), will make up for "good-but-not-excellent grades" on an application (i.e. 3.7 applicant to a 4.0 school). It will speak mounds!</p>

<p>I actually want to study business undergrad, so I'll be applying to schools like nyu stern, upenn wharton, BU, etc. What sorts of places would you guys recommend for me to volunteer at? I mean, will volunteering at a nursing home or hospital really make such a big difference??? I've been doing scientific research at a hospital for the past two years, so that sort of makes me a volunteer already, right???</p>

<p>On the contrary, good grades and test scores are very important at most good schools, and vital at all the top schools. There are, of course, exceptions made for kids with big hooks - top athletes, kids with other exceptional non-academic talents, kids with really remarkable ECs, and for URMS, and legacies. But for the most part, you're not getting into any of the better schools without the grades and the test scores.</p>

<p>You do not,though, need to volunteer or do community service. What you do need to do is demonstrate a passion for and excellence in a few ECs. What does this mean? Do the things you like, do them extensively (because you want to), and do them well. If you enjoy painting, paint. If you like debate, debate. If you like volunteering, volunteer. And why? Here’s the key: The admissions people are not only asking themselves whether an applicant can cut it academically, but also what non-academic skills and talents the applicant will bring to the campus. </p>

<p>So, to reiterate, you don’t need to do community service if it’s not your thing, but you do need to really get involved in the ECs you enjoy.</p>

<p>ECs are what differentiate you from all the other really smart kids out there.</p>

<p>So umm..is it disasterous to have loads of time dedicated to sports and numerous athletic accolades, but not be a recruited athlete for a specific school?</p>

<p>Not at all. Sports are great ECs. Especially if you excel in the classroom as well as in sports, it demonstrates a level of commitment that you give to everything.</p>

<p>Don't volunteer in a nursing home unless you really, really, want to volunteer in a nursing home. Just find some activity that you WANT to do. It does not have to be community service, although it's always a useful thing to have in your background. It could be theatre, sports, music, debate, a club, student government, Future Business Leaders of America, a job, anything. The thing to avoid is looking like you spend all of your non-school hours alone, or with a private group of friends, hanging out.</p>