<p>are volunteer hours?
i got barely none (10 hrs at nursing home) and im going for pretty good schools
probably ivies or near-ivies
i think ill have alot of work experience though
proabably like 2 to 3 years at this grocery store
can my work experience substitute for the lack of volunteer hours?</p>
<p>What you're doing is probably fine. It seems like colleges care a lot more that you actually do something rather than waste your high school life. I don't think they care so much about what you do than that you get something out of what you do and make some sort of contribution.</p>
<p>They look good, but are nothing compared to SAT scores, GPA, rigor of you classes. They only matter at the bigger school(1st tier and possibly 2nd tier.) and even then, it is not that huge. Working looks good, and it will distract the adcoms from lack of community service. However, I think you should have 50-100 hours before applying, just to show wel-roundedness.</p>
<p>Yeah, I would go ahead and start working on your hours. They're obviously not the most important thing on the app, but when you're applying to Ivy or near-Ivy schools, you have to keep in mind that everybody else also has great academic stats. Your ECs, work experience, and volunteering has to set you apart.
edit - and essays of course :]</p>
<p>I interview for Harvard. Working is actually a very impressive EC. One doesn't need community service to get into any college including Ivies. What the top colleges look for is some kind of impressive activity (which could be working a job -- any job, though jobs that involve hard work particularly are impressive. It's especially impressive if one has to work to help make ends meet. ) that reflects maturity, leadership, talent, commitment, and/or service.</p>
<p>In the old days when people your parents age were applying to college, top colleges looked for well rounded applicants. Now, top colleges tend to look for applicants that will create a well rounded campus, which could mean applicants who are well lopsided (very focused on one or two types of activities) or the rare applicants who truly are well rounded -- exceptionally good at, involved in at a high level, and interested in lots of things.</p>
<p>it's always good to have extracurricular stuff and lots of volunteer hours to show to college recruiters. it shows them that you just don't try and get the good grades and honors classes but get involved in high school also....try to get as much community service as you can.</p>
<p>While I don't know if the work experience will substitute for your low volunteer hours, the fact that you can show that while you haven't been volunteering, you HAVE been making effective use of your time ie "2-3 years of work experience" is probably going to help you. Colleges like people who are getting involved and doing something period than nothing at all.</p>