<p>Those of you who got into a good school, how many hours of community service do you need? Is it true that the average applicant to an Ivy league school has over 800 hours of community service?</p>
<p>Oh and is it really that important?</p>
<p>I am really doubting that 800 hours thing. I am pretty sure what matters more is what you do there & you show you genuinely care about whatever youre doing. Hours are great, but if you're just filling out paperwork at a hospital it won't mean that much no matter how many hours you put in.</p>
<p>Those who have a genuine interest in helping others are the ones that get in. I get the impression that if you are obsessed with counting hours you are doing it to get into college (I know you still have to count them, but to be obsessed w/ the numerical value).</p>
<p>I don't think filling out paperwork at the hospital is completely worthless. If you want to be around a hospital there isn't much you can do. Obviously if there is another opportunity, don't choose paperwork, but you can't do much without an MD degree in a hospital.</p>
<p>I don't think there is anything wrong with doing it to get into college. Not many people would do 800 hours without some motive, but lots of people like to pretend they are more enlightened lol.</p>
<p>I'd say the most important thing is that your community service focuses on a few goals and interests you have. Don't go and help at the homeless shelter, the hospital, the school, and everywhere you can think of. If you want to b e a doctor, volunteer at the hospital, and the homeless shelter can be good for that too.</p>
<p>Paperwork isn't the only option for a youth volunteer at a hospital. One can volunteer in direct patient contact, which I believe is much more meaningful than paperwork or office duties when volunteering at a hospital, since the volunteer would be directly helping others, which is the point of community service.</p>