<p>I'm a sophomore looking to apply to Ivies, but I haven't done substantial volunteer work and am not working during the school year. I have good grades (99 weighted GPA - taking 2 AP classes this year), but is volunteer work a must to get into these selective schools?</p>
<p>Some form of extracurricular activity is necessary.</p>
<p>Yeah, it seems you need to have other things going on in your life than studying. It doesn't necessarily have to be work or volunteering. If you are dedicated to a sport or an art that consumes your time outside of school, then those can be great evidence of passion and involvement outside of the things you're just being required by teachers to do.</p>
<p>I think they want to see something about who you are based on what you do. What a person does besides being the perfect high school student, that is.</p>
<p>For kids who have to work a job, the job may be something in its own right that speaks to a passion and committment to something. Or it may be just a job because of financial need, which is fine too because it can explain something about why a student might not have time to pursue passions or community service.</p>
<p>Since you're a sophomore now, this is a great time to look around at what you love, and find interesting ways to pursue that love. It doesn't have to be pushing a reading cart around the hospital or tutoring kids or collecting for the food bank -- although if those are things you'd love to do, then follow that up. But if you want to learn antique book restoration or take up springboard diving or write a collection of short stories or volunteer in a clinic vaccinating underserved rural kids... all great. Find something that feels like it expresses something about you, and then commit to doing it (as time permits) in a way that matters.</p>
<p>If I recall Correctly, there was some study or article that came out a few months back that showed that volunteering was tremendously overrated and ineffective at gaining admission. Although I would encourage you to volunteer for more altruistic motives, if you're looking at it from an admissions stand point, just get enough that it's not conspicuously absent (30-50 hours should be fine), easily racked up over just a little bit of time on your spring, summer, and winter breaks over the next few years. (You're a sophomore now. Assuming 1 week of spring break, 10 weeks of summer break, and 2 weeks of winter break, between now and entering your senior year, volunteering once a week for two hours would get you close to 50 hours. Picking up a once-a-week role at your church or other organization on the weekends would be no problem.</p>
<p>thanks. ive founded the school's online newspaper and model un, participated in others clubs, and play soccer for the school currently. i enjoy writing - so would an internship/mentorship at a local newspaper suffice in lieu of volunteer hrs, or are both preferred.</p>