<p>S2 has put in many service and volunteer hours over the course of a number of years. Is it necessary to document this somehow -- like with letters from the organizations? Otherwise what is to stop some people from putting down false ECs and hours donated on their applications?</p>
<p>It is a good idea to keep track for applications, but I do not think any type of proof is necessary. That is also the reason I hope schools don’t put too much emphasis on volunteer hours! Most kids are honest.</p>
<p>The UCs will do some random check. D1 had to drop some hours because she can’t find the info for verification.</p>
<p>D’s school makes them turn in forms verifying all of their service hours. It’s a graduation requirement.</p>
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<p>My kids’ high schools verified their requirements for graduation, but I think the OP’s question was refering to college applications.</p>
<p>D’s school makes them turn in forms verifying all of their service hours. It’s a graduation requirement.</p>
<p>This.
Both D’s also used recommendations from their volunteer supervisor on their applications.</p>
<p>Some private scholarship applications many require it. In our community, most local scholarships require at least a phone number of a contact person who can attest to the service hours. Our high school’s NHS application requires a signature from an adult who can verify your service in each activity.</p>
<p>We kept a spreadsheet starting with the summer before freshman year with hours served, project type and name, phone and e-mail for the adults in charge.</p>
<p>Some private scholarship applications many require it.</p>
<p>I had forgotten about that. Yes, they do & each D even qualified for a scholarship based on community service hours.</p>
<p>The organization they volunteered for required documentation of hours to continue ( they would qualify for funding that way I think), so I didn’t have to nag them about it.</p>
<p>I had just such a spreadsheet. Then our computer got a virus and dh forgot to copy my files when he did whatever it is one does to wipe everything off and start over… I just discovered it is missing last night and will somehow have to try to reconstruct it. Be sure to print a copy every now and then.</p>
<p>I had to document hours when I turned them in for my NHS requirement. It was nothing major. Just a description of work done, the time, and contact information in case the club sponsors want to verify. I don’t know if they ever do verify the stuff, but the information is there.</p>
<p>When I applied for the honors program in college, I gave them approximated hours and they did not require documentation. I would guess that they do not weigh them extremely heavily, so they are fine with just the basics.</p>
<p>Some applications ask for average # of hours per week or per month spent on each EC, volunteer activity and work.</p>
<p>Nothing to stop kids from putting down false info, but they sign their application and verify all is true. If they get caught significantly embellishing their application…admission can be revoked.</p>
<p>"D’s school makes them turn in forms verifying all of their service hours. It’s a graduation requirement. "</p>
<p>Same with our kids’ schools. But DS does a lot of volunteer work that he does not turn into the H.S. for community service credit. He volunteers at our church and our local library. That doesn’t count toward his h.s. community service requirement. He is keeping track and will report it to colleges, but I doubt it makes any difference to the Adcomm.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary, but it certainly helps a lot, just in terms of your kid keeping track of it so when it comes time for college applications they don’t have to “guesstimate”. Takes some of the stress out of it, and keeps things from being forgotten down the road. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, as has been proved by some people who fraudulently gained admission to college, it is possible to just make up participation in ECs or volunteer hours. Kids can put down whatever they want, and even in cases where kids are being honest about their participation in X activity, the number of hours they put on the application are probably just an estimate. But when you sign the application, you’re stating that the information it contains is true to the best of your knowledge. Not only could your admissions be revoked if you’re caught lying, but technically it’s fraud. I doubt any college would prosecute, but I think the fear that you could get to your junior or senior year and be found out and have all of your time and money wasted keeps many people from cheating.</p>
<p>At DD’s high school, there was a girl who went out for cross country. However, it was during Ramadan (forgive me if I spelled it wrong), so she was fasting. So she couldn’t (wouldn’t, didn’t) practice, and she did not compete. Yet, she was allowed to list cross country as an EC. </p>
<p>So I am a bit jaded on the whole EC/volunteer thing. I know that lots of great kids are doing lots of great things, but I also am often a bit suspect…</p>
<p>See if your school is a partner with the Presidential Volunteer Service award. 100+ hours per year earns an award, and it’s documented. [The</a> President’s Volunteer Service Award](<a href=“http://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/]The”>http://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/)</p>