<p>Most people here have many hours of comm service and a reasonable work experience.
but what if you've never had a job? the only money I have ever earned was merit "scholarship" from school ($15 a month :D)... does it hamper my chances for competitive schools like Duke or Tufts? Employment oportunities in Bulgaria are pretty limited(unemployment is 12%!), though not impossible to find. Besides, community service and jobs are really not a popular thing among youths. It's just a cultural difference, education here is very academically centered.
will adcoms know or should I explain all that in an essay ? would my app convey a screaming message that I'm a lazy slob?</p>
<p>if you've done otjer thing passioantely, don worry about no job.</p>
<p>Never concentrate on your weaknesses. Instead, focus on what you have accomplished. Do not make excuses.</p>
<p>i had no employment either :( and that section of my app was total blank!!! and i was rejected from all schools.</p>
<p>however, i am not saying that's not what got me rejected, it's a combination of things, my essays were too mediocre and too dull!, my scores were unbalanced, my recs were not spectacular(counselor wouldn't rank me, i was 4/340) and also i needed fin. aid</p>
<p>Although I currently have a job, I didn't have one at the time I was filling out my applications. However, I did have quite a few extracurriculars that I was extremely involved in (volleyball, helping out with kids' volleyball camp...volunteer work with a therapeutic riding program...class board, etc).</p>
<p>Like banedon said, as long as you were involved in other things I really wouldn't worry. The main purpose of the job portion of applications is to gauge your responsiblity and your time management. If you're involved in extracurriculars, it should provide the same sort of information. :)</p>
<p>so devotion to ecs can compensate lack of job? that's great to hear...
btw, is community service mandatory at US highschools? I notice most ccers have at least a 100hrs or so at hospitals, nursing homes etc.</p>
<p>Community service isn't required, but most 'groups' involve some form of it. For example, if you're part of NHS (National Honor Society), you have to complete a designated number of hours of volunteer work per month.</p>