<p>On college apps (UCs in particular; my top choice is Berkeley and in case in matters, my intended major is Computer Science), how important is volunteer/community service? I have close to nothing to put for it - total hours is probably 7 or 8 (helping at elementary school math club).
Will this ruin my application even if the rest of my stuff (gpa, sat etc, other ecs, etc.) is all good?</p>
<p>Community service is huge, it shows that you put in the effort to do something that you didnt care for, in order to put it in your college application! In other words, it shows you have a life!</p>
<p>I’m no college admissions expert but I think it’s just another EC. I can’t do very much volunteering because I have no way to get to the places that I would volunteer at. And I think for your major it’d be better to have Computer Science related ECs since that major is pretty competitive I hear.</p>
<p>As long as you are committed to the ECs you do have, don’t worry about it. If you are a senior, your app is what it is by now anyway. If you are a junior, put more into it over the next year if it makes you feel better. But I honestly don’t think it is considered any differently than other ECs.</p>
<p>Ah ok. I’m a senior so there’s not much left I can do, but I’ve been fairly committed to my other ECs.
I was just worried that Community Service was treated differently from ECs and not having it would be as bad as having no ECs, but…
the UC app has one section for ECs and another section for community service. This makes them seem like distinct things, which worries me. (of course there’s nothing I can do at this point anymore other than hope).</p>
<p>I don’t think a lot of colleges put huge weight on community service - some high schools require a set # hours which doesn’t make it feel that you’re doing service simply to help others. Or if someone was sentenced for a crime and had to do community service.</p>