<p>I did community service because I wanted to work for my high school's IT department. With tech support jobs coming throughout the summer to give me some extra cash, the service project allowed me to do something I loved every day while getting some good hours for it, plus some more computer experience. Also, it was a lot more beneficial to me than working at McDonald's or the grocery store would have been.</p>
<p>I got in NHS probably just based on the community service. I took no APs whatsoever in high school, and I was mostly involved in the computer and video areas--my athletics came outside of the school where I could focus less on the competitiveness of high school sports and more on just playing for fun (I was in a rec league for basketball and baseball).</p>
<p>And I don't think NHS made any difference with college apps, unless you count the fact it was obvious I took no AP courses.</p>
<p>If anything the community service made me very popular in the school district among administration and faculty. It's always good to be on good terms with everyone and for good reason. Also, I met my best friend on the job doing service, so that was another benefit of the job. However, I honstly think I'd be in the same position I am now as far as college is concerned if I had just chosen to be lazy those summers or maybe just found a job somewhere else.</p>