<p>If I babysat my sister's children for free while she was working does that count as community service when applying to college? It really took away from my studying and school work quality, I can never get anything done because I'm always stuck watching kids, will college accept that?</p>
<p>Maybe, if you spun it the right way. Although they might see 3000 and be like “yea right…”</p>
<p>usage of the term “Community Service”, especially when measured by an even figure number of hours almost sounds like you pleaded guilty to something!</p>
<p>Put in additional info/special circumstances</p>
<p>Also, as I’m sure colleges know, you can do HW easily while watching kids… Not the same as other volunteer work</p>
<p>Put in additional info/special circumstances</p>
<p>Also, as I’m sure colleges know, you can do HW easily while watching kids… Not the same as other volunteer work</p>
<p>Only if you can define your sister and your nieces and nephews as “the community.”</p>
<p>That’s a service to your sister.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if I recall correctly, the Common Application does mention “child care” among possible activities outside school that a person could list. And if you are spending several hours a week looking after small children, colleges will respect that, and they’ll understand why you’re not frittering away after-school hours in pointless National Honor Society meetings.</p>
<p>Related question: has anyone ever put babysitting down on an application? It does take a lot away from you in terms of hours but it doesn’t sound very legit does it?</p>
<p>Props to you for sitting for free!</p>
<p>“you can do HW easily while watching kids”</p>
<p>Not when it’s a paid work experience… for some it’s the same as a retail job (I do both and babysitting is harder). Problem is you can’t prove how the experience was for you. I feel like no one takes teen babysitting very seriously but it’s a valid EC at least…</p>
<p>Good point. I’m never hiring chlogan to babysit.</p>
<p>I believe there’s an option for “family responsibilities” or something along those lines you could define it as.</p>
<p>That is definitely NOT a community service or volunteering.</p>
<p>Oh yeah that does sound bad 
I babysit mostly at night so I guess that’s different…</p>
<p>I think it’s agreed that you can put that on your app.</p>