<p>I've done a whole lot of volunteering (100 hrs this past school year). But I don't have any work experience. Is this a problem? How important is work experience ? Will volunteering experience make up for it? If I should get some work experience, any suggestions where I should work?</p>
<p>yeah if u cant get a summer job which is what i'm trying feverishly to do, u should definitely volunteer, i dont kno if it is completely necessary to have work experience, but it is a plus. colleges just want to see u being active in your time off from skool</p>
<p>Having work experience isn't a must for applications, but I think it's a must for life. If you haven't worked for your own money by the time you enter college and then your parents pay for everything throughout college, you're going to have no financial know-how when you enter the workforce.</p>
<p>I think people on this board need to end the mindset, "What do I need to do to make my app better?" and think more "What can I do to put myself in the best position ten years down the road?"</p>
<p>bad1017, i'm sorry, on behalf of everyone at collegeconfidential, for our narrow mindset. But frankly, i'm going to be a high school senior next year and the biggest thing in my life right now is applying for college, so for now, that's all i have room to worry about</p>
<p>Please don't assume "volunteering" is not work</p>
<p>My d volunteered in a city office last year, for a radio station, and my other volunteers for a magazine</p>
<p>Its work- you have to show up on time, do the hours, etc</p>
<p>I am pretty proud of the volunteering my kids do- they learned the value of life and such, not just $$</p>
<p>I know some "jobs" that are mindless- ie AandF employes who stand around with no shirts, while some "volunteer work" is actual work- filing, phones, organziing, customer service</p>
<p>this belittling of volunteering is annoying</p>
<p>when my D goes the the senior home and does all kinds of work- art, cleaning cuboards, organziing bingo, she is getting more experience than the person who does just one thing over and over</p>
<p>So, don't think that consistent volunteering is any less valuable than a paying job</p>
<p>thnx citygirlsmom i was kind of thinking along the same lines</p>