<p>During the summers of my freshman and sophomore years, there were severe family issues that required I go to India for essentially the whole time. I did not want to do nothing, so I did some activities that I thought would be worthwhile. But in terms of putting on my app, now some of just seems strange and hard to verify.....</p>
<p>I did around 30 hours each summer showcasing Western classical instruments for the community (I play 4 of them, oboe, English horn, flute, piccolo. I play these quite seriously at home as is as well).</p>
<p>This was done consciously to provide cultural service to the community and no one had ever done anything like it before I was told, so I guess it may have even been leadership; but the way I did it was a bit decentralized. I did it at some small school, that just told me to come and play/explain stuff. I don't think anyone even wrote down my name. I recall how many hours I did by memory as there are no actual logs....</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure this qualifies at least as community service, I'm just not sure who could verify it....so would it be worth it to put on?</p>
<p>I definitely think it bears mentioning, especially if music is a primary EC, or even an intended major. It could even make a great essay topic if done right.</p>
<p>I agree with Pat’s Mom – I don’t see this as much as an EC (since you only spent 30 hours during an entire summer), as much as I see it as more of an essay topic that shows something unique that you’re interested in.</p>
<p>If it was an activity that you were truly interested in and not just “resume padding” then it is worth mentioning as an extracurricular. Mentioning it as an extracurricular won’t hurt you, but remember that you are limited to the number of extracurriculars that you can mention (although you can always attach a resume with all ur IMPORTANT extracurriculars). However, it would probably serve better as an essay topic, as everyone else has stated.</p>
<p>Well I was considering this as more community service, not really an extra curricular like sports or anything. I suppose I could craft essay an essay out of this, and I agree with you all that putting it amongst my other activities is not the way to go, since it wasn’t…but, I’m pretty sure this is community service, so is there another section where I could mention it? (also, technically this was 60 hours total, over two summers)</p>
<p>You could mention it on a resume that you attach to the application or under the “volunteering section” of the Common App (i’m pretty sure it has one).</p>
<p>i dunno whether this qualifies as volunteering especially since there is no log of it. it depends on how rice views volunteering. just doing something may not be best. </p>
<p>Yeah, ok, I guess if I do decide to put it on for volunteer service I can call them. I did it in a regimented way, it’s just that no one really thought of writing anything down. If I can’t get in contact with the people in India though, there’s not really anyone that can vouch for me except for my parents, so it may not be the best idea to present it as pure volunteering, just because of the possible verification issues (if they decide to check on it).</p>
<p>I’m not sure of my intended major just yet, probably something science related, and possibly music (theory/composition).</p>
<p>Personally I think this is really unique.
I would either write your common app essay about it, or attach something in the “additional info” section describing what you did.</p>
<p>hmmmmmmmmmmmm - they both are different fields… like you need to know because you need to get into rice as a music major. meaning that you specifically apply to the music school. you can switch to engineering from anything but not to music</p>