The importance of Volunteering, and Cross-Cultural Solutions

Student Lounge College Life
1

<p>I'm not sure which board to post this one, but here goes...</p>

<p>One of the biggest regrets while I was in highschool was getting a 1.9 GPA, not taking advantage of my education and not helping out the community. Pretty much everything highschool could have been for someone who actually wanted to go somewhere. Now that I'm entering college, I want another shot at all this, not for myself but for the global community as someday I want to be an ambassador, whether for the UN or for the Department of State, and also one who didn't shake hands with President Bush's balls. I know where I want to be and how to get there, and I know that only the brightest and most dedicated(IE volunteer work/internships/experience) overcome competition and get where they want to be.</p>

<p>So my first question for those who've already graduated college or are well into their college/professional careers, how big is the importance of volunteering to academics if you wanted to go to say Georgetown, NYU or some top shot graduate school or get an internship at the UN? Would it be safe to say that if you're getting a 3.5 GPA(which I understand is much harder in college and the average GPA for the successful is a 3.5), your volunteer work should be more worthy than your GPA?</p>

<p>My second question is about Cross-Cultural Solutions. From what I've learned, volunteering for an organization related to your major will really help you in making connections and contacts as well as look good on your resume when looking for a job. For me wanting to become a diplomat someday, Cross-Cultural Solutions(<a href="http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org/&lt;/a> <em>cough cough</em>) seems to be the best international volunteer service out there, and the fact that I can volunteer in China anytime during college is a big plus since the United Nation's volunteer service requires a university degree. Has anyone gone through the experience of volunteering for this organization, or any similar organizations promoting an international cause? If so, how was it?</p>

2

<p>I actually really want to do Cross-Cultural Solutions as well. Their programs sound really amazing and I like that it's not a HUGE time committment (3-12 weeks) so that you can go over a summer or a christmas break or something.
Sorry, that didn't help you any, but I agree that CCS is a really good organization to volunteer with.</p>

3

<p>... I like how you have to pay them thousands in order to work for them for free.</p>

<p>I'd be interested in teaching English abroad, but not if I have to pay for it.</p>