<p>I, like many high schoolers and soon-to-be-seniors, have been working at my job and honors classes at school for the past 3 years to be too concerned with volunteer work. But according to my mom, I need it. Just how necessary is volunteer work to an application? An application to UC Berkeley, perhaps?</p>
<p>Also, I've held a steady part-time job for over two years working for my school district (Auditorium Technician). Will this sway colleges in showing "dedication" in sticking with a job for 2 years (soon to be 2 1/2)? I've also got a solid list of EC's (there's 4, but I'm on council/president of 3), so will that help too?</p>
<p>So, again, how necessary is it for me to get my butt in gear, or should I continue as is?</p>
<p>I would do some, it can make a difference if you are on the edge. </p>
<p>It really varies from school to school as different schools are looking for different things, but if you find some cause that you really like that you could volunteer for a bit, it would really help. If there is no such cause, then i wouldnt worry about it and I would just focus on other things. </p>
<p>As a point of reference, my yale interviewer basically told me that I would have probably gotten in if I had more volunteering hours, at the same time the issue didn’t effect cornell at all. </p>
<p>Overall though, its not somethign to freak out about.</p>
<p>Having some volunteer service always helps, although I wouldn’t say it’s absolutely necessary. Your jobs probably won’t counterbalance a lack of volunteering experience, so you should try to fit in some volunteer hours. </p>
<p>Although I don’t have any experience with UC Berkeley, I do have experience with similar-parred schools (College of William and Mary, UVA) and I don’t know anyone who has gotten in with 0 volunteer hours. Likewise, there are those who have done a ton and have been rejected. But again, just to be safe, try out some volunteer service, say, 25 hours?</p>
<p>If you can find a way to volunteer that fits with your interests, perfect.
On the other hand, its better to see you dedicated to your job versus half-heartedly serving food at a soup kitchen if you don’t even like to cook. </p>
<p>I would really take a look into what sort of atmosphere and what kind of applicants your list of schools are looking for. Harvard’s applicants are very into public service and continue similar service throughout their college years, for example.</p>
<p>Voluntarism is just one part of an overall picture of an involved and ambitious candidate. Having it or not having it is, IMHO, the same as having Varsity sports or not having varsity sports.</p>
<p>The pure fact is 1) some school districts REQUIRE volunteer hours to graduate (thus, how can this be an advantage for anyone) and 2) MANY people, like the OP, have busy lives because of needed employment or caretaking of siblings or older relatives (so how can any admissions officer worth his/her salt penalize a person w/o voluntarism?).</p>
<p>There is no inherent “boost” to volunteer hours. </p>
<p>On the other hand, if it’s possible for you to perform community service,the benefit to you as a person and the community at large is immeasurable – immediately and for the future. By all means, partake in it – but not because you’re worried its absence will handicap you in college admissions. If life doesn’t allow for it (versus just being selfish or lazy), then don’t sweat it. Look for the first opportunity possible.</p>
<p>It is the same for any other activites - whether your level of involvement is high or not. If you are “just a club member” at UNICEF, for example, that won’t help you much. But neither would being a club member of a cooking club for 4 years.</p>
<p>I know a kid who did no service, but was a captain of the track team. And he was accepted to Yale, Princeton etc.</p>
<p>There’s nothing that’s ESSENTIAL in terms of extracurriculars. I know plenty of people who didn’t volunteer and still got into really nice schools. It really depends on whether you want to do it. The important thing is to find something that you enjoy doing and show dedication to that activity.</p>