<p>How good does this look on a college application? Does it matter how long you volunteer? Isn't it possible to turn the experience into a great, non-cliched essay? I am Indian and want to volunteer in India where I have never been before, so there is cultural significance, and also the volunteering importance because I am quite dedicated to volunteering here at home. What do you guys think?</p>
<p>The question is “What do YOU think?” Don’t do it wondering how it’ll strengthen your “look”. Do it if you value the experience.</p>
<p>In terms of college admissions, your voluntarism is as worthy as the next guy’s summer job at Burger King. Both are worthwhile uses of one’s time.</p>
<p>You just happen to be fortunate enough to live with parents who can afford to send you back to India. How about the kid who needs to support his family with meagre earnings? Consider yourself fortunate that you have the choices you do.</p>
<p>Best of luck in your decision.</p>
<p>Well, I think it’ll be a great experience and I am really looking forward to going to my home country. I raised money for the trip all by myself by the way, my parents aren’t helping me at all. I think volunteering is worth more than a summer job at BK because anyone can do that, while not everyone volunteers or gives back to the community.</p>
<p>agreed about it being more valuable than a job. i also think it could serve as a unique essay topic, because of what u said about never having visited your homeland before. sounds very cool (:</p>
<p>thanks TheyCallMeCC. Any naysayers to volunteering overseas.</p>
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<p>I doubt there will be, as you’re volunteering, going somewhere you’ve never been before, personal growth, etc. Obviously something like this won’t be counted against you. If you want to do it, DO IT. And if it becomes something you feel you really want to write an essay about, even better. Don’t worry about anything else.</p>
<p>And about the BK Job vs Volunteering: both are equal in my opinion. You’re doing something productive in either case, and anybody can volunteer just as easily as one can get a fast food job (if not more easily).</p>
<p>I once read an article explaining how the money that you spend traveling to a distant country and doing work there could be better spent paying a local company in said country to do the same job better and more efficiently.</p>
<p>Not to knock overseas volunteering, but make sure you have some legitimate, non-self serving reason for doing it, for the sake of your admissions chances and for your own.</p>
<p>sophiar: congrats on the willingness to raise your own money to travel. You should have a great time. My point about working at a burger joint is that many of your peers will NEVER have the option to “raise money to travel overseas”. For many, money is short and is needed to help with household necessities.</p>
<p>The 17 yr old who gives her single mom $50/week and then comes home to babysit the younger kid while mom goes off to her second job — well, you get the picture.</p>
<p>Sure, almost anyone can get a summer job. But lots of people must get a summer job. A different slant, no?</p>
<p>That’s why I’m saying that savvy admissions officers know that a menial job can be as meaningful for applicants as say, your wonderful trip. Don’t feel guilty about it. Have a blast – but know what else lies out there – indeed, I’m sure even among your HS classmates.</p>
<p>It maybe a good experience for you 
but if you just do it for a summer, it’s sort of show off comparing with someone who volunteering at a local nursing home every weekend for 4years.</p>