Volunteering vs. Job?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>I go to a specialized high school in New York and am planning on applying to the upper tier colleges.</p>

<p>Sorry if this sounds stupid, but I just had a question about volunteering and jobs.</p>

<p>I come from a very low income background and therefore work a part time job on the weekends at a local restaurant and also all of the summers.</p>

<p>I do have some volunteering experience, but understandably, not as much as someone who doesn't work a job.</p>

<p>My question is this, I know colleges are looking for people who have had a lot of time volunteering and that's a big part of the application, so does me having a job instead of volunteering put me at a serious disadvantage?</p>

2

<p>Most people have jobs and volunteer. There's no reason why you should be volunteering instead of having a steady job that helps you financially. Just because you have a job, doesn't mean you can't volunteer though. Just find time after school and volunteer for 5 hours every week. The hours add up after a while. But you definately shouldn't be quitting your job just to volunteer.</p>

3

<p>i actually asked my counselor the same thing. He said, colleges see it as the same thing in a way.. though of course there may be differing nuances</p>