Volunteering

<p>I know ECs don't matter if at all for law school, but does a lot of volunteering count for anything?</p>

<p>no, I don't think so</p>

<p>I don't agree that ECs don't matter at all for law school. They do matter a little bit--just a whole lot less than they do for undergrad admissions to selective colleges. And, there's no "magic" list of ECs which will help you get into law school. I do think though that you HURT your chances if you do NOTHING EC-wise; the higher up the totem pole among law schools, the truer that is. </p>

<p>Volunteering helps a little. If you do a lot of it, yes, it's a little help. But it isn't going to get you into a school without the numbers.</p>

<p>My own educated guess is that when it comes to the top 14 law schools, as a GENERAL rule, 80% of admissions decisions are about your numbers. 10% is about factors you have little control over--URM status, geography (diversity at some schools, state residence at others), legacy status, overcoming true adversity, first generation college, development cases, celebrity. The other 10% is about the soft factors within your control--your recs, your personal statement, your ECs, work experience, etc. </p>

<p>Obviously, when you are close to the margin, any factor might just be the one that pushes you over to the admit pile. Just don't lose sight of the fact that without the numbers, nothing else really matters.</p>

<p>should I volunteer for the summer @ the library?</p>

<p>I didn't say that ECs does not matter, I said volunteering does not matter. Internships do, some clubs may be volunteertism not so sure</p>

<p>It's ridiculous to say, as you do in post #2, that volunteering does not count for anything. That's clearly false.</p>

<p>It seems a lot of people here have problem with critical reading- the OP said does a lot of volunteering count for anything- and I said no (short answers don't tell all of ones opinions) because once you've done a certain amount it is enough. You can do a lot or you can do very little- if you don't have any fine but if you have some it could help you, but the quantity does not matter; just the quality.</p>

<p>Volunteering at the summer at a library is good if that is what you do part- time but it would be better to get an internship or a real job during that time while volunteering.</p>

<p>I'm doing a summer program in addition</p>

<p>Then you are Ok. Volunteer at the library. That is what I usually do during the summer- get an internship and maybe do some habitat for humanity or red cross</p>

<p>Hey glucose101, I see you are a science major (from other posts) like I am. What are you studying?. I am a biochem major. I just came out of orgo lab and it was like five hours long refluxing stuff. my life</p>

<p>I'm actually thinking about switching to socio/anthropology</p>

<p>our exams are impossible</p>

<p>Jonri's response is spot on.</p>

<p>It all depends on where you volunteer and what you do.</p>