<p>I've been hearing a lot of talk about volunteering for college and the phrase "volunteering for college" seems like a paradox to me. Shouldn't one volunteer for the love of one's community and for the well being of society. I'm not exactly the volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter type and I don't want to start merely for the sake of impressing some ivy league institution. I am a HOBY alumni, but I certainly haven't volunteered for 100 hours. I have an interview to volunteer at some ivy league institution's hospital this Friday, but the only volunteer work I've ever done was for Student Council or the National Honors Society. It is expected of me as a Student Council member and it is "required" of me as an NHS member. I'm socially aware and am interested in the progression of society and in the resilience of mankind, but I'm not interested in helping others (unless they ask me to). I fear that I've grown into a cynical, pessimistic human being due to my lack of genuine community service. And the only legitimate reason I would want to volunteer would be to find myself and to warm my unfortunately cold heart. Should I volunteer just to impress some school or should I pursue another equally impressive path? If I should pursue another course of action what should it be?</p>
<p>Should you volunteer just to impress some school? No. At least you recognize why that is a bad idea. Unfortunately, many on here do not. </p>
<p>Should I pursue another equally impressive path? If you feel like it. Again, don’t do something just for a college app.</p>
<p>If I should pursue another course of action what should it be? Whatever you are passionate about. This could be playing sports, joining clubs, writing a novel, making a movie, working, etc.</p>
<p>I think you should do what you love and want to do. If the only reason why you would volunteer is for college, I honestly don’t think you should volunteer. Maybe do something else that is focused on you (a job?, start a business, club, etc?). You don’t have to volunteer to get into college, there are many other ways people spend their time and still end up at HYPSM. If you don’t like it, remember it will show.</p>
<p>You don’t have to volunteer; the main purpose HYP and so on love people who volunteer is that they appreciate leaders who contribute to their community. They want to admit some people who will be able to share their skills with the world, not just to keep their noses in their books all day. They can definitely tell who does it just to get hours. Do what you love and show them your passions. It does not have to be volunteering. But do see if you can use your talents to benefit your community in some way.</p>
<p>bluefoot: I can empathize with your position. I was in a similar state of mind and
was particualrly turned off by the NHS ‘requirements’. </p>
<p>As a HOBY alumini you are probably either in the mind-washed camp or the
POd camp (and trying your best to go with the flow) when you hear about
being enthusiastic I bet ;)</p>
<p>What changed my mind about volunteering was visiting a local homeless shelter. I
was touched by the earnestness of my fellow volunteers from all wakes of life.
Their focus was on getting things done and not on pontificating about leadership
or religious dictums.</p>
<p>This lead me subsequently to volunteer time there even in the summer after I
graduated high school. By engaging in your volunteer activity without
delving on the ‘fruits’ of your activity you might find a better way of handling
the gnawing sense of hypocrisy you may be feeling.</p>
<p>I think volunteering has the potential to cheapen an app, because unless it explains how you spent a great deal of your time, it looks like you’re using it to gain an advantage. Three of my older friends(who now attend Princeton, Wharton, Duke) put ZERO volunteering on their app.</p>
<p>^ What if you have around 400 hours? 250? What is the limit sir?</p>
<p>I’m not nearly wise enough to set a limit. I’m throwing it out there that you don’t NEED any of this sort of stuff to get in to top schools, and also suggesting that scattered/arbitrary volunteering could even be perceived negatively.</p>
<p>Its not about number of hours. Its about service and personal development.</p>
<p>^ Sure.</p>
<p>Anyway, that is what I thought ChoklitRain. All mine was connected to my church somehow, so yeah, I will include it.</p>
<p>How would one show service and personal development in the app besides saying X hours at Y and Z places? (for people who aren’t using the essay to talk about volunteering)</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your input! Next year I’ll be devoting time to my book club, if it ever actually does come into existence, and I think that passion for books and communicating will make me look much better than a halfhearted interest in “helping” others.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE=bluefooted booby]
I fear that I’ve grown into a cynical, pessimistic human being due to my lack of genuine community service.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>^Sounds like a rather compelling reason to try giving some of the time to the community. I understand you think if you did service, it would only be to warm your own heart. If you read Kant, he lends some interesting thoughts regarding ethical (can also be read moral) acts. For Kant, the intent is all that matters. Thus, doing community service to impress others, to get into college, even to make yourself feel good about yourself is ‘immoral’. He also thinks that there may NEVER have been a truly moral act. We live in a practical world, so I suggest reconsidering your passive stance. You hope for the progression of society. Well, there is a lot of work to be done. I’ve seen the same thing that Synth has, that for many great volunteers their:
I suggest you grab some friends and try it out!</p>
<p>
[QUOTE=Demiitasse]
They can definitely tell who does it just to get hours.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I would strongly disagree with this and any others who say small amounts of community service spread across a number of organizations would weaken an application. Say two different students spent a majority of their time working in the family business or on a sports team, but volunteered occasionally with friends. Say they both had a positive mindset regarding the experience, served well, and grew from it. Neither are writing about service in their essay. One feels that mentioning their several service experiences on the application will help them, the other doesn’t. You have two mature applicants, one who mentioned community service (though limited) and other other who didn’t. Counselors can’t possibly determine the intent or attitude regarding service based on such limited data, and they know this. Especially when many high schools or organizations require service, they know they can’t assume people have the wrong intentions.</p>
<p>Community service is a good thing. Colleges look very positively on it. It shows committment and caring about the well being of others. If you do it for a long time and put in many hours, be honest with the number of hours and be proud of it. There are several awards, recognition and and scholarships for community service. You might want to apply for those as well. Then you can mention those in your applications as well. Be proud of your work. If you do it just to “look good” on an application, that may not be the best use of your time.</p>
<p>Well this summer I will volunteer for a minimum of 50 hours at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania so I hope to not only grow as a person, but to make an impact regardless of how minor or irrelevant it may seem to others (cough cough admission officers)…</p>
<p>Be sure to cure cancer, herpes and find the cure for the H1V1 virus while you are there, bluefooted booby 
(jk)
Love your SN, btw…</p>