<p>I am a H.S. junior in NYC who would like to volunteer at a hospital which is affliated with Cornell's medical college, (im not planning on applying to cornell) although I do not plan on majoring in medicine. How would this look on my application? I want to major in philosophy/history/foreign relations (politically) but I don't know anywhere I can volunteer that would aid my application in that sense. Any advice would be appreciated. :)</p>
<p>"who would like to volunteer"</p>
<p>If you really want to do it, do it. Everything you do doesn't have to relate to your major.</p>
<p>Oh okay, thanks. It's just that I thought that colleges prefer that you show dedication to things.</p>
<p>Dedication is good, but so is a broad range of interests. Not many 16/17/18 year olds know for sure what they want to do with the rest of their lives, so it's perfectly okay to participate in activities that aren't narrowly within one field Just make sure that if you're sure you're interested in majoring in foreign relations or something that you're getting involved with some of those activities too!</p>
<p>Well it would be a good idea to think of foreign relations oriented activities. If anyone has any ideas I'm sure it would benefit Ilovesoftball44 (and me :D).</p>
<p>I am in French Club which is the only foreign relation thing in my school. I will most likely be president senior year.</p>
<p>MUN? (ten char)</p>
<p>MUN is not volunteering I think...</p>
<p>if you're volunteering mostly/only because you think it will help your college application, don't bother. You'll hate most of the time you do it, and if it doesn't lead to admission to the schools you're targeting (and I'm not sure how you'd know it's what got you in, anyway) then you'll likely be bitter about the time you "wasted" on it. There is no requirement for volunteer work to get into a top college, it is just one of the venues you can use to stand out from the crowd.</p>
<p>On the other hand if you're thinking about doing it because it appeals to you on its own and you're not sure what a college adcom would make of it since it's not related you to your major, not to worry. What colleges are looking for is an applicant who was able to identify an interest or two and then pursue it; this means awards, leadership positions, things that show you really were engaged & made a difference.</p>
<p>Read what a top school (Stanford) says about ECs at <a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/applying/1_8_faqs.html#extracurricular_activities%5B/url%5D">http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/applying/1_8_faqs.html#extracurricular_activities</a></p>
<p>Thanks mikethemac, I do want to do it because it appeals to me not for the application.</p>
<p>MUN, Amnesty International, Save Darfur stuff, Anti/Pro War Ralleys, etc.</p>
<p>Congressman, County Counselman, Senator and Govenor are slightly harder, PAC (probably easier for me because I'm in DC), RNC/DNC (it's all more local, but all politics is local). </p>
<p>Fight in Iraq/Afghanistan. Best international EC ever. Also give you good essays about how you didn't want to die.</p>
<p>Thanks Venkater :)</p>