<p>Thanks for the post, mollie. That’s reassuring.</p>
<p>Still, I note that there would be a difference, in my opinion, between admissions scouting someone out on Facebook–wrong–vs. remembering, "Oh, hey, isn’t that the guy who posted on the MIT forum . . . " Students know that people connected with MIT admissions can be found on this forum (MITChris, earlier people). In my view, this shifts the ground rules somewhat.</p>
<p>MrWizKid, the problem was with your last sentence: “Do I really need to do community service or would it be superfluous?” This clearly gives the impression that you will do community service only if it’s necessary to get into MIT, given the rest of your profile. Whether it’s “superfluous” really ought to be judged by the people you would (hypothetically) be serving, and not by the MIT admissions office.</p>
<p>I can sympathize with students who are watching their peers rack up community service hours without real commitment to the work that they are doing, and with students who are frustrated by the limits on participation by students under 16 (in our state and probably others) in many of the most interesting and worthwhile community service options. When I encounter a profile on CC where the student lists 250+ hours of community service, and doesn’t mention any actual accomplishment with this time, I am generally not impressed. </p>
<p>So, I understand not wanting to take the options that are readily available. But I think MrWizKid could come up with some ideas that are really quite good, interesting, and maybe even novel if he put his mind to it.</p>
<p>Addendum: You might look into Caltech, MrWizKid. Somewhat different admissions approach.</p>