<p>Jason, please do not believe everything you read in those College admission books.</p>
<p>Intel is a research based program. It is more of a research program than your typical EC.
In most cases, it is limited to the highest achieving and most academic focused student in the school system.</p>
<p>Volunteering at the Boy’s and Girl’s Club (which isn’t in every town across America) isn’t any more meaningful than volunteering at your local public after-school program, nursing home, youth soccer or baseball or whatever sport club, or anywhere else. </p>
<p>If you’re into computers or engineering, check out your high school’s Robotic’s Club (if they have one). If you’re into film, check out the Video Production Club. If you’re into Journalism, check out the Newspaper Club. If you’re into Art, check out the after school Art Studio Club. One club is not any more meaningful than another. The whole idea of EC’s is to explore your passions and have fun. It’s better to have a few that you consistently participate in over the years rather than many that you quit after a month or two. It’s all about showing commitment and interest. In addition, if you do stay with the same club or two, there’s a very good chance that you will end up in a Leadership position within that club at a later time.</p>
<p>Community Service is different. In our local public high schools, completing a certain number of community service hours is mandatory in order to graduate. Again, find something that interests you. You don’t have to take a service trip somewhere to the other side of the world to give back to society. You could volunteer at your local Senior Citizen’s Center, Day Care Center, local Clean-Ups, Food Pantry, Animal Shelter, etc. You could help raise money for a specific cause. There are many local opportunities for community service projects. One is not more impressive than another. </p>
<p>Focus on your grades, your rigor of classes, preparing for the SAT/ACT, participating in a couple of enjoyable EC’s ( a sport, a club, band, chorus, whatever…), and enjoy your high school experience.</p>