<p>Hey guys,</p>
<p>Just had a simple question. On a college application, does it look better to have a lot of work experience or is it better do have a lot of volunteer hours? I do have both, but I'm just wondering because this summer i got a job at a company called Biometics International, and will have no time for Volunteering. Am i better off doing that , or should i have split my time up between work and volunteering? </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I think it would look better to have more volunteering. However, I would go for the work experience. :] Money.</p>
<p>It really depends on what you like more.</p>
<p>work is better - don't go overboard with volunteering.</p>
<p>I agree that work is better, but both are good. Not every student has the opportunity to volunteer full-time, so there is no way they can weigh volunteer hours more than work.</p>
<p>hey just a question: why shouldnt people go overboard with volunteering?</p>
<p>Depends. If you're majorly volunteering in some great areas and are truly doing something worth, it can be better.</p>
<p>I dunno generally I would prefer work experience...</p>
<p>i don't know what they prefer so just go with what you want. money is nice, but you can do some awesome volunteering while having fun</p>
<p>work>volunteering in many, but not all situations. It takes a lot of effort and perseverance, and maybe even a little bit of skill to hold the same job for 2-3+ years in high school, and you learn so much more about the world through working at a good job than just volunteering at a food pantry. Holding and excelling at a job for a long period of time also teaches you many things that you wont learn in school, and you wont learn in volunteering, and if you learn them before college, it will greatly increase your ability to get a good paying job in college and beyond. Anyone can volunteer because no one in their right mind would turn down a volunteer candidate. Also, in my experience, volunteering seems to be collected in 10-100 hour chunks at different places, not continuously at the same place which does not allow you to fully develop relationships/skills ect. BUT, if you make your own project, like plan a blood drive or something then volunteer>>>>>>work because it shows a ton of dedication and leadership skills, but this is hard to do unless you are trying to be an eagle scout, or have some other affiliation to some group. </p>
<p>Personally, I have done both, and I have found the work to be much more rewarding, because you meet so many people who are different than you, because if you are middle/upper class, you get to see another side of society that your parents try to hide from you (the lower class, and the immigrants). At volunteering, it is ususally pre college kids, DUI people serving their cs, or people in a similar socio economic class as you that "want to give back to the community". Trust me, get a job, you will not reget it. Also, if you or anyone wants more advice on what kind of job to get, or anything to do with high school jobs just PM me because I have been around the block a few times.</p>
<p>This is interesting... What if I've been volunteering at the same library for 3 years? I go to boarding school, so I can't be around all the time -- and we're not allowed to have jobs during the school year -- but I volunteer regularly during the summer. Is that of equal weight with paid work experience in the eyes of admissions officers? I'm trying to decide whether or not to apply for a job in a bookstore, and it never occurred to me that colleges preferred work over volunteering.</p>
<p>If you volunteer during the school year, then yes, do the job for sure. I have heard this anecdotally, but it seems to be actually true, someone asked the princeton dean of admissions if their child should volunteer in africa to help people in an aids clinic, or go to mongolia to teach people how to speak english, and the dean responded their child should pump gas. Having a job is another way to set you apart because less and less teens are getting jobs, and it shows some real maturity. </p>
<p>As far as for actual life experience, book store is good, but if you really want to learn about yourself and other people, take a risk and apply somewhere else. I have a feeling that with 3 yr of library exprience you know alot about books, but maybe you should try something at a restaurant, hardwear store or just something different. Just keep in mind, Family owned >>>>>>>>>>>>>chain stores.</p>
<p>And this isnt just for colleges, get a job for yourself, it changes you in a good way. When I said it shows maturity, I didn't mean that you were already mature before you got the job, but through the process of having a job (if you take it seriously, and enjoy it) you mature and grow as a person. Having a job has taught me so much about life in ways that I never thought it could. If you hate your job, quit, because it won't help anything.</p>
<p>I agree with what many of you have said. I have been working for two weeks now for a family owned business that just expanded into my area. The company produces cosmetics items such as shampoos, creams, gel's, ect. I have learned SO much in just two weeks. I have done lab research, computer tech. work, and management. I've learned more in these two weeks than i have all 2-3 years of volunteering. For anyone who is contemplating a job, I would strongly recommend taking it.</p>
<p>This is a great question. The simple answer is you should do, ceteris paribus, what you can write a better essay on. You probably can't write a great essay on working in Mickey D's, but you can write a great essay about working in a cosmetics business where you've done 'lab research, computer tech. work, and management.' You're going to be able to easily connect it to your scholastic interests. A lot of people are going to work at the local soup kitchen giving out food to bums, but how many people (for those interested in applying for CS) have designed a database for that soup kitchen? In short, it depends on how interesting and unique your work/volunteer opportunity is. If you can write an equally good essay on both, I'd go for the job, simply because you end up with money in your pocket.</p>
<p>Winning the Heart of the College Admissions Dean (pg. 28) has the anecdote Tom mentioned.</p>
<p>Yea, i guess my life story is on this page already, but I got my first job when I was a freshman, and I have had 3 since, and the best job that I have had is being a bus boy at a local family owned italian restaurant. I agree that doing a high level job like some kids are talking about is a good idea, but do not get discouraged if you cant find that amazing job. I bus tables, and it is awesome. I mean, first, the pay is awesome (with tips, i net about 11.50/hr), and secondly, I meet people from all different walks of life. I am right between the cusp of middle and upper class, and in my job I spend all of my time with people who are in the lower or middle classes, and it has given me a whole new view on life, and what I want to do, and just everything, I had a paradigm shift because I was not exposed to normal/below average people before. About the leadership, I have worked there for about 2 years, and I am the sr bus boy on staff, so when something needs to get done, i coordinate the "bus team" to do it. This may sound silly, but during a busy night, it is incredibly stressful. College adcoms want to see you show something that you have a passion in, and a job is a great thing to have a passion in because it is rewarding in the physical and intellectual sense if you find the right job for you and you TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.</p>
<p>They probably look the same for admissions... but neither of them are very major factors in admissions (Unless, job/volunteering is all you do) so do whatever you want. However, getting a job is more difficult than volunteering and also you get money and experience.. So having a job is probably better.</p>