So I checked in with the local hospital and they accept very few students to volunteer during the summer. I’m not just asking what looks good for college I also want to help out in some way. But what would look really good for college? I really have no idea what to do in the summer to be proactive. I play football so I need a schedule that works. Any suggestions? Also I’ve been wondering, do colleges take into consideration how much time a sport takes up. For instance I play football and that’s it but it takes up 6 days of the week throughout the whole year. When the season is over the school makes us weight train 3 days a week and I also do personal training the other week. Football takes up so much time of my life and I hope colleges understand that. Also any suggestions for what I can do in the summer?
Find opportunities at volunteermatch.org
Thanks
U don’t need a single volunteer hour for any college in the world. It’s a myth. Do it if you really want to (or your school district requires it)
I’m really sorry but this is a huge pet peeve of mine. Although you say that you’re not doing it just so that it looks good for colleges, it’s essentially the exact thing you’re saying. Please do yourself a favor and don’t volunteer unless you have an innate desire to make a change and impact your community. Otherwise, it wouldn’t benefit you, the organization, nor your college application as it’ll be superficial and not reflective in your actual character. Do it if it’s something that really drives you and motivates you and, if this is so, you’ll know exactly which types of organizations you want to volunteer your time for. It’s called volunteering for a reason instead of trading: you willingly and selflessly give your time instead of investing it for some unforeseeable prospect. I gave literally thousands of hours to amazing organizations because I truly believed in their missions and wanted to help because I knew what it was like to be in need before. I don’t say this to brag but just to show you that it’s important to be yourself.
Colleges want to get an idea of who you are. Be you. Don’t try to build a persona you think colleges want.
Volunteering means doing something for others, not for the college. You’ll know if it means something to you.
Have you considered volunteering as a football coach for younger kids? Could be a “Little League”-type of team, or organized sports at a local community center / church, etc…
You might also get some more responses on the college admissions subreddit.
Find where your passion is.
Most colleges give little weight to ECs so just participating in something, like you’re already doing, is fine. However if you’re thinking of the 100 or so most selective colleges in the country then just “taking part” isn’t enough.
The question about impressive EC’s comes up regularly on the forum. There is a thread with several posts by Northstarmom, a Ivy alum interviewer, about what constitutes impressive ECs from the point of view of the most selective colleges, if those are what you’re thinking about. The post is at http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-what-s-good.html
As you will see from that link, at the most selective colleges they are looking for depth more than just participation. Stanford, for example, says
Now ask yourself – is Stanford going to see “football player” and think you satisfy this? Probably not, unless they’re recruiting you 
2 very interesting articles about ECs that stand out and how to get them (same author, different examples) are at [How to Be Impressive](The Art of Activity Innovation: How to Be Impressive Without an Impressive Amount of Work - Cal Newport) and [Save This Grind?](Case Study: How Could We Save This Ridiculously Overloaded Grind? - Cal Newport) I don’t buy into his underlying explanation of why they are impressive, but take a look at these 2 articles and I think you’ll get some original ideas.
I love that website. Here’s another good one from Cal on failed simulation effect and ECs:
Thanks for all the great responses! I definitely will not be attending any Ivy League college but I think I might volunteer as a football coach for little kids, or maybe at a hospital since medicine intrigues me. Thanks
Helping others makes you feel good about yourself.
I would honestly pursue both if you have the time and interest. See what the opportunities are in your neighborhood. Maybe you don’t have to commit to a strict schedule for the hospital volunteering and can do it every now and then, or less frequently. There are also opportunities to look into medicine aside from hospitals (like a clinic, or maybe an animal shelter / veterinarian’s office if you are interested in medicine and animals).
Volunteering might help with outside scholarships. A lot of them do look for, well, do-gooderism. Look for something that you will feel good doing is my suggestion.
Are there any particular scholarships you have in mind?
Did some googling, found this:
http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/service.phtml
Interested in any other related resources, if you have them.
Thanks so much everyone
To be honest, hospital volunteering is a bit over-saturated among applicants aiming for selective universities. If you’re gonna do it, do it because you really care and want to go into a medical field and not so that it looks impressive on an application, which it usually doesn’t.
On the other hand, getting a position as a research assistant under a mentor at a hospital or university looks much more impressive to colleges. However, with impressiveness comes selectivity, and not many people earn this opportunity.
What do YOU like to do?
Great idea - OP, you might want to reach out to professors in specific areas of medical research that interest you.
Well i like to play and watch football and sometimes on my free time I look up videos on YouTube about medicine. So maybe a research position would be good, but how would I go about finding one. I live in NJ and Rutgers nb is a half hour away.