<p>Hi,
I am currently a high school student, and I've worked a part-time job for a good number of hours and plan on continuing to do so.
I'm just wondering - with my junior so busy, I don't think I'll have time to volunteer like everyone else - will a part-time job "replace" the requirement for volunteering.</p>
<p>I've volunteered sometime during my 9th grade year, but I don't think it was more than 24 hours (which is really nothing).</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>I think you should be fine. Just curious, why do you have a job? Making ends meet or something?</p>
<p>I have done both work and volunteer. My family is very middle class and I didn't HAVE to work to make ends meet, but it did give me money to go out with my friends. I also think working helps you realize the value of money. </p>
<p>You should do a little bit of volunteer work if you can - why not find something you are really passionate about? My friends got me into volunteering at a nursing home where I play the piano and play cards (trust me, I've become really good at bridge now!). It's pretty satisfying.</p>
<p>Just like what I posted in the previous thread, this article will hopefully clear up your concerns:</p>
<p>Teens</a> trade lazy summer days for jobs
Work experience seen improving college prospects</p>
<p>I kind of disagree- work experience can be great, certainly, if it shows a strong work ethic and/or if it is in a field that challenges you, etc. If you arent working to support yourself financially and havent landed an interesting job, (working part-time in a lab, say) it does not really look good that you spend valuable time making extra spending money working at a department store. Volunteering is good for many solide reasons- it shows that you are interested in using your skills to help others, it shows that you can motivate yourself to do something instead of waiting for money to motivate you, etc. And if you get to volunteer to do something that is also educational,i.e. working in political office, working in a hospital, etc, you get even more benefit in the eyes of colleges.</p>
<p>I've wondering about this too!</p>
<p>except I do the opposite. I volunteer but don't work.</p>
<p>even though volunteer work is considered more, ugh, "helpful" and "good-natured", I would have to say work experience look smore impressive on any app. The reason being, it shows school syou have some experience out in the real world. Sorry, but volunteer work is a panzy's way of trying to impressive college without having to lift so much as a finger. (not to say, of course, that Habitat for Humanity can't be strenuous, but come on....) It can really tick me off sometimes when people think they should recieve a Nobel Prize for helping an old lady cross the street....</p>
<p>If you can get a good part time job, take it. If not, if you do find a good volunteering opportunity, take it. Otherwise, do something else. College admissions people can smell the stink of resume-padding a mile away.</p>
<p>Only do what you have time for. Don't stretch yourself thin. You're still a teenager after all.</p>
<p>Thanks for your replies!
I've had the part time job for about half a year now, and I started it not because I needed to support my family or anything - just so I could have a few extra bucks to spend for things I wanted. I didn't really start the job thinking about college, but now that I've heard some good things about working, I was wondering whether it would be a good enough replacement for volunteering.</p>
<p>I think volunteering for something you are passionate about is a great idea, but I really don't know where to start looking. Most people are working at the library, city events, etc., and unfortunately, stacking books isn't really my passion.</p>
<p>Check the common data set of the schools that you are interested in, there are 2 top schools that I checked, one states volunteer is in the important category, while work is only in the considered category. Another college has both volunteer and work experience in the considered category. So yes it depends on the school, no generalization please.</p>