The Scoop on Community Service
Categories: Sports and Activities, College Preparation
Hi bloggers,
We’ve all heard it before. Admissions Counselors love to see community service listed as one of the ways that students spend their free time. But is that really true and is all community service seen in the same light? I recently read an article about community service that made a lot of sense. So do Admissions Officers really love to see community service listed on an application? The answer is a resounding YES! However, one person’s time spent volunteering may not be seen in the same manner as someone else’s. Why? Many high schools are now requiring students to complete a certain number of community service hours before they graduate. If that student performed 100 hours of service throughout their four years of high school because they were required to and did not do anything above and beyond that minimum amount, that student has done nothing to make themselves stand out in the crowd. However, if a student took it upon themselves to volunteer (not for an end result, just out of a desire to do good work) or if they completed more than the minimum number of hours, then that student deserves to be seen a little differently, at least that’s what Admissions Counselors are saying. (For the full article, click here)
There are so many ways to go out and make a difference in your community. Find what works best for you! If you have a fear of dogs, volunteering at an animal shelter may not be the best way for you to spend your time. Volunteering should not only be beneficial to the community, it should be fun for you! If you love soccer, maybe you can find a local children’s league that could use a referee or coach. If you love the outdoors, maybe there is a local Boy Scout or Girl Scout group that could use your expertise leading them on their next outdoor adventure. Use the talents, skills and interests that you have to find a fun way to spend your time, give back and ultimately impress those colleges. Don’t let it feel like work and you may find yourself spending more of your time in that activity, even long after you may be doing it as part of your Admissions process. And who knows how many great and interesting people you can meet along the way! Give it a try; I think you’ll be glad you did!
Does anyone have any words of wisdom or know of some creative ways to volunteer their time?
Off to find my volunteering niche,
Val
Hey - I've been volunteering at an animal rescue farm since I was in 8th grade! I feed about 50 horses once a week with my dad and love it - I want to be a vet and work with animals every day. I like working at the farm, and it's cool to know that colleges will like that I do this in my spare time!
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One great way to volunteer if you're interested in the legal system is to contact a juvenile court diversion program. These programs, throughout the state, allow a student to volunteer time to be a peer juror or attorney in a diversion program for a teen. It is a great way to learn about the legal system and give back to the community. Students in Merrimack County go to this website,http://www.nhcourtdiversion.org/nhj_main/nhj_agencydetail.asp?ID=18, to contact the person in charge of the program.
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Val,
There are a lot of good points here. Besides looking good to admissions counselors- volunteering is also a great way to learn outside the classroom. Volunteering can help a person discover their own interests, and perhaps help them in deciding what to major in while in college. So, try different things and volunteer- it can lead to some great experiences!
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Val, I love to dance so I volunteer my time to teach the younger students at my studio. We also go into some local nursing homes and perform our routines for the residents. They love to see the dancers and it is very rewarding to make others happy through something I love so much!
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On Fridays, my church serves a free spaghetti dinner for anyone in the community that wants to come. Not only do I get community service hours for helping but it is great experience too. I plan to major in business and I make spreadsheets for the church based on how many people we serve each month and where we can purchase iteams cheaply, etc. It's great to know I'm helping and be able to gain some useful experience!
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Another way is to get started early! When I was 15 I was too young to coach the Shooters Gold Basketball camp, which was what I really wanted to do. So I volunteered for a week when I was 15. The director thought I did a great job and hired me the next summer when I was 16! I did the same thing with my winter job as a snowboard instructor! Shadowed instructors until I was old enough. When I turned 16 they all knew me and I knew how to teach!
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