How to Make the Most out of Community Service
How to Make the Most out of Community Service
In a survey of 264 admissions leaders, more than 50% reported that community service experience not only positively impacts a student’s admissions chances, but it also serves as the tie breaker between students with the same test scores and grades. Many high schools have long recognized the benefits of volunteer work for developing students into positive members of society. Some even require them to complete service hours to graduate. However, volunteer work is not just another box to check; the substance of what you do matters. Thousands of applicants participate in service organizations like Key Club or spend their free afternoons tutoring low-income children. Because volunteer work has become a common item on applicants’ activities list, how deeply you engage in bettering your community is what will ultimately set you apart.
Play the Long Game
No matter how common a volunteer activity is, sticking with it for over two to three years will help you stand out. It doesn’t take much effort to pass out food once or twice a year to homeless individuals, but much more dedication is needed to do that bi-monthly throughout all of high school. Everyone appreciates when you donate your time, but quality help can be hard to find. When volunteers quit halfway through or do not show up as scheduled, staff must then direct their time and attention to managing the situation rather than advancing their mission. As a teenage volunteer, you will have to put effort into proving that you are reliable and responsible. But when you do, you may be trusted to take on leadership roles or even start your own initiative through the organization.
Find Something that Excites You
Don’t volunteer for the sake of volunteering. Students who say yes to an opportunity only because it was available typically have a hard time doing it for more than one year or growing their responsibilities beyond what was originally assigned. Take your time in searching for something that excites you. In the United States, there are over 1.5 million nonprofits. You are bound to find one with opportunities for you to dive deeper into a cause you find meaningful.There are also many remote opportunities where you can volunteer from the comfort of your own home. In fact, the United Nations has an online volunteer program that anyone can apply for.
Align Community Service with Academic Interests
One great way to direct your search is to find service opportunities that align with your intended major. If you’re into film, perhaps volunteer at an organization that works to reduce violence among youth through creative expression. If you are a World War II history buff, then you might be interested in the Veterans History Project. Linking your volunteer work to an intellectual interest kills two birds with one stone, because admissions officers like to see that you pursue your academic passion in and out of the classroom. This is how you turn an extracurricular interest into a co-curricular interest. Moreover, you will have more material to work with when you write about why you hope to study a certain major. Most students talk about a class that sparked their interest.While this is a fine reason, it does not show the depth of your curiosity in exploring a topic. In contrast, your story becomes much more compelling when you can describe something you learned in class and how you applied it through real-world experiences. But it’s okay if you have your heart set on a community service experience that does not align with your intended major. You can find other ways to dive deep into an academic subject.
Connect with People Who are Unlike You
Colleges across the United States are pouring their resources into increasing the diversity of their student body. They want their students to learn from each other’s experiences and get comfortable dialoguing with people who are unlike themselves, an important skill in our increasingly globalized world.In your community service work, try to build relationships with people from different walks of life. This often includes the individuals you are serving. If you tutor low-income children, take time to learn their story, their hopes, and their dreams. If you love building homes for families that would struggle to buy these homes, then see whether there are opportunities for you to work alongside the future residents. It takes time to get to know someone, especially if he or she has different mannerisms and values than your own. The reward of being open to learning about others, no matter how different they may seem, is that you will be prepared to communicate with the diverse people you will encounter on your journey through college, work, and life.
Step into Leadership Roles
Consider how you can take on more leadership responsibilities in your volunteer work. In anything that you do, especially if you do it for an extended period of time, your role should ideally evolve and grow. If you are at a nonprofit or community-based organization, you’ll need to earn trust before you can take the reins. Do the small things well, like showing up on time and finishing your duties with a positive attitude. Someone may even give you leadership opportunities once you build rapport with the staff. But if opportunities do not show up at your doorstep, volunteer yourself to take on more responsibilities or even pitch a new initiative. For example, you could think about ways that a program can be improved, share your idea, and volunteer to implement it. One of our students started a robotics program at her local library after she spent one year stacking books; another became the coordinator of other volunteers for the music therapy program he joined as a middle schooler.Usually, nonprofit organizations like your city’s community center want to expand their services to impact more lives. They welcome leaders they can trust to improve current projects or spearhead new initiatives.
Go Out, Do Good, Make Change
Now that you know important ways for making the most out of community service, go out and do good. We hope you find opportunities to engage in meaningful work that not only helps your admissions chances, but also leaves a lasting, positive impact on yourself and the people you serve.
The expert admissions consultants at Wise World Prep have helped hundreds of students maximize their potential of being admitted to their top choice colleges and universities. Over 20 years, we have successfully guided students through each stage of the application process – from choosing competitive high school courses to building an appropriate college list to drafting winning essays to writing persuasive update and appeals letters. We would be happy to answer your questions and partner with you to create a successful admissions roadmap.
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