<p>Hey, I recently have been volunteering at a museum, where I do genealogy research. I actually like this job. I help local families find info about their family’s past. </p>
<p>However, some people have looked down on me for doing this volunteering. They call doing genealogy research will make people, especially college admissions folks, think that I am too boring, because genealogy could be really boring at times, especially when all you are doing to search for someone’s name in a directory. </p>
<p>I want to keep this volunteering. Usually this museum would charge $50 per hour to get info about your family, even if they fail to found good info, but when I am working there, it’s free. I don’t want to be look down upon, but I don’t want to give up on the families and people who can save some extra bucks.</p>
<p>Actually, genealogy research is quite unique, in terms of volunteer work. The majority of applicants either volunteer at a soup kitchen, a homeless shelter, a nursing home/hospital, or a library. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with that sort of volunteer work, it is what admissions officers see on a regular basis. Do you do anything else that is connected to genealogy? You could interconnect other ECs to it, and showcase genealogy as an interesting hobby you have. In short, no, I would not find it boring in the slightest.</p>
<p>That’s a great EC. It’s unique and fascinating. If you love doing it, why stop now? Continue volunteering. Contrary to popular belief, top colleges don’t care what your EC is, as long as it’s something meaningful to you that you’ve invested time and work in.</p>
<p>Then again, EC’s don’t really matter except for the tippy-top schools. Where are you applying?</p>
<p>And regardless of college, you should pursue it if you love doing it.</p>
<p>I think it is a great EC. In terms of uniqueness, it is definitely high up there. How many high school students can say they volunteer their time to help families trace their genealogy? Your service will also have a direct impact on the families that you research for, and you have to learn how to deal and interact with people. That will go a long way in terms of life skills and standing out in admissions.</p>
<p>Surely, you wouldn’t give up this kind of opportunity to shelve books at the library instead.</p>
<p>Actually, I don’t have any colleges in mind, right now. I am only a rising sophomore with no official test scores, so it’s hard for me to do my search right now.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about it then. I didn’t create a college list until the second-half of my sophomore year, and it’s not something to worry about until mid-junior year. You should keep your grades up and keep working hard, though. And keep doing this EC. It’s interesting and, if you truly enjoy it, it could give you a moderate boost in the process.</p>