For volunteering, what matters more hours dedicated or years done?

mikemac
Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:54:48 +0000

hours or years – neither really matters that much. Sure, if I had to choose between the 2 I’d go with years because it shows long-standing dedication. But if you’re thinking that some very selective college is going to be impressed with 800 hours, think again. Here’s what Stanford says in its FAQ

We are more interested in the depth of your commitment and achievement than in the sheer quantity of your activities. An exceptional experience in one or two activities demonstrates your dedication more than minimal participation in five or six clubs. We want to see the impact your participation has had on that club or organization, in your school, or in the larger community.

And if you want to see what a Harvard alum interviewer calls good ECs see this post: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-whats-good.html Notice how piling up hundreds of hours isn’t on the list? The good news is that while almost all college apps have places where you list ECs, only a relatively small number actually care about them.