How important is community service on the USC application?

Colleges & Universities University of Southern California
1

<p>I’ve done about 45 hours so far. I did drama coaching for middle-school kids for Shakespeare festivals they put on, two summers in a row. I also did three isolated community service events: being a guest speaker on a TV show that informs parents about teen life, helping out with the Senior Banquet at my school because I was on Junior Honor Guard (the top 10 students), and holding up the flags at senior graduation ceremony (for Junior Honor Guard too). </p>

<p>I’m considering doing some other community service activities (either assisting teachers and students at an elementary school or volunteering for the local Secular Humanism Association’s Secular Humanism Sunday School program). However, I’m not sure how much time I’ll be able to devote to whichever one I choose because I have a challenging senior year schedule, obviously have to devote a lot of time to apply to colleges, and taking Driver’s Ed. </p>

<p>So, long story short, how important is community service on the USC application? Is 45 hours enough? How many hours should I aim for?</p>

2

<p>Don’t aim for hours. Your application will be most attractive if you show a commitment and passion in your volunteer work, especially while developing a leadership role in that activity.</p>

3

<p>I didn’t have that much community service on mine. Like maybe 20 hours or less total. And I’m in Marshall now ;)</p>

4

<p>I agree with the answer you got from cc411. The strongest applications will show a focus of interest, not broad but less-involved commitments. If you love community service and you show leadership and a consistent involvement throughout high school, it could be a big plus. However, it won’t be a minus if, instead, you’ve shown commitment to working at a job, or for that matter, serious involvement in one or two other activities that are truly important to you. The idea is to help them see who you really are.</p>

5

<p>Thanks, you guys! :slight_smile: However, I’m already a senior, so it’s a bit late to start an entirely new community service project in which I’d have to work to fill a leadership position. Do you think that drama-coaching the middle school kids in the special Shakespeare Festival program for two summers is good for the application, though? Like madbean said, I’ve shown a lot more commitment to other activities, but as for community service, I’m wondering if that’s good or not.</p>