Where do you get this idea service is a sham? No, there is no official requirement. But anyone aiming for a competitive holistic should be a rounded individual, able to give back in meaningful ways. If anything, some of the silly clubs, useless honor societies. awards for perfect attendance, fakey leadership titles, etc, should be discouraged. It’s bad enough to tell kids only their own passion matters, misleading to suggest they just need to be bumps on the high school log. This thread really surprises me.
OP, if you don’t know what schools like, at least try to do “the right thing.” Your service may not be a tip for your particular college targets, but it’s a good thing, nonetheless.