How important is volunteering?

canadianccuser
Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:13:20 +0000

well sunshower, I think that your idea is actually really great! It shows initiative and leadership, as well as genuine caring and effort. Personally, I think that tutoring kids would be more interesting and more fruitful, as quite a few people (at least from my area) tutored other people in our own grade or a grade below. It definitely shows a lot of potential, and I hope that you do find a way to enjoy it! Spending time with kids is a lot more fun than people say, and you can learn a lot from them.

Northstarmom is right, if you’re paid it counts as a job and not volunteer hours. I usually don’t recommend jobs to my friends because they tend to go for the “I’ll work at a fast food place so I can buy nicer jeans and I’ll stick it on my University Application” approach. What you’re proposing shows much more responsibility though on your part and isn’t just flipping burgers, so I say go for it.

If there’s one thing i’ve gathered from this site, it’s that by following your heart you can rarely go wrong. Too many people do ECs for the sake of getting into an Ivy. By finding something you are truly passionate about, you leave them in the dust. Best of luck!