I have the opportunity to either go to Vietnam for two weeks to give out “indestructible” soccer balls to poor children, or take classes at my local community college. I already took one class there this spring during the school year. Also, my unweighted GPA is currently around 3.4. Would it be a better idea to take more classes to try to raise my GPA, or to go on the Vietnam trip to give out soccer balls?
What kinds of colleges are you thinking of? Also, why is this an either/or kind of a thing? Would the community college class only be two weeks long and that’s why you can’t do both? Just curious.
I’m thinking of UCs, University of Washington, universities like those. The trip would be during the class days and I would miss a lot of material and tests.
Which would you rather do/
Can you take classes and do community service in your own area? Our soup kitchens and community action centers are always looking for extra hands. You don’t have to travel long distances to find people to serve.
I doubt they need you, specifically, to give out the soccer balls (although that’s a really cool idea.)
Take a community college class and find a volunteering opportunity nearby. Perhaps see if you can give a dozen indestructible soccer balls to an underserved, underfunded elementary school nearby, and then commit to teaching the game to the kids.
What year are you? Could you do the international service trip at any other time? Doing the trip after getting involved into a local charity with the same theme would make more sense.
In addition, are you instate for either UCs or UWa?
What’s your UCGPA?
Wouldn’t it be a much greater service to save your airfare and travel expenses and send the amount for the education of he Vietnamese kids (along with the soccer balls)?
Colleges are (rightly) unimpressed with foreign service trips. Google it. It does prove your family has money, though.