Does Community Service Matter in College Admissions?

In any college application, once you get past the demographics, grades, and standardized test scores, comes activities. Extracurricular activities and leadership roles have always been part of admissions; but also colleges want to read about students doing positive work that impacts the community. According to a survey conducted by DoSomething.org, admissions officers reviewing applications are looking to see students have spent time giving back to their communities. Yet before your high schooler starts signing up for volunteer hours, keep in mind that there’s no magical number to achieve. Colleges want to know why your student is doing the service work. Therefore projects that matter are those that –

Show long-term commitment. Spending an hour a week after school over a semester demonstrates more commitment than volunteering broad over spring break.

 Demonstrate leadership, depth, and passion. When choosing a volunteer project, students should select ones that connect to their interests, and demonstrate leadership and passion for a particular cause. Projects that read mandatory or required are frowned upon.

 Make for excellent college essays. Community service projects are a perfect way to capture who your student is as a person, their leadership potential, unique qualities, passions, well-roundedness, and his or her genuine interest in uplifting others.

Help your student find fun ways to give back this holiday season. Stand Out College Prep has put together a list of ideas for your student to make a BIG difference in your community that make an IMPACT on college admissions. All projects listed are ones that can be made into long-term commitments. Encourage your student to start small, get early wins, and build service opportunities from there.

Students -- Example Service Projects That Matter

• Contact United Way for your local homeless shelter. Meet with shelter staff to brainstorm ways to help out. Fun ideas would include hosting a dance party for teens at the shelter, babysitting for moms, or donating coats collected from friends and family.

•  Start a Webthriftstore.com account to post books, clothes, electronics, and other goods that you no longer use. Items are sold to bargain hunting buyers on its website with proceeds going to your favorite charity.

• Practice your penmanship skills by writing a letter to Santa and drop it off at Macy’s Letterbox for Santa. For every letter, Macy’s will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Start writing your letter here. After the holidays, continue writing letters to troops overseas or patients at the Veterans Affairs hospital.

• Gather a group of friends and make holiday cards, birthday cards, and/or get well cards to distribute at nursing homes or children’s hospitals. 

• Fight hunger all year long. Make meals and feel good snacks to serve at a homeless shelter on Valentine’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Not a good cook? Bring tablecloths and decorations to create a cozy, home environment. Another idea would be starting a School Pantry Program at a local elementary school. Visit Feeding America to learn more.

     Do you want your student to become more involved in the community? Visit Stand Out College Prep  for help coming up with service opportunities, as well as sheets to track hours and reflect on volunteer experiences.