Service Starts Here!

Why is Community Service Important?

Community service is a great way to help those around you and is highly valued by colleges. It makes your application more competitive: therefore, having a positive impact on your acceptance to the college or university of your choice.

How many hours do I need?

During your high school career, you should aim for 50-500 hours. However, colleges don't necessarily focus on the amount of hours you have completed, they focus on community service that you are passionate about, commited to, and that betters your community or school. Ultimately, you should commit to a couple of meaningful projects for a sustained length of time rather than trying to complete the most volunteer hours.

How should I write about it in college applications?

Since community service essays are common, you should strive for something unique like writing about a meaningful experience that you value and explain how and why it was so significant. You should be reflective, honest, and specific. Colleges consider authentic passion, commitment, community engagement, diversity, ethical and emotional awareness, and skills developed.

Keep Track of Your Hours

Keeping short records of your experiences will help you recall and be more specific when writing about your experiences.