If you want to stand out from the crowd, you’ll have to approach high school differently. One of the best things you can do to bolster your college application is to use your free time wisely. Schools want to see a well-rounded individual who is involved with a variety of experiences and has accomplished something.
Looking for ways to do this? A great way to impress college admissions officers is through volunteer work. Volunteer hours demonstrate your ability to serve others, build community, expand your perspective, and create a sense of appreciation for your own life. Volunteer hours can also lead to discovering future career goals or important changes you hope to make in the world.
Finding impactful volunteer organizations to work with is an excellent way to spend any additional time. Volunteer hours often add up quickly and make a great addition to your college application. The benefits of volunteer work help you to be more competitive in your college application but they also help you to be a better person as well. You never know what you will gain from substantive volunteer work.
Here’s everything you need to know about volunteer hours and how they play a role in the college admissions process.
Where Do Volunteer Hours Go on a College Application?
Volunteer hours are considered a part of your extracurricular activities. There will be an area for you to record your volunteer hours and discuss what type of volunteer work you did. This can include your role, responsibilities, events attended, etc.
You may also need your supervisor to sign off on your hours so be sure to get their contact information in case the hours need to be verified. You can also consider asking a supervisor for a letter of recommendation if that’s appropriate for your applications. For instance, if you have worked with the same organization for several years, this is a great opportunity to discuss the ways you have impacted the organization and how the organization has impacted you.
Volunteer hours are a major feature of your college application and are a great way to humbly brag about the differences these experiences have made in your life.
How Many Volunteer Hours Do I Need for College?
There is no set number that will get you guaranteed acceptance into college. However, as a general rule between 50 – 200 volunteer hours shows a good level of commitment to the organization.
What is most important about the volunteer experience, however, is what you can take away from it. To get the most out of your experience, it’s important to find volunteer opportunities that are interesting to you. While there are many places to volunteer, if you are just doing the hours to check a box you are cutting yourself short.
College admissions would be more impressed by volunteer work that leads to a passion in your life or has affected you on a deeper level. There will be an opportunity to discuss your experiences in your essay or potentially in an interview—so it’s important to find valuable volunteer opportunities you can enthusiastically talk about.
One of the best things you can do to show your volunteer experience and elevate your college essays is to write about your experiences, thoughts, and connections. Volunteer work is the perfect way to discover more about yourself, help others, and discover what types of actions and roles you thrive in. Not only that, the insights gained will be different for each student. For example, one student may be very passionate about creating an event to support animal rescue, while another may feel connected with working for a teen suicide hotline.
There are many volunteers needed in organizations across the globe. With a little research, you can find the best volunteer opportunities for you.
Where Can I Find Volunteer Hours for My College Application?
A simple google search can help you discover volunteer opportunities in your area. However, this may not be the most effective way to find legitimate and impactful volunteer opportunities.
Finding a college admissions counselor is one of the most effective ways to learn about volunteer work. It is part of their job to help you find work that best meets your needs. Additionally, many organizations will contact college admissions counselors directly to find students who are willing to put the work in to make a real change.
Services like Empowerly connect students to opportunities that may be lost in a google search. They also have special partnerships that allow them to help you find even more places to volunteer.
Preparing for each area of your college application can feel like a full-time job. From balancing your difficult class load to extracurricular activities, it may not feel like you have extra time to research and find legitimate volunteer work. This is where Empowerly’s services really pay off.
The Empowerly Difference
Empowerly was created specifically to help you through each step of the college admissions process. With 94% of its students accepted into a top 50 school, its college admissions counselors have proven their worth.
Finding excellent volunteer opportunities is just the start of what’s in store for you with Empowerly on your team. They can also help to match you with colleges that best fit your educational interests and work style, help you with your college essays, connect you with internships, provide financial planning, provide expert advice, and more.
The college admissions experience is intense. Finding the balance between completing the work for your college applications and completing the applications themselves can feel overwhelming. But, you don’t have to do it alone.
Final Thoughts
Finding valuable volunteer work is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your community. It feels amazing knowing you have done something for others and gained beneficial insight into yourself as well.
It’s important to recognize how volunteer opportunities can impact your life. There are thousands of volunteers needed in almost every area of volunteer work. With a little help, you can discover a new passion, help others, network, and make important connections. However, many families struggle to find legitimate places to volunteer. Your time is your most precious resource. Spending a Saturday holding up a sign or standing around isn’t helping others or yourself.
By using Empowerly, you can find volunteer work that matches your interests and make a real difference for others. Volunteeringcan be fun, but you should also put in your best efforts. Taking this area of your extracurricular activities seriously can make a major difference in your college applications.
Contact Empowerly for a free video consultation and see how they can help you in your college admissions process.
Julia de Raadt
Madeleine Karydes