Volunteering is critical to students applying to BS/MD programs and can be a good way for other students to show that you have a caring personality. Why do colleges care? Because they want to see that students have an interest in helping others and are not just focused on what is best for themselves.
But I see a regular problem with volunteering and that is when the volunteering is done. Most students volunteer during the summer when they don’t have as much going on. That makes sense and colleges like to see volunteering during the summer. But what they really like to see is a student volunteering when it isn’t easy.
Students are busy during the school year with homework and their regular school activities. They don’t have a lot of time. We all know that. However, that is exactly why those students that volunteer during the school year stand out. If you take the time to help others when you don’t have a lot of time to do so, you appear to be someone who truly cares about others and isn’t just volunteering to look good on a college application.
If you want to stand out from your competitors when applying to BS/MD programs and selective colleges, volunteer during the school year. And do it for several years. That will make you a winner in life and also in the college admissions process.
[…] Good Volunteering Outweigh Poor Grades I talked last time about the importance of volunteering. One reader wanted to know if they had lots of good volunteering if it would outweigh some lower […]