CCA does not require volunteer hours for graduation! If a student was required to volunteer, it wouldn't really be "volunteering," would it?
For those of you who want to "give back" to your school or community, there are a number resources available. For those of you that want to volunteer to have something to write about on a college application, I predict that you would not have a meaningful experience. Remember that a genuine, heartfelt interest in helping others because you WANT to is much more noble (and admired) than helping others because it "looks good" on a college application. Also remember that, in the competitive high school market, that several hundred thousand other students are also looking for that elusive "perfect" volunteer opportunity. Search logically, and carefully, and be prepared to do some legwork; opportunities don't usually "fall into your lap..." Below you will find some links that should help you begin your quest.
www.volunteersandiego.org www.volunteermatch.org
Do Colleges Care About Volunteering or Community Service?Yes! But they do NOT recommend that any applicant volunteer or do community service simply because "it looks good on an application." You should volunteer because you WANT to, and you should ENJOY the time you spend doing it. Although each and every college may describe what they seek in terms of volunteer work or community service somewhat differently, there is a recurring theme. Read some of the excerpts below to figure out what that theme is:StanfordHow much weight do you place on extracurricular activities?Example of Stanford application (extracurricular section) Princeton
To what extent are extracurricular activities considered in the application process?"Among those applicants who are strongly qualified in academic terms, we look for involvement and commitment in nonacademic areas. We make particular note of special talents or accomplishments." (weblink) YaleThere's not enough room on the Common Application for me to list all my extracurricular activities. What should I do?
You are welcome to submit a separate piece of paper listing your extracurricular activities. However, please follow the same format as set forth in the Common Application. Admissions officers are accustomed to reading about activities in a certain format, and it is distracting when students submit resumes that are inconsistent with the Common Application form. Even if you plan to attach a separate statement of extracurricular activities, be sure to complete the extracurricular section of the Common Application. Keep in mind that for purposes of college admissions, "more" isn't necessarily "better." Students who present extremely long resumes without an indication of what is really important to them run the risk of diluting their activities. Focus on those activities that are most significant to you. (weblink) Common App. example of "extracurricular" section UCs:
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/general_info/uc_reviews/freshman_app.html
