Where do I get time to volunteer

I hear everyone talk about volunteering but I work and I have no more time to give for volunteering. I think colleges should also consider students who work part time or full time that they are doing something as great as those who can afford to volunteer. that this is not used against us in the application.

Hi Gustavo,

While volunteering is very important, colleges do understand that not everyone may have time to do this. One reason why colleges like to see that you volunteer is because it shows that you can balance your time and that you are active outside of school. However, a part-time job also shows that you can balance your time and that you are active outside of school. Make sure you mention your job and how you manage your time in your college application essays.

If you would like to squeeze in some volunteer time, here are a few suggestions for making it work with your busy schedule:
-See if you can volunteer at school. Sometimes there are opportunities offered at school (such as tutoring). There might be opportunities during lunch, study hall, or just before or after school, making it more convenient to volunteer.
-Try fund-raising for an organization, which can often be done online through an organization's website. This is a simple way to do something good that doesn't take up too much time.
-Try volunteering through an organization you regularly have contact with anyway. For example, see if your workplace has any opportunities, or if your church has ways for you to volunteer.

It is not likely that schools will discriminate against you for working and not volunteering. Rather, volunteering will only help add to other factors that they consider (such as grades, sports, essays, etc.). I am sure that when you submit your applications and complete your interviews, that you will be able to wow them with the responsibilities you manage. And that is what they are looking for!

Best of luck!
-Amber

This makes a lotof sense to me. I appreciate you clarificating this because I have a similar situation and didnt know how to make it all work out. Do you have suggestions of websites like the ones you mention where we can do fundraisings online? I can try that. I also was told that I should write about my work on my essays. You agree, right?

Hi Oli,

Yes, I definitely agree that you should talk about your work experience, and how you balance everything in your essays. It will show how responsible you are!

In regard to raising money for college, there are many different things you can do:

As for scholarships, there are some websites that provide you with a list of available scholarships which makes it a little easier than searching everywhere. I would suggest visiting www.scholarships.com, www.fastweb.com, and www.finaid.org. Also, make sure to go to the "Resources" tab (under our main page). Scroll down and click on the "Scholarships and Financial Aid" link. This will give you links to many organizations and websites that offer scholarships.

There is also www.lilyslist.com. Through this website you are able to list your student loan and invite friends and family to help you pay off the loan. It is like a student loan gift registry. For example, for your b-day or holidays like Christmas, you can ask people to place money into your account instead of receiving gifts. It is a great way to fundraise!

You may have seen or heard about Mariela discussing unique ways to pay for college on CNN. You can watch the interview here by clicking on the link on our homepage.

Best of luck! :)
-Amber George

How many hours of commnity work are needed for your application to a coleleg to look good? Can someone tell me please?

Hi Luis,

Most colleges and universities do not have a hours requirement for volunteer work. Many do not have a volunteer requirement at all. But, they do like to see volunteer work on applications, not so much in the form of hours per week or hours per month, but that you do participate in some volunteer activity(ies). You do not need to be specific about the amount of time you spend; just make sure you list the activity, why you choose to volunteer, and what you have learned from these experiences.

Best,
Amber George

Great advice from Amber!
Just remember that volunteering should not be so stressful. Like Amber mention, it is not about a certain number of hours. Schools want to see consistency and leadership skills through community service. Find something convenient for you and that you enjoy helping with. It may seem small but you are making a difference!

Hope this helps!
-Margarita