Hey everyone! I'm trying to build a strong college application, and I was wondering how many hours of volunteering would be considered 'good' or enough for colleges? I don't wanna do the bare minimum but also want to manage my time well. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Hey there! It's important to remember that when it comes to volunteering and extracurricular activities, quality usually matters more than quantity. Sure, having a good number of volunteering hours can demonstrate your dedication to giving back, but colleges are more interested in how these experiences shaped you as a person and how they relate to your overall application theme.
Instead of focusing on the number of hours, try to choose meaningful volunteer opportunities in areas you're genuinely passionate about or that align with your academic and personal goals. This will allow you to make more significant contributions and develop skills that you can showcase on your application, rather than racking up the hours in things you don't care that much about.
All that being said, you may find it helpful to aim for at least 50-100 hours throughout your high school years as a rough guideline. However, keep in mind that what really matters is the impact you make and how you're able to articulate that in your college applications—having 25 meaningful hours is better than having 500 hours that weren't all that enriching.
Good luck with your volunteering and college application journey!
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