What Volunteer Work is Best for College Applications?

This article was originally published September 2022 and has been updated.

Colleges value students who are willing to “walk the walk,” not just “talk the talk,” when it comes to making the community a better place.

Prioritizing volunteer experiences while in high school can greatly benefit students during the college admissions process. Giving back is not just recommended but can also be essential for students when they try to demonstrate to colleges that they are well-rounded and value being actively involved in their community. While academic achievements, test scores, and recommendations are all still important qualities, many college applications need volunteer hours to qualify for scholarships or to help students stand out from other applicants.

Why Colleges Value Volunteer Experiences

Volunteering is good for college applications because it can show admissions officers a strong sense of motivation and potential for success from prospective students.

Plus, making efforts to volunteer highlights the student’s character in a way that grades and test scores can’t. Through volunteering, a student can show that they are:

Active in their community and go above and beyond to make a positive impact in the world
Passionate and dedicated to focusing their time on service to others
Organized and able to manage their time between service and keeping grades up

Best Types of Volunteer Work to Boost Your College Application

Students can find volunteer opportunities to boost their college application by first identifying their interests and saying yes to investing time in service that is both meaningful and valuable to them.

Best volunteer work for college admissions includes experiences like:

Community cleanups
Animal shelters
Tutoring
Donation drives
Soup kitchen or food pantry
Senior centers and hospitals
Events or sporting events
Non-profit fundraising

Real Opportunities for Scholarships or Recognition

Students can be rewarded for their community work with more than a feeling of accomplishment. While volunteering should be done for its own sake, often volunteer opportunities can also lead to scholarships or other forms of recognition that could help students with their college goals. Volunteer opportunities such as the the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes offer students scholarships or rewards in exchange for their work in their communities. The award honors 25 middle schoolers and high school students annually for their inspired public service. Volunteer opportunities include sustainable hunger relief, environmental, public health, women’s empowerment, and other initiatives.

Additional Benefits of Volunteering

Volunteering is a valuable opportunity for students to gain future-ready skills and to foster personal growth that goes far beyond college admissions. By choosing activities that align with their passion, students can begin to identify the things that bring them joy and ultimately the areas where they want to invest their time when considering their future career.

Regardless of the type of service that students choose, volunteering can have significant personal benefits such as reducing stress, improving mental and physical health, providing a sense of purpose, and deepening existing and new relationships.

Also, students can develop critical skills like leadership, empathy, and communication while spending time in service to others.

How to Find the Right Volunteer Opportunities for Teens

Finding the best places to volunteer for college admissions is based on student interests and is often a self-driven discovery. There are no right or wrong volunteer opportunities; instead, there is real value when a student aligns their passions with volunteering.

Students should consider looking into local causes, service projects, and community events to see where there’s a need. Exploring official websites and researching the organization is a great place to start. Volunteer organizations will clearly outline the required tasks, goals, and qualifications.

How to Make Time for Volunteering While in High School

Finding the best places to volunteer for college admissions is based on student interests and is often a self-driven discovery. There are no right or wrong volunteer opportunities; instead, there is real value when a student aligns their passions with volunteering.

Students should consider looking into local causes, service projects, and community events to see where there’s a need. Exploring official websites and researching the organization is a great place to start. Volunteer organizations will clearly outline the required tasks, goals, and qualifications.

Volunteer Work Boosts College Applications

When students are able to connect meaning and future career benefits to their volunteer work, they are often more likely to excel personally and stand out in their college applications. Through volunteer opportunities students gain organizational and leadership skills that colleges find value in. Plus, they gain practical career-related experience and develop a greater sense of purpose. The opportunities are endless.

Download our free eGuide to learn how online schools like Connections Academy can have a direct impact on students’ learning and provide the added flexibility they need to volunteer or give back to their community.