Service Opportunities
Strong applicants to selective colleges and universities are expected to have a sense of themselves as global citizens with an interest in finding solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. Applicants who engage in service opportunities--even at a local level--demonstrate a sense of empathy, compassion, and connectedness to others. Empathy and compassion are some of the most highly sought-after personality traits members of selective admissions committees seek in successful applicants and expect them to possess.
Service opportunities can come in many forms. Some applicants volunteer their time to existing service organizations. Some start their own service initiatives, such as launching food drives or founding a nonprofit. And still others find service opportunities by engaging in the political process. Regardless of what avenue taken, service opportunities should be enjoyable for students as well as aligned with their values and interests.
More and more, applications to selective colleges and universities are specifically asking for students to discuss volunteer and/or community service experience separately from other parts of the application. The lack of service opportunities on an application to a selective college may even create a negative impact on an admissions committee. The work of The Ivy Edge is to help students define and pursue service opportunities, and support and advise them during the process of engaging such opportunities.
Service opportunities can come in many forms. Some applicants volunteer their time to existing service organizations. Some start their own service initiatives, such as launching food drives or founding a nonprofit. And still others find service opportunities by engaging in the political process. Regardless of what avenue taken, service opportunities should be enjoyable for students as well as aligned with their values and interests.
More and more, applications to selective colleges and universities are specifically asking for students to discuss volunteer and/or community service experience separately from other parts of the application. The lack of service opportunities on an application to a selective college may even create a negative impact on an admissions committee. The work of The Ivy Edge is to help students define and pursue service opportunities, and support and advise them during the process of engaging such opportunities.
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