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As summer winds down and August approaches, high school students are preparing for one of the most exciting times of their academic careers: college applications! The Common Application, or Common App, which goes live on August 1st, opens the door to a world of opportunities for your future. According to Forbes, for the 2023-2024 academic school year, 4 year institutions 1,244,476 distinct first-year applicants had applied to 841 colleges participating in the Common App. With thousands of students applying to colleges across the country, how can you make your application stand out? One key way to differentiate yourself is by showcasing your high school volunteer experiences. Here’s why highlighting your volunteer work is crucial and how Givefinity can help you do it effectively.
Why Volunteer Experience Matters
When it comes to college admissions, your academic achievements are important, but they are only part of the picture. Admissions officers are also looking for well-rounded individuals who have made meaningful contributions to their communities. Here’s why your volunteer experience can be a game-changer in your application:
Demonstrates Commitment and Passion
Volunteer work shows that you are willing to go above and beyond the classroom. It highlights your dedication to causes you care about and demonstrates that you have a passion for making a difference. Colleges seek students who are engaged, motivated, and ready to contribute to campus life.
Showcases Leadership and Initiative
Through volunteer experiences, you can showcase leadership skills, initiative, and problem-solving abilities. Whether you’ve led a project, mentored others, or organized events, these experiences reflect your capacity to take on responsibilities and drive change.
Highlights Personal Growth and Resilience
Volunteering often involves overcoming challenges and adapting to different situations. Sharing these experiences on your application can reveal personal growth, resilience, and the ability to work effectively with diverse groups of people.
Provides a Unique Perspective
Volunteering often involves overcoming challenges and adapting to different situations. Sharing these experiences on your application can reveal personal growth, resilience, and the ability to work effectively with diverse groups of people.
How to Highlight Your Volunteer Experience in the Common App
When filling out the Common App, you’ll have the opportunity to showcase your volunteer experiences in various sections. Here’s how to make the most of it:
Detail Your Volunteer Activities
Be specific about the organizations you volunteered with, the roles you took on, and the impact you made. Include details like the number of hours volunteered, the skills you developed, and any notable achievements.
Reflect on Your Experiences
In the “Activities” section of the Common App, use this space to reflect on what you learned from your volunteer experiences. Discuss how these experiences shaped your goals, values, and aspirations.
Include Strong Recommendations
If possible, obtain recommendation letters from those who supervised or worked with you during your volunteer work. These letters can provide a third-party perspective on your contributions and character.
Connect Your Experiences to Your Future Goals
Show how your volunteer experiences have prepared you for college and beyond. Explain how these experiences have influenced your career aspirations and academic interests.
Stats for College Students
How Givefinity Can Help You
At Givefinity, we understand the importance of effectively tracking and showcasing your volunteer experiences. Our platform offers several features that can make this process easier:
Efficient Volunteer Tracking
Efficient Volunteer Tracking
Easily log and manage your volunteer hours, activities, and achievements. Our user-friendly interface helps you keep detailed records, so you have all the information you need when filling out your Common App.
Comprehensive Reporting
Generate detailed reports that you can use to highlight your volunteer work on your application. These reports provide a clear and organized summary of your volunteer experiences and their impact.
Organizational Tools
Keep all your volunteer information in one place on the Givefintiy app, making it easy to update and reference as you complete your Common App.
Get Started With Givefinity Today!
As the Common App goes live this August, no is the perfect time to start organizing and reflecting on your volunteer experiences. Givefinity is here to help you showcase your contributions and stand out in the competitive college admissions process. Download the Givefinity app today!
Additional Resources for Applying to Colleges
Here are some additional resources to help you along your college application journey:
- My College Help offers a variety of senior services. From helping you decide the best colleges and majors to help with essays and senior services they help make the journey go much more smoothly.
- BigFuture planning college can be stressful, however Big Future is there to help you on on your next step
- EssayPro helps you learn how to write good college essays to advance your future
- CollegeImpact works with high school students to navigate how to get into your dream University
