Q: Some of my friends are telling me that if I don’t have any community service on my resume, I won’t be able to get into a good college. I’m not against doing community service, but I just don’t see where I could fit it into my schedule. I have a heavy academic load, plus I’m very involved in performing arts (orchestra, jazz ensemble, drama) and with all the rehearsals, I have hardly any free time! Will not having community service on my record really hurt me?

A: This is a timely question! At a rally for civic service yesterday, Mayor Mike Bloomberg called on all New York City public schools to offer public service opportunities to students although he said he would not make it a requirement for graduation as some high schools do. The theory behind requiring community service is that young people ought to put in some effort to enhance their community, and some students find themselves becoming inspired by the service they do in the process of fulfilling this requirement. Others find it a chore and only do it because it’s mandated.

There is no requirement that community service be listed on a college application, just as there is no requirement for work experience or extra-curricular involvement. There is space for both to be listed, but it’s optional.

Some colleges have “service to others” as an important part of their own ethic. If you look at a college’s website and it points out, for example, that 90% of the student body is involved in community service, from working in a neighborhood soup kitchen to tutoring children in an after-school program to calling the bingo numbers at the senior citizens’ center, then it’s obvious that evidence of community service will be valued (and the lack of service will be noted).

Let’s look at what the term “community service” truly means. It means serving one’s community - and there are many ways to do that. As a member of several performing ensembles, you provide entertainment and pleasure to others. You are sharing your time and talent to enhance the community life of your school and neighborhood. That is your contribution, and colleges will be aware of that.

Admissions officers are looking for evidence that students think about people other than themselves, and service is one area where this becomes apparent. It’s sad that some students volunteer only because they think it’s important for their resumes, not because they feel service has any intrinsic value in itself. Instead, if students would think about the activities they enjoy most, and then see how they can share these with others, they may actually find themselves enjoying the service work and want to continue it. For instance, a pianist might consider giving recitals in nursing homes — she gets to do what she enjoys and simultaneously brings joy to those who need it. Art students could organize an exhibit and sale to benefit a medical charity.

Exotic expensive summer programs

With summer approaching, high schools and families are receiving information about exciting-sounding community service programs in exotic locations. The sponsoring organizations promise life-changing experiences that can really open up a student’s world, but they are often very expensive. Will participating in one of these programs give anyone a better chance of being accepted to any particular college? No. Admissions staff will know that being able to participate is often an indication of family income. Is participation valuable at all? Of course - students can learn a great deal and have fun in the process. (If you are considering one of these programs, check to see who is in charge and how the program is supervised. Be sure to get testimonials from outside the organization before signing up).

It’s not necessary to do good far from home in order to gain the same experience. Last year an acquaintance in Boston told me about a wonderful opportunity he had found for his son, volunteering as a soccer coach at a sports camp for underprivileged children in another country. He traveled thousands of miles, only to find that there was no “program” to speak of. Were there no children in Boston with whom he could have worked? Of course there were, and he could have made some positive impact in his own community. Not only that, but volunteering close to home offers the opportunity for real commitment, rather than a one-week deal. This would be something that would truly impress admissions officers, because sustained involvement over time is more genuine than a short-term program.

Fund-raising for community service

In my last column I mentioned the fund-raising guide on the website of the National Youth Leadership Forum. Because the Forum cannot assist many applicants with scholarships, they suggest students do their own fund-raising to come up with the program fees. It might be interesting to apply all the fund-raising ideas suggested by the NYLF (http://nylf.org/shared/fundraising_guide.pdf) to raise money for one’s own community. What if students took their own favorite causes — medical research, a local children’s hospital, a senior center, animal shelter, neighborhood arts association — and mobilized campaigns on their behalf? That would demonstrate planning, persistence, and imagination, and would benefit the local community instead of a company located elsewhere. Just an idea.

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