Top community service activities for college applications

What are some of the best community service activities to include on college applications? I'm trying to enhance my application profile and would love suggestions on impactful projects or organizations to get involved with.

Great question! It's important to keep in mind that colleges aren't just looking for you to complete a certain number of community service hours. They want to see long-term commitment to a cause or community, as well as evidence of significant impact.

Organizations or causes that tie into your intended major or future career could be especially impactful. For example, if you're planning on studying education, tutoring or mentoring roles can demonstrate your commitment to education and showcase your ability to work with students. Similarly, pre-med students may find volunteering in a hospital or clinic valuable.

Starting a service project of your own is another way to stand out. Perhaps there's a local issue you care about that isn't being addressed. Initiating a project in the community demonstrates leadership and entrepreneurial spirit. This could be as simple as starting a neighborhood clean-up or as complex as creating a local mentorship program.

Fundraising for a cause you're passionate about is another effective way to show both your dedication and your ability to organize events and motivate people. This could be related to a local, national, or global issue, and could take many forms: a charity run, bake sale, crowdfunding campaign, and so on.

Joining or taking on leadership roles within established volunteer organizations can also be very rewarding. Examples might include Key Club, Habitat for Humanity, a local food bank, or a local environmental organization such as a community garden or tree-planting initiative.

Remember that consistency and dedication to your chosen cause or organization are more impressive than simply having a long list of varied activities. Colleges will often value depth over breadth in your activities list, so choose projects that truly interest you and stick with them.