Do Colleges Look at Volunteer Hours? Less Is More – Depth over Breadth in Volunteering.
Do colleges look at volunteer hours? One of the most common questions we get from parents and students is, “How many volunteer hours should I have?” Some say 20 hours is good; others swear you need 200. So which is it?



The short answer: it’s closer to 20.
The long answer: you’re not even asking the right question. Read on to see what we mean. 





Do Colleges Look at Volunteer Hours? It’s Service, Not Service “Hours”



Less Is More



One of the most misunderstood admissions criteria is volunteering. Some call it “service hours,” but it really just comes down to service—authentic service. Helping others for the sake of helping.



The “less is more” principle can be interpreted in two ways to improve one’s volunteer work towards college admissions. 



High Impact Work Is How Colleges Care About Volunteer Hours



How do colleges look at volunteer hours? The first one is that it’s better to do fewer hours of high-impact work than more hours of low-impact work. What makes service meaningful is the impact of your work, not the number of hours you worked. After all, when applying for college, students must write essays explaining why they served rather than how many hours they served. Similarly, it’s not about the title of a volunteer experience; one could have had more impact as a general volunteer working directly with people on the front lines, while being named the officer of a club doesn’t mean the student actually made a meaningful contribution. 




Remember, impact occurs in two ways: impact on others and impact on self. Impact on others can be measured by answering the following question: “How much will my contribution last beyond the day of my contribution?” For example, serving food to the homeless is certainly an act of service; however, its impact will likely not last beyond the day of service, making it relatively low-impact. 





Impact on self can be measured by answering the following question: “How much will/has this experience changed the way I live and perceive the world?” Impactful service experiences are often incredibly transformative for both those who serve and those who are being served.



Have Fewer Engagements



In order to have the time to do high-impact work, you should lower the number of volunteer service engagements you’re involved in. Making a positive, lasting impact on another’s life requires extensive time and attention, so don’t waste your time on frenzied activities that won’t add up to much.



How do colleges look at volunteer work? Too often, students serve in a different organization each year. That’s okay if the organization didn’t provide impactful work, but if it did, you should absolutely continue that work. On the other hand, stop serving if the work is not impactful. If the work you’re engaging in is generic and low-impact, it’s time to move on to a better service experience.

Continuity within a service organization past the first year often leads to potential leadership roles. Inquire about leadership opportunities before committing to a service opportunity so that you can compare and contrast different opportunities.



Serving in the Summer



Too many parents emphasize summer educational programs without emphasizing the need to serve, when in fact, summer is one of the best times to serve.