Unconventional Extracurriculars? Is this considered a hobby or nonclinical volunteering?

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I'm currently volunteering as a Chinese to English translator for Chinese novels and comics, and this is one of my biggest activities (did it since junior year of HS and will continue it throughout undergrad and after college). We basically collaborate with lesser-known Chinese authors and publish their works for an English audience for free, but I'm not sure whether to consider this as a hobby or a really odd nonclinical volunteering activity. I'm leaning towards hobby, but I wanted to see what others think.

 

[wysdoc]

Hobby or artistic endeavor category

 

[AsclepiusAdvisingLLC]

Usually, a hobby is taken as something which is directly productive.

Since you are translating, and not writing, you might better call it a volunteering activity.

Alternatively, artistic endeavor. But again, you're not directly producing but rather translating.

This is a very unique thing to be doing and I'm certain an admissions officer will give it some consideration. It won't beat a low MCAT or GPA, but it shows cultural competency, an attention to language, and the ability to collaborate. All of these are good for Situational Judgement Tests, personal statements, secondaries, and interviews.

But yeah, put it as a volunteering activity.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I'm currently volunteering...

You said it. 😉

Lawyers who work pro bono are volunteers too. 🙂

Lots of premeds work as translators. Not many do so for other authors or writers.

 

[AJS59]

I'm currently volunteering as a Chinese to English translator for Chinese novels and comics, and this is one of my biggest activities (did it since junior year of HS and will continue it throughout undergrad and after college). We basically collaborate with lesser-known Chinese authors and publish their works for an English audience for free, but I'm not sure whether to consider this as a hobby or a really odd nonclinical volunteering activity. I'm leaning towards hobby, but I wanted to see what others think.

I could classify it as volunteering with the caveat that it should not be your only non-clinical volunteering