Would these officially count as Community Service?

[mdhpfl]

There are weekly beach clean ups where I live. I've been faithfully going to 2 per month (about 6 hours total) for the last 3 years. I've found out today that the person in charge of the clean doesn't keep records of ppl who participate, only requiring them to sign a liability waiver.

Can I count this as community service?

I have also been doing community service through my honor's society. I've never had to sign up with the event's coordinator, just with my honor society's student officers. Would this count as well?

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[LizzyM]

There are weekly beach clean ups where I live. I've been faithfully going to 2 per month (about 6 hours total) for the last 3 years. I've found out today that the person in charge of the clean doesn't keep records of ppl who participate, only requiring them to sign a liability waiver.

Can I count this as community service?

I have also been doing community service through my honor's society. I've never had to sign up with the event's coordinator, just with my honor society's student officers. Would this count as well?

Sure, both count as community service.

 

[eldoctor]

There are weekly beach clean ups where I live. I've been faithfully going to 2 per month (about 6 hours total) for the last 3 years. I've found out today that the person in charge of the clean doesn't keep records of ppl who participate, only requiring them to sign a liability waiver.

Can I count this as community service?

I have also been doing community service through my honor's society. I've never had to sign up with the event's coordinator, just with my honor society's student officers. Would this count as well?

Yes and yes. Although you want more.

 

[mdhpfl]

Yes and yes. Although you want more.

I'm intrigued. When you mean "more," did you mean variety or hours? I believed i have accrued more than 200 hours of beach clean ups alone from the two events I mentioned

 

[LizzyM]

I'm intrigued. When you mean "more," did you mean variety or hours? I believed i have accrued more than 200 hours of beach clean ups alone from the two events I mentioned

But 216 hrs (6 hrs/mo * 36 mos) is <2 hrs wk for 3 yrs. The 3 years is good and shows long term commitment but it isn't much in terms of time per week.

 

[AllDay24]

More types of community services, not just two.

 

[mdhpfl]

But 216 hrs (6 hrs/mo * 36 mos) is <2 hrs wk for 3 yrs. The 3 years is good and shows long term commitment but it isn't much in terms of time per week.

Got it thanks🙂. I've also done wetland and riverine preservation work. Would you call these different types of commnity service or the same thing? Ppl have given me mixed answers on this one.

 

[LizzyM]

Got it thanks🙂. I've also done wetland and riverine preservation work. Would you call these different types of commnity service or the same thing? Ppl have given me mixed answers on this one.

Yes, that can count, too. You might want to diversity into community service that provides service directly to human beings rather than indirectly through improvements to the environment as a way of showing your interest in direct service to people.

 

[mdhpfl]

Yes, that can count, too. You might want to diversity into community service that provides service directly to human beings rather than indirectly through improvements to the environment as a way of showing your interest in direct service to people.

Thanks LizzyM!

 

[evusq]

What about volunteer research assistant? It wasn't a paid position.. could I count this as a community service?

 

[LizzyM]

volunteer research assistant

Its a better fit with "Research" in the pull-down menu.

 

[mihan]

Would working as a Sunday School teacher count as community service too? I for some reason have this impression that it wouldn't simply because it falls under "religion"...

 

[ucsdhopeful]

Would working as a Sunday School teacher count as community service too? I for some reason have this impression that it wouldn't simply because it falls under "religion"...

That's more extracurricular than anything. Careful, although all things CAN be put on an application, it doesn't mean it SHOULD. Only mention things meaningful and important to you. A one day stint at a medical center might not mean much, but a weekend set aside every week for a year would.

 

[mihan]

I've been a Sunday School teacher since sophomore year of high school, so that's a LOT of weekends and hours spent with small children, hahah..Well, I suppose I should start doing some "real" volunteer work too some time soon ; )

 

[LizzyM]

If is "volunteer, non-clinical". There is a category for that in the experience section of the AMCAS. You should also have some "volunteer, clinical" unless you have some "employment" in a patient-care environment.