Is community services important when applying for a great University (Harvard, MIT)? Will it help get admitted

Question

- I am thinking about applying to Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, Princeton and Caltech for studying Advanced Mathematics and Physics in a Undergraduate Program.

- I live in Calgary, Canada.

- I study in one of the best schools in Calgary that has the International Program (www.IBO.org) and my grades are great! I have only A's.

- I only have my report cards of Grade 10-11 and I am doing 12 now.

- Sorry for my English, I moved from Brazil to Canada a year ago and my English doesn't look really good.

- I will do my SATs in 3 months or less, where I will need great grades, I will try to be in the 95% or more, of course.

And I would like to add something: ---> I do play lots of sports.

- Soccer
- Basketball
- Tennis
- Ping-Pong (Table Tennis)
- Swimming

I also play:
- Guitar
- Bass

Is that helpful to get admitted?

Answer 1

No, it's not important. Do community service if it's your calling -- if you are truly, deeply passionate about people in need. If it's not, then focus on what you are passionate about. Admissions officers are very good at spotting resume padding -- a shopping list of activities that the applicant does just because society demands it. An example of such a list: "Varsity tennis, piano for 8 years, volunteering at a hospital, Key Club, National Honor Society." It really doesn't tell anyone about who you are.

Colleges, especially the private universities at the top, care much more about personality and passion than the media thinks they do. They receive so many applicants with the same scores and grades and activities that there needs to be something else that stands out about you.

Answer 2

That stuff is essential. It's called extra curricular activities. Basically, anything done other than grades. It can be sports, community service, church group stuff, research projects, music, business, etc.

You have to realize that those top schools get a ton of well qualified applicants. Nearly everyone will have perfect grades and standardized test scores. So, to pick out those who merely study from those who are truly exceptional and well rounded students, the colleges look at the extra currics, personal essays, and letters of recommendations.

People have gotten rejected for something as stupid as a letter of rec saying a kid has been a "good leader," which is not as flowery as "the greatest leader to ever cross my path".

Answer 3

Schools like Harvard and MIT are hit or miss. They don't like too much of a good thing, but really like well-balanced students. Good grades aren't everything, Harvard has been known to accept B average students. Sports aren't everything, Ivy League schools have been known to reject kids with tons of varsity letters and sports. Community Service can be big one year, and not the next, though generally most colleges like to see their students giving back to the community.

I hope this helped a little.

Answer 4

Community Service is not essential to be admitted to those institutions, yet do you have outside activities that are substantial such as a sport or a special interest?