Yes, you can keep yelling at yourself for not starting earlier, but that won’t get you anywhere, will it? Instead, start volunteering now.
It’s true that adcoms would rather see a long history of community service rather than just a short stint, but you can’t turn back the clock. You can start now.
Why is community service so important, you ask? B-schools (and all graduate programs, for that matter) are looking for individuals who will be good leaders on the job, in their communities, and as alumni. Your past commitment to a community service activity helps prove to the adcoms that you are a committed, dedicated person.
Not sure where to start? We recently learned about the USA Leadership Corps. If you’re interested in helping small businesses and social entrepreneurs promote their ventures, then you may qualify to serve as a mentor or consultant for the USALC. Contact the Corps for more information.
Another option for those interested in social entrepreneurship is DoSomething.org‘s new grant opportunity program. If you have a sustainable community action project, program, or idea, especially if it focuses on Diabetes Awareness, the Special Olympics, or Volunteerism, then you may qualify for a Do Something grant. The application deadline is July 15, 2010.
Let us know if you need help thinking of other community service ideas, or please feel free to post if you have ideas on the subject you’d like to share.
Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best
community service is a great thing