What is Community Service? Part 1

by , Feb 22, 2010

If you're planning to apply to b-school next fall then now would be an ideal time to start assessing your strengths and weaknesses as a candidate. Often a main concern among applicants is their lack of community service. What I've found, though, is that often applicants don't even really understand what community service even is or why community service is important.

Over the next two weeks I'll address the ins and outs of the community service requirement for top b-school applications.

First, what is community service?

Community service is the "active participation in and assumption of responsibility for your community." This intentionally broad definition includes any role you may take in a local sports team, alumni group, church, political campaign, or any other group that you define as your community, so long as your role is "active" and that it shows "responsibility," the two operative phrases of the definition.

Another way of looking at it: Community service is something that you volunteer your valuable time and energy to support, promote, and impact.

Next, what isn't community service?

Anything you do that is neither active nor shows responsibility or concern for your community won't pass the bill as community service. This definition excludes writing checks (even big checks) for groups you supportthis isn't really active, is it? Nor does it include occasionally helping your elderly neighbor carry her grocerieswhile this is active (somewhat), and shows your neighborly virtue, it doesn't really reflect community responsibility.

Finally, why is community service important?

It's important for adcoms to see you as more than simply a collection of test scores and grades, and it is particularly important that they see you as a contributor. Community service usually reflects your personal values and priorities, and by enumerating those experiences, you're painting a clearer, multi-dimensional picture of who you really areyour interests, your passions, and your ideals in addition to key attributes that may not be evident in other areas of your profile: leadership, interpersonal skills, initiative, and the ability to handle responsibility. Also, active applicants make active studentsadcoms seek to admit students who will participate enthusiastically in campus clubs and events and make the campus hop.

For more information on optimizing your application profile, please refer to the following Accepted.com resources:

• 5 Fatal Flaws, a free 5-day email course.
• Best Practices for MBA Admissions, a free webinar.
• Application Essay Do's & Don'ts, a free article loaded with tips.
• Leadership in MBA Admissions, a free special report.