What is Community Service? Part 2

by , Mar 1, 2010

Last week I discussed the definition of community service and explained its importance to business school admissions committees. Today I'll answer three common questions that should help further clarify the subject of community service.

Do all top business schools require community service?

Top business schools value community service. Period. It is not a requirement in the sense that you will not be admitted under any circumstances without community service. It is a requirement in that sense that you will be at a competitive disadvantage if you dont have it.

If I haven't volunteered since college because my job requires a lot of travel or a gazillion hours a week, then should I even bother starting now? Won't the adcoms see right through those efforts?

First of all, working more than full time is not an excuse. Even investment bankers have carved out time for outside interests and service. Top business schools want students who can manage their time that means working super hard and giving back to your community.

If you don't have any community service under your belt, then you should definitely start volunteering NOW. Better late than never!

How important is the community service component of an MBA application?

Your community service experience is important. It can tilt the scales to or from acceptance. At the most competitive schools, where test scores and GPA are equally outstanding for many candidates and schools routinely reject qualified applicants, it's the non-academic aspects of an applicant's profile that frequently determine the outcome.

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.