community service activities essay

115 Community Service Examples With List of Extracurricular Activities

Community service is an excellent way to help people and improve your community. It can also help you gain skills and experience to include on your resume and college applications.

What exactly is Community Service?

Community service is precisely what its name says; services you perform to benefit your community. Community service can be done by an individual or by several people that help others. 

Community service can improve the lives of different groups of people like troubled children, senior citizens, people with disabilities, sometimes even injured animals, and save the environment. Community service is usually organized through a local group, like a church, temple, school, or non-profit organization. However, you can also start your community service projects.  

People join community service because they enjoy helping others and improve their surroundings and community. Many students take up community service to graduate from high school or get particular honors. Sometimes adults are also ordered by a judge to complete several community service hours.

How Participating in Community Service will Help you in College Admission

Develop a better a perspective of the world.

Volunteering is a crucial part of preparing students to take authority as open-minded, civilized citizens in a global community. While performing community service, students have the opportunity to observe in real life how much their work can have a positive impact on the world. Students volunteering locally at food shelves, retirement centers, animal shelters, and orphanages get to interact with people who have immensely different backgrounds learn patience and empathy as they develop a whole new perspective of the world.

Connect What They Learn in the Real World

Community service provides students a considerable opportunity to explore academic interests in the real world. 

Volunteering can help students learn more about how certain things function; for example, clean up drives, recycling waste, etc., can help students learn more about environmental issues firsthand.

We have found that when students connect what they are learning in school to real-life issues that matter, they throw themselves into learning. Studies show that students who give back to the community perform better in university, especially in math, reading, and history. Moreover, students who participate in community service are also more certainly to graduate from high school.

Edge in College Admission Process

As admission to elite universities is becoming more and more competitive, volunteer experience can be a massive advantage in college admission. This is the reason many students start doing community service projects. However, students who start earlier have a distinct advantage because their span of experience allows them to step up to leadership positions within organizations quickly.

The advantage in Getting Scholarship

Those extra years of volunteering give students an advantage while applying for scholarships—usually, scholarships are planned to reward community service participation. The relationships students build with other volunteers also make their advantage when it comes time for college applications, letters of recommendation, and scholarships. 

Improved Resume

Volunteering looks impressive to employers and shows that the student is responsible and cares about their community. Also, volunteering can serve as an unpaid internship. Employers are often not ready to hire people without experience, and volunteering is an easy way for students to gain experience in various fields.

Create a network

Students who want to get into a particular field can use community service to network with other industry experts. As a volunteer, the students can learn about new job or internships. Students can also help some of their friends’ volunteer for references and advice on finding a career in the industry.

Overall become a better person. 

“Set your heart on doing good. Do it over and over again, and you will be filled with joy”. -Gautama Buddha

Indeed, volunteering is a peaceful experience internally. Studies show that people who help others are happier individuals. Students can become more comfortable through volunteering, and they can learn new skills that help them succeed. 

By learning communication skills and managing the books, students can pick up skills to grow. Students pay thousands of dollars every year for their schooling. Instead of spending more money on the school to learn a skill, students may pick up the same ability through volunteering. This will help students develop a great resume and network with professionals.

Improve your mental and physical health

A recent study shows that volunteers enjoy remarkable health benefits. Compared to non-volunteers, volunteers are likely to efficiently deal with stress, anxiety, and depression and have lower mortality rates. While older individuals had the most health benefits, young students also enjoy the health benefits. 

Also, people who spend over 100 hours helping in services each year show excellent positive health outcomes. From health benefits to a better resume, students who undertake community services can gain exceptional benefits. 

Community service allows students to show leadership, creativity, compassion, understand, and come to terms with the real world. Colleges do not just want students who will perform well in class – they want students who will also engage outside of the school and positively impact campus and the world.

How Should You Use This List?

We have covered more than one hundred community service examples. The list is organized by category, so let’s say if you are specifically interested in working with senior citizens, children, or animals, you can easily find community service activities related to your interests.

You can look for projects that are similar to your interests. You may also want to perform particular community service that allows you just enjoy, like baking, cleaning or acting,

Many community service work can help you gain skills. These skills include yoga, teaching, medicine, internet skills, CPR, construction, and many more. If there is a particular skill you'd like to learn for future classes, jobs, or just out of personal interest, you may want to see if there is a community service activity that helps you understand that skill.

List of Community Service Examples

We have put together a list of community service project examples to get you started.

Collecting things for your community

• Contribute to school supplies.
• Collect backpacks .
• Organize and make donations at a homeless shelter.
• Collect non-perishable food products .
• Get extra unused makeup to donate to domestic violence shelters.
• Collect Halloween candy to send to deployed military service members who cannot celebrate at their home.
• Collect hygiene items.
• Collect used jeans for homeless teenagers.
• Collect stuffed animals for small children.
• Collect SAT and ACT books and donate them to a library.

Helping School and Children

• Teach children after the school
• Organize fun games and activities for children in hospitals 
• Knit blankets which can be donated to hospitals or homeless shelters
• Organize a Special Olympics event for children and teenagers
• Donate a used sports equipment to children and teenagers
• Volunteer at a summer camp for teenagers who have lost a parent
• Coach a youth sports team
• Give free music lessons to children.
• Organize a program to encourage kids to learn, read and work hard for a better future
•  Help new students make friends. 
• Become a counselor and help troubled kids
•  Develop a new game for children
• Sponsor education of child living in an underdeveloped foreign country
•  Pass your good religious knowledge to troubled teenagers
•  Babysit children
• Volunteer local health department to set up an immunization clinic to immunize children against diseases

Helping Elderly

• Read to elderly at a nursing home.
• Deliver groceries and meals to senior citizens
• Teach internet skills
• Drive senior citizens to doctor appointments
• Now their lawn
• Host a bingo night at a nursing home
• Host a holiday meal
• Make birthday cards 
• Decorate a Christmas tree at a nursing home
• Organize a family day for residents of a retirement home and relatives to play games together
• Deliver medicines to elderly neighborhood
• Organize a concert, sing or play some instrument at a retirement home 
• Help the elderly clean their homes.
• Shovel snow, wash windows, and help in gardening. 
• Deliver cookies 

Taking care of Animals and Environment

• Take care of dogs and cats at an animal shelter
• Clean up a nearby park
• Help raise money and get a bulletproof vest for a police dog.
• Plant a lot of tree and plants
• Place a bird feeder and bird fountain in open spaces.
• Start a butterfly garden in your community.
• Segregate plastic waste into different categories for recycling purpose
• Cleanup drives for plastic waste removal
• Sponsor a recycling contest
• Create a new walking trail at a park
• Update the essential signs along a nature trail
• Adopt cats and dogs
• Organize the cleanup of a local river or lake
• Nurture animals that do not have space in shelters
• Take care of a neighbor's pet when they are gone away for a long time.
• Sponsor an animal at your local zoo
• Train your pet to be a therapy animal and take them to children’s hospitals and nursing homes
• Build a birdhouse
• Organize drives to inform people about the harmful effects of “Air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, and soil pollution and how to prevent them.”
• Arrange a carpool to reduce car emissions
• Arrange more second-hand bikes in your town
•  Volunteer at a nature camp and inform kids about the environment
• Test the water quality of a lake or river near you
• Plant trees and quickly grown flowers along highways

Helping Homeless People

• Build a house
• Donate your old clothes
• Volunteer at a kitchen
• Donate your old eyeglasses 
• Donate blankets
• Organize a Thanksgiving dinner for people who are unable to arrange on their own
• Offer to for a family in need.
• Make “care kits” with daily necessities like toothbrushes, paste, soaps, shampoos, combs, etc., to donate to homeless shelters.
• Distribute a home-cooked meal for the residents of a nearby homeless shelter
• Help to fix the interior or paint a local homeless shelter.
• Donate art supplies to kids 
• Organize a donations drive at a homeless shelter
• Babysit children while their parents search for jobs
• Become a Big Brother for children at a homeless shelter
• Take homeless children on picnics.
• Prepare food and deliver it to a soup kitchen.
• Build flower boxes for Humanity houses
• Organize a drive in winter to collect coats, blankets, scarves, and gloves to be distributed
• Distribute first aid kits for homeless shelters

Promoting safety and reducing crime

• Volunteer at a police station or firehouse
• Volunteer as a lifeguard 
• Paint over bad graffiti in the neighborhood 
• Train girls and children for self-defense
• Organize a drug-free campaign
• Sponsor or arrange a drug-free event
• Start a neighborhood watch program.
• Teach a home-alone safety class for children
• Organize a drive against drug and alcohol use
• Become CPR certified
• Volunteer as a crossing guard for an elementary school

Helping overall community to grow 

• Paint park benches
• Donate used books to the local library
• Become a tour guide of your local museum
• Repaint community fences
• Plant flowers in bare public areas
• Start a campaign to raise money to install new playground equipment for a park.
• Help to organize a community parade.
• Clean up drives
• Produce a neighborhood newspaper
• Start a campaign for more lighting along the dark streets.

Let’s Explore the Extracurricular Activities for College Students

Extracurricular activities are activities that typically take place outside a classroom. According to the Common App , extracurriculars are activities that include arts, athletics, clubs, employment, personal commitments, etc.

Most well-known and top-rated colleges receive applications from incredibly accomplished students for mostly the same number of spots. How do applicants set themselves apart? How do admissions officers decide which student is the better investment?

Note - Before we get into extracurricular activities, I would just like to say that nothing can replace your high school grades and the results of your standardized tests (ACT/SAT). Your grades are still important- an excellent extracurricular profile will just make your application look good and make it stand out from the rest of the applicants. Do not take your grades lightly. You must enroll in challenging courses and do well in them if you aspire to attend top schools. Easy course loads, as well as low grades or test scores, cannot be overcome by developing a standout extracurricular profile.

However, it’s equally important to emphasize that doing well in challenging courses and on standardized tests like the SAT or AP Exams is not enough to get into elite universities. To stand out from the competition, you must pursue interesting activities in a focused way to demonstrate expertise, initiative, leadership, impact, and other positive qualities.

Most applicants are highly accomplished, and they have excellent stats while participating in various extracurricular activities. Therefore, a unique extracurricular profile will help the admissions officer pick you.

Typically, colleges would prefer a student with an average score of 85% and a lot of involvement in extracurriculars as compared to a student with an average score of 90% with no involvement. Also, colleges would rather admit two students from the 99th percentile in a particular field than admitting two students from the 80th percentile in various fields.

Colleges believe that what you do before college reflects what you will continue to do in college. College administration officers like students who are active and are contributing to the community. They believe that there is a good chance that applicants who are active and involved in the community will continue to do so in college. Therefore, extracurriculars can help you get into good colleges. But, how do you decide when to focus on schoolwork instead of extracurricular activities?

Colleges understand that not all students will get time for traditional extracurricular activities. Sometimes, obligations to family or financial constraints might restrict a student from taking up extra activities. Therefore, any way you use your time in a constructive or valuable manner will be acceptable by the college. For example, taking care of the family or working a part-time job are responsibilities that display maturity. This will show colleges that you are capable of being responsible and making serious commitments. 

A study in the US showed that students taking up extracurriculars have a better chance at scoring well in exams. The logic behind this study was that sometimes extracurriculars help you feel better about yourself, which in turn helps you get better grades. Think about it this way- playing a sport makes you smarter than watching TV/movies. If you like watching movies, you can form a club for movies and increase the number of members of this group. This will also be considered an extracurricular.

What do Colleges want to see?

When admissions officers see a list of extracurricular activities that is very common, it becomes difficult to differentiate between applicants. Thus, while looking at applications, colleges are looking for students who are specialists in their chosen fields and have a deep and interesting reason for engaging in it. 

Colleges care less about “what” activity you do and care more about “why” and “how” you do. No activity has more importance over the other, as long as your reason behind it is strong enough. There are three main things that colleges are looking for: Passion, Leadership, and Impact. The “why” and “how” define these three points.

Passion – Colleges believe that your passion is something that will create a drive in you to accomplish great things. They believe that this passion will most likely continue to drive you in college as well. Therefore, make sure your activity is not only for fun but also for passion.

Leadership - Leadership experiences include any time that you have been responsible for a project or for guiding, motivating, or instructing others. Many schools – especially the most selective ones – want to see students who exhibit leadership skills because they are hoping that their students will someday go on to be leaders who make differences on a larger scale in academics, business, or research. Therefore, showing that you have the desire and sense of responsibility that a leader needs can be very attractive to admissions officers.

Impact - One of the reasons that passion is so important is because admission officers want to see that you have made a significant investment in activity over an extended period of time. Though you’ll probably experiment with several different activities when you're younger, once you settle on the one you're most passionate about, officers are going to be looking for how you've made a difference in the activity and how you've changed because of it. Admission officers want to know about you, who you are, and what made you like this. 

Best extracurricular activities in a college application

Listed below are some of the extracurricular activities that universities look for in applications and which you should consider pursuing so that it positively enhances your university applications.

1. Student Government

Students who stand for elections and are elected from the Student Government on campus. Typically, the student government’s functions can include: 

• Coordinating events and activities for students
• Being the voice of students 
• Allocating funds to other student organizations on campus
• Providing forums for discussions of students’ problems
• Strengthening the student community on campus

Everything listed in the extracurricular activities of the Student Government aims to hone the leadership skill in a student. By being part of Student Government, you will become:

• More articulate 
• Enhance your interpersonal skills, as you will be interacting with different people
• Adept at handling activities beyond academics at school 

The most salient takeaway of being part of the Student Government is that it infuses you with leadership skills. Extracurricular activities at colleges where Student Government is an option have additional functions like being part of the honor council that is responsible for the university’s honor code as well as being on the judiciary board to hear and pass verdicts in disciplinary cases.You can participate in extracurricular activities at colleges such as Student Government only if you have done so in the past and exhibited leadership qualities.

Watch this video about the merits of extracurricular activities in Student Government:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgKGk9R8E_M

Watch this video of extracurricular activities at colleges:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4rVtUrHeHw

2.Athletics

By participating in extracurricular activities pertaining to sports, there are many qualities that you will refine. Sports will display your

• Leadership skills
• Obligation to practice
• Competitive spirit

All colleges look for such qualities in applicants so when you have demonstrated these qualities in extracurricular activities, colleges are bound to be interested in your application. There are many universities in the US like Stanford University, University of Florida, and the University of California, Los Angeles, – to name a few, who are reputed for athletics. By choosing athletics as one of your extracurricular activities, and studying at a university that further hones your talent, it could well pave the way for you to become a professional athlete. An added incentive in choosing sports is the possibility of getting financial aid to pursue your studies while participating in the university’s sports/athletics team.

For more information about getting financial aid for extracurricular activities in sports:

https://educationusa.state.gov/athletic-scholarships

Watch this video of Stanford University’s extracurricular activities at colleges:

https://www.youtube.com/user/stanfordathletics

3. The Debate Team

If you love conversations and putting forth your point of view about current matters, become a part of the debate team. All extracurricular activities are meant to challenge you but this one does so from the moment you decide to participate in a debate.

By participating in debates you will be:

• Up to date in current affairs
• Fearless to speak your mind
• Think on your feet
• Analytical in your thinking
• Confident in your beliefs

With such qualities in extracurricular activities that are demonstrated and not simply mentioned in your personal statement, your college application will be high up in the pile of applications. If you have the qualities of being good at debating, it can well present you with career options – you could become a lawyer, politician, broadcast analyst, etc.

For information on extracurricular activities in debates at Indian schools:

http://indianschoolsdebatingsociety.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-2m75o414c

4.Internships

When you choose to intern as one of your extracurricular activities, it immediately signals that you are focused and intent on achieving your academic and career goals. By doing an internship, you are willing to work for free if necessary to gain experience.

What an internship says about you when mentioned under extracurricular activities is that:

• You are dedicated to your goals
• You are efficient
• You are competent and mature to begin working
• You are willing to work hard
• You will go that extra mile if necessary

All colleges look for such qualities in applicants and the college will be further assured that you will be willing to take on tough study programs and challenge yourself.

While choosing an internship, ensure that it is related to the major that you wish to pursue at college. In doing so, your efforts in enhancing your extracurricular activities will have direction and purpose.

For information on extracurricular activities in an internship in India: 

http://www.makeintern.com/

https://internshala.com/internships

5.Volunteer Work and Community Service

By choosing to do volunteer work and community service, you demonstrate your desire to do what you can to make a difference to your community or the larger world. By becoming involved in local groups or international organizations, you can participate in such extracurricular activities.

Volunteer Work and Community Service will make you:

• More sensitive to the needs of others
• Committed to giving back to society
• Willing to work beyond the call of duty

When Volunteer Work and Community Service is mentioned under extracurricular activities in your application, every college admissions office will place you a few notches higher than other applicants. The experience you gain with such extracurricular activities is what colleges look for in students to make their college a better place.

When you initially choose to volunteer or offer community service in an area that you love, e.g., something related to the environment, helping stricken animals, etc., it may influence the study program you choose and may even lead to various career options. An added advantage of volunteering can be in getting selected for a job because you already have working experience.

Watch this video about extracurricular activities:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4LCe9uiGj0

Watch this video about how volunteering can help in finding employment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBLIuDTvrxs

How to explain your activities on your application?

Letters of recommendation - You can share your project with teachers and guidance counselors who, in turn, can write about the projects in their recommendation letters . 

Common App Essay (i.e., personal statement) or supplemental essays - If a project took substantial time to complete, it may be worth writing about it in a reflective matter. You can also mention how you came across this project and what you learned from it.

Common App Additional Information Section - Unlike an essay, the Additional Information section is optional and should not be written in an essay form. It should simply provide a brief explanation—about a paragraph long—of the project.

Interviews - Although not every school requires one, an interview is an excellent time to share the details of an unusual project.

Extracurricular Tips  

• It does not matter what extracurricular activity you select. I cannot stress this enough. Colleges want to see what drives you, they want to know what you are passionate about. They don’t care what you choose to do, they just care about the “why”.
• Colleges don’t like seeing the most basic extracurricular. For example, if you play a musical instrument, they want you to use that to do something on a larger scale. Host a talent show with an ulterior motive, for example, awareness for breast cancer, or anything along these lines.
• Colleges want an activity that is not easily explained. Activities that have a high threshold are more impressive as compared to low-threshold activities. Colleges want to hear about your activity and wonder how you pulled it off. The more interesting it will be, the higher will be your chances of getting admitted. 
• Focus on only a few activities. Don’t be the jack of all and master of none. Pick 3 – 5 activities and narrow your focus on them. Specialize in one activity: colleges would rather you master 1 activity and be in the 99th percentile than be decent in several activities and be in the 80th percentile.

What you should and shouldn’t do

• Do as many activities as you can in the 11th grade to save time to focus on academics in the 12th. 
• Narrow your focus to 3 – 5 activities that you care about the most and try to master them. 
• Let your activities tell your story. What you choose to stick with defines who you are; your passion speaks for you.
• Don’t let your grades suffer. 
• Don’t waste your vacations. Use your holidays to explore your interests and then focus on them. 
• Don’t forget to enjoy the process, because this time will never come back! TIP - Trust the process!

What you are waiting for, start volunteering! You can withdraw from small projects that you can complete on your within a short time; then, eventually, you can take up much larger projects that will take more time and people. If you find anything interesting and are willing to do it, you can start on your own.

If you want to take up a large project, you will need more resources or people, and you can check around your community and get help or check if a similar program already exists that you can join.

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How to Write the Community Essay – Guide with Examples (2023-24)

September 6, 2023

Students applying to college this year will inevitably confront the community essay. In fact, most students will end up responding to several community essay prompts for different schools. For this reason, you should know more than simply how to approach the community essay as a genre. Rather, you will want to learn how to decipher the nuances of each particular prompt, in order to adapt your response appropriately. In this article, we’ll show you how to do just that, through several community essay examples. These examples will also demonstrate how to avoid cliché and make the community essay authentically and convincingly your own.

Emphasis on Community

Do keep in mind that inherent in the word “community” is the idea of multiple people. The personal statement already provides you with a chance to tell the college admissions committee about yourself as an individual. The community essay, however, suggests that you depict yourself among others. You can use this opportunity to your advantage by showing off interpersonal skills, for example. Or, perhaps you wish to relate a moment that forged important relationships. This in turn will indicate what kind of connections you’ll make in the classroom with college peers and professors.

Apart from comprising numerous people, a community can appear in many shapes and sizes. It could be as small as a volleyball team, or as large as a diaspora. It could fill a town soup kitchen, or spread across five boroughs. In fact, due to the internet, certain communities today don’t even require a physical place to congregate. Communities can form around a shared identity, shared place, shared hobby, shared ideology, or shared call to action. They can even arise due to a shared yet unforeseen circumstance.

What is the Community Essay All About?             

In a nutshell, the community essay should exhibit three things:

• An aspect of yourself, 2. in the context of a community you belonged to, and 3. how this experience may shape your contribution to the community you’ll join in college.

It may look like a fairly simple equation: 1 + 2 = 3. However, each college will word their community essay prompt differently, so it’s important to look out for additional variables. One college may use the community essay as a way to glimpse your core values. Another may use the essay to understand how you would add to diversity on campus. Some may let you decide in which direction to take it—and there are many ways to go!

To get a better idea of how the prompts differ, let’s take a look at some real community essay prompts from the current admission cycle.

Sample 2023-2024 Community Essay Prompts

1) brown university.

“Students entering Brown often find that making their home on College Hill naturally invites reflection on where they came from. Share how an aspect of your growing up has inspired or challenged you, and what unique contributions this might allow you to make to the Brown community. (200-250 words)”

A close reading of this prompt shows that Brown puts particular emphasis on place. They do this by using the words “home,” “College Hill,” and “where they came from.” Thus, Brown invites writers to think about community through the prism of place. They also emphasize the idea of personal growth or change, through the words “inspired or challenged you.” Therefore, Brown wishes to see how the place you grew up in has affected you. And, they want to know how you in turn will affect their college community.

“NYU was founded on the belief that a student’s identity should not dictate the ability for them to access higher education. That sense of opportunity for all students, of all backgrounds, remains a part of who we are today and a critical part of what makes us a world-class university. Our community embraces diversity, in all its forms, as a cornerstone of the NYU experience.

We would like to better understand how your experiences would help us to shape and grow our diverse community. Please respond in 250 words or less.”

Here, NYU places an emphasis on students’ “identity,” “backgrounds,” and “diversity,” rather than any physical place. (For some students, place may be tied up in those ideas.) Furthermore, while NYU doesn’t ask specifically how identity has changed the essay writer, they do ask about your “experience.” Take this to mean that you can still recount a specific moment, or several moments, that work to portray your particular background. You should also try to link your story with NYU’s values of inclusivity and opportunity.

3) University of Washington

“Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the UW. (300 words max) Tip: Keep in mind that the UW strives to create a community of students richly diverse in cultural backgrounds, experiences, values and viewpoints.”

UW ’s community essay prompt may look the most approachable, for they help define the idea of community. You’ll notice that most of their examples (“families,” “cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood”…) place an emphasis on people. This may clue you in on their desire to see the relationships you’ve made. At the same time, UW uses the words “individual” and “richly diverse.” They, like NYU, wish to see how you fit in and stand out, in order to boost campus diversity.

Writing Your First Community Essay

Begin by picking which community essay you’ll write first. (For practical reasons, you’ll probably want to go with whichever one is due earliest.) Spend time doing a close reading of the prompt, as we’ve done above. Underline key words. Try to interpret exactly what the prompt is asking through these keywords.

Next, brainstorm. I recommend doing this on a blank piece of paper with a pencil. Across the top, make a row of headings. These might be the communities you’re a part of, or the components that make up your identity. Then, jot down descriptive words underneath in each column—whatever comes to you. These words may invoke people and experiences you had with them, feelings, moments of growth, lessons learned, values developed, etc. Now, narrow in on the idea that offers the richest material and that corresponds fully with the prompt.

Lastly, write! You’ll definitely want to describe real moments, in vivid detail. This will keep your essay original, and help you avoid cliché. However, you’ll need to summarize the experience and answer the prompt succinctly, so don’t stray too far into storytelling mode.

How To Adapt Your Community Essay

Once your first essay is complete, you’ll need to adapt it to the other colleges involving community essays on your list. Again, you’ll want to turn to the prompt for a close reading, and recognize what makes this prompt different from the last. For example, let’s say you’ve written your essay for UW about belonging to your swim team, and how the sports dynamics shaped you. Adapting that essay to Brown’s prompt could involve more of a focus on place. You may ask yourself, how was my swim team in Alaska different than the swim teams we competed against in other states?

Once you’ve adapted the content, you’ll also want to adapt the wording to mimic the prompt. For example, let’s say your UW essay states, “Thinking back to my years in the pool…” As you adapt this essay to Brown’s prompt, you may notice that Brown uses the word “reflection.” Therefore, you might change this sentence to “Reflecting back on my years in the pool…” While this change is minute, it cleverly signals to the reader that you’ve paid attention to the prompt, and are giving that school your full attention.

What to Avoid When Writing the Community Essay  

• Avoid cliché. Some students worry that their idea is cliché, or worse, that their background or identity is cliché. However, what makes an essay cliché is not the content, but the way the content is conveyed. This is where your voice and your descriptions become essential.
• Avoid giving too many examples. Stick to one community, and one or two anecdotes arising from that community that allow you to answer the prompt fully.
• Don’t exaggerate or twist facts. Sometimes students feel they must make themselves sound more “diverse” than they feel they are. Luckily, diversity is not a feeling. Likewise, diversity does not simply refer to one’s heritage. If the prompt is asking about your identity or background, you can show the originality of your experiences through your actions and your thinking.

Community Essay Examples and Analysis

Brown university community essay example.

I used to hate the NYC subway. I’ve taken it since I was six, going up and down Manhattan, to and from school. By high school, it was a daily nightmare. Spending so much time underground, underneath fluorescent lighting, squashed inside a rickety, rocking train car among strangers, some of whom wanted to talk about conspiracy theories, others who had bedbugs or B.O., or who manspread across two seats, or bickered—it wore me out. The challenge of going anywhere seemed absurd. I dreaded the claustrophobia and disgruntlement.

Yet the subway also inspired my understanding of community. I will never forget the morning I saw a man, several seats away, slide out of his seat and hit the floor. The thump shocked everyone to attention. What we noticed: he appeared drunk, possibly homeless. I was digesting this when a second man got up and, through a sort of awkward embrace, heaved the first man back into his seat. The rest of us had stuck to subway social codes: don’t step out of line. Yet this second man’s silent actions spoke loudly. They said, “I care.”

That day I realized I belong to a group of strangers. What holds us together is our transience, our vulnerabilities, and a willingness to assist. This community is not perfect but one in motion, a perpetual work-in-progress. Now I make it my aim to hold others up. I plan to contribute to the Brown community by helping fellow students and strangers in moments of precariousness.    

Brown University Community Essay Example Analysis

Here the student finds an original way to write about where they come from. The subway is not their home, yet it remains integral to ideas of belonging. The student shows how a community can be built between strangers, in their responsibility toward each other. The student succeeds at incorporating key words from the prompt (“challenge,” “inspired” “Brown community,” “contribute”) into their community essay.

UW Community Essay Example

I grew up in Hawaii, a world bound by water and rich in diversity. In school we learned that this sacred land was invaded, first by Captain Cook, then by missionaries, whalers, traders, plantation owners, and the U.S. government. My parents became part of this problematic takeover when they moved here in the 90s. The first community we knew was our church congregation. At the beginning of mass, we shook hands with our neighbors. We held hands again when we sang the Lord’s Prayer. I didn’t realize our church wasn’t “normal” until our diocese was informed that we had to stop dancing hula and singing Hawaiian hymns. The order came from the Pope himself.

Eventually, I lost faith in God and organized institutions. I thought the banning of hula—an ancient and pure form of expression—seemed medieval, ignorant, and unfair, given that the Hawaiian religion had already been stamped out. I felt a lack of community and a distrust for any place in which I might find one. As a postcolonial inhabitant, I could never belong to the Hawaiian culture, no matter how much I valued it. Then, I was shocked to learn that Queen Ka’ahumanu herself had eliminated the Kapu system, a strict code of conduct in which women were inferior to men. Next went the Hawaiian religion. Queen Ka’ahumanu burned all the temples before turning to Christianity, hoping this religion would offer better opportunities for her people.

Community Essay (Continued)

I’m not sure what to make of this history. Should I view Queen Ka’ahumanu as a feminist hero, or another failure in her islands’ tragedy? Nothing is black and white about her story, but she did what she thought was beneficial to her people, regardless of tradition. From her story, I’ve learned to accept complexity. I can disagree with institutionalized religion while still believing in my neighbors. I am a product of this place and their presence. At UW, I plan to add to campus diversity through my experience, knowing that diversity comes with contradictions and complications, all of which should be approached with an open and informed mind.

UW Community Essay Example Analysis

This student also manages to weave in words from the prompt (“family,” “community,” “world,” “product of it,” “add to the diversity,” etc.). Moreover, the student picks one of the examples of community mentioned in the prompt, (namely, a religious group,) and deepens their answer by addressing the complexity inherent in the community they’ve been involved in. While the student displays an inner turmoil about their identity and participation, they find a way to show how they’d contribute to an open-minded campus through their values and intellectual rigor.

What’s Next

For more on supplemental essays and essay writing guides, check out the following articles:

• How to Write the Why This Major Essay + Example
• How to Write the Overcoming Challenges Essay + Example
• How to Start a College Essay – 12 Techniques and Tips
• College Essay

Kaylen Baker

With a BA in Literary Studies from Middlebury College, an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University, and a Master’s in Translation from Université Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint-Denis, Kaylen has been working with students on their writing for over five years. Previously, Kaylen taught a fiction course for high school students as part of Columbia Artists/Teachers, and served as an English Language Assistant for the French National Department of Education. Kaylen is an experienced writer/translator whose work has been featured in Los Angeles Review, Hybrid, San Francisco Bay Guardian, France Today, and Honolulu Weekly, among others.

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Personal Experience — The Benefits of Community Service Experience for Me

The Benefits of Community Service Experience for Me

• Categories: Community Service Personal Experience

About this sample

Words: 1112 |

Updated: 4 November, 2023

Words: 1112 | Pages: 2 | 6 min read

The essay explores the author's personal experiences with community service and the profound impact it has had on their life. The author begins by highlighting the altruistic nature of community service and the satisfaction they derive from dedicating their time to a cause they are passionate about. They mention volunteering for organizations like the SPCA and the Ithaca chapter of United Way due to their love for animals and the sense of community within United Way. The essay goes on to discuss the transformative effects of community service on the author. They describe how assisting abandoned animals made them a more empathetic person and provided a source of happiness and stress relief. Moreover, the experience taught them responsibility, flexibility, and patience. The author reflects on their initial reluctance to engage in community service due to academic stress but reveals how reconnecting with their passion for animals revitalized their commitment. They share stories of making a difference in the lives of children through United Way and bonding with childhood friends who inspired them with their charitable endeavors.

Table of contents

Personal growth and development, the true impact of volunteering, works cited, video version.

• DoSomething.org. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.dosomething.org/
• National Service-Learning Clearinghouse. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.servicelearning.org/
• Points of Light. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.pointsoflight.org/
• SPCA International. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.spcai.org/
• United Way. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.unitedway.org/
• Chan, A. Y. K., & Lee, S. Y. (2018). Effects of community service on social-emotional outcomes: A meta-analysis. Child and Youth Services Review, 86, 1-10.
• Conway, J. M., Amel, E. L., & Gerwien, D. P. (2009). Teaching and learning in the social context: A meta-analysis of service learning's effects on academic, personal, social, and citizenship outcomes. Teaching of Psychology, 36(4), 233-245.
• Eyler, J., & Giles, D. E. (1999). Where's the learning in service-learning? San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
• Moely, B. E., McFarland, M., Miron, D., Mercer, S. H., & Ilustre, V. (2002). Changes in college students' attitudes and intentions for civic involvement as a function of service-learning experiences. Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning , 9(1), 18-26.
• Zaff, J. F., & Catterall, J. S. (2003). Studying out-of-school arts participation via the quantitative case study method. Studies in Art Education, 44(3), 227-245.

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Why Is Community Service Important? (33 Reasons)

You wake up early on a Saturday, put on some old clothes, and head out to plant trees in the empty lot down the street. Everyone from the neighborhood is there, digging, planting, and laughing.

That is what community service looks like — people coming together to do something good for where they live.

You may wonder, “Do these tree-planting efforts actually make a difference?” Well, that’s just part of a bigger story. Stick around, and I’ll show you just how powerful these efforts can be when we pull together.

Table of Contents

Community Service Boosts Civic Involvement

It unites communities, community service urges social duty, it supports local charities, community service changes lives, it contributes to personal happiness and satisfaction, community service grows compassion, it boosts self-worth, community service provides educational experience, it enhances teamwork skills, community service helps meets needs, it improves well-being, community service fosters leadership, it helps vulnerable people, community service advances careers, it protects the environment, community service strengthens democracy, it encourages innovation, community service bridges gaps, it raises cause awareness, community service lowers crime, it connects people, community service expands networks, it motivates active community role, community service builds generosity, it teaches essential skills, community service sparks local investments, it preserves traditions, community service grows the economy, it shapes compassionate youth, community service broadens cultural insight, it inspires gratitude, it improves public areas, frequently asked questions, final thoughts.

When you join in on community service, it’s a high-five to your neighborhood. You’re stepping up, becoming part of something bigger that really matters. It’s not just about the place you live; it’s about actively shaping it to be better.

Think of it like this — you’re not just living in your town; you’re helping it thrive. And that’s something to be proud of.

Example : Imagine yourself at a local park cleanup. Each piece of trash you pick up is a small victory for the environment and your community. That feeling you get, knowing you’re part of positive change, is downright exciting.

Community service is like a potluck where everyone brings something to the table. It’s not just about the work to be done; it’s about the connections made along the way. It’s warmth and teamwork in action.

Ever seen a group of strangers become teammates as they work on a project? That’s what happens here. And trust me, it’s a powerful thing.

Advice: Grab the next chance to work with your neighbors on something worthwhile. Whether it’s a neighborhood garden or a fundraiser, the goal is togetherness. When we unite, the sense of community we create is unbeatable.

There’s this inner call to help others, right? Community service taps into that, turning the need to do good into action that benefits everyone. It’s about knowing that even the smallest act can make a big wave.

Just like a spark can start a fire, your actions can ignite a chain reaction of goodness in the community.

Example : Consider helping out with someone’s groceries. It might not seem like much, but it’s kindness in action. Others see it and are inspired to help, too. Before you know it, the whole neighborhood is buzzing with people doing good just because you showed the way.

Local charities often run on tight budgets, and your help can mean the difference between struggling and thriving. The kind of support goes straight to where it’s needed most.

These local heroes do so much with so little. They feed, teach, and help countless folks. That’s why when you chip in, you’re really fueling a powerhouse of good in your neighborhood.

Example : Just imagine every hour you volunteer at a soup kitchen translates into meals for those who would otherwise go hungry. That’s not just volunteering; that’s touching lives, meal by meal.

When you pitch in with community service, you’re not just changing other people’s lives but also transforming your own. It acts like a mirror, showing you parts of yourself you might not have seen otherwise — like your strength in tough times or your knack for making someone smile.

For every life you touch, there’s a light reflected back on your own. You learn, you grow, and you see the world with new eyes.

Advice : Next time you get involved, look around at the faces of those you’re helping and those working alongside you. You’ll see the impact your actions have, and that’s a mighty good feeling.

Did you know that helping others gives you a happiness boost, too? It’s true! Doing good in your community can lift your spirits higher than a kite on a windy day. That feeling of making a difference is like a warm hug for your soul.

When you take time to lend a hand, whether it’s big or small, it fills you with a sense of purpose and joy . That’s something that money can’t buy and that just doing daily routines doesn’t provide.

Example : That time you organized a neighborhood recyclables collection drive — not only did you help the planet but you also gave yourself and everyone involved a great reason to smile.

Diving into community service is the heart’s way of hitting the gym — it grows stronger and more caring with every effort. When you’re out there making someone’s day a bit brighter, you’re not just doing a task; you’re learning to see the world through their eyes.

It’s easy to get caught up in our own lives, but taking a moment to step outside and help someone else is powerful. In these moments, you realize everyone has a story and a battle they’re fighting.

Example: Whether you’re comforting someone going through a rough patch or simply spending time with those who feel alone, you’re showing that you care.

Helping your community is like planting seeds of self-worth. Each good deed tells you you can make a difference and adds to your value. You’re not just helping others; you’re also boosting your own self-image.

Seeing the impact of your contributions really boosts how you view your abilities and place in the world. It’s reassuring to see that your actions have meaning and are appreciated by others.

Advice: Keep track of what you do and the change that follows, whether it’s smiling faces or a thank you.

Rolling up your sleeves and getting involved in community service is more than altruism; it’s a living classroom . Every task teaches something new — about the world, its people, and yourself. You’re contributing to a cause and taking free life lessons that no textbook can provide.

The beauty of this education is that it comes from real-life experiences. Every person you meet and every story you hear, adds to your understanding of the diverse tapestry of human life.

Example: Imagine tutoring kids or helping organize a workshop — it’s not just about imparting knowledge; it’s about learning patience, communication, and the art of teaching itself. So, while you educate others, you’re enriching your own skills and perspective.

Community service is like a sports team. Everyone works towards a common goal, collaborating and strategizing to achieve it. Each project is an opportunity to learn and shine as a team player.

Working together with a diverse group of individuals also hones your ability to compromise and find common ground . It’s all about giving and taking in the name of progress.

Example: Picture yourself setting up a community fair with a group. As you align your different skills and ideas, you’re not only setting up for the day’s success – you’re also building lasting bonds and teamwork savvy that can apply to any area of life.

Doing community service is like being a superhero without a cape. You get to swoop in and provide help where it’s most needed, making sure that the essentials — like food, clothes, and a helping hand — are there for the people counting on them. You’re directly filling gaps and bringing relief to real-world problems.

The beauty of it is tangible — it’s less of a band-aid and more of a bridge towards stability for many.

Advice: Keep an eye out for what’s needed in your community and consider how you can contribute. It could be as simple as a food drive or as involved as starting a mentoring program.

Helping others can boost your well-being! It’s proven that giving your time and energy for the benefit of others can significantly improve your mood and mental health. It’s a wellness win-win.

Being involved in certain activities can reduce stress, prevent anxiety and depression, improve physical health, and even lead to a longer life.

Example: Recall a time when you joined a local cleanup drive. Not only did you help the environment, but you also got moving, soaked up some sunshine, and left feeling pretty great, right? That’s the kind of wholesome activity that benefits everyone, body and soul.

When you step into a community service role, you’re stepping onto a stage where leadership skills take the spotlight. It’s like being handed a microphone at a karaoke night — you set the tone, and the pace, and bring others into the song.

In these roles, you’ll learn to make decisions, inspire others, and take responsibility — all trademarks of great leaders. It’s a safe space to try out your leadership voice because everyone’s rooting for the cause.

Example: Picture organizing a neighborhood recycling drive. You’ll need to plan, communicate, and motivate your volunteer team. Through such actions, you’re not just reducing waste; you’re cultivating the skills to lead in any aspect of your life.

Joining hands in community service means being a reliable neighbor for those in need. By offering your time and strength to vulnerable folks, like children, the elderly, or families facing hardships, you can make their lives a little bit easier.

By lending a hand, you’re providing more than just immediate help; you’re giving these individuals a sense of belonging and hope that’s priceless. It’s this kind of support that can lift spirits and lighten burdens.

Advice: Look for ways to reach out, like spending time at a senior center or tutoring at-risk youth. The smallest gestures can make the biggest difference in someone’s life, showing them that their community has their back.

Believe it or not, the effort you put into community service can help pave the way for your professional life. It’s like each volunteering stint adds a new line to your resume, boosting your character and skills. Volunteering experience is valued by employers as a sign of initiative and real-world skills .

Plus, the connections you make while volunteering can turn into professional opportunities. It’s networking with a genuine touch — you’re meeting people while doing good together.

Example: Let’s say you’ve been helping to organize community fundraisers. All that planning, budgeting, and team coordination? Those are valuable skills in the business world, too. Your volunteering efforts can open doors you never even knew were there.

Community service is a hands-on way to show love for your little corner of the planet. Whether it’s planting trees, cleaning up rivers, or starting a community garden, each action creates a cleaner, greener neighborhood.

Caring for the environment also means thinking about the future. It’s about making sure the air, water, and land can support life for generations to come. It’s a promise to the kids of today and tomorrow.

Example: Imagine joining a group for a beach cleanup. With every piece of trash you clear, you’re not just sprucing up the sands; you’re saving marine life and keeping the seaside splendid for all to enjoy.

When you engage in community service, you’re actively participating in democracy. It’s about taking part in the decisions that shape your community and having a say in the way things are run. Think of it as a grassroots approach to government, where the power truly lies with the people.

Active citizens create a vibrant, responsive, and accountable democracy. It’s about more than just voting; it’s about continuous involvement and commitment to the common good.

Advice: Find opportunities to serve on local boards, attend town hall meetings, or volunteer for civic initiatives.

Innovation isn’t just for tech companies or creative studios — it thrives in community service, too. When you come together with others to solve community problems, you’re encouraged to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions.

Collaborating with people from different backgrounds and experiences can spark fantastic new ideas. Together, you can find original ways to tackle old problems.

Example : Transform the empty lot in your neighborhood into a community space with gardens and art. Brainstorm with your neighbors to make it happen. Your creativity can turn a neglected spot into a local treasure!

Community service is like a friendly handshake between folks from different walks of life. It’s a way to meet, understand, and appreciate people you might not bump into during your everyday routine.

This kind of service brings down walls and builds bridges instead, creating connections that are for the good of all.

Example: Joining a community kitchen not only helps feed those in need, but it also allows volunteers from varied backgrounds to cook and serve together, nurturing respect and friendship.

Getting involved in community service lets you use your voice — big and strong — for causes that often go unnoticed.

From spreading the word about homelessness to promoting literacy initiatives, your active role ensures that these critical topics get the attention they urgently need.

Here’s how raising awareness makes a real difference:

Community service can help keep streets safer by providing support and alternatives to those who might engage in criminal activities. It makes people feel valued and creates a sense of belonging, which can steer them away from crime.

Plus, clean and busy neighborhoods are less likely to have crime. If people look out for each other, they make it harder for crime to take root. It’s about being present, visible, and active.

Example: Consider after-school programs for youth. These not only keep kids busy but also give them a sense of purpose and belonging. That time spent in a productive, caring environment is time away from negative influences, leading to a safer community for everyone.

Community service is the social glue that brings different people together. Imagine a book club, but instead of talking about novels, you’re out there making real stories happen. Volunteering connects people who might never meet otherwise , each bringing their unique skills and experiences to the table.

These new connections can become friendships that last a lifetime. It’s a feel-good network where everybody has a role, and every role matters.

Example: Think about a group of people from different parts of town coming together to set up a community garden. They share a love for green spaces and soon start sharing stories, tips, and laughs.

When you help your community, you get a chance to meet different types of people. This includes business owners and other volunteers. It’s not just about making friends, though; you can make connections that might help you in unexpected ways.

These aren’t just brief hellos and goodbyes — these are meaningful networks that open doors to new ideas, opportunities, and collaborations.

Advice: Next time you volunteer, swap stories and contact info. You never know when a chance encounter can lead to a new project, job, or even a lifelong mentor.

Getting involved in community service can make you feel like you belong, and it’s addictive. Although you may start as a volunteer, you’ll soon become a community champion looking for ways to take on a larger role.

This active participation is a win for everyone: the community thrives with fresh energy, and you find purpose and fulfillment in the work.

Example: By organizing a neighborhood block party, you might start seeing the community as an extended family rather than just a collection of houses.

Getting involved in community service is like planting seeds of generosity that will grow and flourish. When you give your time or resources without expecting anything in return, you’re showing real kindness. This creates a ripple effect, inspiring others to open their hearts and do the same.

Seeing the impact of giving encourages even more giving. It’s not just about money; it’s about time, effort, and compassion.

Example: When you donate books to the local library, that’s not just you being generous — you might inspire others to share their own books, and suddenly, there’s a whole wave of community sharing going on.

When you lend a hand in community service, you’re also signing up for a hands-on skills course. It’s not about textbooks and tests — it’s real-life, practical learning. From organizing events to fixing things, these skills aren’t just good for the moment. They’re building blocks for your future.

Whether you’re young or simply young at heart, these are skills that will help out in every chapter of life.

Advice: Next volunteer opportunity, take a mental note of what you’re learning. Leadership? Check. Time management? You got it. These are the essentials that you’ll use time and time again.

When a community is bustling with volunteer activities and projects, it often catches the eye of residents looking to invest. Picture a neighborhood that’s energized and cared for — this is where businesses want to be. It’s about more than just fixing up — it’s about bringing in new growth and opportunities.

These investments mean jobs, services, and an economy that benefits everyone in the neighborhood.

Example: Imagine your community service group revitalizes a rundown playground. This could spark interest from local businesses to invest in the area, maybe adding a cafe or a daycare center nearby due to the increased foot traffic and community involvement.

Community service is like a memory box for a whole community. When you volunteer, you help keep the stories, celebrations, and customs of your area alive and well. It’s not just about holding onto the past; it’s about sharing it with new generations.

This is how histories are kept vibrant — how children learn the dances, songs, and stories that make your community unique.

Example: When you volunteer for a local heritage festival, you’re part of a team that passes on the torch of culture and community pride. You’re making sure those traditions don’t just survive but thrive.

Believe it or not, community service is a power player in strengthening the economy. Think of it as groundwork — when you contribute to community projects, you’re laying down the foundation for a stronger community and economy. It’s about building a place where people want to shop, work, and live.

A flourishing community attracts new businesses and encourages locals to support what’s around them. Each project adds to the appeal and vitality of your neighborhood.

Advice: Get involved in projects that beautify and uplift your area. Whether it’s cleaning up a park or painting a mural, these activities can boost the local charm and draw in visitors and investors alike, kick-starting an economic ripple effect.

Community service is crucial to raising empathetic children. Involving kids in volunteering helps them develop kindness and generosity. They learn by doing, seeing that even small actions can make a big difference in someone else’s life.

This hands-on experience is more valuable than anything they can learn from a screen or a book. It shapes them into adults who care deeply about their community.

Example: Guide a group of young volunteers in organizing a charity bake sale. It’s fun, it’s sweet, and it shows them that they have the power to make a real difference just by sharing their time and talents.

Community service exposes you to diverse cultures and customs, broadening your understanding of the world and providing insights into various ways of life.

This exposure fosters a sense of global unity and respect for cultural differences. It’s a hands-on education in cultural diversity, teaching participants about the traditions, beliefs, and values that shape communities.

Volunteering promotes gratitude by helping individuals recognize their blessings and motivating them to give back.

Seeing the direct impact of your actions on the lives of others reinforces the importance of community and the power of selfless service. It’s a powerful reminder of the good we can do when we come together.

Advice: Reflect on the positive changes you’ve witnessed through volunteering. Let these experiences develop gratitude and inspire you to continue making a difference.

Community service enhances public spaces, making them more inviting and accessible. Projects like park cleanups , community gardens , and mural painting beautify neighborhoods, creating welcoming environments for people to gather.

Improving public areas not only elevates community pride but also encourages outdoor activities and social interaction. These spaces become hubs for community life, where friendships blossom, and families make lasting memories.

Advice: Get involved in local projects aimed at revitalizing public spaces. Your efforts can transform these areas into vibrant centers of community activity, enjoyed by all ages.

Is community service the same as volunteering?

While similar, community service is often considered a subset of volunteering. Community service specifically refers to volunteer activities that benefit the local community and can sometimes be part of a court mandate or school requirement.

Volunteering, on the other hand, can comprise a broader range of activities, including those that don’t necessarily have a direct impact on the local community.

Why is community service often a requirement for high school students?

Many high schools require students to engage in community service to help them develop empathy, gain practical skills, and understand the significance of contributing to the well-being of others. It’s also a great way for young people to discover new interests and potential career paths.

How do I choose the right community service project for me?

Think about what you’re passionate about and look for a project that aligns with those interests. Also, consider your schedule and how much time you can commit. It’s important to choose something that feels meaningful to you, as this will make the experience more fulfilling.

Do I need specific skills to participate in community service?

Not at all. Most community service projects welcome volunteers of all skill levels and are happy to teach you whatever you need to know. What’s more important is your willingness to help and your commitment to the cause.

If you have specific talents or expertise, though, you might find them beneficial in certain types of community service projects!

Those tree-planting efforts we talked about at the start? They do more than just beautify the street — they bring people together, create homes for birds, and freshen the air we breathe. Just like that, a simple act of planting trees touches lives in many ways, proving that every act of service counts.

When we all chip in, our combined efforts can truly transform our community. And that’s why community service is so powerful — it’s the love we pour into our neighborhoods that makes them thrive.

Why don’t you try and start something good too? Pick something important to you, whether it’s litter picking, reading to kids, or volunteering. Let’s make our community brighter together!

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Jessa Claire

Jessa Claire is a registered healthcare provider. Music lover. Daydreamer. Thalassophile. Foodie. A hardworking Capricorn. Most days, an incurable empath. An old soul. Down-to-earth. Vibrant.

When she's not writing, she can be seen relaxing with headphones on or engrossed in her favorite fan fiction book.

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2 Great Georgia State Essay Examples by Accepted Students

Georgia State is one of the most desirable universities in the state, due to its expansive academic offerings, excellent reputation for research, and location in Atlanta, the state’s capital. To give you a sense for what Georgia State’s admissions officers are looking for, we’ve collected two examples of essays submitted by students who ended up being accepted.

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Essay Example 1 – 10 Minutes, 10 Million People

“She reveled in the comfort that reading brought her, as she knew that in the end, the characters would always have a happy ending: no surprises, no secrets, no lies, just love.” This is a line from a fan fiction I wrote when I was fifteen. Not to say that my writing is Pulitzer-Prize-worthy or anything, but I feel that teen fantasy authors are often reduced to basic grammatical mistakes and cringe-worthy, one-dimensional plots. Especially with fan fiction authors being predominantly female, girls within fandom spaces will often be ostracized and shamed for enjoying the same things as a male demographic. 

The double-edged sword of women and literature decrees that if one reads romance books outside of the intellectual sphere, they “aren’t a real reader,” but if they only like “the classics,” they’re a “fake.” Being “real” or “fake,” as a notion, has taken on an entirely different meaning in fandom spaces. No matter what a woman does, scrutiny is sure to follow.

The countless number of times young girls will be interrogated with, “You like that book? Name three others by the same author,” or “I bet you like that game for attention from men,” is truly disheartening. Even more, with writing, women are often not taken seriously, historically even feeling inclined to abbreviate or use pen names to pass off as men. This is not to say all men perpetuate this toxicity, nor that women do not, but rather it is prevalent enough that girls are often discouraged from enjoying things or become a joke for doing so.

As someone who enjoys writing, myself, I know this struggle all too well. When I was younger, the criticism discouraged me so much that I kept my interests to myself. I still struggle with this from time to time, but I have since grown and pursued creative writing for my own enjoyment, as well as conducting research with the traditionally male entertainment form: superhero films.

It goes beyond the idea of femininity in society but even to the very nature of humanity itself. I remember sitting in my economics class, listening to the teacher speaking, saying, “No one would ever work for free.” Anytime anyone says anything along those lines, they negate the influence of thousands of teenage girls who craft entire universes solely from the devotion they carry in their hearts, and I hope that one day, they will be recognized for what they truly are: passionate visionaries rather than shallow fanatics.

What the Essay Did Well

This essay’s greatest strength is actually very simple: the writer has chosen a topic that she is clearly actually passionate about. With less structured prompts, that don’t fit one of the common supplemental prompt archetypes, there can be a temptation to go out of your way to impress admissions officers, rather than just being honest. But with this prompt, the most important thing to do is select a topic that you truly “care deeply about,” as that’s the only way the essay is going to feel genuine and natural.

The writer’s personal investment in the topic is apparent from the very first line, when she explicitly connects the topic to herself. That also allows her to then make some more general points, that show her overall thoughts about this topic, without those points feeling vague or irrelevant, as readers understand she’s drawing from her own personal experience.

For example, say the essay instead started with the line “The double-edged sword of women and literature decrees that if one reads romance books outside of the intellectual sphere, they ‘aren’t a real reader,’ but if they only like ‘the classics,’ they’re a ‘fake.’” While the topic is still an engaging one, there’s no personal framing for it, so admissions officers may initially be confused about what they’re supposed to be learning about the applicant. Particularly in supplemental essays, where your space is more limited, you never want to create that kind of confusion–your personal connection to your topic should be clear throughout.

In addition to immediately establishing this personal connection, the writer includes creative, thoughtful points about her topic that show she has strong critical thinking skills. Lines like “women are often not taken seriously, historically even feeling inclined to abbreviate or use pen names to pass off as men” and “this is not to say all men perpetuate this toxicity, nor that women do not” demonstrate she can think deeply about a topic, and consider multiple perspectives, both skills which are crucial to success in college.

What Could Be Improved 

While the writer’s personal investment in her topic is clear, what’s less clear is what she has learned about herself, or which personality traits she has developed, as a result of her love of fanfiction. 

She hints at this kind of growth with the lines “When I was younger, the criticism discouraged me so much that I kept my interests to myself. I still struggle with this from time to time, but I have since grown and pursued creative writing for my own enjoyment…” but her readers don’t get much elaboration. Perhaps rule #1 for the college essay is “show, don’t tell,” and these lines, while informative, are very tell-y.

A stronger way of making her point would be to describe a moment or experience that will give admissions officers a more concrete sense of how this transformation occurred. For example, after saying “I kept my interests to myself,” she could say something like “In third grade, I wrote three chapters of a Harry Potter fanfiction, but when I showed my friends at school, they laughed at me and asked me what the point was, because my efforts would never be as good as the actual books.” 

With this addition, her readers have a more detailed understanding of her state of mind at this point in her life, and a similar example from the present would help them see how she’s grown since then. While the word count is always a factor, this writer is 40 words under the count. Plus, these specific anecdotes are important enough that it would be worth making cuts from elsewhere in the essay in order to include them.

Essay Example 2 – Extracurricular Essay

When I was in ninth grade, I volunteered at a legal foundation where attorneys provide free legal services to victims of domestic violence. I initially volunteered because I wanted to observe the legal profession at work, as it was a profession I was and still am passionate about pursuing. However, once I was there, I realized that I was observing a much greater force at work. 

My job was simple; I was to scan and file old case files. But, as I was tasked with copious amounts of files, I quickly realized the extent to which domestic violence impacts people. 1 in 3 women, and 1 in 4 men, have been victims of domestic violence. While I was familiar with domestic violence before, this experience was eye-opening.

Domestic violence is a major issue within today’s society, and victims often feel uncomfortable with reporting. Services like the foundation I volunteered at help make legal aid more accessible, which can help victims feel more comfortable reporting their abuse. 

Domestic violence is an issue that I have thought about since this experience. When I started my true crime podcast as a sophomore, I wanted to spread awareness about domestic violence and its prevalence in criminal investigations. I allocated specific episodes to research cases where domestic violence resulted in a more escalated crime. This includes the stories of lesser-known victims such as Evelyn Colon and Kathleen Peterson. 

Further, this experience encouraged me to consider doing pro bono work in the future. I want to pursue a career in the legal field, and I want to work to make a difference in the lives of domestic violence victims. Free legal aid can help deter abusers and assist victims in leaving dangerous situations. Ultimately, this brief volunteer experience made a major impact on my future goals and altered the way in which I consider domestic violence.

The most important thing in any college essay is to show how an interest or experience has impacted your personal growth, and that’s especially true when responding to this prompt, which, in addition to fitting the “Extracurricular” archetype, explicitly asks you to describe an “activity…that has changed your view on a particular social issue.”

This essay does a phenomenal job of showing the writer’s growth. We see the writer go from a general interest in legal work, and the “simple” task of scanning files, to developing a sophisticated understanding of the social issue of domestic violence in particular, and a desire to channel their legal ambitions towards improving this issue.

Additionally, the writer reflects thoughtfully on the impact of their own actions, while also acknowledging the scale of the issue. With this kind of essay, you don’t need to make it sound like you solved world hunger–if anything, overstating what you did can make you sound ignorant about the complexity of a major issue. At the same time, though, you don’t want to sell yourself short.

This writer does a great job of striking the right balance here. Lines like “Services like the foundation I volunteered at help make legal aid more accessible, which can help victims feel more comfortable reporting their abuse” demonstrate the importance of the writer’s volunteer work, while also recognizing that this work is only part of the solution.

Finally, the writer describes how their volunteer work has influenced their life as a whole, by telling us about how they used their podcast to raise awareness about little-known domestic violence crimes. One of the main reasons the college essay exists is so that admissions officers can see whether or not you’re genuinely passionate about your interests and activities, or only doing them to pad your resume. 

In this essay, we see that the writer’s dedication to helping victims of domestic violence is indeed genuine, as they have used their free time to continue building on their initial volunteer work. We also get a sense for how their experiences around this issue connect to their goals for the future, with lines like “this experience encouraged me to consider doing pro bono work in the future.” While the prompt doesn’t explicitly ask for that, colleges want to accept motivated, proactive students, and this kind of reflection shows the writer possesses these qualities.

While supplemental essays are often a little more formulaic than the personal statement, you still want to show, rather than tell, as much as possible–in other words, use examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points, rather than just telling them to your reader. Unfortunately, this essay is quite tell-y, particularly at the beginning.

That means that, although the writer’s points are good ones, their rather dry presentation takes away some of their weight. For example, think about if this essay instead started off with a description of an actual moment from the writer’s volunteer work, like:

“My hands were full of papercuts from rifling through old domestic violence files all day and my eyes were sore from the light of the scanner, but my mind was crackling with a newfound appreciation for the value of pro bono legal work.”

This hook uses sensory details to show, rather than simply tell, us what the writer is thinking and feeling. As a result, we readers are immediately engaged in the story, whereas with the original version, the essay takes a few lines to get into the swing of things.

Along the same lines, you want your word choice, and overall writing style, to capture your emotions, not simply describe what happened. While clarity is of course important, at some points this essay feels a little too factual. 

For example, the line “Domestic violence is an issue that I have thought about since this experience” is incredibly vague. We’re all always thinking about tons of different things, from getting Taylor Swift tickets to avoiding traffic on the way home. So the writer just saying they “have thought” about domestic violence doesn’t actually teach us anything about them, or their knowledge of this issue.

Even some slight changes here would go a long way towards making this line more informative. For example, the writer could say “Domestic violence is an issue that I have been dedicated to helping fix since this experience,” or “Since this experience, I have been devastated by the lack of awareness around domestic violence.” Both of these alternatives give us a much clearer, more specific idea of how the writer’s thinking about this issue was shaped by their volunteer work, which also provides a better set-up for their description of their podcast work.

Where to Get Feedback on Your Essay 

Want feedback on your Georgia State essay before you submit? That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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MOSCOW TO HAVE MATZOH BAKERY; Jewish Community Allowed Special Holiday Facilities

MOSCOW, Feb. 26 — The Jewish community of Moscow will have its own special facilities this year for baking matzoh, the traditional unleavened bread of Passover, a spokesman at the city's Central Synagogue said tonight.

He seemed to be confirming a report by Novosti, and official news feature service, which announced that the community would rent a special building for the purpose.

The setting up of the central facility could end or ease a problem that devout Jews in Moscow have faced for the last two years. In 1962 Soviet authorities ordered the city's state‐run bakeries to stop baking matzoh.

There was no ban on the baking of matzoh by individual families, but if a persons baked more than was required to cover his own needs, and then sold the surplus, he was guilty of breaking Soviet law.

Last year three Jews received jail sentences on charges of illegal selling of matzoh. One man was sentenced to one year and a man and woman to six months each.

A special matzoh bakery run by the Jewish community presumably would reduce the need for private sales of matzoh.

About a fourth of the Soviet Union's 2.5 million Jews live in Moscow. Of these only a small part follows Jewish religious tradition, including dietary laws.

Most of the devout are elderly. Jewish sources said most could be expected to try to bake their matzoh at home, as in the last two years.

Novosti said the Jewish community of Kiev had already been provided with matzoh for the coming Passover. Kiev has the third largest Jewish population among Soviet cities, after Moscow and Leningrad.

When state‐operated bakeries stopped baking matzoh in 1962 they also discontinued the baking of the traditional Russian Orthodox Easter cake called kulich.