SSL Hours question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of kids do service, but don't bother turning in the SSL forms once they've hit the minimum.

They do not realize that this is a record of activities that gives them the opportunity to showcase their accomplishments in a college application or even an internship/apprenticeship opportunity. Not everyone has to be a top athlete, spelling bee champion or a musician. You can show your interest in any field by doing service and outreach.

In the end, it is difficult to help kids who do not want to help themselves.

That's BS. Just because you don't record your service hours above the min doesn't mean that they won't count on a college app where you list your activities.

Don't you agree that it is better to have official, written proof of the volunteer hours just in case? Anyone could say on their college applications "yeah, I have 500 hours of community service at x, y and z" but have no proof. Wouldn't it be better to say on your application "yeah, I have 500 hours of community service at x, y and z. I also earned the Superintendent's Award, special tassle and I earned the Silver Trefoil award from Girl Scouts (a volunteering award)"

[Anonymous]

We pushed our kids to do the 260 hours needed for the Certificate. It is a good thing to put on college apps.

[Anonymous]

Beware for National Honor society that the students can only use hours once the started High School, not even summer before 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Beware for National Honor society that the students can only use hours once the started High School, not even summer before 9th grade.

Good to know. Any idea how many hours are needed? I don't think my 9th grade with 260 SSL hours has even turned in 1 hour of SSL.

In middle school, for National Junior Honor Society, you need around 12-15 hrs of SSL before you are invited to join. Most people do not know about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of kids do service, but don't bother turning in the SSL forms once they've hit the minimum.

They do not realize that this is a record of activities that gives them the opportunity to showcase their accomplishments in a college application or even an internship/apprenticeship opportunity. Not everyone has to be a top athlete, spelling bee champion or a musician. You can show your interest in any field by doing service and outreach.

In the end, it is difficult to help kids who do not want to help themselves.

That's BS. Just because you don't record your service hours above the min doesn't mean that they won't count on a college app where you list your activities.

A kid can't list the certificate on the college app if he/she doesn't do what is required (i.e., turn in forms) to earn the certificate.

[Anonymous]

My SIL in another area, does alumni interviews, and was mildly complaining that because most schools require service hours these days, she can never tell if volunteer work is a genuine interest or a box to be ticked. I realize no one takes her interviews too seriously, but I'm sure admissions office have noticed the same. I certainly don't believe anyone's getting the edge because their hour count is MCPS certified. Something else would have to make the service work look significant.

[Anonymous]

My DS is in 11th grade and has 265 hours

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My SIL in another area, does alumni interviews, and was mildly complaining that because most schools require service hours these days, she can never tell if volunteer work is a genuine interest or a box to be ticked. I realize no one takes her interviews too seriously, but I'm sure admissions office have noticed the same. I certainly don't believe anyone's getting the edge because their hour count is MCPS certified. Something else would have to make the service work look significant.

Actually, if its not certified, you cannot count it as "official" and to try and sell an application to any college on say 500 service hours with no evidence of such service, just makes the applicant look like a bullshitter.

What shows genuine interest is a pattern, in service hours and in other EC aspects of the applicant's existence. That's not rocket science you know, either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My SIL in another area, does alumni interviews, and was mildly complaining that because most schools require service hours these days, she can never tell if volunteer work is a genuine interest or a box to be ticked. I realize no one takes her interviews too seriously, but I'm sure admissions office have noticed the same. I certainly don't believe anyone's getting the edge because their hour count is MCPS certified. Something else would have to make the service work look significant.

I encouraged my DS to try out lots of things and earn SSL hours in lots of activities when he was in middle school. He managed to do 160 hours in middle school earning the superintendent certificate. Now in HS he is concentrating on the service that ties in with his interests. I think doing as many service hours in all kinds of service opportunities in MS allowed him to really understand what he likes to do. In HS now, he is going all out to show the depth and involvement in his interest and passions. Having already done more than the SSL requirement means that he is not sweating it in HS to meet the graduation requirement and can focus on the service that ties in with his interests.

[Anonymous]

My kids will have reached the MD required 75 hours by the start of 7th grade.

I don't know if they will be gunning for the 260 hours, of if they'd prefer to spend their summers thereafter doing alternative things like advanced academic programs and unusual trips / activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beware for National Honor society that the students can only use hours once the started High School, not even summer before 9th grade.

Good to know. Any idea how many hours are needed? I don't think my 9th grade with 260 SSL hours has even turned in 1 hour of SSL.

In middle school, for National Junior Honor Society, you need around 12-15 hrs of SSL before you are invited to join. Most people do not know about it.

100 hours

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beware for National Honor society that the students can only use hours once the started High School, not even summer before 9th grade.

Good to know. Any idea how many hours are needed? I don't think my 9th grade with 260 SSL hours has even turned in 1 hour of SSL.

In middle school, for National Junior Honor Society, you need around 12-15 hrs of SSL before you are invited to join. Most people do not know about it.

100 hours

Tell me this is BS!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beware for National Honor society that the students can only use hours once the started High School, not even summer before 9th grade.

Good to know. Any idea how many hours are needed? I don't think my 9th grade with 260 SSL hours has even turned in 1 hour of SSL.

In middle school, for National Junior Honor Society, you need around 12-15 hrs of SSL before you are invited to join. Most people do not know about it.

100 hours

Tell me this is BS!!!

Maybe every school is different? GHS is 60 hours-- see line from application

Demonstrated evidence in your resume of a minimum of 3 quality volunteer experiences to the Gaithersburg High School community (at least Service Learning Hours minimum 60 hours)

[Anonymous]

My sophomore is just about done with the 75 required hours. I'll note that a lot of those hours have come from school activities--sometimes out of the blue they'll get 5 hours for an English project that has some service learning relevance. The other hours have been achieved easily by finding a couple of interesting opportunities here or there.

I'm all for going for more hours, but I think it will make the most sense if there is a consistent volunteer program that means something to the individual kid.

[Anonymous]

Just looked--our high school says 45 hours for NHS.