SSL Hours question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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)"

Hahaha. A girl scout award? On a college application? No. That’s not better than describing the service itself.

A silver award is a big deal and demonstrates a good deal of leadership, organization, activism,
and commitment. Why are you so dismissive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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)"

Hahaha. A girl scout award? On a college application? No. That’s not better than describing the service itself.

A silver award is a big deal and demonstrates a good deal of leadership, organization, activism,
and commitment. Why are you so dismissive?

Yeah, silver and gold awards and eagle in boy scouts are worth noting on college admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When can you start earning SSL hours?

The summer after 5th grade. Check with events happening at their ES, Senior centers, library. There are many places. Do not wait until HS to start.

[Anonymous]

We are delivering groceries on the weekend to families that qualify. My kids are 16 and 13. The 16yr old is doing the driving to get her hours and both kids are getting SSL hours.

It’s pretty fun. Takes 2-3 hours. Because she’s learning to drive, there’s no music. We get time to talk about the week, what’s coming up, what’s on their mind.

[Anonymous]

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.

The forms are actually something of an administrative burden for everyone involved. For myself, I definitely like the requirement and the policies, and I completely agree that there needs to be legitimate documentation and (ideally) reflection. (But I've been idly trying to imagine how it could be done more efficiently, and I haven't come up with anything.) DC is service-active but not with one specific activity or organization, which means their hours accumulate in many iterations of 1-2 hours each. I can totally see us stopping the paperwork-filing madness once DC hits their minimum requirement - which is regrettable.

[Anonymous]

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.

The forms are actually something of an administrative burden for everyone involved. For myself, I definitely like the requirement and the policies, and I completely agree that there needs to be legitimate documentation and (ideally) reflection. (But I've been idly trying to imagine how it could be done more efficiently, and I haven't come up with anything.) DC is service-active but not with one specific activity or organization, which means their hours accumulate in many iterations of 1-2 hours each. I can totally see us stopping the paperwork-filing madness once DC hits their minimum requirement - which is regrettable.

The reflection piece to me is ridiculous because the service doesn’t have to be sustained or for a long period of time. Like you said many are obtained in 1-2 hour increments, making most of the reflections well not reflective.

[Anonymous]

Summer camp counselors at expensive camps = free labor for the camp.

It’s a win win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are delivering groceries on the weekend to families that qualify. My kids are 16 and 13. The 16yr old is doing the driving to get her hours and both kids are getting SSL hours.

It’s pretty fun. Takes 2-3 hours. Because she’s learning to drive, there’s no music. We get time to talk about the week, what’s coming up, what’s on their mind.

Can you share where?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Summer camp CIT Earn est. 25 hrs. a week.

Our experience too. Can easily earn with a few weeks of summer CIT work (which was at the camp my kid had attended, so loved giving back and experiencing the other side).

Also, your HS will always have callout in the announcement for volunteers to earn SSL hours - work the stand at the football game that sells spiritwear, used books sale weekend collections, set up, book sale itself, set up for the play, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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)"

NP here. I see your point, but I still come down on the side that the tassel and MCPS recognition of the hours doesn't mean much. It's fairly easy to rack up a lot of hours, for example my kid got about 105 hours for being a camp counselor for 3 weeks. That's almost halfway to the goal, and I don't think what she did was particularly meaningful, and certainly did not show dedication to a goal. So for some kids, a lot of service hours is in fact meaningful, but the way to tell that is from what their recommendations say and their essays explaining their actual work. If I were evaluating applicants for something, the recorded SSL hours would have minimal impact.

Ah, but one can make it meaningful. When my kid was a CIT, they went around the room for intros and all kids, but for 2, said they were there for SSL hours, not for the purpose of enriching campers' experiences, thinking up new games and obstacle courses. It is clear who is there to check the box.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are delivering groceries on the weekend to families that qualify. My kids are 16 and 13. The 16yr old is doing the driving to get her hours and both kids are getting SSL hours.

It’s pretty fun. Takes 2-3 hours. Because she’s learning to drive, there’s no music. We get time to talk about the week, what’s coming up, what’s on their mind.

Can you share where?

The org is called So What Else. They’re based in Rockville.

[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.

NP and I also occasionally do alumni interviews. But I agree with this pp. SSL is a bit problematic honestly. I'm generally not moved either way by these awards. It's just not a salient point in how I would write a recommendation.
Why ? For one thing, you don't know if it's a genuine interest, or just for getting credit, like your SIL said.
For another, there are some activities that do a lot of good but take a looong time to get hours. For example, my kid plays piano/ violin at nursing homes/hospitals on weekends. He gets 1-1.5 hrs each time, and he is only able to schedule about twice a month. Hence, it takes him quite a while to rack up hours. But the NH residents are very happy to hear him play so he continues doing it even though it's totally not efficient. There are many activities (like making slideshows for afterschool programs) that get way more hours.
Finally, a lot of kids actually have family stuff to do. When I was my kid's age (13), I took care of younger siblings and a frail grandparent after school. My parents could not have afforded a sitter or elder care companion. I did the required SSL but it was hard given that a lot of my afterschool time was completely booked by other family commitments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

NP and I also occasionally do alumni interviews. But I agree with this pp. SSL is a bit problematic honestly. I'm generally not moved either way by these awards. It's just not a salient point in how I would write a recommendation.
Why ? For one thing, you don't know if it's a genuine interest, or just for getting credit, like your SIL said.
For another, there are some activities that do a lot of good but take a looong time to get hours. For example, my kid plays piano/ violin at nursing homes/hospitals on weekends. He gets 1-1.5 hrs each time, and he is only able to schedule about twice a month. Hence, it takes him quite a while to rack up hours. But the NH residents are very happy to hear him play so he continues doing it even though it's totally not efficient. There are many activities (like making slideshows for afterschool programs) that get way more hours.
Finally, a lot of kids actually have family stuff to do. When I was my kid's age (13), I took care of younger siblings and a frail grandparent after school. My parents could not have afforded a sitter or elder care companion. I did the required SSL but it was hard given that a lot of my afterschool time was completely booked by other family commitments.

Of course it’s just for getting credit. Even the minimum 75 hours. It’s like working at a job for a paycheck. You have to do it.

[Anonymous]

Students only need to really complete about 30-35 hours on their own. In 7 years. The rest come from classes, mostly in middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When can you start earning SSL hours?

The first day of summer after 5th grade.