How Your Volunteering Experience Can Help You Get Into University
Volunteering is increasingly recognized as a powerful way to develop essential skills that can enhance both your university application and your future career. Universities, like employers, are beginning to appreciate the value of volunteer work experience, which can make your personal statement stand out from the crowd.
Key Benefits of Volunteering for University Applications
1. Develop Transferrable Skills
Whether you’re working in a community project, organizing events, or assisting in a healthcare setting, the skills you gain are invaluable. Focus on how your volunteering has honed skills such as problem-solving, time management, communication, and teamwork. These are crucial for any degree and are highly valued by universities.
2. Demonstrate Responsibility
Transitioning from school to university involves taking on more personal responsibility. Volunteering demonstrates commitment and maturity, showing universities that you are prepared to handle the independence that comes with university life.
3. Highlight Passion and Engagement
While academic performance is critical, universities also seek students with a passion for extracurricular activities. Volunteering allows you to showcase your interests and demonstrate your willingness to contribute to the university community.
Expanding Your Volunteering Experience
Once you reach university, numerous opportunities to continue volunteering will arise. Explore Student Volunteering Week: volunteering provides some of the most valuable university experiences to see how you can get involved.
For more insights on how volunteering can bolster your academic and career journey, check out How your volunteering experience can help you get into university and Selling your volunteering experience to graduate employers.
Consider volunteering as both an education in the “school of life” by visiting Want an education in the “school of life”? Try volunteering and a means to build career skills as outlined in 5 reasons why volunteering builds career skills.
The best piece of career advice might be to Volunteer for both personal and professional growth.