firsttimer2 wrote:
machichi wrote:
firsttimer2 wrote:
I want to develop EC activities in the areas I care about - I believe I am lacking somewhat in the activities area. I looked at volunteermatch but that has mostly entry-level volunteer positions and not many with the ones that are internationally known. I will be meeting a few people from a small local nonprofit that I got in touch with recently. But I am unsure if it is a good idea to talk about the official records such as hours planned for volunteering or potential reference for application or a prominent role in the nonprofit should be discussed upfront. I have the following questions if someone here with experience and knowledge about it could share it.
1) what is a good way to find out about good EC opportunities?
2) can one get a prominent role or EC position from the beginning?
3) how does one obtain official recognition for the volunteer/EC work? (certificate for hours volunteered)
4) is there any record or letter stating an official designation in nonprofits?
1) If you work at a big company, they often have a corporate giving side, which can easily set you up with a non-profit. Do you want to work at an org focused on education, the environment, music, diseases, etc? It helps to know what area.
2) Probably not
3) You can keep track of your hours and have your supervisor at the EC sign off on it, but most likely it won't make sense to have him/her write you a letter of rec. I work for a non-profit, and mostly I just get phone calls asking to verify volunteer work.
4) Non-profits have a 501c(3) designation. I don't see why you would need it.
Letter of rec from a nonprofit worker makes a lot of sense as some schools want 3 rec letters. This makes it mandatory to have an official title at the nonprofit or an official affiliation with it. Anything that can make a real difference to one's app (in this case nonprofit work ex) has to have a verifiable quality to it.
Is there a good way to broach open the discussion regarding official paperwork when meeting with nonprofit individuals?
Thanks in advance.
If you want to 'develop EC activities in the areas you care about,' then pursue them without regard to #2, 3, and 4. I'm preaching here but, having read hundreds of essays, I can sniff out a client who pursued an EC to pad the resume in seconds. Your recommender will feel the same. Best advice is to do something that you truly enjoy doing and that is meaningful to you, as you already stated.
And, by the way, an EC DOES NOT HAVE TO BE WITH A NON-PROFIT. You do not need to be a saint to get into the top business schools. Moreover, you don't even need an EC. The reason AdCom's like to see ECs is because it shows a certain level of engagement / commitment in something else other than your own personal gain.
I always advise clients that they need to demonstrate EMPATHY in their essays, not merely write about an EC. That broadens the range of potential activities. For example, even if you've never volunteered at a homeless shelter, you can write an essay on helping your grandparents apply for Medicare. That demonstrates EMPATHY. Look for other areas in your life where you've helped others, formally or informally.
HBS Grad
www.mbaadcom.comformerly,
www.hbsadmissionsconsulting.com
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25 Aug 2012, 10:21
