randombetch wrote:
Can volunteering without taking on leadership roles in the organizations you volunteered with actually hurt you in your applications to top business schools?
I think it could raise a red flag to have volunteered somewhere for 3 years without taking on more responsibilities, no? For my specific example, it would be volunteering as a tutor for underprivileged kids. I just happen to enjoy tutoring and didn't find volunteering as a "coordinator" (leadership-ish role) very interesting. I moved (geographically) recently and will be starting over as a tutor again in a similar organization. How important will it be for me to seek out leadership roles at this new organization, or can I just be a tutor without having it hurt a future b-school application?
No, this will not hurt you! Of course, leadership roles are attractive and may have helped you more, but tutoring underprivileged students is a good thing to do and it certainly is better than not doing anything. The key here is how this fits into your broader story. When applicants have an extra-curricular like that (good thing to do, but nothing extremely impressive), the way it fits into the rest of your application becomes even more important. What else are you passionate about? Why do you enjoy tutoring? What was your background and upbringing?
Feel free to send me a note if you want help putting together your application and making the tutoring experience work for you!
scott@personalmbacoach.comBest,
Scott