Does volunteer work really matter on grad school apps?

[Savannah-in-the-world]

The general consesus I have seen regarding volunteer work is that it does not matter too much when you apply for your MA. Other elements are going to weigh in a lot more when it comes to getting accepted. I am wondering if this is true of all departments.

 

I am currently volunterring at a museum and while the people are really nice and it is within my field, I really don't enjoy it. It is in the morning after I work third shift so I am always tired and it is working with school groups. Kids are alright and I love my friend's kids, but I am not too keen on interacting with them in this way.

 

It is only a few hours once a week and I don't feel like it is interefering with my academics as much as it is interfereing with my sleep and general happiness. I honestly thought I would enjoy it, but I guess you have to do something to know for sure.

 

So, is it worth putting on my applications? I am going for a Public History MA, and am already in a very practical and hands-on Public History concentration in undergrad, have high GPA, and I should have very good LORs. Also, because my undergrad is so hands-on I already have a few projects with historical societies and other entities that I am credited for.

 

Can I quit please?

[Averroes MD]

The earlier I was in my career, the more fluff I had on my CV, simply because I had nothing substantive to put on it. Each year, I've removed more and more fluff. Now, after over a decade in academia, the fluff is gone. I considered volunteer work to be fluff, and so I eliminated it.

So, I would put it if you are early in your career and you need to fill your CV out. Otherwise, you may want to remove it, unless it's very substantive and relevant.

Edited April 16, 2015 by Averroes MD

[TMP]

Do it only because YOU want to.

[mvlchicago]

Yeah, even if it's a pre-req for your programs (although I doubt it) if you hate it this much, you should maybe re-consider what you're trying to do with your degree. Just a couple (maybe too harsh?) thoughts. 

[wacyeah]

 

i agree w/ everyone. I myself have interned at a library archive (3 months for archival class req for my MA, and then a year while i was applying for Ph.D.) but that's gonna be a touchup for your resume (you should definitely have TA experience if you wanna become a prof). However, it will make a difference on your behalf as such volunteer experience really does give you an idea of what an archival work is like, and you can see if you actually like it or not.

[Cpt Jo]

I don't think working with kids is relevant for a grad school app.

As a historian, it's better to work in the archives, or museums' collections, or teaching.

Some universities - principally the most prestigious - have important collections, ask if you can volunteer for them. You will therefore be able to put the name of this university on your CV even if you haven't studied there. I got a full time internship for this summer just by dropping an email to the curator of the university archival collections (it's in the UK) - and the task is really great.

Edited April 18, 2015 by Cpt Jo

[Savannah-in-the-world]

Yeah, even if it's a pre-req for your programs (although I doubt it) if you hate it this much, you should maybe re-consider what you're trying to do with your degree. Just a couple (maybe too harsh?) thoughts. 

 

It is not what I want to do with my degree at all. It is working with kids and doing activities. If I wanted to do museum education I would be worried, but I want to do local history. Preferably with some kind of heritage site. Right now I am working with a local historical soceity for a class and I absolutely love it. This volunteering was just to fluff my CV to get into grad school.

[mvlchicago]

It is not what I want to do with my degree at all. It is working with kids and doing activities. If I wanted to do museum education I would be worried, but I want to do local history. Preferably with some kind of heritage site. Right now I am working with a local historical soceity for a class and I absolutely love it. This volunteering was just to fluff my CV to get into grad school.

Then I wouldn't worry about it; I don't have much experience applying to masters programs for public/local history, but I can't imagine that volunteering in a site that has little to do with your own development/career goals is going to have much impact on your applications. If anything, I'd place value on my happiness and ability to do well over another line on the resume/CV