Does volunteering actually help with college admissions?

Totally. Taking a gap year won’t send your college dreams up in smoke. In fact, many top schools love it when students take a beat to grow, explore, and live a little outside the bubble of school. The trick? Make it count. Volunteering, working, traveling, or diving into a passion project says, “I used my time wisely.” Watching every season of crime dramas in your pajamas? Not so much. If you return with a purpose, better focus, or a story that shows maturity, colleges will notice. A well-spent gap year can turn you into the kind of applicant who stands out, for all the right reasons.