How do I write about community service in my college essay?

Whatever you do, don’t write a summary of tasks. “I volunteered at a hospital and it was great” is not an essay. It’s just a caption. Instead, pick one moment that shaped you: the first time you had a tough conversation, solved a real problem, or questioned your assumptions. Use that scene to vividly reflect on your growth, empathy, or leadership. The best college essays aren’t about what you did, but what you learned—and of course, how you changed. Show how your service shifted your worldview or challenged you emotionally. Be real. Be reflective. Be human. That’s what admissions officers want.