Daeil Overseas Studies Program (DOSP)

I know in Korea it is very difficult to get a job, while studying at school, hakwons, and what not, but perhaps you can open you and your parents’ eyes in the from the following article.

The article is titled “Teens trade lazy summer days for jobs - Work experience seen improving college prospects”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/07/22/MNGDKR2ORM1.DTL

Here are some highlights of the article:

Admissions deans are loath to suggest that certain types of experiences are better than others, and say they do not hold a lack of paid work against applicants. Still, deans at several elite schools said they are taking more notice when students have unglamorous jobs.

“The people who typically would’ve worked a fish and chips stand or scooped ice cream are gone,” Coffin said. “When we read an (application) folder with work experience we usually comment on it in a very favorable way. If he works 20 hours a week at Stop & Shop, we’ll say, ‘That’s really refreshing and old-fashioned. Good for him.’”

The most important thing is that teenagers do something productive and meaningful, admissions officers said. But they do not give as much credit to a fancy summer activity if it seems more like padding than passion. And, in an age of high anxiety over competition to get into college, that is more and more common.”

“We see essays that say, ‘I spent two weeks in a Chinese orphanage and it changed my life,’ ” said Debra Shaver, director of admission at Smith College. “But where is the pattern showing interest in community service?”

Summer travel and study can make students more worldly or civic-minded, but often fail to teach how to persevere through boredom, take orders, or work with people from different backgrounds, admissions deans say.

Deans of admissions are not stupid. They know if you are trying to pad your resume and/or your application. Be honest and genuine that’s the best way to go. At the same time look for things that excite and interest you. If they don’t accept you at the university it just wasn’t meant to be and move on with your life.