Voluntourism Trip Forum

[gren74]

I've been been eyeing a voluntourism trip for awhile now. I finally have some time between lsat and app writing (and some money saved up), so I'll most likely be taking the trip within the next month. However, I wonder if because of the timing, it would seem fishy to potentially write about it in one of my essays even if it turns out to be a very meaningful experience to me. Is this a topic I should stay away from due to the circumstances?

[Haribo]

I would stay away from it because voluntourism is lame to write about. Nothing to do with the timing. (I'm not saying you shouldn't take the trip, but I would expect adcoms to roll their eyes at anything you write about the impact of your 1 week trip saving Costa Rican orphans, when you weren't having fun at the beach.)

[juevonate]

Hahaha....I wouldn't let that determine whether you go on the trip or not.

[afa_brandon]

does this sentiment generally apply to all volunteer work? i'm in Haiti doing relief work right now, and that's far from tourism--think adcomms would view it as noteworthy? or at least a decent PS topic? (there is definitely a lot of inspiration here)

[Haribo]

does this sentiment generally apply to all volunteer work? i'm in Haiti doing relief work right now, and that's far from tourism--think adcomms would view it as noteworthy? or at least a decent PS topic? (there is definitely a lot of inspiration here)

Your situation would be fine to write a personal statement about, I'd imagine.

[xyzzzzzzzz]

[Haribo]

Yeah, from your name I'm guessing you're in the Air Force - if you're TDY in Haiti doing relief work I think it would be fine to write about, even if it was temporary. The longer the better of course.