As a college admission counselor and former City Year member, I can say definitively that City Year is the kind of thing that will benefit you not only once you get to college but in the college admission process. For many colleges and universities, admission is not just based on your grades and boards but also on your propensity to enrich the campus environment. Students who prove that they can handle a rigorous schedule in City Year and graduate from the program are known for being involved and engaged on campus as well as for being more mature and prepared to handle college life, both of which are very desirable in the admission process. If you have terrible grades, City Year alone won't get you into an ivy league school, but it's surely the kind of thing that could get you into a reach school if you're borderline.
You could also check with your choice schools to see whether they offer scholarships for your year of service. My school offers two kinds of service-learning scholarships that could total more than $25000 independent of the usual merit scholarships.
Anonymousof MA11:09AM June 11, 2010
This is exactly what I am doing next year with City Year Los Angeles. While I would be excited to enroll in college in the fall I am more excited to change up the learning process and learn from real life experiences like paying rent, budgeting, figuring out how to help engage a student in learning multiplication, and living in a completely different environment from where I grew up. I know I will show up to college way more prepared to take advantage of all of its opportunities once I complete City Year.
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Anonymous of MA 11:09AM June 11, 2010
Lily A of PA 10:54AM June 10, 2010