GAH COLLEGE INTERVIEW

Volunteering is in your "free time" almost by definition.
TELL HIM!
And throw in some hints about how poor and troubled the kids are at the school.
Embellishing isn't lying.

Yeah, don't do that. You're going to sound like an ass if you compare yourself as better to other students in your school or other applicants elsewhere.

Actually, embellishing IS lying. If it was true, you wouldn't have to embellish. Just sayin'...

That being said, I agree with those saying that you tutor kids in your "free time". I'm not sure what universities look for nowadays, but what do you expect to be a legit "hobby" to have in your free time that will impress someone?

playing Video games?
watching Tv/anime/whatever?
playing cards?
partying it up all weekend?
Astronomy/gazing at stars every night?
fixing/modding cars?

If you think about it, there aren't very many things that people do in their free time that will actually impress (least I cant think of any). There just isnt very much productive happening during free time these days, unfortunately. I haven't gone through any of these interviews, so I probably wouldn't be the best person to take advice on, but why not go with the truth? "I tutor kids at school in my free time and play video games with whatever time is left." Wouldn't they find it more meaningful that a person uses their free time to help others instead of indulging it on themself? As I said, I've never had to interview anyone, nor be interviewed in this context, but you'd think after interviewing hundreds of kids about going to your school, you'd have heard the "made up excuses" enough times to know its bullpomegranate. I mean, I certainly don't see as many productive teenagers out there as I hear about. Also, nothing would feel worse knowing that you bs'd your interview, and STILL couldn't get in.

Ps. If you played an instrument, you can talk about that.

I agree with this post the most. Just think to your personal experience and think of personality traits that will contribute to a college campus or classroom. It doesn't have to be all academics, all volunteer work, all extracurriculars all the time; just think. If there's really nothing, just be honest, but don't sound like a bum in how you tell him.