I am a rising senior in Maryland, hoping to major in biology and take a pre-med courseload.
I have relatively solid SAT scores( 690 CR 760 M 790 W) and a relatively safe GPA (3.90 UW, and 4.65 W).
However, I understand that leadership positions, like Club President, captain, etc. are what truly set apart candidates, especially at the schools I’m looking at (Duke, Penn, JHU, Cal, Vandy).
I play varsity hockey, do Model UN (our school’s club is weak, one conference per year, so not much opportunity for awards), tutor middle school students, and have been involved in a Hindu youth group since fourth grade, which does community service and whatnot.
My main problem is that I haven’t really been able to gain leadership opportunities or distinctions. Being an introverted, shy kid at heart, I’m not as outgoing as others, so I’m not as popular. So for MUN, I couldn’t get a position as officer. I’m also not the best player on the hockey team, so the teammates and coach are unlikely to see me as a leader on the ice. So I’m pretty much cooked.
I’m involved with many activities, and am passionate about all of them. I have decent grades. But this lack of leadership is making me reconsider my future. If the rest of my app is strong, will it hurt my chances at Duke and Penn?
If leadership isn’t one of your strong points, I would suggest you find and focus more on what your strong points are as opposed to obsessing about them. Obviously, not everyone who gains admission to Duke and Penn are leaders.
@JustOneDad is right. JHU, Duke, Penn can’t accept thousands of leaders. Imagine a campus where everyone was a leader in high school so there’d be like 1000 candidates for student council or club president because everyone wants to be a leader.
Being a leader is a good quality, a very good quality. It shows that you are different from the 20 members of the club and shows some kind of dedication. But obviously, not everyone can be a leader as many leadership positions these days are a popularity contest so they are not necessarily required for you to gain admission. If you’re passionate about your activities, then that passion will show. Being a leader is a way to show passion, but not the only way.
Schools like Penn and Duke are reaches for virtually everyone. Apply and see what happens. Just be sure to have a well rounded application list with reaches, matches, and safetys.
I have 2 leadership positions captain for wrestling (2 years as a JV Captain 1 year as varsity) and a position on the subcommittee for the environmental club club which I have had since its creation (my freshmen year). Ive tried to get other leadership positions but I have lost the elections for all of them. Will these 2 positions be enough?
Every group, every project needs leaders and doers. Being a leader is great, if that’s in your makeup. But being a doer is just as important. Show and talk about what you’ve done and what you’ve accomplished even if its not formally recognized by a title of leadership. Doing things and getting things done is its own form of leadership. Talk about the contributions you make doing community service, tutoring, being a supportive teammate. It takes all kinds and a school, or any organization, full of just the leader type wouldn’t function well.
Being a leader, like others say, is not about being captain or having that title as club president. It’s about what kind of impact you had on your peers and the community.
OP: have you noticed at your school all those people who whore after leadership positions of bogus organizations, just to puff up their resume? Do you think it’s something localized only at your school? Most colleges don’t give a flip. The ones that do (like some of your target schools), know the stuffed shirt leaders vs. the actually interesting applicants. You’ve gotten great advice on this thread. Ignore your school’s resume puffers.