Can someone clarify why demonstrated “leadership” is important for college admissions? I assume a student body needs individuals who can direct and some who can follow. But there’s probably more to it than simply command and control. Are AO’s looking at high school leadership really about taking initiative or being a self starter?
Admissions officers vary in what they value. The ones that look for leadership, may be looking for depth of interest in an area. So you start out being a member of a club, you get involved in managing the club in year two and three, and you end up the President of the club by year four, shows that you stuck with an EC and you got good at something, probably.
You could demonstrate leadership by leading a group academic project as well, or an Eagle Scout project in Boy Scouts, or be a leader in a hiking club.
Some colleges look for creativity, and that be demonstrated by starting a new high school club, that had not been thought of before. The creativity box could be filled by inventing something, by choreography of a dance or composing music, or some art related pursuit, like photography where the student submits a portfolio.
Out of the box thinking skills are often valued by admissions officers. Some of this can be demonstrated during an interview, if the college offers that.
In the real world many volunteer groups have much of the work done by those in so called “leadership” roles. You can join a number of groups and do nothing. How can they tell if you joined to puff up your resume or because you cared enough to roll up your sleeves. And it’s Also about those around you thought you had qualities they admired enough to vote for you. It doesn’t have to be every ec. Every group needs doers too. A nice mix is good.
I get the sense that colleges use “leadership” as a catch-all. It can mean you were elected to a fancy title by of a group of your peers, but it can also mean you were placed in charge of something - whether that was a project or a couple of younger kiddies. It can also mean taking initiative or being a self-starter as OP suggested. Speaking out with creative suggestions or ideas that later get implemented can probably count too. Could just mean you “led the pack” as in always being the first to volunteer, or being the first to speak up in a class after a teacher opened up a topic for discussion.
too many students who hang out here thinks “leadership” simply means being elected president of the X club (which is often just a popularity contest, and can mean next to nothing). I agree with the post above; what they are really looking for is initiative, whether on behalf of a club, or a team, or a volunteer situation, or even developing a skill on your own out of interest and turning it into something special and innovative. Just checking off boxes on an application is not leadership.
Popularity isn’t always something negative. Some kids are popular because they are smart and nice. Good things to ha e on campus.
@privatebanker . … . in high school though? At least in our magnet school, the “popular” kids are the ones who started high school intending to be Val and President of the School, and were not actually liked by their peers, they just ran everything.
Not everywhere and in every school. I was just pushing back a ittle on blanket generalizations.
There are plenty of well meaning students as well.
Of course there are other ec types as well. But many leaders in science clubs sports and other ecs like student paper and volunteer drives don’t fit the the pushy class president archetype. And ecs are broader than that just student government.
How much does “leadership” outside of the high school matter to colleges? For example, Boys State/Nation, camp counsellors, Boys Scouts, etc?
I think it’s one of those tie breaker issues tbh.
Outside the hs “box” is important. (Outside that comfort zone, where the bell rings and kids go to activities.) Not everyone has these opportunities, but it’s good to try. Also, leadership is not about a collection of titles. It’s a quality. It’s what you go after, how, and how you have some impact. I agree with the “initiative” comment- but it matters what. Forming a committee for the prom decorations isn’t really it. Driving some fundraiser may not be it.