<p>I understand it's not optimal leadership experience, but it's the closest that I can come up with. Freshman-Start of Junior year I slacked my ass off. Like it was my day job. I didn't get good grades, I didn't volunteer, I didn't participate in extracurricular activities. If you want more info you can check out my "Chance me" thread. Basically, i'm trying to save myself by performing well on the SAT (started at 1790, looking at ~2000) as well as trying to fit in some last second clubs and volunteer work. </p>
<p>Anyways, I started trying in everything I did, starting with my job. I was promoted from a busser to a server within 3 months.</p>
<p>• Is this something colleges would look at to see advanced improvement?
• Something I could use to my advantage?
• Could I spin it off into leadership experience? Something along the lines of "As a waiter, I had to use fantastic leadership abilities to both train bussers and command them on what to do"?
• Any other tips related to saving my horrendous past? </p>
<p>^^ Your boss, the manager of the restaurant, has the leadership position. While you have trained bussers, you are not the head waiter, nor are you responsible for the hiring or firing of other waiters or bussers. So, you are an employee, an indian not a chief. I don’t think colleges will be fooled if you try to make it seem otherwise. That said you can certainly add a short 25-word description of your job on the Extracurricular section of the Common App – but if you use the sentence " “As a waiter, I had to use fantastic leadership abilities to both train bussers and command them on what to do”?" you might engender a snicker from AO’s. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that college’s are not adventure camps looking at your EC leadership positions to fill their activity rosters — they are academic institutions looking for leaders in the classroom. College’s are looking for students who not only contribute to the classroom conversation, but dynamically lead the discussion. They are looking for students who constantly raise their hands and have thoughtful opinions; students who are respected by their teachers and peers. Admissions Directors are looking for your teachers to confirm those leadership qualities in their recommendation letters. It’s not leadership in EC’s that colleges are looking for. </p>
<p>@gibby Thanks for your insight. It is too much of a stretch, thanks for the indian/chief example haha. Do you have any suggestions on what I could do to obtain some useful leadership experience? And any tips on how to quickly beef up my resume within the application due date. I’m literally willing to do anything and put all of my time into this, as I have realized my misdoings albeit a little late. Coming into this forum with so many people shooting for top schools, I really feel like a moron with my GPA, class rank, and all my other shortcomings. </p>
<p>I think you could develop your job into a nice essay about personal responsiblity, working with people, dealing with pressure, handling dissatisfied customers --that sort of thing. If you were able to suggest improvements in how things were being done that’s a nice thing to talk about too. Being a leader doesn’t just mean you boss people around. </p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions I’m definitely going to try and incorporate it as well as shine it in some positive light using some of the suggestions you posted.</p>
<p>IMO being promoted in 3 months says something good about you and I would mention it. Also a job is a nice EC to have, it shows you have developed a sense of responsibility (showing up on time, performing well enough to be promoted) and can work, including as part of a team.</p>
I’m definitely going to try and incorporate it as well as shine it in some positive light using some of the suggestions you posted.</p>