I am the sort of person that prefers to lead by example. I won’t get into details, but I am hoping to eventually apply for LAC’s in new England such as Williams.
In planning the next year or two, should I think about running for positions such as NHS officers or student council officers just to help my chances of getting into colleges? I am in NUMEROUS EC’s and participate thoroughly, winning awards, but right now don’t hold or plan on holding any major leadership titles.
Thoughts?
If you lead by example, doesn’t that naturally translate into some leadership positions? I’d pursue one where you feel you can make a difference. There is really no amount of leadership that is “too much”.
Leadership positions should coincide with your actual interests. Admissions officers can pick out BS applications pretty quickly. In this case, NHS does not seem to be something you care about very much.
I am mainly talking about NHS and student government… And I have no interest in running for positions in those except that colleges will look upon me favorably if I have them…
The other clubs I am in don’t really have leadership positions… (Amnesty international, model UN, etc)
For characteristics that are about you, but that don’t readily translate to bullet points on an application, that’s why you have letters of recommendation. What someone else can say about you can be much broader than what you can say about yourself.
If you say, “I lead by example. When we have a school project, I’m the first to show up and last to leave. I spur others to do their best,” that may or may not go over well. If your letter writer says, “He’s always the first to arrive to work on a project, and the last to leave; he spurs others to do their best,” that sort of testimonial is worth its weight in gold.