<p>This week I had three elections in a row for Academic Decathlon co-captain, Theatrical Society vice president, and NHS vice president. It did not go in my favor as I lost all three. In all three cases, the "underdog"/least expected/most shocking person won. In the first and third case, I tied with one person (out of a total of 3, including me, who ran), and the revote caused me to lose, and in the second case, everyone's sure that it must've been close between me and the girl who won, who also happens to be one of my closest friends. I don't really hold that many leadership positions, I was the elected historian for Theatrical Society this year, and not last summer, but the one before, i was a Counselor-in-training, and I did some volunteer work and etc. that might count as leadership or it may not.
But I'd like to know how much not winning these elections can hurt me in the eyes of admissions officers.
What sucks most is knowing that if I had one more vote, I could've won, at least two of these elections, and had only one extra friend/person who said they'd go and vote for me actually showed up, I could have won.
Also, theater is my passion, and my original intention was to write my essays about it, but now, does not holding an officer position senior year make it appear as though it would not be legit if I wrote about it?
Feedback is appreciated, thanks.</p>
<p>if it's your passion and you can accurately/emotively convey that in your essays, definitely write about it - whether or not you have the position. that doesn't delegitimize your love for the activity. :)</p>
<p>Two things: one, i didn't know there were elections in Acadmeic Decathlon (we didn't have one). On a more serious note, leadership positions can help, but not the much, really it's what you make out of the experience and how you transmit that into words. Let me put it into perspective, I was the secretary/treasurer of my NHS this year but I wasn't really active, but then I had my peer leadership group which I have now been a part of for three years and am easily much more active in this organization though hold no leadership positions. Now I ask, which looks better? If you know then don't worry about leadership positions, if you don't know, you are too concerned.</p>
<p>I think having a general direction in your activities and a clear passion helps most, not whether or not you've led.</p>
<p>I really didn't have any leadership positions, just a broad range of extracurriculars, none of which I was very involved in except band. I got into Duke. Many of my peers have no leadership positions and even less extracurriculars and have made some top 15 schools. I think the importance of leadership is overrated somewhat, but its a definte plus to have if you got it.</p>
<p>Leadership is my favorite thing about college apps. A simple popularity contest can be as helpful as a 4.0. It is the easiest and least time consuming way to feign interest in an activity. Also, depending on the advisor, leadership roles aren't very hard. I'm president of a club and I do nothing as a leader-the advisor does everything. (I do work on the competition itself, but I don't really lead or decide on anything) Leadership roles are the most time-effective ways to seem empassioned. I spent much more time in mock trial and I like it much more, but without a leadership position or award, it isn't as impressive.</p>
<p>Sorry I'm being cynical, its just how I feel at the moment. Also, I know there are clubs (I'm in some) where the leader actually does work. Clubs where they (we) actually lead. Still if your school is anything like mine-Get as many leadership roles as you can.</p>
<p>thanks to those of you who have responded...</p>
<p>some other opinions?</p>
<p>I never had a formal leadership position, but stuck with what I loved through high school - and I still got into really good schools. (And I wasn't in the top 10%, I didn't do community service, I didn't have a 'hook', and I'm a white female from one of the most over-represented areas of the country. So, yes, it's possible.)</p>
<p>i really beg to differ with Shark_bite. this is a variable issue for different colleges, so my advice might apply more to some colleges. i only really had two ecs: church and debate, and i did not have really big leadership roles in either of them (mostly because i debated for a community college and the coach wouldn't let me be captain because he wanted a full student to do it, and i didn't have the time to devote to all that). I spent about 17 hours a week at debate. But i was treasurer of a T-Shirt club at my school that really did nothing and I only spent an hour a week participating there - maximum. And I was still accepted to Stanford and Berkeley.</p>
<p>I think it depends on what type of person you are - if you are in the top 1% of your high school and have taken challenging classes - that is, if you're not relying solely on extracurriculars as your main emphasis - don't worry about not having leadership positions. If you really care about what you do - which is all that really matters, since admissions officers can see through basic, meaningless listing of clubs anytime - that should come through in your essays and it'll be fine. But if you're banking on one of these activities, I would stress out a little more.</p>
<p>I get the feeling it's more the Admissions department interested in "leadership" than the school itself.</p>
<p>Why would a school wnat leaders in the first place? These people are supposedly more likely to start the next major company or something.</p>
<p>Who wants to show off illustrious graduates in pretty viewbooks? Admissions!</p>
<p>Who gets to decide who goes to a school? Hey, also Admissions!</p>
<p>yeah... I'm 3 in a class of 164... though possibly 4th by next year. I take all the hardest possible classes in school, my SATs are 2200, though I'm taking them again. There's really no big hook about me; I mean, I'm just one of thousands of smart kids applying to these top schools, my first choice is Stanford, btw. I was hoping to accumulate some leadership positions as something to help me out. The one election that emotionally hurt me most was the theatrical society one... so if I somehow convey how much of a loss I suffered by not winning an officer position for next year in my essay, do you think it will help show that I am truely passionate about it, and that it's not just an EC I rack up to please colleges?</p>
<p>(Wow. someone from MA wants to go to CA? i guess i get the screenname now)</p>
<p>Sure. You can write the essay about anything, but make sure it conveys your passion rather than something like your pride (don't take this the wrong way, I would feel the same :)). But even then, you can talk about how even though you didn't win an officer position and felt that your dedication wasn't properly acknowledged, you still did the activity, and to the same level, because well, you do it because you love it and not for anything else. It just depends on how you write the essay.</p>
<p>I think you sound find academically, in terms of SATs and GPA. Stanford really cares about essays and recs, so work on those. </p>
<p>And I do think Stanford in particular cares about you specializing in one area - at least in my experience with it. (My friend is now a freshman there and said that when he visited, the adcom said that they are looking for a well-rounded class rather than well-rounded people.) The salutorian at my school was deferred EA and rejected RD, even though he had a near-perfect SAT and had a leadership position in many of the academic teams (Academic Decathalon, Science Bowl, etc.) and was in numerous activities (even Tennis and Choir, even though he was not as involved/good in these). (Don't worry, he did get into Harvard though. :)) I was valedictorian and got in RD with a worse SAT and only the 2 previously mentioned ECs (though I definitely concentrated my time more on those two rather than spreading myself out). But don't take my word on this, it's just an idea!</p>
<p>Leadership is huge! Especially if the college uses a point system. A good trick to getting a position, is halfway through the year if say the secretary isn't doing their job, offer to take on one of their responsibilities just as a favor. And after a couple months of that, ask the club pres. if you can be named co-secrectary because you've been doing such a good job. It worked for me.</p>
<p>I think it's worthy of noting that college admissions will never know you lost those two races... since they'll never know you ran in the first place.</p>
<p>Haha, sorry. But seriously... leadership probably helps, but it's other things too. I think schools are aware of the "too many chiefs, not enough indians" scenario.</p>
<p>thanks guys.
and ebonytear - lol, well I used to live in CA, that's why I love it so much. It's also weird that you said you're salutatorian with near perfect stats and numerous leadership positions was defferred EA from Stanford and then rejected, but got into Harvard, because that happened to the salutatorian from my school! He was also very academically qualified, and very well rounded, holding numerous leadership positions, but he didn't get into Stanford EA or RD, though he is going to Harvard now!</p>