<p>What's up with college admissions worrying so much about leadership positions? Don't they know that at most high schools, people who win leadership positions are usually because they are popular? My EC's are now only French Club and Spanish Club. I feel like a total loser, because these kids are getting like internships with lawyers, winning senate elections, because all their friends voted for them, winning local science fairs, etc. etc. I am just nothing but a complete loser!!!! They're all right when they say, "Esmee is all about school and that's all she cares about. She has no life."</p>
<p>I think the important thing is to be true to yourself. My son is the same way, didn’t want to join a bunch of clubs, enter science fairs etc. Just not his cup of tea. He did, however, find something that he is passionate about and excel at that one thing. I suggest you cast a wide net to see what interests you and pour yourself into it. After that, it will be what it will be.</p>
<p>I like French and Spanish. Those are two things at my school that I like. Plus, I don’t have money or have any connections to intern lawyers or judges in the city court or the mayor. It sometimes seems unfair to judge students by EC’s when academics are based on grades and test scores. But I know some colleges need to judge EC’s, too.</p>
<p>Only the very top colleges --places like HPYS use ECs as admissions factors. Such colleges also know that places like law firms don’t need high school student interns: Such “internships” are given by family friends usually after well connected parents’ request, and don’t reflect much about a student’s motivation. The colleges that do care about ECs would be more impressed by a student who was a shift supervisor at KFC than by a student who got an internship with a lawyer friend of the family.</p>
<p>If you like those language clubs, stay in them and enjoy them, but don’t expect those clubs or any other clubs to get you into colleges.</p>
<p>The main reason to get involved in ECs is so one has hobbies and develops skills – including people skills – that will serve you well for life. Even top academics do more than their academic work.</p>
<p>" Don’t they know that at most high schools, people who win leadership positions are usually because they are popular?"</p>
<p>Sure, the colleges that care about ECs know the above. They also know that even in the adult world, people who get leadership positions – including things like the presidency – are popular. People don’t vote for people whom they don’t like. People also won’t go out of their way to support someone whom they don’t like.</p>
<p>Okay I had enough. If this club, that club won’t get you into college, than what? What are EC’s that are truly deserving to colleges? I see kids on this site who have only clubs as their ECs and everyone is like to these kids, “you’re so going to Harvard,” etc.</p>
<p>Most people on this site are just uninformed high school students who don’t know what will get people into Harvard. It’s silly to believe what they predict. If you want to see what gets people into places like Harvard, read books like, “The Gatekeepers” and look at the backgrounds of people on CC who have been admitted to top colleges. </p>
<p>The overwhelming majority of colleges base admissions only on grades, scores, and whether the student has taken the courses the college requires. Public universities also base admission on state of residence. Of course, all colleges weight highly a student’s being a stellar recruited athlete.</p>
<p>Someone who’s only concerned about getting a leadership position in a club because they want to look good to colleges probably is going to have a hard time getting one especially if the person doesn’t take the time to get to know others in the club, and doesn’t have ideas, etc. to make the club better. People aren’t likely to vote someone in who obviously cares only about their resume, not about the club or the people in it.</p>
<p>I’m having the same problem. I was nominated for Latin club president today, and I’ve been hoping for a long time that I’d be president, but I lost by like 2 votes against this girl. So now I’m positionless in all my clubs 
I’m hoping to go to an ivy league soo this is not goooood</p>
<p>Leadership is not about being elected a president of a club. What they are looking for in the leadership area could also be described as initiative. What are you passionate about and how have you shown that? You love French and Spanish. I assume you are pretty good at them as well. What are you doing with that? Have you offered to tutor kids in your school? Volunteered at an after school program to teach younger kids the basics of either language? Organized a foreign film night for other kids in your school also interested in language? Gotten involved in a program to bring native speakers to your school to present? Been involved in helping with/organizing an international day or week at your high school? </p>
<p>If you want to demonstrate leadership, then take some inititative concerning your passion and run with it. THAT is what schools are really looking for.</p>
<p>How can I demonstrate Leadership on my resume besides having leadership positions in clubs?</p>
<p>Take initiative. Be a problem solver. Improve the club. </p>
<p>Don’t just try to fake these things to “demonstrate leadership on [your] resume” though. That’s easily transparent and not worth your time.</p>
<p>Btw, this is a relatively old thread…</p>