<p>Do you think that leadership in a club completely unrelated to your expressed field(s) of interest is worth it?</p>
<p>These days, it seems like top-notch colleges want students who have a relatively clear passion that they actively pursue.</p>
<p>For example, if you were President of 10 completely different clubs, the major pro would be massive leadership and the con would be unfocused interest. Would you:</p>
<p>a) List all 10 clubs (assuming there's enough space on the app)?
b) Only list the clubs pertinent to your major with maybe one or two others that you're extremely dedicated to?
c) Break your clubs into 2-3 categories (math/science, political, community-oriented, etc) and only list the clubs in those categories (which wouldn't be all 10)?
d) Do something else?</p>
<p>despite the focus on "passion" in applications, colleges still do like to see that you are out and trying new things, and if you succeed enough at them to earn leadership positions, that type of accolade can't hurt you.</p>
<p>I think when colleges talk about not wanting to see 10 different random clubs, they are referring to the people that join 10 clubs at the beginning of their senior year, and commit minimal time and effort, as it just looks like they did it to add to an application. </p>
<p>if you are a leader in a club, it's probably safe to assume that your intentions are better than just to have it as a resume filler, because why would you be the leader.</p>
<p>ive been the leader of lots of random clubs, i directed a play, started SADD at my school, chaired prom commitee (rare for a guy....+i'm straight), head of student leadership, elected representative of student council, etc. and most of these things I have done for 3-4 years </p>
<p>I think that when colleges look at the leadership positions I've held, they will say, he really got involved in everything he could in his school community.</p>
<p>whereas if i was just a member, who joined at the beginning of senior year, they would be more skeptical.</p>
<p>I agree with brassmonkey for the most part, that leadership positions regardless of your intended major are a plus. However, if I were an adcom, and I had to make the following choice between two applicants:</p>
<p>Applicant A:</p>
<p>Newspaper Editor-in Chief
Key Club President
Chess Club President
Theatre Chair</p>
<p>B:</p>
<p>Model United Nations President
FBLA President
Student Council President</p>
<p>Both applicants are very impressive. Applicant A has eclectic ECs, while applicant B's ECs are directed in a certain direction. I would choose applicant B over applicant A.</p>
<p>IMO, I think adcoms like to see a person with a sense of direction with respect to what they plan to do with their lives.</p>