I’ve been participating in DECA for 3 years since freshman year- I’ve gotten 6th in ICDC for accounting, and am an officer. It has been quite expensive though- does it provide any value for college applications and/or just general skills for future careers, etc?
This is a fine extracurricular activity. If you are enjoying it, stick with it. If you have other things you would rather do, drop it. Either choice is perfectly OK.
I agree with @happymomof1. If you like it, stick to it. Throughout your life, you’ll have to do things you won’t like. Any time you find something you do life, cherish it.
As far as skills go, I do believe it gives experiences that help in careers. That being said, I do not think these couldn’t be gained from another club or activity. I know a few years back, DECA was highly respected in college admissions and their officer positions were very highly sought after by students. I haven’t heard much about it in years, so I am assuming that has died down. I cannot say whether that is due to the quality of DECA not being what it used to, or former members not being as well skilled as they thought they would be, or if it’s simply the current of culture (which is most likely, in my opinion).
Friends of mine who have gone to highly competitive colleges (Cornell, Harvard, Brandeis, BU, JHU, NYU, etc.) did not get in because they had one extracurricular that pushed them above all the rest. It more so boiled down to using your application to create a clear image of who they were as a person and student and what their passions were. If DECA reflects your values and beliefs and you enjoy it, it will help compliment the other parts of your application and therefore add value.