Is it a bad idea to write about an EC in which I didn't win anything?

I really like Debate. However, when I joined in 9th grade, there were only 5 kids in the club, including me. We had 0 tournaments, very little funding, and didn’t really do anything.

Since then, I’ve become President and although it was difficult, I revamped the club. Now, we have 20 members and compete in 4 tournaments per year, with plenty of funding. I’ve had to personally teach debate, organize tournaments (lazy sponsor), and judge practice rounds. At our most recent tournament, one of the pairs I taught actually “broke” into the playoffs, the first time anyone from our school has done so.

The issue is that all my energy in Speech and Debate club has gone toward its development, not my own performance. Thus, I have virtually no concrete accomplishments; however, I do have many accomplishments in other clubs such as Science Olympiad, where I am a Co-Captain, although I really don’t have as much “heart” in SciOly as I do in Debate. Debate has much more of a familial feeling.

Currently, I’m writing the 150-word EC essays for the Ivies, so should I write about Debate, which I definitely care for more but have no accomplishments, or stay safe and write about Science Olympiad, in which I have a leadership position (Co-Captain) and National-level distinctions?

I can probably write a nice essay either way.

It’s sad that you feel you haven’t achieved anything because you haven’t won. Isn’t that a great essay topic right there? “I love it, even though I haven’t won a thing”. If you have been on this site for any length of time, you should know that playing it safe for tippy top schools isn’t a great strategy. Tippy top schools like students who love things. I think you can guess what my advice is:-)

It is not so much about winning as it is in how you played the game. That is what your essay should be about. Not every activity, as you have pointed out, is scored in such a way as to have a winner.

Good luck.