<p>I don't know about other schools, so I'm not going to generalize...</p>
<p>But at my school, every leadership position (besides sports) seems to be merely a title to put on a college transcript...</p>
<p>In my example...I auditioned for Drum Major for my school Marching Band, but didn't get it because my teacher said I lacked leadership qualities. So I accepted a job as section leader instead...In my opinion, "A leader of followers".</p>
<p>So the season went on -- and I slowly realized the Drum Major was nothing but a figurehead that simply conducted (waving arms). The people behind the scenes, aka section leaders, did everything -- and there is no doubt in my mind that the section leaders salvaged the season. </p>
<p>Even in the other leadership positions, such as student government, club president, secretary, vice-president, etc...it seems like they don't do anything significant. Sure, some schools may have the greatest student body president, but in my school, all they seem to do is gather money and host insignificant events. </p>
<p>OK -- I'll admit it. I'm Korean, I was raised to be a follower until 11th grade -- to hide behind the scenes and not stand out by my parents. And I was denied of all of the leadership positions I "auditioned" for/aka popularity contest...but I made things happen -- behind the scenes. It just sucks that someone else gets all of the credit for the things I did. </p>
<p>Here's my question: Why do colleges put so much emphasis on leadership positions, especially when they are creations of popularity contests? And even when they are not -- the leader doesn't do anything significant, while the followers do everything. Please do not flame me for this -- because this is the truth at my school, and may not be at any other school.</p>
<p>As a person who holds leadership positions, I know I have to do a hell of a lot of work.....</p>
<p>Also, there is nothing wrong with showing that you can win "popularity contests" persay.... the thing that makes them wrong if you don't do anything with it, if the reason why you hold that title is for the sake of your own ego (or college). But if you do things with leadership positions that may or may not have been endowed to you via popularity contests, that's a terrific use of energy.</p>
<p>"In my example...I auditioned for Drum Major for my school Marching Band, but didn't get it because my teacher said I lacked leadership qualities. So I accepted a job as section leader instead...In my opinion, "A leader of followers".</p>
<p>Any position is what you make of it. True leaders go above and beyond what their title is or what people expect. True leaders motivate, come up with new ideas, are role models, etc.</p>
<p>I know someone who didn't win a so-called leadership position in her school band, but instead was asked to be in charge of uniforms. She was the first student to take on that job, which is typically unappreciated and requires lots of hard, boring work including ensuring that 100+ uniforms were dry cleaned each week and were in good repair.</p>
<p>She not only did that by organizing an efficient system for it, she also used her executive board position to create some new activitities to help freshmen become more welcomed into the band. She didn't spend her time whining about how she didn't get a top leadership position or how some other students in her school had positions, but didn't do any work. Instead, she made something of what she had.</p>
<p>And she got into Stanford.</p>
<p>As for the often stated here idea that school leadership positions are mainly popularity contests: In real life, most people who get appointed or elected to a leadership position are well liked. Think about it: Would you vote for a politician whom you disliked? Do you really think that executives get chosen for their positions if their bosses dislike them?</p>
<p>Northstarmom -- I really appreciate your input. But I don't believe I just stood there complaining -- I did more than what was expected, yet someone else got all the credit for it. </p>
<p>And about that reality -- there are only 2 main candidates for president -- and that's only because of money and long standing popularity (similar to legacy no?) And I know executives in my dad's company that get chosen because of bribes and money. </p>
<p>But I still want to know why there's such a big gap between leader and follower-- most of the posts I read seem to say: "If you're not a leader, you didn't contribute much". Which is not the case.</p>
<p>Give an example of what you mean that you did the work, but someone else got the credit.</p>
<p>Also, you can provide specifics in your application about what leadeship things you did. For instance: Section leader (chaired weekly section meetings, led practice sessions; as member of band executive board (insert what you did).</p>
<p>If there's not room on the application to detail these things, you can detail them on a an activities sheet that you send separately. You also can ask your GC or teacher (if your band leader is doing a recc) to provide these specifics in their recommendation.</p>
<p>And, of course, you could write your essay about your leadership experiences as a section leader.</p>
<p>As for the gap between leader and follower: good leaders also follow well when their talents are needed in that way.</p>
<p>Why colleges, however want students with demonstrated leadership ability (whether or not that leadership was reflected by offices) is because a great deal of the U.S. college experience has to do with extracurriculars, and particularly at the top colleges where ECs count the most in admission, those ECs are totally run by students. Consequently, such colleges want students with the demonstrated ability to inspire others to contribute strongly to ECs.</p>
<p>Back to you: If you were really doing all of the work, but did it while in the background with no one noticing what you were doing, that may be a way of working that is admired in some cultures, but doesn't work in mainstream America. What some cultures regard as Americans bragging and showing off too much is what is often respected and admired in the U.S. There are ways of doing this without being obnoxious. Better to learn this now than to wait until you're an adult when your income and other opportunities will depend on your getting credit for the leadership that you exert.</p>
<p>I actually did attach a resume explaining the behind-the-scenes work I did. I'm also well aware of the "mainstream america" thing -- after 13 years of experiencing it and trying to make it work...</p>
<p>As for the example...Leader got standing ovation and admiration for the things that the other section leaders and I did. We were thrown off to the side...and As a person who worked hard and wanted that recognition and respect, I was seriously dissapointed.</p>
<p>yea..thats y i decided to completely take off leadership from my essays. It tells them nothing.
How come your guys' schools put leadership+community service hours on ur transcript? for my school, i dont think theres anything like that...doesnt that kinda invalidate the things i put on my college application?</p>
<p>Haha...my school transcipt makes it seem like my ec's were absolutely nothing. And school only lists in-school ec's :(</p>
<p>Please do not generalize all Drum Majors as being simple "figureheads."</p>
<p>I conduct all parent meetings, organize music, run practices, start practice warmups, work with different musical sections during sectionals, pretty much chaperone buses, pump up the band at football games, so the last thing Im worried about is conducting.</p>
<p>In the beginning of this season our two band directors were suspended with pay b/c of allegations of sexual harassment, these claims were not only false but they'll probably ruin their careers as well. To say the least, it was absolutely devastating to the band, b/c we've been in the top of three of All-States and states for our group since my freshmen year. As a result, b/c I was drum major I was interrogated by school officials for nearly two weeks, I met with our school principals at least 5 times to figure out a way to continue the band. I had lunch with our district superintendent 2 times to discuss the issue as well. </p>
<p>Yes the section leaders (among whom include some of my best friends) helped a lot throughout this entire process. But saying that the drum major doesnt do anything really detracts from their dedication and hardwork.</p>
<p>Also, you're korean, so what. It doesnt mean that you were raised to be "behind the scenes." I'm CHinese and Im the junior captain of the debate team, treasurer of key club, vp of nhs, and homecoming king. Dont isolate yourself in your little mold and assume that asians cant be social or that they cant win leadership positions.</p>
<p>Even if some positions- for example class president- may have little job responsibilities, colleges arent dumb and realize that many positions entail plenty of responsibilities and a high level of commitment. To assume that all officer positions are "fake" is pathetic.</p>
<p>Wow I can't believe this-- please read my entire post before flaming me...I specifically said this was the case at MY school, and that I did not know about any OTHER school. See for yourself...my 1st, 2nd, and last line. </p>
<p>You are a good drum major -- I wish my Drum Major was like that. And please don't assume I'm not social -- I have a diverse group of friends. I said I was "raised to be quiet" because I WAS. When you're screamed at by your peers and teachers when you stand out, guess what that does to a child's psyche. My parents did not want me to be out of the ordinary, and whenever I did something that took a risk, they only punished me. </p>
<p>Oh btw, thanks for calling me pathetic.</p>
<p>What are the leadership things that you did that the drum major got credit for?</p>
<p>Also, if he were a decent leader, he wouldn't have hogged all of the credit for himself, but would have asked the people to also applaud the rest of the band, including the section leaders. This would have been the right thing to do even if he had been doing his fair share of leadership.A leader can't lead without followers, so good leaders let the rest of their team share the credit.</p>
<p>The only leadership thing he actually did was...yelling at the section leaders to keep their respective sections under control. </p>
<p>Northstarmom -- obviously that's what I wanted to happen, but it didn't, so w/e. This is now becoming a tangent of the original argument/question...forget about it.</p>
<p>You still haven't said what you did that was so important. You keep complaining about the drum major, but you need to say what you did. </p>
<p>I am asking in part because I'm wondering whether you did highlight that info well on your activities list. You seem so angry about the drum major that I am wondering if you have the energy left to make sure colleges know about your leadership accomplishments.</p>
<p>My apologies -- I assumed that based on my response, you would know. I look back and see that I really didn't imply anything at all...</p>
<p>Here are some things: Teach everything music related, control section from misbehaving, interact with them personally (especially freshman/new members), teach charts/drills/footwork, practice sessions, etc etc etc. </p>
<p>In addition to that, I made sure my section was ready-- I made sure they were all tuned perfectly, warm (supplied my own hand warmers), knew music + charts + everything else, and I just interacted them on the same level -- like taking them out for dinner for example.</p>
<p>But saying all of that would have made my application unnecessarily cluttered. I just summed up all of it - and I am writing an essay on this, how I sought after a leadership position for the name, and then realized it meant nothing, and what I did to save the band from a lukewarm season.</p>
<p>Those seem like significant accomplishments. </p>
<p>What is the big deal about being a drum major? I've never been in a band (I was in orchestras when I was a teen), but I always assumed the drum majors didn't do much except look good. I always assumed that the section leaders were the important positions because they had to be the best musicians in their sections.</p>
<p>At the college where I used to teach, to be a drum major, you had to be very tall, lean, male, and able to do the dance moves well. I used to joke to my sons that when they grew up, if they were tall, they could be drum majors. We'd laugh because to us, the drum majors were not what made the band -- the players made the band.</p>
<p>Anyway, I'd bet that if you explained your leadership role well in your application or supplement, the admissions officers will not care that you were "just" a section leader, not a drum major. They will be impressed that you were demonstrating leadership.</p>
<p>The thing is, that being a drum major at my school is what the drum major decides to do. But at other schools, the Drum Major plays a big role. </p>
<p>Apparently, my school is one of the few that detracts from the traditional role -- but colleges wouldn't care about such a small detail. A horrible situation.</p>
<p>No, it's not a horrible situation. The top colleges are virtually the only ones who care that much about ECs when it comes to admissions.</p>
<p>For those top colleges, what you accomplished is more important than your title. They are well aware that many students have titles that are only resume dressing.</p>
<p>Where are you applying?</p>