Are leadership positions or specific
names in school clubs actually overrated? Does being a secretary in one or two clubs really make the other applicant who’s VP of 2 clubs and President of 1 look much better? How important is being part of the officers or positions in a club?
Not much, if at all. It’s what you did, not what title you had.
Each admission officer will have his or her own opinions about this topic so I don’t think there is one firm answer.
Admissions offices are not naive.
All about what you did in the club, not your position. If I was merely a member and I really made the club grow and prosper, I could write about that experience in an essay or in a shorter 100 word description whereas if a president of that club did nothing, he or she would have nothing to write about and it would look worse.
Names in clubs are overrated as many times, it’s the person who’s popular, not the person who’s capable, that gets elected.
Club presidents are a dime a dozen. Find what you love and figure out how to have an impact - make a difference to someone, somewhere. Ultimately, it will change who you are - and as a side benefit, you might actually have something interesting to say to an adcom (or a cute class-mate) when they ask what you like to do in your free time.
Is that how admissions officers view them as well? Should a student or students with leadership in only a single club in which they make an impact in ever be worried about being viewed as one without the preferred qualities or the initiative? @rdeng2614 @N’s Mom