<p>I've been under the impression that you need to be a leader (president of so-and-so clubs) in order to get into Harvard, or schools of that sort. </p>
<p>Is it true that you need to be some sort of leader, or would having good EC's/Essays be enough (tutor, piano awards, art awards, interesting job experience, interesting essay, etc.)?</p>
<p>When colleges say they are interested in leaders, many students assume they are looking for captains of athletic teams, or presidents of student councils, or editors of newspapers. And sometimes they are. But more often than not, as colleges are academic institutions, they are looking for leaders in the classroom. They are looking for students who not only contribute to the classroom conversation, but dynamically lead the discussion. They are looking for students who constantly raise their hands and have thoughtful opinions. Colleges are looking for your teachers to confirm your leadership qualities in their recommendation letters, with concrete examples such as those that are on MIT’s website: [Writing</a> Recommendations | MIT Admissions](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/writingrecs]Writing”>How to write good letters of recommendation | MIT Admissions). It’s not enough just to have great essays, EC’s and awards. Selective colleges are looking for students who will make a difference, those who will be remembered for years to come.</p>
<p>Thanks for the answer. I just find things leadership-related to be somewhat difficult because I’ve always been more introverted by nature. I remember hating preschool because for an introverted child, being dumped into a room full of other kids was scary. </p>
<p>Thankfully, your description of “contributing to the classroom” sounds like me, at least in French and English class. </p>
<p>However, I’ll still use your advice and try to work on contributing more, especially in other classes.</p>
<p>Schools like H want people of influence. Being extraordinary in something like research or artistic ability is one way. Being a leader in the classroom is another. A moderately talented artist/musician without much social influence is not going to stand out in the insanely competitive Harvard pool, however.</p>
<p>But don’t change these things in order to impress some college. Pursue your life and make improvements for their own sake. As a soon to be Senior, there’s not much more you can do to alter your trajectory. Choose a wide batch of colleges and good luck to you</p>
<p>I hear what you’re saying. This may sound like a weird question, but would you look at some of my art and see what you think? </p>
<p>[NinhjaArts’s</a> deviantART Gallery](<a href=“http://ninhjaarts.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/gallery/]NinhjaArts’s”>http://ninhjaarts.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/gallery/)</p>
<p>Some of those pieces aren’t exactly serious, refined pieces of art, especially the drawings/sketches. The paintings tend to be more serious, though.</p>
<p>IMHO: Nice. When submitting to colleges, I would delete both black-ops and Ironman from your gallery, as guns tend to be a “hot button” issue that might work against you in applications process.</p>
<p>@gibby: Thanks. Hahaha, yeah I don’t plan on submitting that to them. I actually drew that picture for a Youtube video (hoping that since Black Ops is such a hot topic on Youtube it would increase my views), and the Iron Man piece is from my Digital Arts class (where we had to redesign a movie poster).</p>
<p>Its not required, but it will look good on your application. Leadership is important because nowadays, it is required to work with other people.</p>
<p>Everyone stresses the importance of leadership. Granted, a successful organazation needs good leadership - but for every leader, it needs many more skilled, competent, creative individuals who are able to out their egos aside for the greater good.</p>
<p>One day I’s like to endow a scholarship for those who have shown competence and creativity without seeking the limelight. Here’s to the introverts!</p>
<p>Just a thought… If everyone applying to Harvard is a leader, then who will be the members anyway? Besides, wouldn’t it be boring to read thousands or dozens of thousands of profiles highlighting leadership?</p>
<p>From the Harvard college admissions website, here’s a beautiful essay by Hellen Vendler about valuing the creative and reflective, I love it: <a href=“http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/tips/vendler.html[/url]”>http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/tips/vendler.html</a></p>
<p>Keep painting!</p>
<p>@uddhavagita: I greatly appreciate that post. I’m glad that they appreciate not only the extroverted alpha-male, but also the introverted artist, and anybody in between.</p>
<p>Leadership is not having a title, any title. It’s a quality. The idea is that kids who are empowered to take on legit responsibilities, commit over time, and have some impact, will continue to reflect that quality (and others) in the college environment. And, in their future lives. That’s not Prez of Stu Govt, speaking at a pep rally or, as we joke, running the prom decorating committee. It’s not founding the pie club. It’s kids with the vision to identify needs and opportunities and pursue them. Not only what serves their own interests or career goals (or college hopes.)</p>
<p>Btw, classroom efforts are still within the high school. Broaden your horizons, climb out of that comfort zone. Leaders do.</p>
<p>True, the world needs followers, too. And so does Harvard. But with 35000 kids to choose among, a good half of whom will be great candidates, you want to show your best, as they need it to be.</p>
<p>Of, “how can Harvard get followers if everybody’s also a leader?” Just logistically, most of the followers in Harvard clubs are therefore either freshmen, sophomores, or leaders in other clubs. I run a tiny club, for example. I myself am a member-not-leader of two others. (Well, I got guilted into being the person in charge of making freshmen members hand out posters in one of them. That doesn’t seem to count.) Of the juniors and senior “followers” in my own club, only one doesn’t seem to have a position of responsibility elsewhere. Positions of responsibility vary widely. Just within my club, for example, one person helps with social life for her Harvard house, with her big responsibility being organizing and (yes) decorating for her house formal each semester. One’s big into progressive politics and helps with any campaign he can find. One’s involved with theater, tending to assistant direct. Other positions that might be “leadership” in a very broad definition might include having a science research job or being lead dancer in a show, where you are indeed taking direction from someone else, but have other people counting on your participation and effort.</p>
<p>Now, I do know some quieter, more introverted souls here who work, study, think, make art, and hang out with me, but they tend not to be joiners in any capacity. So they don’t usually up the “follower” count; they’re off writing or working or, for one friend, being really excellent at art, rather than being members of any clubs at all. I’m afraid I haven’t talked with any of the friends of mine who might fit this description about what might have gotten them into Harvard, so I can’t tell you how they walked the line between being their quieter selves and fulfilling the requirement that their teachers notice them as prospectively excellent members of a college community. They did it; it’s possible; they’re welcome here. Unfortunately, I just can’t offer much insight into how.</p>
<p>Thanks for the post, exultationsy. It’s fine that you’re not able to offer insight into how they got in. I guess I’ll just keep doin’ ma thang and hope that my dream colleges appreciate my work.</p>