<p>hey guys, i know that colleges love leadership positions and all of that, but the thing is--i'm not a leader. i've run for positions in clubs. i've continually lost. i really want to get into a good school, but it seems almost impossible without leadership. what can i do?</p>
<p>i've heard from my mom that one student actually wrote an essay about being a supporter and a follower instead of being a leader, and got into the big schools that way. are there any other occasions where somebody is not a leader (has NO leadership positions) but still makes it into a good school?</p>
<p>more specifically... i'd like to know whether i should keep trying to run. i've always lost in the past, and i feel like i'll lose in the future too. should i just give up and focus on other things instead?</p>
<p>You can:
A. Keep trying to run, without changing your strategy.
B. Keep trying to run, but change your strategy.
In which case:
-Make more friends
-Have a clever campaign slogan (clever by high school standards, meaning slightly stupid :))
-Just talk to people more. It's a popularity contest, not so much a leadership thing.
C. Decide you're not a leader.
In which case:
-Don't lose hope. That doesn't keep you from top colleges, not by a long shot. You need to show your aptitude for something; no one said it had to be leadership. The soccer captain isn't necessarily the best player, and both the captain and the best player look good to colleges. You can be the DECA champ without being president, or the debater who won first at States without being secretary. Don't worry about it; just distinguish yourself in ways more natural to you.</p>
<p>Leadership isn't restricted to school. The vast majority of my leadership is outside of school- in things I was really passionate about and pursued as a result.</p>
<p>Just make up a club. That is what I am doing next year. I am creating a GSA at my high school because it is good leadership, it will look good that I am its founder, and it is somthing I like.</p>
<p>You don't need to hold some kind of office to get into college. The majority of colleges don't factor nonathletic ECs into admissions anyway.</p>
<p>Also remember that "leadership" is not just defined by holding office. If you organize a project for an organization, hold a job, or do something like coaching or tutoring, you're demonstrating leadership.</p>
<p>really? i didn't know that colleges didn't really care about non-academic ec's. </p>
<p>the thing is, i am a good student, and i'm smart and bright and everything, but i am not brilliant. how am i supposed to all of a sudden pursue an interest and end up being the best at it? like i can't just all of a sudden be the best soccer player, or deca champ, or star debater</p>
<p>do colleges prefer office leadership like "president" or "vp" over the kind like holding of job or tutoring?</p>
<p>Here's the sad truth: It's not that super selective colleges "expect" students to be the best in their fields of extracurriculars. It's that some of the applicants ARE the best in their respective fields--thus colleges want them and admit them.</p>
<p>It sucks, but it doesn't mean disaster. It has become an informal "expectation" in a way at some of the very, very, very most selective schools, but because not everyone IS the best in their fields, many just as good, though perhaps less prestigious colleges will give admissions to more "normal" applicants.</p>
<p>However, you never know: obviously, not everyone who gets into Harvard is an amazing soccer all-star or concertmaster of their state's philharmonic orchestra. The bottom line is that you should do the best you can and simply see where that takes you. From there, it's out of your hands. (Again, it sucks, but at least it isn't your fault if you give it your best shot).</p>
<p>Since it's easy to hold an office while doing nothing, in general, colleges probably prefer jobs to offices. At least when a student has a paid job, one presumes they really are having to show up and be responsible. </p>
<p>Adcoms know that to decorate their resumes, lots of students create clubs that are clubs in name only or hold offices that require the students to do little work. This includes things like SGA president , which at some schools are figurehead positions.</p>
<p>Also, colleges aren't expecting students to be the best at what they do. That is, of course, impossible. Colleges hope that students have taken advantage of opportunities to try new things and explore interests, but if one hasn't, as long as one has the grades, scores, and coursework that colleges require, for most colleges in the country, one will be admitted.</p>
<p>Of course, for public universities, it does help to be in-state. For the top universities in the country -- places like HPYS -- so many applicants have sky high stats that the colleges can afford to pick and choose to create a well rounded class. </p>
<p>However, most students get into their first choice college (of course, if your first choice is a top 25 college, that probably won't be true), and most college in the country accept the majority of their applicants.</p>
<p>thanks disneyguy, it does suck that the normal people get kicked out of top college admissions for being less talented or for not possessing leadership qualities. but you're right, there's nothing we can do about it</p>
<p>i am so tired of losing elections. its lowering my self esteem major majorly.</p>
<p>^^haha, I went through that self esteem thing as well. But really, it's only a short term thing. </p>
<p>If you truly don't want to run, then don't. But deeply involve yourself in something and consistently do that and that will (sort of) compensate</p>
<p>for example, I was never, ever the best at anything in my school (far far from it), but I did some cool volunteering things out of school and participated (consistently) in many cultural activities. </p>
<p>Not great/special enough for Harvard or MIT or whatnot, but good enough for other schools!</p>
<p>Well, I don't know if it's a good strategy to just run for a bunch of positions. Most groups are not like student govt. or class president where it is all about popularity. If you are committed to a activity or group, then people will begin to have respect for your commitment. You should be able to kind of feel your status in the group. </p>
<p>The best way to run is to be committed enough to a group that other people suggest you run for a leadership position. It's not all committment and desire, though. You can't be so eager that you're like a Golden retriever. There are leadership qualities that are valuable, but the more subtle kind. You don't want to just start ordering people around. In addition to your committment to the group, you have to kind of gradually establish a rapport with people.</p>
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The bottom line is that you should do the best you can and simply see where that takes you.
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</p>
<p>This is great advice. You want to end up in a college that is a good fit for you. Do you really want to school with everybody who was the president of everything and feel like you don't measure up all the time? No. You want to go to a school that has a decent program in what interests you and where you will fit in and be happy.</p>
<p>I would recommend that you stop running for office. That's just not you. You probably aren't Mr/Ms Politician. Instead, join something that interests you and accomplish something there. Actually do something rather than just hold a title. For instance, one person might be the president of a club, but another may be the one who organized the yearly fundraiser. This is leadership, too.</p>
<p>Northstarmom mentioned getting a job and that's another great suggestion. That will demonstrate a work ethic and that you don't think you are too good to work hard.</p>