<p>hi cc, i have a bit of a dilemma,</p>
<p>i've done about 5-8 extracurriculars, but i never held a leadership position. despite that, i still was succesful as a member, i gave back to the community in various ways when possible, and did well in them. so, will the fact that i didn't have much leadership hurt me? thanks.</p>
<p>leadership is only given importance because it shows genuine interest, dedication, and effort. it’s those things that are important, not leadership itself. so no, you don’t have to have much leadership</p>
<p>Most schools only want to know that you are an active and participating member of your community, not a hermit. If you are applying to highly selective schools, then they want to know that you are someone who makes an impact. Leadership is one way to do this. But you can do it by being unusually good at what you do (ideally with some objective way of demonstrating it), or by demonstrating exceptional competence through certifications or licensing or a perfect SATII, or by achieving some level of recognition for it in some reputable context, or by organizing something that has measurable impact. Or even by overcoming challenges above and beyond what would be expected from someone of your age, maturity and background - as many kids from impoverished backgrounds have to do.</p>