<p>Today I narrowly lost the election for NHS president. Even though I feel I am more qualified for the position and show a higher level of dedication to the club, I lost because I'm not as popular. Do you think that winning high school elections is a matter of popularity and do colleges recognize that? I know that we are supposed to have "leadership" and I certainly would have demonstrated it if only I had been elected. </p>
<p>Student council and/or NHS are typically popularity. So don’t worry. </p>
<p>I totally feel this way too! I’m running for NHS officer too, and I’m pretty sure I’m not going to win just because they are people running who have more friends in NHS then I do. It is honestly the worst, because that’s how it is for all clubs/activities; people vote for their friends and if you don’t know the “right” people then you’re screwed out of a leadership position that you actually really wanted and were probably more qualified for then the winner. </p>
<p>Yes, but showing leadership isn’t just about getting leadership position in clubs. </p>
<p>I feel like leadership positions are generally looked at nicely, because they show experience and dedication for an extra-curricular. But you are right; it’s generally a popularity contest, or the person who has more friends in the club. I acknowledge this, and I won president roles in Beta Club and SECME at my school. (Although I do show dedication.)</p>
<p>I’ve won debate and MUN president 2 years in a row only because that club is filled with my friends. I’m running for NHS president and will probably lose as well. Don’t take it too hard! It’s all a popularity vote.</p>
<p>@halcyonheather What are other ways of showing leadership for college applications besides leadership positions?</p>
<p>To be quite honest, people who are more popular tend to succeed more in life, but that said, try to meet new people and become friends. The more people you know, the better life will be. </p>
<p>@Hawkace
You’re right. Social skills are useful no matter where you go.</p>
<p>That’s not to say that someone can’t be a successful introvert. It’s just significantly harder.</p>
<p>I would disagree that “people who are more popular tend to succeed more in life”, at least in my experience. All the “cool kids” at my school are going to the lesser ranked colleges by a good margin. The uncool kids / introverts / those who don’t care about popularity are going to ivies and top 50 schools. I think it depends on the school. Social skills aren’t always tied in with popularity.</p>
<p>
How much of a correlation do you think there is between high school popularity and “professional” popularity (or popularity in the real world)?</p>
<p>
Does going to a lesser-ranked college make them less likely to succeed? Or are they less likely to succeed because they weren’t smart and hardworking enough to get into a prestigious college? A lot of people don’t get into prestigious schools because they don’t apply to them. I’m biased because I live in the middle of nowhere and a lot of people around here don’t go to college at all, but selective college admissions has always struck me as sort of a niche interest in the grand scheme of things.</p>
<p>@halcyonheather </p>
<p>I go to a college prep school, and their grades are in line with college attendances. Most everyone is attending the best college they could have gotten into. So I guess the correlation is that they weren’t smart or hard working enough, and I don’t see them being more successful in the real world at all. Hell, some of them may just live off family money in the end, as amazing as that is.</p>
<p>@PengsPhils
Haha, I would argue that there are a lot of cases where a “cool kid” is also a kid that’s smart enough to get into a pretty good school. Like, I take some pretty rigorous classes, and I’m not really an introvert anymore.It’s a tiny bit stereotypical to say that smart people are quiet and the popular folk aren’t smart. </p>
<p>@awakeningvenus </p>
<p>I guess it is a bit stereotypical as a general statement, but it has very few exceptions in my high school. See the post above. In hindsight using college ranks as a gauge was a bad leg I picked to stand on.</p>
<p>@PengsPhils
Haha, everyone is a bit stereotypical sometimes. I just feel like sometimes people are surprised by the intelligence of others, you know? Like I have a lot of friends that don’t come off as smart, but they’re doing wicked cool things like graduating early and getting 4.6 GPAs. It’s kind of amazing.</p>
<p>It’s a popularity contest at my school for all I know. A brilliant 4.0, 36 ACT girl involved in dozens of activities, very social person lost to a popular girl who I don’t really think takes the position seriously.</p>
<p>It always bothers me when people don’t take positions seriously. I’m the president of the SECME chapter at my school, and the treasurer is capable, but he never turns in paperwork for materials in time or even tries to help with the club organization. It irks me even more because he always uses the excuses of being too busy with other things, but he was the one that took the responsibility in the first place. </p>
<p>Sorry for ranting…</p>
<p>Yup, popularity, despite experience will play. Often in high school and even college elections you’ll get the sibling or best friend pairs both getting elected (I’ve seen way too much of this this year)… BUT you can demonstrate leadership without being elected! And that’s picking the scraps of opportunities that are still out for you. Help out the leaders the best way you can, despite losing to them, you’ll pick up experience. Help out other general members. Put your energy into something that will get you involved, well known, and experienced. Moreover, a good mindset is to do these things with the heart for it and show that you aren’t in everything for the respect, power, or college admissions.</p>
<p>@PengsPhils
“I go to a college prep school, and their grades are in line with college attendances. Most everyone is attending the best college they could have gotten into. So I guess the correlation is that they weren’t smart or hard working enough, and I don’t see them being more successful in the real world at all. Hell, some of them may just live off family money in the end, as amazing as that is.”</p>
<p>Pretty much the same for my high school and where I live at. Except I’m a sole dissenter going to the local school ranked about 4xx in the nation (it’s viewed as worse in the local area). Just some commentary that it’s depressing to see people not even consider the school I attend because of its “rank.” And thus, one of the few things I’ve lacked is a like-minded person of the same age (AP credit abuser, enthusiastic for math and physics, young, looking for engineering/physics work, and trying to graduate extra early, etc). --I’ll get closer in the upper division.</p>
<p>Also, I’m an introvert that probably isn’t cool, but I feel I have a good degree of popularity from getting involved in a few things / even taking a ridiculous number of APs at my high school :)</p>
<p>It’s not that “cool kids” who tend to succeed more; it’s the kids that work hard to get to know everyone around them and is just a nice person overall. If these kids work hard in their academics, they will succeed. It’s just my opinion, so take it with a grain of salt. </p>
<p>Idc what anybody says, it’s all a popularity contest. </p>