<p>If I want to start DECA this year as a sophomore, is it bad to be President next year? Does it look bad? Also, can't you just start a club and call yourself president, but not list the founder part to boost college apps?</p>
<p>Thanks! Just curious...</p>
<p>IMHO, founder is stronger than president. How much either will help you depends on the context of the rest of your application.</p>
<p>No it is not bad to lead a club for two or three years. It shows long term commitment. What matters more is what you accomplish with that club. </p>
<p>Hmm…do you think the advisor would let me do that? Be president for 3 years?</p>
<p>Founding a club can be a good thing. But founding a Harry Potter fan club and calling yourself the president isn’t going to do much for you. If it’s something substantive, then yes.</p>
<p>I don’t see how leading a club for multiple years could possibly be perceived as a bad thing. </p>
<p>Technically I can just found things like DECA, NAHS, etc. and call myself president, right?</p>
<p>No, you have to be elected to be president. Otherwise, you are not president- you cannot just call yourself president. Form the club and hold elections at the first or second meeting. Or just have no officers this year and start elections for the next year. And you cannot “just be president for 3 years”. Your club will have to re-elect you every year, otherwise this is unethical and would technically be a “dictatorship”. You can’t just be king forever because you founded it, you need the support of those being governed.</p>