OK so I hear a lot about how starting a club junior year is looked down upon by admission officers and im starting to get worried that my club, which I actually am passionate about, will hurt my chances of getting into college if I list it. In my case I started an etiquette club. We have 24 kids in the club and were going strong. The point of the club is pretty straightforward - teach kids ettiquette. I’m the founder of the club and I have raised 1800$ to fund trips to restaurants that is sponsored by our school. We have already organized and executed 2 trips to 2 different restauraunts in which we taught kids how to properly behave in a formal environment. We plan on organizing 4 more trips as well as continue raising money through school fundraisers. So my question is, does any of this even matter? Will colleges even care about this or will they just think I’m trying to pad my resume with meaningless “achievements” since I started my club late in my high school career?
Starting a club is not what’s impressive. What that club achieves under your direction and guidance is what matters. Trips to restaurants or elsewhere counts for little. Did the club make a difference in your greater community?
Passion is only measurable through effect. So what is the effect of your club?
I doubt a club made during senior year will result in something significant.
@fogcity OK I feel like I’m missing something. I’m not trying to show that my club is important for the community, I’m more or less trying to show my leadership position. Doesn’t organizing a club, establishing successful fundraisers, teaching kids practical life skills, as well as organizing out of school trips to enhance learning count as leadership?
@werts334 You need to have a life and live authentically. Stop worrying about college so much. Enrolling in 20 clubs your senior year looks disingenuous. Starting one when you are 16 shows a certain maturity.
I see two deficiencies here. 1) sorry, but what about your club couldn’t be accomplished through a one day seminar? 2) Your straw-grasping leadership is completely forgettable and the club is banal. Colleges aren’t summer camps who need organizers and pep leaders. Lead in your classroom – affect others, affect your community.
@T26E4 oh thanks I understand now, your comment actually makes a lot of sense. I guess my next question is, is this even worth at least mentioning or should I just forget listing it all together?
I am an alumni interviewer and you should DEFINITELY mention it! If I saw that I would think it is great that you took the effort to start a club, got people to join as well, picked a non-traditional topic and kept it going and have done some events. It shows leadership that you started something. Make sure to mention the organization of fundraisers, the outings, the purpose.
The people here are commenting upon your club, not the fact that you started one. They may not see the point of it, but I assure you, adults do. 