<p>Is Student Council/Student Government something that competitive colleges expect to see on kids' resumes? Will it count against me that I don't have it?</p>
<p>I only ask because, at my school, both are pretty much a complete joke. Student Council meets once every two weeks to discuss either a) the planning of school dances or b) fundraisers to get more money to plan school dances. For the record, we only have 2 dances a year.</p>
<p>Student Government is completely fundraising-centered. Not that there is anything wrong with this, but there is no leadership involved at all.</p>
<p>Both receive quit a bit of "guidance" from their staff sponsers. They are both heavily based on popularity--for example, last year, stucco and class office speeches were taped in advance, with the idea that they would be played on all school moniters during homeroom. Technology malfunctioned; we never saw/heard the speeches at all.</p>
<p>And our class president is a popular girl who does drugs.</p>
<p>Is this typical of public high schools? Do you think it is even worth running, to demonstrate leadership? Or is it better to focus on showing leadership through other extracurriculars?</p>
<p>My school was like that last year. If the people in it bother you, just go enough times to consider yourself a member if you want to put it on your app.</p>
<p>Only run for Student Council if you like planning social events and raising $$. Both of my kids were elected and served for a school year. In our high school, council kids have to use up a full-year elective by being simultaneously enrolled in the Student Leadership class. In addition, there's a huge time commitment outside of class. There were no guest speakers or field trip opportunities to give the council kids exposure to community leaders. As a parent, it irritated me to see how much time and effort was put forth by the kids to receive no real learning experiences in return. </p>
<p>My S. had the good sense not to waste more than one year serving a largely ungrateful and apathetic student body. Despite her brother's negative comments based on direct experience, my D. ran anyway and served this past year. I had to bite my tongue big time when she decided to run for re-election. She found out the hard way when her class voted in all new reps just for the sake of it. She and her fellow council reps were told loud and clear how much their hard work and dedication has been appreciated by their peers, despite having had a successful year of planning fun, well-attended activities and raising loads of money.</p>
<p>I consider S.C. to be a joke for the most part and think your time could be much better spent pursuing other activities that are actually leadership-oriented.</p>
<p>I love student Council its the most popular club in my school...it fills up(we have a maximum amount) So quickly and its fun my favorite teacher runs it we dont just do dances(infact we do no dances r school has none) we do spirit week book fair lots of stuff..its a lot of fun...</p>
<p>I've heard it shows that you are well-liked by your peers. That may also mean you enjoy drinking and partying with your peers... our Student Council is made up of reasonably smart Honors students (3.0 GPA required) but are, I would guess, at least 50% underage alcoholics. That said, they do lots of work (6 dances a year, leadership retreats, etc) and I've heard it's lots of fun. I'm on it next year but that's because I'm in an appointed position where you submit an application. (not an underage alcoholic.)</p>
<p>My student council...what a grabbag. I mean, there are about 5% who legitimately LOVE student council, work really hard. The other 95% are grade-grubbers/Ec-collectors, so annoying.</p>
<p>you don't need to join these "student body" clubs. join your school's smaller clubs and become vice president, or president, that's more impressive than being " a part of student council" if your student council president,... well i don't know. colleges know it's a popularity contest and probably don't weight it any different from being president of another club.</p>
<p>It's not something that will harm you at all. If anything it'll help you. Plus the people who are voted to run the clubs in my school aren't capable (99% of the time), and are just voted for for dumb reasons.</p>
<p>I don't think colleges would care much if you were in Student Council because everyone else youre competing with is probably also in the council in their respective schools. Besides, its just a popularity contest where no one but teachers actually consider what your intentions are once you get elected. I would suggest that you should actually doing something else and bring something new to your school community (i.e. starting a new club, or organize a new event like the 30 hour famine). I think colleges would like that better because you're actually taking the initiative/making an effort to improve your school.</p>
<p>I'm happy to say that my school is blessed with an amazing Student Council and an amazing adviser. I can honestly say that we do so much for our school and community and learn many things in the process. If you think your student council is able to do that, then I strongly encourage you to try out.</p>
<p>My ASB (Associated Student Body, aka Student Government) is very intense, organized, and well-respected at my school. Our school has 50 or so clubs, managed by ASB, which also manages a budget of about $200,000, must rent out all school facilities for use, approve fundraisers, etc. Last year, a benefit concert was coordinated that gained $18,000 in support for the Invisible Children, and this year our Junior Varsity Cheer Captain (who is in ASB) single-handedly coordinated an assembly for the school featuring some of the victims of the war in Darfur.
One position in ASB - Human Relations - organizes a Multi-Cultural Faire which 2,500 students in our school attend every year, and also a conference promoting friendship and cooperation that is actually GENUINELY moving.
Members of ASB actually do have decision making power. For instance, our ASB account has $180,000 and the council recently voted to deny a $35,000 loan to next year's class to rent a stadium for graduation. To be in ASB at my school you have to be dedicated to putting a lot of time into whatever position you have, to coordinate all the aspects of the events you are in charge of.</p>
<p>My responsibilites as Senior Class President (2008) include designing/ordering the senior shirt, making the homecoming float, arranging the 3 blood-drives facilitated by the Red Cross, planning Grad Night, Senior Breakfasts, an all-senior Assembly, Spirit Weeks, and ultimately, Graduation.
Junior Class Presidents have to organize the entire prom dance. This year our school profited $15,000 - it was a year long process to arrange. </p>
<p>Anyway, our ASB is a VERY legitimate group, and I can assure you that not all schools are disorganized.</p>
<p>yeah, my student council is like the one described above. i was elected to be the all-school vice president next year, and it's going to be a lottt of work. but, i LOVE the kids in my school's council, and we all work SO hard. it's definitely NOT a joke here.</p>
<p>Wow...a $200,000 budget? Public or private school?</p>
<p>I'm on staff of the school literary magazine, and we had to bother student council for weeks (2 meetings, but they only meet every other week) to get a $250 grant to cover a portion of printing expenses. Still slightly bitter over that. But your description definitely answers my question.</p>
<p>Anyhow, I guess what I'm really asking is this: If EVERY applicant and their dog is in some form of student government, will it seem weird (read: unfavorable) that I'm not?</p>
<p>Getting elected for Student Council COMPLETELY depends on your popularity.
So basically it's just a meaningless group that doesn't really do anything except for few theme days and other useless s**ts (Our school got rid of dance this year b/c some kids got really drunk and started puking everywhere; then the cops came). </p>
<p>For next year, I was elected for Treasurer though XD Hopefully next year we can try to make Student Council more meaningful.
And hey, our Student Council gets free pizza-hut lunches once in a while XDDD YAYYYYY</p>