<p>I was recently looking over my college app and noticed a big blank space next to every activity I did. That blank space was for leadership positions. Does anyone else think that the leadership position emphasis is stupid. When you really think about it, it's all about a popularity contest. Why should popularity be a factor in deciding who gets into what college. What can people do to compensate for not being popular. Colleges will always look to leadership over some student who they think didn't have enough initiative to hold a position. I have good scores and stats, but what am I going to do when the millions of other applicants are presidents and captains of a majority of their EC's and have the same stats as me. Any advice?</p>
<p>You do a lot of work behind the scenes, right? That's what you need to get across in the other sections of your app, in your recommendations from your GC and teachers.</p>
<p>yes, I do a lot of things behind the scenes, but the only people that could support that would be my club advisors. So, would I ask them for recommendations? Do colleges accept those?</p>
<p>My sense is that you can get away with one additional ref at most schools. Have your best advisor write one up if he or she is willing to do so. Now, if your advisors are all at the same school, explain your situation. The one advisor may be able to reference the other clubs that you work in. "Leading from behind" is a phrase that comes to mind. I would do this for all your apps unless the college website specifically says not to send in extra stuff. </p>
<p>Next, come this spring, you send in your update and you include another additional rec from another advisor able your other stuff. </p>
<p>Remember, a lot of people are trying to make up for poor GPA or board scores with a flood of ec's. If you're set in these areas, your ec participation will show that you are a thinking person, helping for its own sake, and not for self-aggrandizement.</p>
<p>Thank you for your advice, however, my advisors will most likely write about my invovlment in the activities, I doubt they will actually say leading from behind. Should, I ask them to emphasize on "leading from behind."</p>
<p>If you advisors talk about your participation in detail that will get the leadership from behind idea across. If you are comfortable in doing so, just talk to your advisor about your concerns. You can mention that you hope that the colleges will value leadership from behind - if its a phrase that describes you well, it may end up in the recommendation. Remember that your ability to work with people, to mediate if things heat up - are all valuable qualities, and part of a balanced class.</p>