<p>When is the usual time that people start a club in their school? Am I right in thinking that starting a club like Chess club in senior year is definitely not that good for college apps? Also, is starting a club in junior year an appropriate time? Finally, what holds more merit, an Economics/Finance Club or a Chess Club? </p>
<p>Please note that my friend is planning to start a Chess Club in senior year, but I started an Economics/Finance Club in my junior year.</p>
<p>When there’s a need for the club.</p>
<p>Starting a club for the sake of starting a club looks like the empty gesture that it is.</p>
<p>I definitely understand what you mean and I knew many people would respond this way. I started my club because I wanted to pursue economics and finance in the future. Though regarding college apps, is starting a club junior year too late? I’m pretty sure starting a club senior year is almost always a sign that one is trying to boost his resume.</p>
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<p>I think you need to think it through more than that. Why do you need there to be a club in your junior year in order to study economics and finance in the future?</p>
<p>And I’m not budging from my previous answer that the time to start a club is when there’s a need for one. If you’re going to quibble over whether senior year is “too late” but junior year isn’t, I strongly suspect you’re not doing things for the right reason.</p>
<p>I’m with Sikorsky. I guess you could start a club in mid-December of senior year and fill a need. But the idea isn’t to fill your own need, get a few friends to join, breathe the same old air. You could take a comm college class, get some sort of work or internship, do independent study or volunteer with a local program. The point isn’t this “initiative,” it’s what is actually accomplished or learned or contributed.</p>
<p>I think starting the chess club is better because senior year is a good time to become a leader in the school community, and chess club is something that other students can continue next yet and beyond. Chess club is a great activity because chess is very cerebral, requires a lot of skill, and involves competition. </p>
<p>Economics/finance club sounds more like a chore and appears to be an activity that only a select few would join and they would only join to pad their resumes. I anticipate that this club will disband in a short amount of time.</p>
<p>Chess club is a legitimate type of club whereas someone in a “finance club” might be better off actually enjoying high school and participating in legitimate activities. It also seems like someone is fishing for validation.</p>
<p>The best activity is something you’re passionate about no matter the grade you’re in, so if you were seriously passionate about your club (but then why would you ask what looks better?) and your friend is passionate about chess, then it’s a wash. If you are looking for validation that your club is more impressive, hahaha.</p>
<p>For all I know, there are 5 people in your club and twenty people waiting for someone to start a chess club at your school.</p>
<p>Let me clarify: academic clubs (like chess club or debate) that compete in tournaments with other high schools hold the most merit. I don’t know if that’s the case with this chess club or if it’s just a recreational type club.</p>
<p>Junior or senior year isn’t late to start a club at all. It’s happened before. I know someone that started a successful debate club their junior year. But I agree with Sikorsky. You shouldn’t be worrying about the time you start the club. You should be worrying about why you’re starting it and if it has a purpose. Being able to include it on your college applications shouldn’t be the priority. Additionally, worrying about a club’s merit? Does it matter? I guess a club has merit if it’s productive. But if it has a purpose, if it is more than just another name to put on your applications it should not matter. Starting an economics club vs. a chess club makes no difference whatsoever.</p>
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<p>I really don’t get this. It sounds as if your next sentence could be, “Because, you know, having a winter coat drive…where’s the value in helping poor people?”</p>
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<p>This, however, I totally agree with.</p>
<p>Yeah…my posts didn’t really make sense. Sorry about that!</p>
<p>Happens to all of us sometimes, sungoose!</p>
<p>I’ve certainly said some things on these boards that I’d like to revise, if not take back entirely.</p>
<p>At some point I had a thought, but then it all derailed from there. </p>
<p>So now I’ll try to actually the OP’s question. Just tell your friend that if chess is something he or she is passionate about, then it’s fine to start a club in senior year. I think you’re worrying a little too much about college when you still have time to enjoy high school. Not everything is about how it looks to colleges.</p>
<p>You’re wondering if colleges will suspect resume padding? Yep. because many HS students do it left and right. And the very nature of your question strongly suggests it in this circumstance.</p>
<p>If I were to interview you, I’d ask: “Did you check out DECA or other HS business orgs? What about them didn’t meet your needs? Did any upperclassmen have econ/finance clubs? Why didn’t you join them? What chamber of commerce clubs or commitees exist in your town? Oh, you didn’t investigate any of them? OK. So to the next subject…”</p>
<p>Same subject recently discussed in 2 threads</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1544374-value-starting-charity-organization.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1544374-value-starting-charity-organization.html</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1542391-during-junior-year-too-late-time-start-nonprofit.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1542391-during-junior-year-too-late-time-start-nonprofit.html</a></p>
<p>Brian Johnson: I’m in the math club. </p>
<p>Claire Standish: See, you’re afraid that they won’t take you, you don’t belong, so you have to just dump all over it. </p>
<p>John Bender: Well, it wouldn’t have anything to do with you activities people being a**holes, now would it? </p>
<p>Claire Standish: Well, you wouldn’t know, you don’t even know any of us. </p>
<p>John Bender: Well, I don’t know any lepers, but I’m not going to run out and join one of their ****ing clubs. </p>
<p>Andrew Clark: Hey. Let’s watch the mouth, huh? </p>
<p>Brian Johnson: I’m in the physics club too. </p>
<p>John Bender: Excuse me a sec. What are you babbling about? </p>
<p>Brian Johnson: Well, what I had said was I’m in the math club, uh, the Latin, and the physics club… physics club. </p>
<p>John Bender: Hey, Cherry. Do you belong to the physics club? </p>
<p>Claire Standish: That’s an academic club. </p>
<p>John Bender: So? </p>
<p>Claire Standish: So academic clubs aren’t the same as other kinds of clubs. </p>
<p>John Bender: Ah… but to dorks like him, they are. What do you guys do in your club? </p>
<p>Brian Johnson: Well, in physics we… we talk about physics, properties of physics. </p>
<p>John Bender: So it’s sorta social, demented and sad, but social. Right?</p>
<p>To clarify, so far in my club I started last year, about 60 people joined mainly bc it was interesting due to the stock market game that was involved. I know my friend is definitely trying to pad his r</p>
<p>The stock market angle is entirely different than the focus on “start a club.” If you believe this was/is legit, use it. You have a little space to describe it. </p>
<p>They smell kids are padding when they ARE.</p>
<p>Thank you guys! Anyone have any more to add?</p>
<p>Bump…</p>