Which looks better: being President of a club that you founded or of an existing one?

Applying to College
1

<p>I could see it going either way. Founding a club seems like it'd be thought of as a lot of work and initiative, but actually climbing to the top of an existing one and winning the respect of the incumbents would probably take a lot of work too. Which would colleges prefer?</p>

2

<p>Like you said, it can go either way. Founding a club is impressive if you attract many members and accomplish a great deal of community service or other activities, but if you are the Founder and President of the pokemon trading card club that has had 4 members total throughout its existence, it is far less impressive than if you were elected President of your school’s 100-member Key Club chapter, for example.</p>

3

<p>Any difference that may exist is not very important.</p>

4

<p>being president of any school club is not a big deal in admissions…the big deal is what you accomplished, in a leadership position or not. If you are president of Spanish Club, what did the club do/accomplish under your leadership? And how did that differ from previous years? etc.</p>

5

<p>Founding a club is only going to help you if you actually accomplish something with the club. Founding a club with three of your friends and calling yourself the president won’t do you any good. Founding a club, recruiting members, and carrying out the club’s (important) mission will help you.</p>

<p>Ultimately, your involvement in clubs is more about what you accomplish than about the name of your position. Admissions officers will likely assume officer positions are like most high school officer positions and involved very little actual responsibility unless your application makes it clear that you actually accomplished something.</p>

6

<p>If there’s an existing organization that does what you want your startup to do, you should likely join and improve that club. I think adcoms tend to see right through people who want the “founder” designation when those students could have gotten a lot more accomplished as VP of the existing club. If no such club exists, founding is just fine.</p>