Leadership is a buzzword you’ll hear often throughout the college admissions process, but how do you demonstrate leadership? Fortunately, leadership opportunities don’t necessarily have to come with obvious titles like “captain,” “president,” or “founder.” Leadership opportunities can really be created wherever you see an opportunity or a gap that you can fill with your talents and interests.
Assess where you see a need in your community and ask yourself: how can I make an impact? A good starting point might be thinking about your career or academic interests in addition to your personal interests and hobbies. Interested in sustainability? Try volunteering or interning with an urban farm to learn about composting - and implementing that at home or in your community. Love to read? Start a book club across local schools. Maybe you're an aspiring engineer - think about starting an after-school program to teach younger students about STEM or robotics. For anyone interested in business or finance, one way to make a difference could be a community service project about teaching financial literacy. Local elections can also serve as a great opportunity to get involved with grassroots campaigns for issues you're passionate about. If you're tech-savvy, you might find an engaging topic and host a webinar or start a podcast.
By now, it’s probably clear the admissions process takes into account a number of different factors ranging from academics to essays to letters of recommendation. See here for Lindsay’s take on standardized testing, one of the more daunting pieces of the process to tackle. Another important factor, of course, is extracurricular activities, which include anything you do outside of school and school work. Most importantly, the time you spend outside of school should be dedicated to activities in which you’re genuinely interested. Sincerity translates well in a college application and so does consistent dedication to your extracurricular activities. A lasting impact typically requires more than a singular action. Committing to meaningful activities well before Junior year is a great way to set yourself up for success as it gives you more time to get involved in something you care about and truly make an impact.
The common thread among leadership opportunities is the willingness to take initiative and anticipate the needs of others. Being a leader doesn't have to mean "calling the shots;" it's an opportunity to be proactive and seek out ways to improve upon an existing system or create a new one. If you've made an exceptional contribution to a club, team, or organization, that will certainly be more important than having a specific title. Even if you're not the editor of the newspaper, you might still write award-winning articles or propose the first-ever bilingual edition of the newspaper. Regardless of your position, your initiative, dedication, and follow-through will make a difference.
Be sure to check out these LogicPrep blogs on some unique ways to give back to your community. As always, the LogicPrep team is here to help you determine what you’re passionate about and how you can make an impact in your community. Feel free to get in touch today!