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Colleges undoubtedly value leadership and initiative when reviewing applications. Presumably, students who are impactful leaders in high school will continue to lead as members of their college communities. High school students should therefore strive to ensure that their applications communicate how they have led and what impact they have made on their schools, families, and/or communities.
A common misconception is that leadership must come in the form of formal titles such as club president and team captain. While leading clubs and sports teams is one way to show leadership, being in charge of organizations is hardly the only means of doing so. There are innumerable ways to be a leader, both within and outside of a formal organizational structure.
If a student is part of an existing club or team, for example, the student can still step up in the absence of a formal title or role. Taking initiative is a quality college admissions officers hold in high regard. Perhaps the student might organize carpools for younger members who can’t yet drive. Perhaps the student can propose and spearhead a new event or fundraising initiative to support the organization’s activities. Or, maybe the student can volunteer to run the group’s social media accounts. There are endless opportunities for impact, and successful new ideas are often institutionalized in future years.
Another way students can lead is by creating a brand new initiative or program outside of the confines of an existing organization. Manifestations of this approach include starting a new club at school, founding a nonprofit organization, launching a business, engaging in independent research, or creating content such as blogs, poetry, or movie or book reviews. Creating an entity or information source around a personal interest is a great way to demonstrate initiative, problem-solving, and resilience. Additionally, it is an opportunity to bring others into the fold, ultimately enlarging the impact any individual student could have.
Students can also be leaders in the workplace and in their families. While students who have jobs might be able to earn formal promotions, they can also lead by taking initiative. They might volunteer to take on additional responsibilities or offer innovative solutions to problems they encounter on the job. Students may also lead in their families by tutoring or mentoring a younger relative or providing support to an older family member.
Leadership is fundamentally about influencing and inspiring others to work toward a common objective. Anyone can develop leadership skills, whether or not they hold a formal title and position. In some ways, creating opportunities for oneself and others can be even more impressive than following an existing playbook. Students who begin developing leadership skills in high school will likely find success not only in the college process but throughout their professional and personal lives.
