How do Colleges View “Leadership” in Your Activities?

While your performance and potential as a student are most important for post-secondary admission, colleges also care about who you are outside the traditional classroom setting. In fact, they want to see evidence of how you’ve engaged outside of your coursework, whether it’s through sports, volunteering, clubs, or jobs, as this can be a reflection of the type of student you might also be in college. There are a plethora of options when it comes to extracurriculars, and, perhaps contrary to what you may think, being involved in every single activity does not necessarily equate to meaningful experiences; in short, quality is more important than quantity.

I often remind students that being a leader will likely offer more opportunities to make an impact than participating in extracurricular activities. But what exactly does it mean to lead and be a leader, and how could you demonstrate leadership qualities?  

What does being a leader even mean?

According to Merriam-Webster (2024), to lead means:

• “to guide…
• to have charge of…
• or to direct the operations, activity, or performance of something.” 

Someone who performs these actions could be considered a leader or at the very least, demonstrate quintessential leadership qualities through their actions. Consider also that being a leader can look different across situations and can present differently for each individual. For example, you might be a leader in a classroom if you help guide class discussions by posing thoughtful questions and responses that add to the collective understanding of a topic. You might also be a leader in a school club if you contribute to the planning of an event or project. 

Colleges desire and seek out applicants who show leadership qualities and/or potential. Selective colleges, in particular, want to admit applicants who have the potential to be leaders–on campus, in their academic field, and in the “real world.” An article from The Atlantic published in 2014 describes this in detail, recounting how even 10 years ago, American colleges were looking for leaders whom “…we could help become the leaders of their generation in whatever they wish to pursue.”  When it comes to your college applications, it’s important to highlight examples of leadership across all aspects of your profile, and to provide detailed evidence of impact where possible. Below are a few common ways that students may demonstrate leadership in their application.   

Hold Elected Positions

Holding elected positions can be an easy way to identify your role as a leader. Being President or Secretary of a club usually implies that you have taken on more responsibilities that contribute to the success of the activity. As such, seeking to become an elected official in clubs that are important to you will be more beneficial than simply attending club meetings as a participant. 

Ben Parker said it best in Spider-Man: “With great power comes great responsibility.” If you have the opportunity to be elected into a position, be cognizant of the honor and the expectations that come with the title. Most likely, your peers or perhaps your teachers have selected you because they believe you are up for the task of guiding the club or activity. Consider what changes or contributions you wish to make as someone who holds a leadership position–evidence of these things is crucial for demonstrating the impact you’ve had. 

For example, you may wish to increase club membership as the President of a club. To that end, take charge of initiatives and methods that would help you achieve that result and, when you’re successful, make sure to emphasize your successes on your application!

Take Initiative and Be Proactive

An elected role doesn’t always define leadership. Spearheading a project independently, picking up where others have left off to complete a job, or helping others to understand a concept– these are all signs of leadership as well. Identifying moments and opportunities where leading is beneficial will most likely require you to be proactive and be the one to take the first step. 

Consider the following scenarios and how showing initiative might present opportunities to lead and show leadership qualities.

• You observe that many of your peers are struggling to understand a difficult concept in class. You decide to organize a study group with your peers to help each other better understand the material and even ask your teacher for suggestions, who notices how collaborative and proactive you are in class.
• You are a member of a club that has been struggling to accomplish some important tasks for an upcoming fundraiser event. No one seems to want to step up, so you show initiative by volunteering to take care of the remaining loose ends. 
• You notice that your school doesn’t offer recycling and/or composting options and decide to spearhead an initiative to bring that to campus. You reach out to key stakeholders and arrange meetings to determine what steps are needed. 

In each of the above scenarios, you saw a need and rose to the occasion to address it, thereby guiding, taking charge, or directing something. There will likely be ample opportunities to lead if you are open and observant of opportunities that may present themselves. Then, step up and see how you can take action!

Be of Service

It might be a surprise to hear that being a leader is ultimately grounded in service. If you are in an elected position, you are leading in service of the club or organization you are representing. Similarly, when you show initiative by becoming a leader to meet an observed need, you are being of service to others. While flashy titles may look nice initially, colleges care most about the impact you’ve had on others and the communities you are a part of. So, find activities that interest you and be willing to go above and beyond to help. 

Highlight Your Experiences!

As you gain more leadership roles and experiences throughout high school, it’s crucial to be able to describe and highlight these traits effectively on your application. I work with many students to catalog and select the most meaningful activities to include on their college applications (Note: there’s a limit on how many activities you can include). 

Be sure to emphasize your involvement, your leadership, and the impact you’ve made through your contributions using descriptive language and data, when appropriate. If you need assistance in making your experiences and activities stand out, get in touch! We’re here to help.