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Can someone tell me what sort of evidence of "leadership" is needed to demonstrate/confirm the actual thing? Isn't this a bit like Oz -- real leaders lead, they don't worry about a paper trail. What kinds of activities are being looked for and how is this best displayed in an application?

By Dadster on Thursday, May 30, 2002 - 02:42 pm: Edit

I think it depends, perplexed... Leadership could be shown by the respect of one's peers, as in the captain of a sports team or president of the student council... Appointed positions, like an editorship... Initiation of some activity, such as founding a club or launching a new community service project...

Leadership is hard to define, and we all know that popularity with students or faculty can influence the positions one attains. I think the best kind of leadership from an admissions standpoint is a track record of accomplishments that indicate a leadership role.

By Dave Berry on Thursday, May 30, 2002 - 02:47 pm: Edit

Perplexed, leadership in ECs can take many different forms. One of the more obvious examples would be the captaincy of a sports team. Another kind of leadership would be founding some kind of club or organization in school or in your community. Because of their circumstances, some students take the lead outside of school by coming to the fore in their families, where a parent may be ill, disabled, or dead. In short, any kind of activity where your strength of character can lead others through challenges and effect a positive outcome can be viewed as leadership. BTW, some forms of leadership are not obvious. What are you involved with that may reflect your leadership?

By Perplexed on Thursday, May 30, 2002 - 03:06 pm: Edit

A friend of mine recently lost her mother, and I remain close to her and her family in trying times e.g. finals, SATs etc. I have no idea how to put something this personal on a college application. Also, I initiated a restoration project in the high school. Of course, I am also active in community services having put in over 200 hours in the past few years, esp a service sorority, in addition to others. Also, I'm on student council etc etc but I'm concerned that these are "me-too". Ditto for sports -- I particpate, not a captain though.

By Dave Berry on Thursday, May 30, 2002 - 03:44 pm: Edit

Perplexed, leadership tends to show focused personal initiative that exerts itself in challenging circumstances. If your relationship to the family who lost its mother/wife is close enough that you are able to take an active role in some of their family matters, due to the lack of a mother's presence (baby sitting, shopping, chores, etc.), then I feel that qualifies as leadership.

How do you bring that out in an application? I'd say that you could do it in one of those written responses that asks about what you did over the summer, etc., or you could write at length in one of the main essays. These usually have a wide-open prompt into which you could relate this situation, assuming that your efforts are noteworthy.