Showing Leadership on College Application - Suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:10:46 made a valid and important point. Do you actually want your DD to develop leadership skills or do you just want something leadership-like to put on her resume? If the former, ask your daughter to answer the question you posed here. And when she has an answer, have her implement it. Flag the issue, talk things through, offer encouragement, but let it be your daughter's project -- not yours.

Mom or Dad crowdsourcing a plan and then executing it, doesn't teach (or display or encourage her to develop) leadership skills.

I disagree. Not everyone is born a leader. Not everyone wants to be a leader. Some people have more valuable skills than leadership, and some choose to reject management position in order to continue doing what they like. To force kid to learn and develop leadership skills may not necessary be a good thing for a particular child. However, the fact remaining the fact: colleges want to see leadership skills. I don't see any problem with parents helping child to "show" some leadership without forcing the child to become a leader.

h

Actually, colleges see through these made-up clubs and one day events kids do to "show" leadership. They want to see real and sustained leadership over time, such as being a class or student council officer, a sports team captain, or a leadership position in a real club or organization that already existed at the school. Guidance counselors and teachers also can comment in their recommendations on leadership qualities a student has demonstrated on a regular basis.

Just out of curiosity, why do you think that some skills are more valuable than leadership? How do things get done without someone who can plan and organize and encourage people along the way?

I'm the first poster (10:46 had a point).

Agree that not everyone is a leader. Also agree that colleges see through this kind of BS. But, for me, the crucial point here is that OP's approach short-circuits the possibility of developing leadership skills through this process and it fosters increasing dependence on parents to fix things/supply deficiencies at a time when it's crucial that kids be developing their own goals, achievements, and problem-solving skills. I don't think leadership is the only or most valuable skill (and, honestly, only a few highly selective schools expect to see it in addition to high grades/scores), but I do think there's something worthwhile for a kid to see how s/he handles the experience of being in a leadership role. Basically, it's too early to decide that DD isn't a leader so we'll do that part for her. Give the kid a chance to develop her own sense of efficacy/agency.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Ok folks, DD is a leader by nature.

Just helping her build a HS resume for college.

Have you all looked recently to see how low college acceptance rates are lately?

[Anonymous]

My kid just went through the process. Yes, I'm aware of the acceptance rates. Your approach won't help your kid beat those odds.