When talking about college applications, high school students rarely think of their leadership traits. In the end, if professors are guiding them in their daily work, why do they have to be leaders themselves?
You would be shocked to learn how many things admission officers take into account when assessing college applications. They’re not only looking for people who can finish university courses; they’re prioritizing students who can make the world a better place.
While leadership traits might not be as important in college, they will become essential later on in students’ lives. The future professionals will rely on their charisma and communication skills to teach others, create companies, and fulfill important public roles.
Importance of Leadership
When we talk about leaders and leadership, we don’t necessarily refer to holding a specific position. Instead, we use these phrases to refer to people who can guide others through their examples. We refer to individuals who can instill knowledge into others and motivate them to perform better in their roles.
The best leaders are great communicators. They don’t necessarily have to be talkative, but each word that comes out of their mouths carries value. Leaders are generally fantastic teachers as they have the innate ability to transfer knowledge to others.
These people are known for taking charge in every type of situation. Leaders excel at problem-solving and are goal-oriented. This is how leadership helps students in college and post-college environments:
- Campus Impact
Students who exhibit great leadership qualities are vital for the social life on campus. Many of them organize events, charities, and other get-togethers for the students and professors alike. They also raise awareness about relevant social topics and work toward improving the living quality of their fellow students.
- Job Market Implications
Students who have developed their leadership skills in college have a much easier time finding a job. Leadership qualities are sought after by employers as they are vital for flexibility, team communication, and improved work effectiveness.
- Social Impact
As mentioned, admission officers take note of your prior social engagement. They give an advantage to anyone who makes a positive impact on their community, making it more likely to provide scholarships and other amenities to these students.
How Does Leadership Affect Your Application
Talking about different situations where you used your leadership skills will get you in the good graces of admission officers. This is how leadership traits, directly or indirectly, affect your college application:
- Competitive Advantage
Most students highlight discipline, good grades, and athletic achievements. Only a handful of people remember mentioning leadership traits. So, if you mention leadership skills, you’ll get a competitive advantage over all other students who haven’t thought of this.
- Talk About Cooperation
The best way to highlight your leadership skills is by talking about different situations where you cooperated with others. In these situations, real leaders take charge and have no problem organizing entire teams. Talking about your past team experience shows your flexibility and ability to work under pressure.
- Emphasize Personal Growth
If you can highlight your leadership qualities, this will tell admission officers about your personal growth. Most teenagers look to others to make decisions for them. Those who have led teams in the past usually progress faster than their peers of the same age.
- Problem-Solving
Leaders face all sorts of challenges. They need to think for a group of people and make decisions on the fly. Sharing examples of your teamwork will tell admission officers about your ability to work under pressure, critical thinking skills, and stress resilience.
Highlighting Leadership in Your Application
Just saying that you’re a “natural-born leader” will make you look arrogant. Instead, you need to properly package information so that the admission officers make conclusions for themselves. Here are a few tricks that will help you highlight your leadership traits within your college application:
- Select the Right Experience
Make sure that the experience is relevant to a particular college and college program. Ideally, you should talk about situations pertaining to certain study matters. For example, if you want to enroll in a business school, you should mention situations where you worked with money, prepared budgets, and negotiated prices.
- Get Relevant Examples
Find projects and events that you organized. Talk about various cooperative situations where you took the lead. Write down event names and dates so that admission officers’ can corroborate your claims. If you’re not sure how to find the best examples, we suggest you pay for college consulting services.
- Show the Impact
It is crucial that you highlight the impact of your action. We recommend that you insert stats and any other relevant figures you might come across. Show how your leadership skills improved a situation, helped organize a team, or how you taught others.
- Use Proper Phrasing
It’s not just about the events you organized; it’s about how you package the information. Use entire vocabulary to describe the situation in your favor. For example, you can say that you “organized a team” or that you “implemented a winning strategy.” Use any phrasing that makes you look good but without coming off as arrogant.
- Get a Letter of Recommendation
You should acquire testimonials from other participants, especially professors. These people can talk about your character but also act as witnesses to these specific situations. The general rule is that the more famous the mentor, the more positive impact his/her testimonial will leave on officers.
Take your time writing and preparing the documents. Think about the best examples that will highlight your leadership traits. Make sure that these examples are applicable in the real world and, specifically, to that college program. To make an even better impact, get a letter of recommendation from your professors so that the admission officers know it’s not just empty boasting.
Last Thoughts
Having great leadership qualities will move the needle for most students. Colleges are always on the lookout for proactive young people who can guide others and become a part of academia. So, talking about your past experience will not only get you into the best schools but will secure other perks.
Also Read: The Ultimate Guide to Leadership Coaching Services: Transform Your Leadership Skills
