Getting a Late Start in School Clubs

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invictus_crab.29

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Jan 26, 2024
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Hey all,
I'm a junior working on my USNA qualifications for the Class of 2029. One area I've been lacking in is leadership in a school club or running for a student council position. National Honor Society looked super promising since the Class of 2027 Portrait says that 56% of the class was involved with it. For my school's NHS chapter, applications for don't open until September. Student council will also have to wait until my senior year.

One option I do have this year is BPA (Business Professionals of America). It's less popular at my school, but I am interested in the club outside of it being a box to check. Any thoughts on how NHS measures up with BPA on SA applications? Also, how much of a difference would it make getting a late start in school club involvement? I have lots of other leadership experience and am willing to put the work into either club.
Thanks!
 
Can you be a captain on any sports teams?

Look into boys state?
 
invictus_crab.29 said:
Hey all,
I'm a junior working on my USNA qualifications for the Class of 2029. One area I've been lacking in is leadership in a school club or running for a student council position. National Honor Society looked super promising since the Class of 2027 Portrait says that 56% of the class was involved with it. For my school's NHS chapter, applications for don't open until September. Student council will also have to wait until my senior year.

One option I do have this year is BPA (Business Professionals of America). It's less popular at my school, but I am interested in the club outside of it being a box to check. Any thoughts on how NHS measures up with BPA on SA applications? Also, how much of a difference would it make getting a late start in school club involvement? I have lots of other leadership experience and am willing to put the work into either club.
Thanks!
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Your other leadership experience is very good aswell. Definitely aim for NHS and Student Council, but at the end of the day join clubs you want to join. Don’t join clubs just so you can add them on a resume, because in your interviews, they will ask you about your clubs. But like A1Janitor said, apply for Boys State and if you havent already apply for Summer Seminar.
 
baes said:
Your other leadership experience is very good aswell. Definitely aim for NHS and Student Council, but at the end of the day join clubs you want to join. Don’t join clubs just so you can add them on a resume, because in your interviews, they will ask you about your clubs. But like A1Janitor said, apply for Boys State and if you havent already apply for Summer Seminar.
Click to expand...
Summer seminar won’t add anything to your points/resume/application as far as points. It will give you exposure to USNA.

Boys State, on the other hand, will.

Shoring up your demonstrated leadership will help. Adding to your ‘club membership’ count number, won’t.
 
It is good to consider the background that USNA recommends on their website for all high school students as well as looking at class profiles. Most applicants are building a resume all through h.s., but that doesn't mean those just now having an interest in SA's won't be considered. I would try to do things where you can grow as an individual and contribute to the success of your school. Don't join various clubs/groups just to check a box on an application or because you think it will make your resume look more impressive to potential colleges. Also consider the Plan B schools your looking at since they may also have their own criteria for potential students.

At some schools, Student Council is more of a popularity contest with few actual job responsibilities and little benefit to show for the time involved. Only you can determine those activities that are worth your effort and make the best use of your time. If you can't describe a real accomplishment associated with an ECA, then likely the SA won't either.
 
Wise words above from @time2. The act of joining school clubs and padding your resume “showing leadership” has become so ubiquitous now as though to become meaningless. I would think by now Admissions offices take these resumes with half a grain of salt until the applicant can convey just how that experience shaped their personal development. I’m no admissions officer, but if I was here are some hypothetical examples of questions I’d be asking:

As a varsity team captain, was this an administrative title bestowed on you simply because you score a lot of points, or because you spent time mentoring younger teammates?

As president of the Recycling Club, did you simply put up posters that say “Go Green”, or did you organize a beach cleanup?

In the STEM Club, did you sit around watching Cosmos after school, or did you place at the county science fair?

You get the idea. Big difference between ticking a box and accomplishing something that might impress an admissions committee. The latter would need to be articulated on your application for extracurriculars to have a big impact, IMO.
 
Will echo and amplify the excellent advice above. Leadership is not about joining clubs (easiest thing in the world to do) or winning elections (often a popularity contest for a sinecure position). Focus on "demonstrated leadership."

What is that? Simple: Did you spot something in an organization (school, church, community, team) that needed to be fixed? Did you come up with a solution, alone or with the help of others? Did you set out to implement the solution and rally others to the cause? Did you leave the organization in better shape than you found it?

That's demonstrated leadership. It's legit, impactful, and can be done even if "late."
 
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