NHS Officer vs. Class Officer

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Jun 18, 2020
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I’m curious, what would look better to admissions, President/VP/Secretary of National Honor Society? Or Class President/VP/Secretary/Treasurer etc...
I know I should “do what I want and think I can make a difference in” not what necessarily looks good to admissions, but both are school leadership positions that I’m genuinely interested in. Obviously both would look optimal but that might be a bit much.
 
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Be careful of making the impression that you’re more interested in what looks good vs. what makes a real difference. Where is your heart? Where do you feel more passionate? Where do you think you’d make the most positive contribution? The answer to those questions are more important than what would look good to admissions.
 
Be careful of making the impression that you’re more interested in what looks good vs. what makes a real difference. Where is your heart? Where do you feel more passionate? Where do you think you’d make the most positive contribution? The answer to those questions are more important than what would look good to admissions.
I appreciate the advice. Since both are leadership positions I’m equally interested in, and I am a senior who hopes to be at a service academy at this time next year, I’m just curious as to how the two positions are viewed. Obviously I will seek out as many opportunities as possible to lead with quality.
 
In absolute terms? I believe the Student Body or Class President gets more "points" than Club or Activity President which is generally where NHS would be categorized. You may not agree but perhaps the thought is that School or class wide positions encompass a much more diverse range of members as opposed to Clubs or Activities that then do me more like-minded and perhaps motivated. Again though, someone who simply hold a title in their class and all that gets done is putting up posters for a bonfire doesn't impress as much as a club president that creates and leads fund raisers or undertakes significant projects.
 
Reverse engineer it.

Which offers you the most opportunity to make an impact, test your leadership skills, exercise your ability to conceive, plan and execute actions that make lasting change? Where do you see “stuff that needs fixing” that you can’t wait to tackle? What might bring you the most personal growth? Which is harder? Which might provide the most fertile ground for you to write (essays) and speak (interviews) about challenges you have met and mastered? What would you be most proud of in retrospect? What would you really enjoy doing?

On corporate resumes, job titles and position descriptions mean zip-squat until you attach SOAR bullets - Situation, Opportunity, Actions, Results. In other words, how did you improve the organization, solve a problem, create efficiencies, etc.? Companies hire you for the skills they need and the potential to perform similarly for them.

The SAs and other pre-comm programs are looking for junior officer material, people who show potential to take initiative, identify problems, develop action plans, solve for results.
 
Personal opinion only based on my observation of my three kids in HS:

One is an officer of an organization that meets maybe monthly and usually doesn’t serve a purpose other than to show who got good grades. Usually the only project is deciding who gets in next year.

The other is an organization that meets weekly and has the purpose of supporting and directing an entire grade of a school. Multiple projects and opportunity for leadership and people/event management.

Stealth_81
 
Thanks for all of the advice, I’m going to continue pursuing as many leadership opportunities as reasonably possible.

Really good advice above, particularly from @Capt MJ. The SOAR model is pertinent in so many situations.

You seem to bring great spirit and drive. That’s great! Be sure to focus on quality more than quantity. A few roles with truly meaningful impact is better than many roles with little impact.
 
There's one other thing I wanted to ask:
While I will continue to seek as many leadership opportunities as possible, I'm not sure if it's wise to simply run for top leadership positions of everything and assume I will make a difference. I'm assuming the people who commented on this thread have more experience than I do so correct me if I'm wrong: Frankly, if I were another student, I would not trust someone who runs for Class President AND NHS President because it shows they are trying to monopolize leadership roles-they have less in interest in leadership and more interest in being "in charge" or just feeding their ego. Maybe I should go for President in one, and VP or Secretary in another? Maybe my assumptions are not correct but this is just my personal feeling. Again, correct me if I'm wrong.
 
I'm not sure if it's wise to simply run for top leadership positions of everything and assume I will make a difference.

You appear bent on quantity. So please review the excellent feedback you’ve already received. Plus this:

You seem to bring great spirit and drive. That’s great! Be sure to focus on quality more than quantity. A few roles with truly meaningful impact is better than many roles with little impact.

Be careful of being “that guy.” That’s a term usually used here on SAF re a plebe/doolie who doesn’t get off on the right foot that first summer, because they’re making it all about themself. They’re not typically well liked or well respected.

Your goal should be to make a difference — that’s leadership — not collect titles.
 
Lots of great advice above.

There is resume fodder (check the box) and then there are the real things (meaningful). What you do with the role will determine which one it is. If you do nothing as a Class Officer it is just as meaningful as doing nothing at anything else.

Unfortunately, as with any selection process, there is a bit of game the candidates play to optimize or 'max' their score. Its normal, and the selection board no doubt has so much experience with it that they have a reasonably good detector. Accumulating bullet points for your resume only goes so far. None suggests you didn't do enough. Too many and you probably are not doing much in each one so why do I care?

I'll be honest, what I suggested to my DS was if there are easy, low effort adds for your resume, then get them, but realize its just filler. The things that truly matter are the activities that you put yourself into 100%. These activities show who you are and you can have real conversations about them.

My DS earned his Private Pilot License in High School. I don't think the checkbox next to PPL got him in. I think the jobs he worked to pay for it, the time he spent doing it, the sacrifices he made to study and prepare for flights, and the long term goal/commitment that it demonstrated is what was meaningful.

The fact that he was doing it because he loved flying instead of just to build his resume was also important to me. Don't do things just to pad the resume unless they do not take much time - like NHS - he was getting good grades anyway so why not add NHS? But, ideally, you find a couple things that you are truly interested in. Activities you really want to explore. Put yourself into them and if you develop a passion for them, you will have an interesting and meaningful experience where you learn important lessons about people, about life and about yourself. I know anyone reading this is likely heart set on USAFA. The fact is that you are young and have so much life ahead of you. Figuring out your passions is much more important than padding a resume for a school that you may or may not get accepted to, a school you may or may not change your mind about. Pursue activities that interest you, excite you and that will help you gain experiences. In the beginning, you might just be eliminating things as you discover, you don't love them. But persevere and hopefully you will find a couple things that you can't wait to spend more time doing. If you can do this, you will become a better candidate, but also, more importantly, a better you.

My bet is that Class and NHS Officer positions are scrutinized for value. They are so variable from school to school that they don't earn you much just by having the checkbox. if you have to pick, pick the one that does more and/or with the better faculty advisor.
 
You appear bent on quantity. So please review the excellent feedback you’ve already received. Plus this:



Be careful of being “that guy.” That’s a term usually used here on SAF re a plebe/doolie who doesn’t get off on the right foot that first summer, because they’re making it all about themself. They’re not typically well liked or well respected.

Your goal should be to make a difference — that’s leadership — not collect titles.
Copy all :wiggle:
 
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