List of activities/organizations to showcase leadership

Question

All,

I don't think that I would get through any school this year, so was thinking of the organizations or clubs one can join to gain good leadership experience and showcase the same in applications. I just joined Toastmasters to improve public communication skills...

Here are a few that I could think of, any inputs welcome!

- Big brothers big sisters (https://www.bbbs.org)
- Toastmasters (https://www.toastmasters.org)

swbluedevil · Answer

What schools are you targeting? Please don't take this the wrong way, but Toastmasters and Big Brothers Big Sisters are such vanilla ECs and won't do anything to differentiate you from the competition. What are you interested in? What are your passions?

ravsg · Answer

thanks for the reply.
i am looking at schools mostly in the top 15. I am trying to figure out what else one can do to strengthen the application, would have almost 8-9mnths before trying again...

appreciate your help!

Posted from my mobile device

swbluedevil · Answer

Have you considered volunteering abroad? It's not a replacement for local, long-term ECs, but it does add international experience to your profile. Plus, it's a great way to show you are a compassionate human being who has the initiative to go to a third world country to help people who are desperately in need.

ataraxia · Answer

I think it's key to have a clear career vision, then think of what ECs would show your passion/commitment for that vision, as well as plug any gaps in your story.

I also think what matters most is what results you create, more than what you do. The best EC is something that shows your commitment to your career goals, allows you to showcase some impressive achievements that you can parley into a nice story/example in your essays, and hopefully show off some leadership skills.

cheetarah1980 · Answer

I don't think a blanket statement like this can be made. It's about the quality of involvement in ECs more than what the EC is itself. I don't think a person needs ECs that no one else does to differentiate themselves.

Get involved with ECs that you enjoy and you'll participate at a differentiated level. I've been a Big Sister for years and while I don't think that alone got me an admit, but I do think it added to the story that I was committed to being active in the community and would continue to do so on campus.

swbluedevil · Answer

Actually, I'm pretty justified in making the statement I made. I never stated that you had to participate in an EC that no one else participated in. I simply suggested that the OP pursue less overly common activities than Big Brothers and Big Sisters and Toastmasters. I think you'll agree that differentiation and diversity are good things for an applicant, especially if the OP is from a very competitive applicant pool.

I think it's wonderful you've been a Big Sis for many years and congrats on your admit. I'm sure you were able to write some fantastic essays that showed impact. Unfortunately, assuming the OP does not get into any schools this year, he/she will be a reapplicant with ~7-8 months of involvement in two very common ECs. I think most (if not all) adcoms will see clearly that the OP joined those ECs simply to beef up their application. Furthermore, how many other applicants/reapplicants can (and will) join Big Brother/Big Sister, Toastmasters, Habitat for Humanity, etc right before they start applying?

And I think it's great for applicants to point to their participation in organizations to signal to adcoms that they'll be equally active on campus. I just believe it's more compelling for an applicant to have unique/less common ECs to signal to adcoms that they'll do more on campus than simply join the consulting club, marketing club, etc.

rasta · Answer

My point of view: You shouldn't join an organisation or take up an activity just to "improve your leadership skills". That won't work, and the adcom will most likely see through it. Find a group that appeals to you, and then look for ways you can help you. Take initiatives! If there's no group/ org. out there that's doing what you believe in, then start one.
If you want to switch careers, spend a lot of time connecting with people in your target industry and function. Try and land a short stint in your target industry before the MBA. Use the opportunity to prove to yourself (and to the adcom), that your post-MBA goals are viable.

TheIvyLeagueEdge · Answer

Quickly speaking, 
Leadership also comes in the initiatives one takes; of course the impact is way higher if one involved more people. Since these are initiatives outside of the strictly "necessary" specifications, oftentimes one can involve peers, and other people totally outside of one's range of influence. There is therefore no need for the "office management" or symbols of authority to get in the way

List of activities/organizations to showcase leadership

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