Do These Activities Count as Leadership

[ChillTacos]

I recently graduated from a University May 2024 and am preparing to apply to med school in the next upcoming cycle. I have a question about whether some of my extracurriculars count as leadership.

As of right now, I held one officer position in my college sorority during my junior year where I had leadership responsibilities such as coordinating and planning events, public speaking, networking with alumni, and selecting next years officers. I held this position for the whole year. So I am confident that I have at least one solid leadership position to talk about on the application.

My question is, do these next activities count as leadership or show any leadership qualities that would be valuable to the admissions committees? Do I categorize these as leadership or would they need to fall under a different category?

• Volunteer girls lacrosse coach – This involved me and another coach coordinating and planning lacrosse practices for elementary and middle school girls. My responsibility was to plan drills, exercises, and demonstrations that would teach the team members the skills of playing lacrosse. We coordinated with other teams in the area to arrange and schedule lacrosse games. We planned and coordinated team dinners where the team member could bond and get to know each other. I also worked to lead with an example of positivity and good sportsmanship.

• ESL Teacher – I taught math and reading skills to immigrants at a local community center. This required me to work with my co-teacher to create lesson plans, select books, and select worksheets or activities appropriate for the class’s skill level. I lead activities in front of the whole class, explained math problems on the white board at the front of the class, and worked individually with students on specific areas they were struggling in.

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[Mr.Smile12]

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[AJS59]

I recently graduated from a University May 2024 and am preparing to apply to med school in the next upcoming cycle. I have a question about whether some of my extracurriculars count as leadership.

As of right now, I held one officer position in my college sorority during my junior year where I had leadership responsibilities such as coordinating and planning events, public speaking, networking with alumni, and selecting next years officers. I held this position for the whole year. So I am confident that I have at least one solid leadership position to talk about on the application.

My question is, do these next activities count as leadership or show any leadership qualities that would be valuable to the admissions committees? Do I categorize these as leadership or would they need to fall under a different category?

• Volunteer girls lacrosse coach – This involved me and another coach coordinating and planning lacrosse practices for elementary and middle school girls. My responsibility was to plan drills, exercises, and demonstrations that would teach the team members the skills of playing lacrosse. We coordinated with other teams in the area to arrange and schedule lacrosse games. We planned and coordinated team dinners where the team member could bond and get to know each other. I also worked to lead with an example of positivity and good sportsmanship.

• ESL Teacher – I taught math and reading skills to immigrants at a local community center. This required me to work with my co-teacher to create lesson plans, select books, and select worksheets or activities appropriate for the class’s skill level. I lead activities in front of the whole class, explained math problems on the white board at the front of the class, and worked individually with students on specific areas they were struggling in.

I'd say lacrosse coach yes, ESL teacher no — that more falls in the vein of teaching/academic role. Still a valuable skill, not sure its showing leadership (typically best shown by working as part of a team)

 

[LizzyM]

Lacrosse coach, for me, would be volunteer, non-clinical (or perhaps paid?) but not leadership as it was the guidance of children and not peers (adults) which is what I'm looking for when I think about leadership.

 

[Catalystik]

I recently graduated from a University May 2024 and am preparing to apply to med school in the next upcoming cycle. I have a question about whether some of my extracurriculars count as leadership.

As of right now, I held one officer position in my college sorority during my junior year where I had leadership responsibilities such as coordinating and planning events, public speaking, networking with alumni, and selecting next years officers. I held this position for the whole year. So I am confident that I have at least one solid leadership position to talk about on the application.

My question is, do these next activities count as leadership or show any leadership qualities that would be valuable to the admissions committees? Do I categorize these as leadership or would they need to fall under a different category?

• 1) Volunteer girls lacrosse coach – This involved me and another coach coordinating and planning lacrosse practices for elementary and middle school girls. My responsibility was to plan drills, exercises, and demonstrations that would teach the team members the skills of playing lacrosse. We coordinated with other teams in the area to arrange and schedule lacrosse games. We planned and coordinated team dinners where the team member could bond and get to know each other. I also worked to lead with an example of positivity and good sportsmanship.

• 2) ESL Teacher – I taught math and reading skills to immigrants at a local community center. This required me to work with my co-teacher to create lesson plans, select books, and select worksheets or activities appropriate for the class’s skill level. I lead activities in front of the whole class, explained math problems on the white board at the front of the class, and worked individually with students on specific areas they were struggling in.

Lacrosse coach, for me, would be volunteer, non-clinical (or perhaps paid?) but not leadership as it was the guidance of children and not peers (adults) which is what I'm looking for when I think about leadership.

1) As an alternative to calling the lacrosse team involvement a Volunteer position, you might consider labeling the Coaching as Teaching. Pick the label that balances your application best.

2) Call it Teaching/Tutoring vs Volunteer or Employment, as the case may be.