The Impact of Student Government on Your College Application

You already know that extracurricular activities are a key element of a successful college application package. Choosing which activities to participate in, however, is still challenging for most teens. One of the most universal activities offered in most high schools is student government, sometimes called “student gov” for short. If you’ve ever wondered how participation in student government, specifically, could affect your admissions journey, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re interested in running for Class President, or just want to contribute as a member of the student council, maximizing the campus government experience will help you demonstrate the qualities and experience top schools are looking for. 

Let’s take a closer look at this particular extracurricular activity and the impact it could have on your college application.

Student government is composed of a group of students, ranging from freshmen to seniors, who manage a variety of events, activities, programs, and policies around their school. Sometimes this group goes by other names, including student council, student gov, school government, student assembly, and more. But their goals and tasks are essentially the same: to represent the best interests of the student body and proactively help shape the campus experience. 

Often the officers of the student council will be elected by the student body itself in an annual vote. This can include titles like Class President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, or any other leadership roles within the council. Non-leadership roles within student government might be appointed by the school administration, or they might be open for anyone to join. 

Most colleges want to know more about you than your GPA and test scores. Extracurriculars give them more insight into who you are as an individual, what interests you, and what you might contribute to their campus. 

Student government is one example of an extracurricular, but it’s not the only one that can impact your college application. High school students have a range of extracurriculars to choose from. Any of your activities outside of the classroom have the potential to positively impact your college application.

At the end of the day, the best extracurriculars to include in your application package are the ones that you feel passionate about. Two or three long-term, life-enhancing extracurriculars will catch the admissions officers’ attention more than a laundry list of activities you treated as little more than collector’s cards.

If all you knew about student government was what they show in high school movies and on TV, you might think it’s only about being elected Class President. Hooray!

Well… In reality, there are many roles you could take on as a member of your school’s student gov and the responsibilities that come with it. 

There are other leadership roles, for example, including Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and others. Additionally, the student council might have room for additional active council members—students who are not in elected positions, but who contribute to the decision-making process and projects of the group. 

Any of these roles can be an asset to you as you apply to college. 

So, you’ve decided to join the student council. Congratulations! Class Presidents, other leadership roles, or student council members each have the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge that top schools are looking for in their applicant pool. For example:

1. Leadership

By choosing to engage in this council, student government participants take on leadership roles within the school, representing their peers to the school administration and the larger community. Even if you’re not in an elected position, like Class President, you’ll have the chance to gain leadership skills that colleges value. 

For example, maybe you led one of the student government committees or a special project that council members completed. This could be the basis of a great essay topic. Leadership takes many forms, and student government offers tons of opportunities to take on this role. 

1. Teamwork

Even the Class President can’t do it all themselves. It takes a team of students actively engaged in student gov to successfully serve the needs and interests of the school. 

Because college is also a collaborative environment, top schools want to know that you understand the importance of teamwork and know how to effectively engage in teams. Whether it’s planning a flagship school event, or lobbying to get a new school policy in place, student government is a great place to hone those valued teamwork skills. 

1. Community engagement

Colleges want to know how you’ll contribute to the campus community if admitted. Engaging with your high school community through the student council is one way to give the admissions committee a glimpse into what you might offer them in the future. 

1. Civic responsibility

U.S. colleges and universities are operating in a democracy, with the values and responsibilities that accompany it. Many, especially those with strong political science, public policy, or public service programs, are looking to recruit applicants who understand democratic principles and can effectively navigate and protect them.

Student government is one of the most obvious ways for high school students to learn these values of freedom, citizenship, and democracy. Running for an elected position, lobbying school administrators for change, and getting the word out to the student body about important issues and concerns are ways you can do this! Take the initiative to demonstrate to admissions officers that you understand the importance of civic responsibility. 

If student government is appealing to you because you envision a future career in politics or as a public servant, here are a few other extracurricular activities to consider:

• Volunteering at school or in the community
• Internship with local government
• U.S. Senate Page Program
• Working with an activist group
• Nonprofit organization internship
• Mock trial
• Debate

Whether you go for student government, or take your talents elsewhere, it’s important for students who wish to attend college to participate in one or more extracurricular activities.These activities offer opportunities for both personal and academic growth and will help you become the kind of well-rounded, thoughtful student admissions committees want.

If you have no interest in student government, do something else. It’s okay! Your best bet with extracurriculars is to join something you’re passionate about, which makes it more likely you’ll stick with it and gain insights into yourself and your academic and career goals. Showing genuine passion for an activity outside the classroom is a key ingredient for college application success.