By Dia Arora | @deca_dia | Arrowhead DECA, WI
Seniors, college application season is coming up…or rather, already here! If you’ve spent part of high school competing, volunteering, or leading through DECA, you might be wondering how to fit all of those experiences into your applications. Where do you start, and how do you explain something that has been such a big part of your high school experience?
Now…I’d be lying if I said there’s one single, perfect answer, but there are a few ways to get started. These tips are meant to guide you but not dictate your college story. Every DECA journey looks different, and yours should sound like you!
Beyond the Title:
Whether you served as a chapter officer, competed in a role-play, or helped organize a fundraiser, your involvement tells a story. In order to sell that story though, the key is to explain what you did and why it mattered!
As a good pointer, start reflecting on your DECA experiences by creating a list of your DECA activities throughout your time in DECA. Include competitions, leadership positions, community service, chapter projects, and any responsibilities you took on. Then, think about the details behind each experience. How many members did you help recruit? What did you contribute to a fundraiser? Did you introduce a project or help another member prepare for competition?
These details can help you write an activities description that communicates your contribution! For example, “Participated in DECA and attended competitions” gives a reader a general idea of your involvement. “Organized weekly competition practice sessions for 20 chapter members” shows a specific responsibility and the people it reached, if those details accurately reflect your experience.
And to emphasize, you do NOT need an officer title to have a meaningful contribution! Supporting a new member, promoting chapter events, or consistently volunteering can demonstrate initiative and commitment to colleges. When sharing these experiences, ensure accurate numbers when you have them, and focus on the work you personally completed.
From Competition to College Essays:
DECA can also provide material for essays about leadership, challenges, community, or your academic interests. While an award might be the accomplishment you remember first, the experience behind it may reveal more about you than you might expect!
Perhaps your first role-play taught you how to think under pressure. Maybe a written event sparked an interest in entrepreneurship, or a chapter project challenged you to listen to people with different ideas. These moments can help explain how your interests developed and how you respond to unfamiliar situations.
When considering an essay topic, ask yourself: What happened, how did I respond, and what changed afterward? Instead of simply stating that DECA improved your confidence, describe a moment when you had to use that confidence. What did you say or do? How did that experience affect the way you approached your next challenge?
Choose a story that answers the essay prompt and adds something new to your application. Your activities section can highlight your responsibilities and accomplishments, while an essay gives you room to explain the person behind them.
Your Next Chapter:
As you prepare for senior year, take time to document your DECA journey while the details are still fresh. Save project results, note your responsibilities, and reflect on the experiences that shaped you. Whether your next step involves business or an entirely different field, DECA can help you show colleges how you contribute, what you care about, and how you have grown.
