I don't have officer titles. Does running things informally count as leadership on the Common App?
No titles anywhere. But I run the setlist for my school's jazz band (pick the songs, figure out who solos, send the rehearsal plan to the director every week), and I train all the new freshmen on our robotics team on the drivetrain and the code.
Can I call myself "Section Leader" or "Training Lead" even though those aren't official positions? I feel like I'm doing the job but there's no title to point to. My counselor said leadership is huge so I'm kind of stressing.
I never ran for anything because I'm not great at speeches, and our NHS and student council are basically popularity contests.
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What you described is leadership, and readers will see it as leadership if you describe it accurately. The thing to avoid is inventing an official-sounding title that does not exist at your school.
Why: your band director or robotics mentor may write a letter or be contacted, and your counselor knows the club structure. "Section Leader" when the band has no section leaders is a small claim that can make a reader doubt the rest.
How to write it so it lands:
1. Position field: describe the role plainly. "Setlist coordinator (student-run)" or "Freshman training, drivetrain and code" are honest and specific.
2. Description: lead with what you did and for how many people. "Choose setlists and solo order for 18-member band; send weekly rehearsal plans to the director."
3. Ask the director or mentor whether there is a name they would use. If they call you something, use that.Readers care more about responsibility and results than about titles. "Trained 9 new members, 6 now run matches independently" is stronger than "Training Lead" with nothing under it.
Also worth asking one of those two adults for a recommendation or a short supplemental note. Their description of your role is the best evidence there is.