By Rayyan Khan, @deca.rayyank | Reedy High School, TX
If you’re like me, you’re probably knee-deep in college application season: switching between essay drafts, recommendation requests and the portals that somehow always seem to time out right when you need them most. It’s stressful, exciting and overwhelming all at once. But if you’ve been in DECA for any amount of time, you might not realize that you already have something powerful on your side: your DECA experience.
DECA is so much more than the medals, the travel and the competition memories. It’s a toolkit, one that prepares you not just for business, but for life. The same skills you’ve built through DECA can make your college applications stronger, more genuine, and more reflective of who you really are.
1. Confidence in Storytelling
College essays are all about you, but writing about yourself can be one of the most complex parts of the process. DECA helps you tell your story with confidence. Every role-play, presentation or project is practice in finding your voice under pressure. When you sit down to write your personal statement, you’ve already been there. Crafting a message, connecting with an audience and delivering it with clarity and passion.
Through DECA, you’ve learned that good communication isn’t about using big words, but about authenticity. That same skill can help your essay sound like you, not like every other applicant trying to “sound impressive.”
2. Leadership That Speaks for Itself
Leadership isn’t just about titles; it’s about initiative. Whether you’ve organized a fundraiser, mentored new members or competed as part of a team, DECA has given you real examples of how you take action. Admissions officers love stories of growth and impact, and DECA provides numerous examples. On your application, focus less on listing positions and more on what you did with them.
3. Resilience and Growth
Not every competition ends in a trophy, and that’s okay. In fact, it might be your strongest story. Colleges look for resilience: how you handle failure, feedback and setbacks. Maybe you didn’t make it to finals your first year, but came back stronger the next. That growth mindset, which DECA naturally builds, translates perfectly to what colleges call “grit.”
4. Real-World Readiness
From financial literacy to marketing strategy, DECA experiences are packed with real-world applications. Those moments you spent creating business plans, analyzing data, or pitching ideas demonstrate that you can think critically and solve problems.
In your essays or interviews, connect DECA lessons to your intended major. If you want to study business, talk about the first time you realized what makes a brand successful. If you're going to major in communications or economics, highlight how DECA gave you the chance to explore those interests early.
5. Connections That Count
Don’t forget the people DECA has brought into your life, such as your advisors, mentors, teammates and alumni. They’ve seen you grow and can often provide meaningful letters of recommendation or advice on essays. Beyond that, they’re a network that can support you long after you hit submit.
As you wrap up applications and look toward the next chapter, remember that DECA has already prepared you in ways that go far beyond competition season. You’ve learned to lead, communicate and persevere: the very qualities that make an applicant like you stand out.
