Eagle Scout rank as a hook for admissions

[Anonymous]

I would think the only college admissions "hook" (the meaning that it will be something that a college admissions office is looking to find in prospective students) that earning the Eagle Scout ranking would have - outside of maybe VMI, the service academies, and ROTC -- would be for "leadership". It is one of the obvious things that kids can do to establish that they have "leadership" skills.

It obviously comes in handy in other ways though. Example: My son was up for a scholarship at a particular college. He along with about 500 others from which they would pick 10-15 for full ride scholarships. Basically everyone in the 500 was already offered a 50% ride. His view was that if he got a full ride he would consider going and I am sure that was the view of most folks. So -- he and several hundred others participated in a day-long program. The groups were observed.

The students were randomly divided into groups of about 10, and they were assigned a task and required to develop methods of accomplishing the task. After about 10 minutes of discussion he said he took over the organization of the group discussion so they could actually get things accomplished. His view was that it was just like a typical scout meeting where you had to make sure everyone was involved -- including the quiet kids -- and that plans were actually developed that people bought in on even if they had a different view.

Obviously the folks doing the reviewing were way more interested in seeing how the kids worked in the group dynamic than in whatever the groups came up with. He got one of the scholarship offers (he did not ultimately take it). But, in all likelihood, his Scouting experience in leading kids was the key to being able to step in and lead a group discussion of obviously smart kids in order to accomplish a task.

Of course, then you have his younger brother -- a freshman this year -- who took up cliff jumping as a Scout on a Western trip. From time to time we get a video of a new jump. So -- some downsides too from the parent perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an alumni interviewer, I don't ask about scouting and the admissions officers almost never inquire. It's a participation trophy. Most who persist and succeed to Eagle rank have no other superlatives to present.

It as about as far from a participation trophy as they come.

Boys in my neighborhood have earned their Eagle Scout by planting some trees in a park and building a picnic table for their high school. Really not that impressed, even if they had to raise the money and get a few friends to help.

[Anonymous]

What a bigoted, elitist thread. Posters are clearly down on Scouting because it's seen as conservative and Christian. This is largely, but not universally, true--and it has no bearing on the perseverance required to achieve the Eagle rank. I'd take an Eagle Scout over a kid who listed a bunch of B.S. high school clubs and "volunteering" activities on their application, any day of the week. It requires years of consistent effort, across a wide range of activities, and is a meaningful indicator of a conscientious, well-rounded applicant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an alumni interviewer, I don't ask about scouting and the admissions officers almost never inquire. It's a participation trophy. Most who persist and succeed to Eagle rank have no other superlatives to present.

It as about as far from a participation trophy as they come.

Boys in my neighborhood have earned their Eagle Scout by planting some trees in a park and building a picnic table for their high school. Really not that impressed, even if they had to raise the money and get a few friends to help.

Thank you for confirming your ignorance to the rest of us. As if we didn’t know.

The Scout-led service project is merely one requirement on the path to earning the rank of Eagle. There’s a solid 4-5 years of work - minimum - before you get to the service project.

Nice try, tho. 👍🏼

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a bigoted, elitist thread. Posters are clearly down on Scouting because it's seen as conservative and Christian. This is largely, but not universally, true--and it has no bearing on the perseverance required to achieve the Eagle rank. I'd take an Eagle Scout over a kid who listed a bunch of B.S. high school clubs and "volunteering" activities on their application, any day of the week. It requires years of consistent effort, across a wide range of activities, and is a meaningful indicator of a conscientious, well-rounded applicant.

I’d wager that most of the anti-Scout trolls are actually conservatives and hard-right Christians. They despise Scouts for now allowing LBGT families and girls to join certain troops.

Of course, a troop based out of a religious institution can choose to remain boy-only or impose its religious precepts on that troop. But Christians no longer get to veto how other troops run themselves. This is why the Mormon Church pulled all its boys out of Scouting a few years ago and created its own version solely for Mormon kids.

[Anonymous]

Why do Eagle Scouts all seem so geeky? Why do they make teenagers wear those uniforms that make them look like little boys? No way my kids would EVER do scouting after about 3rd or 4th grade. Take your kids camping and hiking if they like that stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an alumni interviewer, I don't ask about scouting and the admissions officers almost never inquire. It's a participation trophy. Most who persist and succeed to Eagle rank have no other superlatives to present.

It as about as far from a participation trophy as they come.

Boys in my neighborhood have earned their Eagle Scout by planting some trees in a park and building a picnic table for their high school. Really not that impressed, even if they had to raise the money and get a few friends to help.

You are leaving out most of the process. the project is much more than what happens the day or days of the work and there are 21 merit badges (some of which take months to earn), leadership requirements, camping requirements...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an alumni interviewer, I don't ask about scouting and the admissions officers almost never inquire. It's a participation trophy. Most who persist and succeed to Eagle rank have no other superlatives to present.

It as about as far from a participation trophy as they come.

Boys in my neighborhood have earned their Eagle Scout by planting some trees in a park and building a picnic table for their high school. Really not that impressed, even if they had to raise the money and get a few friends to help.

I don’t know of any Eagle projects that have been this minimal, but you do realize that the project is just one small piece of a multi-year process?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a bigoted, elitist thread. Posters are clearly down on Scouting because it's seen as conservative and Christian. This is largely, but not universally, true--and it has no bearing on the perseverance required to achieve the Eagle rank. I'd take an Eagle Scout over a kid who listed a bunch of B.S. high school clubs and "volunteering" activities on their application, any day of the week. It requires years of consistent effort, across a wide range of activities, and is a meaningful indicator of a conscientious, well-rounded applicant.

I think the whole anti-conservative thing is part it, but I think it really is about a bunch of hyper-competitive DCUM parents who hate the idea that they missed an opportunity for their kids to get a leg up. That article about elitist sports no longer being a “hook” just make it worse. These people have burned their weekends and spent countless $$ running their kids to Madlax practice and travel lacrosse tournaments so Junior lacrosse bro can get into an elite school, only to find that snob sports are now frowned upon by the Ivy League and the nerdy, unathletic Scout has an advantage.

[Anonymous]

Gross parents talking about their disgusting organization that actively concealed child abuse. But hey, Jonny’s had a great experience! Doesn’t bother us a bit!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an alumni interviewer, I don't ask about scouting and the admissions officers almost never inquire. It's a participation trophy. Most who persist and succeed to Eagle rank have no other superlatives to present.

It as about as far from a participation trophy as they come.

Boys in my neighborhood have earned their Eagle Scout by planting some trees in a park and building a picnic table for their high school. Really not that impressed, even if they had to raise the money and get a few friends to help.

You are leaving out most of the process. the project is much more than what happens the day or days of the work and there are 21 merit badges (some of which take months to earn), leadership requirements, camping requirements...

Ok, so it's a process. How is it any more of a "hook" than being in the HS marching band for 4 years and being the lead clarinet by senior year, being on the softball team for four years and becoming a captain senior year, working at an afterschool job and being promoted to head cashier after 3 years? I would not describe any of those as a hook for college admissions, just strong ECs that show commitment and some leadership skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gross parents talking about their disgusting organization that actively concealed child abuse. But hey, Jonny’s had a great experience! Doesn’t bother us a bit!

I hope you do not judge everything by what it was like 40 years ago. I was 12.

[Anonymous]

I know an Eagle Scout who got into UVA - also the student was tops in his class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gross parents talking about their disgusting organization that actively concealed child abuse. But hey, Jonny’s had a great experience! Doesn’t bother us a bit!

It bothers me. Just as it bothers me Christians throughout history have done some pretty horrible things. But, that has not made me drop my faith. And the troop my DS belongs to is pretty liberal in that they would be fine with gay leaders; we have Jews, atheists, and different races in the troop, and even some Trump voters as well as Trump haters. But, the kids have a lot of fun together, and they get to learn and take on leadership roles while having fun. They love the camping trips and other summer activities. It's the highlight of their summer. So many fun memories for them. I don't want to take that away from my kid.

Do you expect Muslims to stop following their religions because a few are terrorists?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know an Eagle Scout who got into UVA - also the student was tops in his class.

I know many more UVA matriculants who were any and everything except a scout. So, what is you saying?