<p>How does Boy's State look in admissions files? I was just invited today and am considering it. I'm also going to ask my BGO tonight, I have my first meeting with him. 1hr 56mins to go.</p>
<p>Boys' and Girls' State are highly regarded by the academies. Attendance will add to your whole person score.</p>
<p>Excellent! That, Girl's Nation, Eagle Scout and GS Gold Award are highly looked upon.</p>
<p>Congrats erbium on being selected to Boy's State! Our daughter went last year, juggling USNA and USAFA Seminars followed by Girl's State. Whew, what a whirlwind. Have you been accepted to USNA Summer Seminar?</p>
<p>Our son was told it makes a positive difference -- and he loved it.</p>
<p>Go!
AND run for something, BState is great but no fun if you just sit on the sidelines. Run for an elected position and WIN!
The Academies, like most employers, appreciate winners!</p>
<p><waving his="" hand="" from="" the="" back="" of="" class=""></waving></p>
<p>Huh...... Boy State? Is that a college? :confused:</p>
<p>Note on Girls State: it might look good, but it's an awful week to suffer through (at least here in MO). I spent the week counting the hours until I could go home...</p>
<p>Now my brother, on the other hand LOVED Boy's State (and counselored last year). It's a funding/running issue....Girl's State is all voting and looking pretty, Boy's State is more passing laws, getting involved.</p>
<p>ZAPHOD:
Boys' State is sponsored by the American Legion and around here each post sponsors one candidate for the statewide event. They meet in a single location for a week, and set up a mock government, complete with campaigning for the various positions. The goal, of course, is to be elected governor. The governors move on to the National experience, called Boys' Nation.</p>
<p>The Marines are in attendance, but I am not sure how they fit into the picture, and my mid is too busy studying (cramming?) for finals for me to bother him with this.
CM</p>
<p>Z- you'd have HATED it, know why? Cause once upon a time Bill Clinton went to Boy's Nation! Look what it did for HIM!</p>
<p>Actually, all the folks' input on this forum about Boy's/Girls' State squares with our family's experiences. Child #1 went to Boy's State up in Sacramento, our State Capitol. What a great political experience he had. USNA-bound daughter went to a college site in the Los Angeles area. No comparison, really - but still a time to work with others....experience a dorm-style living with top young ladies from around the State, and for her, realize that simply being a pretty face with a stunning resume and high intelligence isn't enough for a sense of personal self-esteem. She came home from Girls' State telling me that she will never simply 'list her resume' as a reason for anyone to vote for her, approve of her, or give her anything, including scholarships. It so turned her off when she had to sit through speeches of why so and so wanted to be voted for such and such, when the only reason was ; I was School President, or I was a Varsity Captain....My daughter's personal self-awareness was a wonderful lesson for her in prep for living in Bancroft - where every single person around her was a super-star just like she was in high school and frankly, it 'won't mean a d*mn' then.</p>
<p>I dont really know what to think of Boys State, the Marines stuff was cool, the sports were fun, but I considered killing myself during the Government stuff. Unless you are extremely active you sit in a room and vote for 6 days 8 hrs a day. I would recommend going because it looks good on the application, but just be wary. It really varies state to state i would think. New York when it was 120+ degrees in the auditoriums was pretty tough, but my Marine instructor more than made up for it. He was an infantry combat vet from Iraq and Afghanistan and possibly one of the greatest men i've ever met. He had more "fruit salad" on his uniform than i've ever seen, but would rarely talk about it. But if you prodded enough, and the 30ish of us could. You'd get stories here and there about Iraq and the Marines. I really could go on forever, I wrote a 10 minute speech to thank the American Legion who sponsored me to go. (Just think about how long a real ten minute speech is). Anyway I will leave you with the words Sgt Bradly left me...
"America motives the s h i t out of me...God Bless America"</p>
<p>Boys State actually influenced me to apply to the USNA. When you're there you need to just have fun and meet alot of kids and you will get plenty from it.</p>
<p>Warning...gentle rant coming.</p>
<p>You should do things that interest, challenge, and stretch you. You should do things that put you in contact with people different from you. You should do things that put you in contact with people better than you. You should do this because it makes life fun and it helps you grow. Boys State might fit in this category for you, it might not.</p>
<p>That these things look good on a resume is an added benefit, but not a reason to pursue them. Don't try and "game" admission. Don't focus on building a resume, focus on living a good life that inspires and prepares you. You will have more fun, be more fulfilled, and learn more about yourself. The admissions board will be able to see your strengths best if you present a picture of yourself that is "true". Plus, doing things as their own reward really, really inhibits burnout.</p>
<p>erbium, you sound like a great kid who is motivated, accomplished, and hard-working. Good luck in achieving your goals! Oh, how'd your BGO meeting go? Bet you knocked his/her socks off!</p>
<p>Now, I will step off my soap-box and revel in my daughter's last 56 days at home.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Wow. 56 days. Wow again. As to Boys' State, ya gotta be interested in how government operates and want to learn more about it. My kid went & yep, it looked good on the old resume. But his interests were there for it. He held an office while there but truly loved meeting some of the people more. Touring the SC Capital building (which I understand to be voted the most beautiful tied with Pennsylvania's - Dig Dig Poke Poke) & learning how to solve community problems. Its quite a learning experience from what I heard from him. You'll be miserable there for that week if you're not interested in what makes our government tick.</p>
<p>erbium, hope the meeting went well!</p>
<p>I went to Girls State and had the time of my life!!! Some of the sessions got a little boring and ya, it wasn't that much fun having to dress up EVERY day, but I got a lot of good experience out of it and learned how to deal with several types of ppl. If you're into any political issues and debating over them, then you should enjoy the long debates everyone gets into when voting on laws. Having Boys/Girls State on your list of activities can only help you!!! I say go for it :)</p>
<p>Which state capitol is most beautiful? You be the judge.</p>
<p>South Carolina <a href="http://www.state.sc.us/irc/images/sc_capitol.jpg%5B/url%5D">http://www.state.sc.us/irc/images/sc_capitol.jpg</a></p>
<p>Pennsylvania <a href="http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/graphics/capitol1.gif%5B/url%5D">http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/graphics/capitol1.gif</a></p>
<p>Connecticut(a personal fave) <a href="http://www.barraclou.com/photo/skyline/ct/117_ct_statehouse.jpg%5B/url%5D">http://www.barraclou.com/photo/skyline/ct/117_ct_statehouse.jpg</a></p>
<p>in order of beauty...(in my humble opinion)</p>
<h1>3: So. Carolina</h1>
<h1>2: Penn</h1>
<h1>1: Conn.</h1>
<p>HEY! Thats cheating! I call foul! You have to go INSIDE to get the full perspective before voting! Besides. We have cannon ball holes in ours left courtesy of Sherman. ;)</p>
<p>1-conn, 2-penn, 3-carolina</p>
<p>duke80: I could not agree with you more, and I hope future candidates take your posting to heart.</p>
<p>JM- sorry about the cannon balls! btw- it could not be more beautiful today- hope Jamz gets to enjoy some time outdoors! PS- has he been sailing? have seen LOTS of little boats out off KP nearly every day- amazing!</p>
<p>
[quote]
Besides. We have cannon ball holes in ours left courtesy of Sherman.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Damn Yankees!</p>
<p><-- Naturalized Rebel. :D</p>