<p>Friend of mine brought it to my attention, and I skimmed the website, which I found interesting. I acquired an application, but unfortunately it requires one to list offices held during high school. Although I'm in many different clubs, I've held no offices and so I have to leave that one blank (I am ranked 1st in the class, and they request GPA, but I doubt that will help me much). </p>
<p>For those those that have gone or know much about the program: I'd appreciate it if you could shed some light on how strict their application process is and/or what you personally feel about the program.</p>
<p>haha, we don't do applications. if you're 1) rich and donate money to the school, 2) your parents work at school, 3) your parents work on the school board, 4) your dad's in iraq, 5) you're the student body president, then you get to go. otherwise, the rest of us are left out.</p>
<p>but i heard our boys/girls states both suck. but i don't live in sc</p>
<p>I went to Girls State last summer. In ND the American Legion sponsors you so you just have to write an essay about government. I am a political junkie and I loved it.</p>
<p>After we were nominated we heard a previous member describe his experience to us. Basically he described boot camp with government/citizenship lessons in-between, run by a reactionary organization. Most of us left the room in disgust. If you don't mind me asking, why would you want to go to the program?</p>
<p>Girls State does have its feminist bootcamp moments but overall its fun. But by the end of the week you really want to go home and see a guy who isn't 8 or 80.</p>
<p>From what I perceived of the site, it gave me the impression that it was a week of mock government type interaction. Since I'm seriously considering going into law, I figured any experience in government is beneficial. </p>
<p>I had no idea it was a bootcamp type of deal.</p>
<p>From the experience described by the person who went to the NY camp last year, it seems the program is very much like boot camp, with plenty of marching, walking in step, making beds, doing push-ups, and running until you vomit kind of deal. He also said he didn't care too much for the government lessons in between. He described them as superficial and rather pointless. Keep in mind that each state's camp is run differently, I believe the NY camp is the only run by Marines.</p>
<p>I went to the AZ Boys State program last summer.</p>
<p>You are put into a city of 20-30 people, and the city is put into a county with several other cities. You have elections for city, county, and state positions. I was a Senator, and I had a blast in it. Although almost none of the laws we passed meant anything, There was one bill that sparked a lot of debate and dissent and arguing over. I really did learn a lot about legislative matters- at one point there was even a filibuster!</p>
<p>It's a lot like a real state, or at least it tries to be. For instance, if a police cop tickets you, you are put before a court, and there are lawyers and judges and all, and if you are guilty you can be fined some tiny amount (like 45 cents) or be sent to jail for like 20 minutes (i dunno if this actually happened, cause as a Senator when the legislature is in session I have legal immunity). </p>
<p>However, this was not everyone's experience. More than half did not care to be there, and at the end a lot thought it was boring and pointless. A lot of the stuff is, but a lot of it can be fun if ur in to this sort of stuff. </p>
<p>It is not a boot camp. We had room inspections that were carried out by the city health inspector (who is appointed by the city council, which is elected on like the first day). We didnt do marching or push ups, and I remember guys staying up till like 2 am playing poker. Throughout the week there was a basketball league between all the cities. At the end of the week was a talent show.</p>
<p>If you don't like politics and government and stuff, don't do it, cause there is a good chance you won't enjoy it. But if you are into it, like I was, I recommend it, cause for me it really was a blast.</p>
<p>Yeah, I think I'll be applying for Boys State this summer also. </p>
<p>Does anyone know if this program holds any weight in the college admissions process? Does the prestige of the program vary by state, and will adcoms be aware of this?</p>
<p>I believe it carries weight, because at many schools it is really difficult to get into it. If you attend Boys State and are one of the two people selected from each state to attend Boys Nation, that is really prestigious- after all, Bill Clinton and (I think) JFK went through the program.</p>
<p>We didn't march or do pushups but we did walk in two straight lines like Madeline. The old legion ladies get a kick out of that. I also want to become a lawyer so I found the week very interesting. I worked with the Supreme Court and had a blast. It is interesting how intense people can get over laws that will never be enforced in a state that doesn't exist. We had like an hour long debate on abortion and then realized there were no men in our state so it wasn't an issue!</p>
<p>Thanks for the informative replies. I see now that the characteristics of Boys State varies according to the state, and so I turned in my application. Now it's just a matter of getting accepted :)</p>
<p>I went to Girls state in Florida. Basically the auxillary unit in my community conducted interviews and based there decision on that. I heard though that Boys state is more competitive than Girls state and that at Boys state some of the boys are just spectators which is different in Girls state where every girl has a position.</p>
<p>If I were you though I would go for it because it's a rewarding experience.</p>
<p>Millie05, i know some people that went to ND Girls State last year and had a blast! I hope to go to Boy's State next year. I've heard that it's a blast and that it isn't like boot camp.</p>