<p>I am a Life Scout, about to get my Eagle. I'm a Freshman, attend an International Baccalaureate School, live in a small town in North Carolina, have a 4.0 GPA, make great grades and I'm in numerous societies and academic clubs. I play for the school Tennis team, and I'm in the top 5 of my class. Will getting my Eagle Scout increase my chances into a top school such as Duke or Princeton? I know everybody says it helps, but does it really matter that much? (Getting it anyways, just wanted to know how much it will help me!) Thanks!</p>
<p>Bump. I really need to hear your thoughts! especially Eagle Scout Grad Students!</p>
<p>Bump! Come on!</p>
<p>Bump. Bump Bump Bump</p>
<p>Sure, it’ll just match how awesome you are in everything else. Not like you won’t get in because you don’t have it, but it will help by just showing that much more depth/commitment.</p>
<p>“Will getting my Eagle Scout increase my chances into a top school such as Duke or Princeton?”</p>
<p>In short, yes. I’m an Eagle Scout also. To attain such an honorable achievement a scout must demonstrate committment, character, and leadership skills. It’s a spectacular EC to have and a tremendous asset in life. Colleges recognize this. For service academies, like West Point, being an Eagle Scout merits the most “points” when they judge applicants on their academics and activities. And West Point, has one of the lowest acceptance rates in the nation (around 11%). I know because I’ve been told by many on the admissions staff.</p>
<p>A friend who worked at United Way told me that many corporate CEOs were Eagle Scouts, so businesses like them.</p>
<p>I suspect it also helps with college admissions because it’s a standardized achievement. The Boy Scouts are giving you a seal of approval.</p>
<p>Not that I disagree at all with it being a high honor, but isn’t it a bit unfair that you get admission “points” for something your parents started you on when you were younger? It’s not like you decided you wanted to join Boy Scouts when you were 5 years old, and the Eagle Scout award is just a culmination of that effort (which was likely started by your parents/guardians). I completely understand the amount of work, and dedication, and leadership it takes, having had several friends complete theirs. However, it doesn’t seem right to me to judge someone based on the way they were raised and the activities they were started in when they were younger, rather than on what they themselves have chosen to do. Just some thoughts.</p>
<p>Oh, and yes, it will help with admissions. I mean, it won’t make up for low grades and scores, but it will give you an edge.</p>
<p>musicislife73 - The parents would have started the child in Cub Scouts. Cub Scouts cross over to Boy Scouts in 6th grade I believe. It is about that time that many boys choose not to continue with Scouts - so I would say that the boys who achieve Eagle have made the decision to stick with it and spend the hours completing the activities to earn the award. Also - there is nothing stopping any 6, 7th, 8th, 9th, grader from joining Boy Scouts and completing the work to become an Eagle Scout. It could be done.</p>
<p>musiclife73 - The work required for the rank is attainable in about 2 years. For those who want to jump into scouts later on and earn the rank (I know of a few), they can. </p>
<p>But, I certainly wouldn’t argue that parents starting their kids off in cub scouts lessens their achievement because oftentimes these kids quit in high school! I had like 4 fellow scouters who were the same age as me quit so that by the time I got Eagle, I was the ONLY senior in the troop! It’s like this nationally and soooo many drop out or don’t make it (4% complete the journey). So, to conclude, scouting is what the scouts make of it. Success in scouting isn’t determined by a parent to a comparable degree that it is propelled by the kid. Cheers</p>
<p>My son is an Eagle scout and I’ve heard (and believe) that it definitely helps. Also, @MaterMia is absolutely right: you can join scouts anytime and Eagle Scout can be achieved in 2.5 years. I wouldn’t advocate doing it just to get this on your resume, but if you commit to the program, it has tremendous life benefits.</p>
<p>Musicislife, what you said is not true. You can’t join boy scouts till u are in 6th grade or 11years old. So it isn’t your parents decision to sign u up.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>Yes, it’s a great EC, but it’s not a definite admission guaranteer. If there is one spot left and each candidate has the same GPA, SAT, ACT, EC’s, but one is an Eagle Scout, they would choose the Eagle Scout.</p>
<p>(Source: Teacher; I’m a Life scout as well.)</p>
<p>It’s a great EC and most colleges recognize that. Continue scouting if it’s something you love to do.</p>
<p>Just FYI, because my house is full of scouts…cub scouts and boys scouts are two separate things. Boy scout troops generally recruit from cub scout packs in the town, but the work necessary to climb the ladder to eagle doesn’t begin until a boy officially joins a boy scout troop, and he can’t do that until he’s 11 or in sixth grade. So, if anyone has a son who didn’t do cubs (mine didn’t) , just remember they can still join up in sixth grade if they are interested and they haven’t missed a beat. They can even join in seventh and with a little extra effort they can be caught up in a year.</p>
<p>Clarification on the 6th grade requirement. This not true. One of three requirements must be met: <a href=“Advancement and Awards | Boy Scouts of America”>Advancement and Awards | Boy Scouts of America; </p>
<p>1.Meet the age requirements. Be a boy who is 11 years old, or one who has completed the fifth grade or earned the Arrow of Light Award and is at least 10 years old, but is not yet 18 years old.</p>
<p>My son was in 5th grade and not quite yet 11 but had the Arrow of Light when he crossed over. He is now an Eagle (8th grade) and pushed himself. He is now in 9th grade and not as active in Scouting but focused on other things like 2 sports year round, various charity and group organizations as well as a social life and once in a while opening the books (this part kills me). We nudge but don’t force.</p>
<p>Here’s what I think: being an Eagle Scout may help you at some colleges, just as any really good extracurricular will help you. At a few, it may be something they look at in particular, at others it may not matter all that much. But it’s what you learn on the path to becoming an Eagle that will really help you get into college, and after you get there. So make sure you really take advantage of your Scouting experience. Don’t quit as soon as you get your Eagle. Take the opportunity to show leadership, to learn skills, to work with adults and with younger kids. All that is what really counts, not the badge.</p>
<p>I would like to add that although it’s possible for a boy to become an Eagle Scout in 8th or 9th grade, it’s not the norm. Most boys, if they make it to Eagle at all, do it later (often just before their 18th birthday, which is the deadline). Personally, I think there are very few 13 or 14 year olds who have the maturity to be effective leaders, which I think is a key element of being an Eagle Scout. I would never hold a boy back who is gung ho about getting his ranks as soon as possible, but I would urge all scouts to make sure they are really getting the most out of the experience, and not just racking up paper achievements.</p>
<p>To add: colleges are not likely to be particularly impressed by a boy who became an Eagle earlier than some other boy; they are more likely to be impressed if you can explain the things you did as a leader.</p>