<p>I agree, ricegal. One of the smartest things WashDadJr did was to stay in and active until he was 18, even though he made Eagle at 16. Not only did he act as a very patient mentor to a generation of 11- and 12-year-olds, he had time to earn six Palms and complete a trek at Philmont. The whole camping thing must have stuck -- we just shipped his backpacking gear to college so he could go camping with his new campus friends.</p>
<p>On the thread topic, I figure it's like any other strong EC -- it helps, but it won't get you admitted the way daddy buying a library or yourself winning an Academy Award will.</p>
<p>As for "one year per job," there is no need. All BSA would have to do is change the trail to First Class back to the system used before the Great Change in the 1970s. When I was a Scout back in the Triassic Era you worked on Tenderfoot until you finished. Then you started working on Second Class. Then you worked on First Class. This business of working on all the scout skills ranks at the same time was not permitted. That is, you could work on the skills, but you couldn't get credit for the work until you were the previous rank. You could make 15 hikes as a Tenderfoot, but it would count for Second or First Class advancement, for example. When I was a Scout, there were no 10-1/2 year old Scouts, and it was rare to make First Class before you were 13.</p>
<p>I stayed in the troop through the age of 18. Aged out as a Life Scout because I had more important things to do than to complete paper requirements and to fly through ranks. But I'm still a member of the troop now as an ASM. Many people believe that Eagle Scout is the purpose of the BSA and it's absolutely wrong! The SM and probably the most active ASM the last two years I've been in the troop were both "Life Scouts" and I'll be super happy to be like either one of them eventually-- active in Scouts, good jobs, military backgrounds, etc.</p>
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Totally off topic but - what does one do with a scholarship when they're attending the Air Force Academy? Do you just keep it as cash in your pocket since all of your school expenses are already paid?
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<p>Not sure on an exact answer but I do know that at both West Point and the Naval Academy not ALL of your school expenses are paid for. Now, it is significantly less but there are some things you pay for. I believe your first uniforms and your computer are part..</p>
<p>Mombot, at some schools faculty kids even get a free ride! I wonder what is the underlying reason - guilt trip for not paying the parent enough? In my book, the one and true "hook" is a recruitable D-I athlete. Everything else is a dime a thousand.</p>
<p>No, that scholarship was for about 3/4 tuition to the Illinois Institute of Technology. I turned down the offer as soon as I was accepted at USAFA.</p>
<p>I don't think that having made Eagle was really a hook for my son but it might have given him a slight edge against all the other white boys with B averages. I also think you have to be very motivated to get it and as others have said, really like camping. I would never suggest joining Boy Scouts with the sole goal of getting Eagle for College admissions advantage. Much better to find another EC that helps fulfill an individual passion.</p>
<p>Is there a thread related to this one that is still active? How about ‘Thread for B+ Eagle Scouts’? I have a hands on math/science boy with great people skills (writing, meh) and he is a sophomore, so we are just starting to prowl.</p>
<p>I think any award where you have to demonstrate disciplined committment over a number of years is going to be a boon to your college application. Like any other EC it’s not going to 100% garauntee you’ll get in anywhere, and it’s probably not going to overcome deficiencies in your academic record, but it can give you an edge over students with similar academic records who don’t show the kind of leadership you have by achieving your award/belt/license/distinction. </p>
<p>But the primary reason to do it, as with anything kids do, is because the kid really wants to and really loves it. You cannot build the perfect college applicant, it’s not like baking a cake where you have to put in x amount of ingredient y and stir 50 times and heat at 425. Kids should have some freedom to follow their passions, and then you have to trust that they’ll find the school that fits their particular skills, interests, and pursuits.</p>
<p>LutherSetzer, I’m sorry you had a bad experience with Scouting. You must have been in a pretty lousy troop if you didn’t learn anything useful. I guess it was convenient for you that you waited until just after getting your Eagle before becoming an atheist–that way you didn’t have to lie in your Board of Review, right? And since you feel the way you do, I assume that you won’t be identifying yourself as an Eagle Scout on future applications and resumes, right?</p>
<p>And Kei-o-lei, about that math–Eagle Scout is not an academic achievement. It can be earned by boys who are good students and not-so-good students. It can be earned by boys who will not be going to college at all. So, there may not be that many Eagle Scouts applying for slots at highly selective schools. But more importantly, it’s too bad if anybody pursues being an Eagle Scout because it would look good for college–that’s not what it’s about at all.</p>
<p>That even presupposes that all those Eagle Scouts are a) academically qualified for a high-level school and b) have the desire. It seems to be continually lost on CC that there are plenty of smart, hard-working and achieving kids who simply don’t have a desire to go any place other than a nearby state flagship school, both for financial reasons and also just not having as their life’s dream getting into an Ivy or similar caliber school. </p>
<p>I don’t know the geographical distribution of Eagle Scouts, but I wonder if it is more popular in some of the parts of the country where outdoor activities are more prevalent and / or more rural states, where OMG-Ivy-or-bust simply isn’t how people think.</p>
<p>Let me add this–if you are looking for an EC solely to impress colleges, Scouting is probably not the best choice. Becoming an Eagle Scout is time-consuming, and is not that easy to do unless you start when you’re in 7th or 8th grade.
On the other hand, if you are a Life Scout, wondering if it’s really worth your while in your junior or senior year of high school to finish those last few requirements to become an Eagle, it probably is. There will be people later in life who will care, and it will open some doors for you.</p>
<p>I can’t speak for the Ivies or other colleges but earning Eagle Scout is definitely a plus if you are applying for an appointment to one of the service academies.</p>
<p>Not sure what eagle scout and Ivy league admission have anything to do with each other. But, scouts gave S a platform for organizing and completing an amazing community service project for his eagle. Coordinating and completing such a project was something to put on college apps and certainly do think it helped him stand out in comparison to peers his age. Being an eagle also helped him get a really cool summer job at a high adventure camp. BTW, S is an atheist but was able to express a spiritual belief that made the board of review happy.</p>
<p>My son had the same experience with his project, GTalum. He had to work with our town, design a 300-foot-long boardwalk, estimate quantities and obtain bids, order and buy materials, organize work days, and work his butt off! He matured so much during the process. People in our community who learn he’s an Eagle Scout are great about coming up to him and congratulating him, too. His calculus teacher heard about it through the grape vine and shook his hand. The rank DOES mean something to a lot of people.</p>