<p>I started November of my freshman year. I worked really hard and went to nearly all of the trips and activities. I also did most of the merit badges idependently instead of going to camps. I acheived Eagle Rank just a month ago and my Court of Honor is in a week. By the way, I'm a junior. It only took me two+ years.</p>
<p>Finally, does Eagle Scout rank help at top schools such as Harvard, Stanford, Yale, etc?</p>
<p>
[quote]
You have to go to a boy scout camp and they have a little introduction of sorts and after that you cannot talk until it is done. You have to do strenuous labor (again w/o talking) and you are given the minimum of food to survive (bread and water)... Then when you go to sleep at night, you are to have no tent, just you and the woods
[/quote]
uh hopkinslax, you do realize that all of that is SECRET or don't you remember!?!</p>
<p>Brenner, I'm sorry you feel that way - if that is completely true (no doubt there is some truth to your statement, after all most teenagers are at heart selfish creatures), then why does my son and his friends go out on Sat mornings to help other boys in the troop work on their Eagle projects?</p>
<p>"Finally, does Eagle Scout rank help at top schools such as Harvard, Stanford, Yale, etc?"
Kenli, no one knows for sure what makes or breaks an admission to HYPS but with over 75,000 applications these colleges are most likely not that swayed by ECs -- unless they contribute to the campus community like sports or band. They need fullbacks and oboe players but do they really need Eagle Scouts? Probably not.</p>
<p>For the LACs however where ECs play a more prominent role in admissions evaluation the personal attributes connected with being an Eagle Scout can be a positive factor in admissions.</p>
<p>Advice that I'm sure you've heard before, don't set your heart on HYP. Have good matches and safeties as well.</p>
<p>My guess would be that HYPS would look closer at ECs than other colleges. They're looking for something to distinguish one student from another. An adcom can only look at so many thousand apps with 1550+ SATs and 3.95 GPAs. Their eyes begin to glaze over. No single EC shows what character a person has than Eagle Scout. Every person to reach the rank of Eagle has shown long term commitment to an EC, they have extensive leadership skills (at absolute minimum 16 months divided among three ranks); they've volunteered significant time to the community over a multi-year span. An Eagle has shown an understanding of what it means to be a local, national and world citizen, they're trained on how to react in emergency situations, and they have met health/fitness requirements (in case the school still requires a swim test :)) And that's the minimum that they've accomplished. Nearly all will have done much more because of the dedication it takes to achieve the rank.</p>
<p>This doesn't help them fill an oboe or running back spot but those represent a very small part of the college community. It does show the college that they're getting a student that has shown significant dedication to a goal while being exposed to a wide variety of experiences at the same time. And that's the type of person that makes up a well-rounded student. That's the contribution they make to the campus community. I can't think of many other ECs that should be listed ahead of this award.</p>
<p>"Unfortunately, most of the Eagle Scouts now do the program only for the prestige associated with the award, and its benefits for admissions and resume quality etc. "</p>
<p>This cracked me up. Your troop may have allowed slackers to race through it; my son's troop did not allow Eagles who had only done the minimum. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>All Eagles were members from 6th grade to 12th grade (only high school seniors, or second semester juniors, were approved); </p></li>
<li><p>they couldn't do wee-wah leadership rolls, but had to serve AT LEAST one year as Assistant Patrol Leader, one year as Patrol Leader, one year as Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, and one year as Senior Patrol Leader; </p></li>
<li><p>pre-SPL they had to attend, and as SPL they had to lead EVERY weekly meeting and EVERY monthly adventure trip (Friday to Sunday, even in winter, when they did winter camping trips, ski trips etc) (unless there was a darn good excuse, like a death in the family!); </p></li>
<li><p>they were expected to spend one week a summer at Scout Camp, helping the younger kids; they HAD to volunteer for every other kids' Eagle project; etc. etc. etc.</p></li>
<li><p>This on top of various local community service projects, Leadership Training weekends, twice-monhly Green Bar organizational meetings (when PL, ASPL, or SPL) etc!</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Believe me, no one who did all this did it for 7 years (and most had been Cub Scouts who attained the Arrow of Light before that) did it for "prestige!"</p>
<p>Nedad's son's troop may insist that Scouts follow the progression he stated, but those are not Eagle requirements. BSA specifically prohibits anyone from adding to its own stated Eagle requirements. If a troop adds requirements, then denies a Scout rank advancement because he hasn't met the added requirements, that decision can be appealed - and the appeal will be successful. I'm not saying that approach is good or bad, just that it is BSA policy.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Brenner is correct. Many "Eagle Scouts" have only perfunctorily met the requirements. Colleges and employers are beginning to figure that out. It spoils the honor for Scouts who have truly made the effort.</p>
<p>nedad - So good to hear of a troop whereit is as difficult to attain Eagle as my son't troop! It's not easy to maintain those standards, as I'm sure you know. Our Scoutmaster is forever battlling parents who want their kids to sail through to their Eagle in a couple of years, and some even want them to finish by 8th grade! Our troop considers maturity heavily when moving kids up the ranks - you just can't make Star in his troop unless you are able to plan, lead and teach the appropriate skills for outings and overnights, as well as whatever else is expected. Few make Eagle, even though the troop has over 60 members at any given time, and has been around for 20 years.</p>
<p>My HS junior son has had his Life for over a year - was SPL for a year, now Jr. Asst. Scoutmaster. He's hoping to finish his project before fall of next year (mom would like him to get it on his college apps.) but college is not his motivation. He's been a Scout since 2nd grade, has made wonderful friends, and has learned more than he ever could have learned through school activities. The leadership is key. </p>
<p>My son is also a Peer Mentor at his HS which involves teaching part of the freshman health classes. His advisor pulled me aside one day and said that my son had amazing skills with these kids - she said she'd never seen a student so confident and effective in managing the classroom as he was (and she's been around a long time). She said she has told her collegues (you've got to see this kid in action!) OK, enough bragging, but I really was proud. He owes it to Scouts and the opportunities it offered, not to anything I did.</p>
<p>I think the adults are missing the point here.
1. I said MOST not all.
2. You two are not scouts so you are out of touch with the true motives of the boys. As an adult you can never really understand what is going through their heads. ("blah blah blah we were kids too" whatever, but there is a lot you don't see or hear)</p>
<p>I am sure that everyone has seen these people who get the rank and then never return. One boy stopped coming after his board of review. The other was never seen after his project. The council advancement people are just so out of touch with the realities of the troop. Meanwhile, our scoutmasters are too afraid to put a stop to the advancement, as it would have enormous political and social reprocussions in a small town atmosphere. Ellen is right, the prestige of the award is going away fast, it now symbolizes for me an unhealthy ambition. Cangel, is your son an Eagle? Even if he is, he is a minority among us, and we ALL know it.</p>
<p>The vast majority of kids drop out of Scouts long before they ever reach Eagle. Only 3% ever reach that rank. Participation as a youth Scout ends at 18, which is when most Scouts finish up their requirements, thus going their separate ways. A substantial number of those either become adult leaders or remain involved on OA. Reaching the rank of Eagle is nowhere as mercenary as you portray it. </p>
<p>brenner87 - was your eagle trail uphill both ways?</p>
<p>I can sympathize, brenner87. I'm constantly irritated every time I hear about a 14 year old Eagle Scout or a Scout with 50+ merit badges. Although some troops do indeed crank out Eagle Scouts, most Scouts work extremely hard to earn the rank. My troop has had a fairly good record of Scouts earning the rank. Needless to say, they definitely EARN it. I've known a lot of people that are quite active in Scouts after they earn their Eagle rank: earning palms, OA, teaching/assisting others, working on Eagle projects, assisting in mock Eagle board of reviews, camp staff, etc. :)</p>
<p>Are palms helpful as well? I am working on my bronze, but I'm not sure whether or not to include future ones in my transcript.</p>
<p>Honestly, I doubt that palms would help that much (I wish they did). Palms do, after all, only represent a few extra merit badges. I think it would probably be about the same as having another troop position, religious award, etc. Mention your bronze (I mentioned mine, at least), but I don't think you need to update future ones. I think it's great that you're working on palms, though. Not many people earn Eagle, and most of those that do age out before they can work on palms. Congrats!</p>
<p>Thank you warblers, I think we all know it, some are just in denial. I wrote my essay on this phenomenon, and it worked. I had a great Eagle trail, the only thing was that everyone else my age earned it freshman year, and was never heard from again. I just think that the image society has of eagle scouts now represents a minority of the population of eagles. I suppose it is the fate of any awards that becomes so highly regarded. People will undoubtedly seek it only for the prestige, and in the long run, lessen the prestige of the entire award, even for those who are true eagles.</p>
<p>I would also like to add that im asian, so that should help a lot, since there are very few asian scouts.</p>
<p>Brenner, my son is only 13, but I hope he will make Eagle. The "want to" hasn't kicked in yet, Scouts are still a lot of work to him. I was discussing this thread with DH, who is one of the assistant Scoutmasters. He feels there is some truth to what you are saying. Thankfully, only a minority of the boys in their troop (actually maybe one one I can remember) have acted the way you describe. Most of the boys who have aged out prior to graduation, just don't go away, they are too accustomed to coming to meetings. They get to be Junior Assistant Scoutmasters, which earns them a place under the awning on camp-outs.
I think their troop is in-between what you are talking about. They have had a large percentage of the boys earn Eagle in the past 3 years, including some with palms. But I truly think they have earned it. The Scoutmaster is extremely organized, and carefully keeps track of everyone's requirements for advancement. It is not that boys cannot pursue badges or activities that interest them, more that the advancement requirements come first, Even preparing for summer camp, he will be sure that the guys do the activities they need to do to move forward. Same thing with leadership, everyone has to circle around and fill a leadership position.
I thought that helping on the Eagle project was all part of it. The Eagle organizes the work crews, makes all the arrangements, gets the materials, etc. The younger boys are the worker bees, with the understanding that some day younger Scouts will be on their work crews. Heck, my daughter even got out and shoveled a little one day to help a friend of hers.</p>
<p>Is anyone going to the National Jamboree? DH and DS will be there.</p>
<p>I am! I like the location of the jamborees; Virginia isn't too far from NC. :)</p>
<p>S went 4 years ago and had a fantastic time. The Wabash Valley group rode in on the WWF/E Smackdown bus and they made the video shown at closing. He kept a copy of every one of the newspapers that was printed each day to keep as souvenirs. I think the highlight was not making it back to the troop tent in time one night and having an MP escort back. They had a good time joking with the soldiers. He'd love to go back as OA staff but he wants to earn some $$ before school starts.</p>
<p>Don't depend too much on your Eagle Status, not even on the fact that your an asian scout.</p>
<p>This one info is not really going to make you stand out much-at all.
It's only one part of your application, focus on other overall stuff as well, and good results should follow.</p>
<p>The boys, as I call them are getting excited. They go (I guess everyone does this) as members of a special troop for the council, they will be having the first troop meeting next week. The husband is on dining hall duty, so the son may have a better time. DS just got back from Washington a week ago (8th grade class trip), so he is going to be an old hand.</p>