<p>My D is a sophomore. Her girl scout troop is slowly phasing out and few girls of that age are very active members anymore. She has completed all the prerequisites for the gold award and I wonder if it is "worth it" in terms of importance/prestige for college applications. The award will take 65 hours of effort and the local GS council makes the girls jump through a lot of bureaucratic hoops to achieve it. Frankly, she could just do the project without the GS "endorsement" and it would be easier. So, CC community, is the Girl Scout Gold Award impressive to anyone in college admissions these day?</p>
<p>I would say yes, absolutely. Eagle Scout or Gold Award shows commitment, leadership, and lots of community service. Also, it shows standing up for one's convictions, since continuing with scouting while in HS is probably not considered to be "cool" to the average kid.</p>
<p>As someone who screens National Honor Society applicants at my HS, we look at those awards very favorably. I would imagine admissions people would as well.</p>
<p>I would definitely stick with it and go for the award as well. The post above sums it up pretty well, but yes, it does shows a strong dedication and conviction, provides great opportunites for community service, and serves as a highlight of qualifications when applying for scholarhips, honor society admissions, etc. While many will be able to put "girl scouts for so and so years", that award distinguishes the recipient as a leader among all those who just did girl scouts but have little to actually show for it. I did Boy Scouts and wish I had stuck with it to Eagle. I made it to Star and then fell away from it, and I regret not getting that award that would have been a great highlight. Definitely go for it</p>
<p>Yes! We are convinced that the Gold Award opened a tremendous number of doors for D.</p>
<p>Your D can always switch troops. Call your Council and get a list of all the Teen Troops in the area. I would recommend going to a very large troop that has more girls in each grade rather than a small one with the same 10 girls since Brownies. The large troops never cancel events due to lack of interest because there are always enough girls who want to go. The large-troop leaders tend to be very knowledgable about Gold Award reqs. and can provide valuable insight in your D's pursuit of this GA.</p>
<p>Yes! GS Gold is a strong award, and can easily be the factor gaining her admittance to a school over a similar candidate without it. Schools certainly do look at the whole candidate, and GS Gold, like BS Eagle, can be a big part of an application.</p>
<p>A related question to all: Should Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts even be mentioned on the app if the Gold or Eagle award was not earned?</p>
<p>I still think Scouting should be mentioned even without a GA/Eagle since it still shows involvement, community service, and commitment. Wouldn't a student that played a sport all 4 years but didn't become captain still mention it in the EC section?</p>
<p>I saw a financial award specifically for Scouts with the eagle, gold, or silver award. I believe it was 3k for the gold, less for the silver. My daughter got her silver and is supposed to be working on gold, but is not making much progress. Perhaps your comments will motivate her.</p>
<p>Although it looks good, it is really hard to say whether the award will tip the scales at any particular school.</p>
<p>I think that the process of completing the project and jumping through the hoops itself is a good learning experience, based on watching my S go through it for his Eagle. It forced him to write up and present the plans, make the phone calls, raise funds, adapt to changing conditions, and accept the thanks that resulted from the completion of the project. </p>
<p>I would suggest that she not put it off too much longer, though, as interests change and other activities become more attractive as these kids get older and start driving.</p>
<p>I agree with Dad'o'2 about the process. It has value regardless of college admissions. In fact, if your D's main motiviation for doing the Gold award is that it will help with college, then she'll probably be disappointed. </p>
<p>My D did the Gold award along with about 16 other girls in her her troop--it was an extraordinary group. It obviously didn't tip the balance for the most selective schools to which she applied (she didn't get in), and I am certain that without the Gold award, she would still have gotten into the schools where she was admitted.</p>
<p>Yes.</p>
<p>Both of my D's earned their Gold awards. I actually asked an Berkeley adcom directly if the GS Gold award is looked upon favorably for admittance and she said 'definitely yes'. </p>
<p>The award usually validates community service hours and leadership completed. In addition, the community service/leadership project and hours opens up more doors for scholarships. Just from a financial perspective one can do well by the Gold award.</p>
<p>Your daughter will have to deal with bureaucratic hoop-jumping for the rest of her life. She might as well learn to start navigating those obstacles now, especially with such a great potential reward.</p>
<p>Also, if her troop is falling apart she can always finish the Gold award on her own. She doesn't need to be in a troop for this.</p>
<p>Please encourage your daughter to earn the Gold Award. As someone mentioned earlier, there are scholarships available for Gold Award recipients and colleges DO take notice (Carleton College noted a Gold Award recipient on their class of 2010 profile).</p>
<p>Even without the Gold (or Eagle) Award, scouting should be included as an EC on the application. My daughter was a Girl Scout for 13 years (no Gold, but that's another story) - she had many amazing experiences and opportunities within GS, including attending a national convention.</p>
<p>Add me to the chorus of "go for the Gold." My own D is working on the service project now - yes, it's a lot of forms and red tape, and yes, it's a hassle at times, but as someone else implied, it's good practice for life.</p>
<p>I have a close family member who has worked in admissions for several schools, and he says that the Eagle/Gold awardees always stand out.</p>
<p>Another yes - for the satisfaction of completing a difficult project, for possible scholarships, and for an additional dimension in college admissions.</p>
<p>My D received her Gold this year in time for it to be included in her college apps. She received reach admissions and merit aid offers that surprised us, and I attribute her success to the Gold. It was her strongest EC and details of her project were featured in her essays.</p>
<p>I've heard time and time again men lamenting the fact that they didn't take that final step to earn their Eagle rank (and I would think the same would also hold true for women who got as close as your daughter has to the Gold Award). She's achieved so much, and I hope she's able to use the advice given here to complete her requirements.</p>
<p>I'll say yes with a qualifier. My son got his Eagle and that was about his only hook, so I feel that it did help. My daughter, otoh, had many other EC's that she took part in and the Gold award would have just been one more something. For her career goal as an educator, her background of camp counselor and a senior internship in a school showed her passion for teaching just as much as a special GS project would have. She was a girl scout for 10 years (didn't do daises) but chose not to go for the gold and I don't think she's regretted it. So while I think it's a worthwhile goal, if she's not passionate about the end project, there might be something else out there even better.</p>
<p>when i did my gold award, i did something i was passionate about, not just something that fulfilled the requirements for the award. only do it if you have the dedication because the councils are really picky about project reports</p>
<p>Thank you for all your replies. We are going to a gold award workshop this week to learn more about it.</p>