<p>Anybody's kid participate in this? Worthwhile or not? How did they go about applying/ getting accepted? Looking to have a better understanding about this EC. thanks</p>
<p>My dad did it back in 1946…said it was a good experience even back then. I believe you have to be nominated by a teacher.</p>
<p>Look where it got Bill Clinton!</p>
<p>Our son went to Boys State. His speech and debate teacher thought he would love it. She nominated him, he applied and then he was chosen for sponsorship by the local American Legion post. They paid for his entire week.</p>
<p>He really didn’t like it so much! Too much politics for a scientist. It was just OK. He ended up being elected “park superintendent” of his “county” and created a waterfall and garden in one of the bathrooms on their floor. </p>
<p>In Missouri, it’s promoted as “the best week of your life” with lots of scholarships offered to participants. I guess if you get elected Governor or Supreme Court Justice, it might provide some scholarship money, but our son did not receive any.</p>
<p>It may have looked good on other scholarship applications, however.</p>
<p>I did Virginia’s Boys State last year and while it wasn’t the best week of my life, I made some good friends and I’m sure it helped me a little in college admissions! Go for it!</p>
<p>The kind of kid who enjoys student government in high school will like this program.</p>
<p>@QandA
What was the interview like? What advice would you give an applicant?</p>
<p>I did Girls State back in the early 70s. The sponsoring organization for the program is the American Legion. In my town the local American Legion post accepted and processed the written applications (I believe schools recommended students first) for Boys State and the local American Legion Auxiliary did the same for Girls State. The applications were winnowed down and finalists were asked to address a meeting of the Legion or the Auxiliary, speaking on a topic focused on civics and patriotrism. The Legion/Auxiliary members then voted on the students who would represent the post.</p>
<p>The only costs I recall were the purchase of a white dress needed for photos and pocket change for hotel vending machines. Transportation, food, and lodging were all covered by our local Legion/Auxiliary.</p>
<p>I considered the week a wondrous learning opportunity, but I was very interested in politics and government. The selection process itself offered a very special learning opportunity – getting to know the members of the Legion and the women of the Auxiliary in my community. That added a respect and a depth of understanding about the history of the people around me that I had almost completely lacked, one easily missed by young people (perhaps especially in the time of my youth.) </p>
<p>My impression is that participation in Boys/Girls State is recognized as an achievement in the college admission process. More importantly, I know I felt truly honored to be selected by the Auxiliary members in my community to represent them in a process which they take very seriously as a part of their promotion of citizenship.</p>
<p>I did it in the 60’s. I didn’t do so good.
DS did in 2000. He’s doing fine.</p>
<p>^ 
I want to hear the story behind that comment!</p>
<p>Boys’ State is sponsored by the American Legion. At my son’s school the administration and teachers selected 10 junior boys that were invited to apply-had to write an essay etc. The American Legion Post sponsoring the program for that high school then picked 5 of the boys based on their application packets to be interviewed. My son absolutely enjoyed every minute of it. It is a fantastic program!</p>
<p>My daughter attended Girl’s State a few years ago and enjoyed the entire experience. I believe that she would say that you get out of it what you put in. DD ran for Gov. and won the primary election for her party. She walked away with a few scholarships that were awarded by the sponsors as well. Same D is now in law school. Her interest in government certainly lent itself to her appreciation for the experience.</p>
<p>My daughter participated three summers ago. She was in student government at her school and has an outgoing, “I’ll give anything a try” personality. She enjoyed the experience (running for office, debating, etc . . .) While she went into the experience cold, I remember her talking about some young women who came with plans in place for the week, knowing the offices for which they planned to run and with campaigns prepared ahead of time.</p>
<p>It is an exhausting week, but as others have said, an especially great experience for those interested in government and politics. There can be behind the back deal making and the like to get offices that give the student a taste of the “real world” (not exactly fun). If you go on to Girls’ (or Boys’) Nation, these programs offer one of the few national level ECs readily available for those who are more interested in the social sciences than other sciences.</p>
<p>DS called me at lunch to tell me he was selected for Boys State. At his school, they (American Legion) interviewed 6 kids and I’m not sure if they selected one or two. I hope he likes it. His older brother did it four years ago and loved it but he was a student government kid and loves politics. He urged his brother to try for it and said he thought he would love working on the newspaper they have (DS works on school paper.) I wonder if the experience varies by state and by number of kids who attend. My older son knows his younger brother quite well. I’m going to trust that if he thinks he’ll love it that he will. (On the other hand, what was a fabulous camp experience for that son was awful for the younger one – change of ownership of the camp happened in between!)</p>
<p>My son attended a number of years ago and liked it quite a bit. He was never particularly interested in politics but enjoyed the experience nonetheless. It is on EC that helps to show leadership. All of the kids who attend in our state get full scholarships from the American Legion.</p>
<p>My daughter did Girls State last year and really enjoyed it. She is very interested in government/politics and it seemed to give her a realistic glimpse of the election process and how local government runs. A nice touch was that the lieutenant governor of our state–a woman–spoke at the closing ceremony. It was an exhausting week. However, the boys from her high school who did Boys State did not seem to enjoy it as much.</p>
<p>Eastcoast, did the boys say why they didn’t enjoy it as much. Might there be differences in the way they are run?</p>
<p>At Hoosier Boys State the guys like it, but there is marching involved. I attended Girls State in the 80s and there was no marching for the “ladies”. I had a wonderful time, and met many people. Many schools also give scholarships for attendance, and there are opportunities to go to the National event.</p>
<p>Marching?
Wow, I had no idea. Can someone elaborate on what the marching is like?</p>