Ok, so I hear so much about this and how prestigous this is? I ask why? At my daughters school there were a number of girls nominated (by staff/teachers) and then 5 of them interviewed together in a room with a few ladies and then they left the room and came back a few minutes later, and a decision by the 2 ladies was made as to which girl would go. How is this prestigous? There was no application, no essay…just a group interview. Anyhow, I realize there are many great things to be involved in, but why is this (or so it seems) such a “great” thing on college apps? I think the event itself seems amazing and one must meet many wonderful young girls, but beyond that, I don’t get it? Can anyone give me more insight? Thank you!
Hi!! As a 2016 Badger Girl State delegate, I shared the same confusion you do! Teachers kept telling me how prestigious this was going to be and how colleges would love it. I didn’t understand, but when I got there, I got it.
It is really all about leadership and working with people. Colleges want that leadership. They know that girls and boys who are chosen weren’t chosen for just any reason. They appealed to the colleges immensely and knew that they were born to be leaders.
Girls who are at Girls’ State are AMAZING. They make a fictional state in just five days! Everything from city to county to state roles are filled and there are so many passionate girls who are campaigning from the moment they set foot on campus. When I was there this summer, there were so many girls who would give up breakfast to get signatures and campaign. It was really admirable and you could see that they really wanted the title. We made ordinances, our own shops, and a lot more!
@aimlesswriter it sounds amazing, but I still wonder/question how prestigious it is for colleges? One can have/show leadership and work with people in so many ways throughout high school, without an organized “week” thru Girls State. I go back to my original question - how prestigious is this?
Girls Nation would be much more prestigious (selected from GS participants)! However, for some high schools it is a very competitive process to participate in Girls State. To me it is similar to NHS. It is not unexpected to see it on the resume of a top student. By many accounts, it’s an amazing experience/opportunity.
@twicearound thank you! Our high school has an alternate too. So there is the actual Girls State delegate and an alternate. I believe that was discussed as something to put on the college app too. Thank you again. 
You bring up good points-- students can certainly show leadership and cooperation through a variety of extracurriculars. However, Girls/Boys State is a great opportunity for a few reasons in terms of admissions (these are the main ones I can think of, others may have more!).
- You have to be nominated by a teacher -- this shows colleges you are a well-liked and hardworking student. Only one student for Girls State is selected from each school, so it pretty much tells colleges you are one of the best in your class.
- You typically have to pass an interview -- again showing you are a likable student.
- There's opportunities at Girls/Boys state to show leadership and what you're interested in. For example, running successfully for an office shows that you were liked by your fellow peers. It also gives the student an opportunity to show colleges an interest in politics and maybe even something more specific, such as education reform, criminal justice, etc. (depending on which position you run for).
- It's a free program. It's not some summer camp at a college that you can just get into if your parents are willing to shell-out $3000.
- Your experience might make a good personal statement or supplemental essay.
I don’t think anyone here can really quantify how prestigious it is. That will vary by college and what their admissions officers specifically look for. I just know in general it is usually pretty highly regarded. It certainly is not going to get an applicant into a school they are not academically qualified for, but it’s a nice addition to the application.
It’s a great opportunity, your daughter should list it on her application if she has room (common app allows for 10 activities) or have a counselor/teacher mention it in a letter of rec. It won’t hurt her application in any way.
I did Boy’s State, and it was an incredible experience. I am currently on their staff, but haven’t had the opportunity to spend my summer since graduating. It especially helps if your D wants to pursue service academies or go PS or PP major-wise. I would also recommend HOBY, which is a selective leadership program.