<p>I was chosen by my counselor/teachers to represent our school at the HOBY leadership conference in June, and I am just wondering...do you think that it is somewhat prestigious to be chosen for HOBY, in the eyes of the college admissions officers? BTW, for those of you who haven't heard of HOBY (I hadn't even heard of it until recently) the website is Hugh</a> O?Brian Youth Leadership | HOBY | Home, if you are interested in finding out more.</p>
<p>the website made it seem simliar to the people to people leadership prgrams etc. what do you guys think of it??</p>
<p>It’s nice and even can result in merit aid at some second/third tier schools. </p>
<p>If you apply some of the things that you learn by starting a business or organizing a community service project or even by returning next year as a junior counselor, that would make your HOBY experience stand out more. </p>
<p>It’s better than People to People because only one student is usually chosen per school, and the cost is minimal. People to People is open to virtually anyone who can afford its high price.</p>
<p>I’ve never heard of the people to people program, is the program unique to one region of the U.S.?</p>
<p>As a HOBY/WLC Alum, I second what Northstarmom said. (How do you know so much about everything High school/college related? Did one of your kids attend HOBY too? lol)</p>
<p>From personal experience, it seems the selectivity of HOBY is wholly dependent upon each school, a lot like Boys/Girls State. It can be relatively open for any Sophomore at a school to go, perhaps just asking a GC to sign you up, or it can be very competitive with an essay and interview required for consideration to be your schools ambassador.</p>
<p>MANY of my HOBY WLC friends have gotten into highly selective colleges. On a Facebook group you will see numerous Ivies/Top-30 enrolled students for c/o 2013. Personally, I doubt HOBY itself helped that much with admissions, but I feel that many people who did HOBY are leaders in other activities and on top of their grades. </p>
<p>Also, most local chapters nominates to pay one or two students to go to the WLC every summer, so I imagine the attendees of WLC are already filtered out to be really outstanding.</p>
<p>In the end, HOBY was fun, and I met a lot of life long friends in the seminars that I have been and volunteered at. I also have been able to network with a lot of alumni and they have been helping me with my non-profit that I am starting up. Like northstarmom said, it is what you do AFTER attending HOBY that really counts, both in college admissions and in life, not the actual seminar itself.</p>
<p>Yes, younger S attended HOBY several years ago. It really jump started him into getting out of his comfort zone. Both of us have volunteered with HOBY since. S has been a counselor. I even volunteered with it this month. :)</p>
<p>Oh, that’s great to meet another HOBY volunteer! I had a similar experience as your son, it really made open up to new ideas and to figure out my own leadership potential. </p>
<p>Does your seminar do a lot of cheers? This year, at Mid-Florida, we did a lot less than usual…I think the national organization changed the setup for the seminars this year.</p>
<p>Have you ever volunteered at WLC? I’ve always wanted to back to that…but the process is competitive. Hopefully, I will have a summer free during college where I can go and help out again.</p>
<p>ok, I have heard a lot about how HOBY forces people to get out of their comfort zone, but what I would like to know is how exactly they are able to do this?
I was chosen by my school and I can be shy in new situations.</p>
<p>They have a lot of silly games and songs that everyone has to do. This might seem off putting, but it’s really fun, and it does help people get out of their comfort zones.</p>
<p>For instance, when my S went there, he was really shy and scared to do things like the games and songs. However, his counselor told him that when the counselor had been a HOBY participant, the counselor also had been shy, and HOBY had helped him get on track to become the outgoing, gregarious person who was comfortably able to start the games with HOBY, and who eventually through another program got certified in a youth empowerment program that included various games that S comfortably led. </p>
<p>In addition, participants are chosen to interview and introduce speakers and to give them gifts from HOBY. </p>
<p>Also, being around a supportive large, friendly group of strangers who are HOBY participants helps get everyone out of their comfort zone.</p>
<p>You can also choose to come back as a junior counselor while in high school, and as a counselor when you’re in college, and that also helps you get out of your comfort zone. S was in HOBY as a participant 5 years ago, and his roommate and others who were in HOBY with him are still coming back to help. S has been a junior counselor and has volunteered in other ways with HOBY.</p>
<p>Most people --including most HOBY participants – are shy in new situations, so don’t worry about your shyness being a problem at HOBY.</p>
<p>Rockerguyasj,
I don’t know how many cheers the HOBY group now does because I only volunteered for one event – facilitating a hunger banquet. The HOBY participants did, however, do the O-U-T-S-T-A-N-D-I-N-G cheer for me.</p>
<p>Volunteering at WLC would be wonderful. Too bad that I still don’t live in D.C. because then it would be easy to volunteer with WLC. I’ve heard marvelous things about that experience.</p>
<p>silly games and songs? oh my…well, hopefully someone else who is there will be just as nervous as I am and we can help eachother break out of our shells! :)</p>
<p>There will be lots of participants who are shy and nervous as they break out of their shells. It’s a fun, supportive program with nice participants and staff.</p>
<p>I just got back from the HOBY SoCal conference earlier this afternoon!
I LOVED IT!!!
I made some great friends, and all of the panelists were truly interested in our futures as leaders, and many offered us their business cards.
It was an amazing experience, and I really believe that it was enlightening. It also really pulls you out of your shell, and I already feel empowered! OUTSTANDING…for those of you who know what I’m talking about… 
I can’t wait to do some more volunteering!
Thanks so very much for your replies!</p>
<p>Thanks, ths2011 for letting us know about your experience. I’m glad you had an OUTSTANDING time! I hope you’ll find ways to put to use soon many of the things that you experienced in HOBY.</p>
<p>Participating in “silly games and songs” creates leadership? Tell that to the Marines.</p>
<p>haha, I definitely will! I’m actually working on my HOBY volunteer application right now! :)</p>
<p>I’m jealous of you. I’m a sophomore and I really wanted to go, but some other kid asked before me and got it instead. I’m sad that I’m going to miss out on all the future HOBY stuff as well. I really love leadership stuff and I feel that an experience like HOBY really would have benefited me. =[</p>
<p>Glad you had a good time, though.</p>
<p>:[ </p>
<p>Have you thought of maybe participating in the People to People program? I don’t know if it is grade-specific, but you still have quite a few other options! Don’t worry! Something great will come along, and who knows, maybe you will have a HOBY-Like experience at a furture leadership seminar!
(hehe, sorry, this was my attempt at being optimistic!)</p>
<p>I wonder where being the Girls State delegate would rank in prestige as compared to HOBY</p>
<p>Both HOBY and Girls State delegate positions would be ranked about the same. Getting a Girl’s State leadership position like governor or lieutenant governor or campaign manager would rank about being simply a HOBY delegate.</p>
<p>NSM-I understand from reliable sources that D was on the short list to go to Girls Nation, but no cigar. She was, however, selected as one of the 18 (out of 500) girls to be in the talent show. She performed her original, published monologue to rave reviews and wangled that little tidbit of info onto her resume…</p>