<p>Hi all, </p>
<p>I have just received information on the HOBY (Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership) program, which chooses one delegate from each school and each state sends X representives to a certain "world leadership congress."</p>
<p>is this program well known? is it.... dare I say... good for college? (For HYP colleges/top 10?)</p>
<p>Or is it just another one of those money-seeking organizations that colleges don't care about.</p>
<p>shameful self bump</p>
<p>From what my college counselor said, HOBY is a well-known extracurricular leadership program. Although it may not be as famous as Student Ambassadors or the Global Youth Leadership Conference, many college do respect an alumni of HOBY programs. It looks really good on your applications since itâs about leadership, and thatâs one of the core things an adcom is looking for in applicants</p>
<p>Well, I can only speak for Kentucky, but you only learn how to do hokey cheers. It is terrible if you have been to any other summer camp.</p>
<p>HOBY is competitive leadership program and well respected by colleges. </p>
<p>As you mentioned, normally only one delegate is selected from each school (by administration or HS level competition) to attend the State HOBY conference. So just attending the state conference makes you a âoutstanding leaderâ in many admissions depts. If your one of the 400 or so delegate from the US selected to attend the âworld leadership congressâ, then that is a very high honor. </p>
<p>Being selected to attend HOBY wonât get you into a great college by itself, but it will add a great leadership notation. </p>
<p>Better than any honor is the program itself - most students even at the state level say it changes them in very profound ways. Good Luck</p>
<p>thanks everyone! I was worried that this program was similar to the money-seeking âyouth leadership conferenceâ or whatever it was called, which looked like a total scam.</p>
<p>I will apply for this.</p>
<p>My daughter was nominated by her high school, went to the local Hoby outing and loved it. Her entrance fee was paid for by her high school. Then she went to the DC outing and again had a great time. This time it was on my nickel. She made quite a few good friends from all over the country with whom she has since gotten together.
These are all bright âtype aâsâ from all over the world; how could it be bad? Yes they do learn a bunch of goofy cheers, but they are also exposed to a culture of giving back to the community⊠That part seems to have worn off a little.
As for gaining anything in terms of an admissions advantage Iâll have to get back to you on that. At a recent college fair, some of the people answering questions lit up a little at the HOBY mention, one gal was a HOBY alumni!
I donât think it hurts; itâs certainly better than having them lay around all summer eating potato chips in my bed!</p>
I know that this is a very old post that I am responding to, but I am writing my opinion so other future students who look this up will read. Honestly, as a person of color, I believe that this was not worth my time. The lack of diversity was huge, and I believe that this organization could and should do better. The content was great, but I felt that there was a lot lacking. There wasnât much that could connect to me and my background.