<p>So I've been hearing stories about how getting the rank of Eagle Scouts is really helpful towards getting accepted into universities. I've heard stories ranging from boosted acceptance rates to full-ride scholarships.
I've talked to Ms. Elise Miller at the WUSTL info session and when she visited my school, and she said that although the Eagle title has quite the honor, it is not the only deciding factor within the admissions process. I completely agree with her, but I just want to get a feel for what exactly is the impact of having the title of "Eagle Scout" within my resume.
I'd really like to hear from you guys and see what you all have to say towards this. Is the Eagle title living up to the stories that I've heard, or is it just overblown out of proportion?
If you have any personal experience with this, by all means, do tell. I'd love to hear about your side and how it worked for you.
I personally am an Eagle candidate, and I'd really like to hear how this title helps.</p>
<p>There are LOTS of fairly recent CC threads on this very subject. You should read them and you will get some good info. As the parent of an Eagle Scout whose son is a freshman this year at Cal but who applied to 17 other schools and was accepted to a majority of them (but not the ultra most selective ones), I will say this:</p>
<p>His Eagle Scout status compares favorably to most any other EC where leadership, commitment, longevity, and community service is involved. It looks nice in your resume but it is not a “golden ticket” into the college of your choice. You will still need good stats and OTHER involvement outside the classroom for the more selective schools.</p>
<p>jshain is completely right. That said, it can tip the balance a bit toward a competitive merit award, for example (I think it did for my D at another college, she was a Girl Scout Gold Award recipient, which is similar to Eagle Scout). If your stats aren’t in the range, it isn’t going to get you in. But it is viewed very favorably as an EC.</p>
<p>Thanks, jshain and intparent! Your responses really help shed some new light on this whole matter. It’s rather nice to have an unbiased viewpoint on this for once.
However, going back to what you said, intparent, my stats aren’t exactly comparable to the most recent admissions data for WUSTL. I was willing to take a risk of lowering my GPA in favor of becoming that “well-rounded, diverse student” that colleges look for.
On a side note, I’m currently applying ED, but I’m thinking of switching to RD in order to ease the pressure of time on my master schedule. (BTW, is it even possible to switch once you’ve done the pre-app data sheet for WUSTL?)
For comparison’s sake, here’s my stats. I’d also like to see how I compare to other prospective freshmen.
Asian, Senior
Going to Carnegie Vanguard HS in Houston, TX
Weighted GPA is 4.24
Ranked 26 of 84
Doubled up all 4 years on either math or science courses
AP Scholar with Distinction (2011)
AP Biology - 5 on test (took in 11th grade)
AP Environmental Science - 5 on test (took in 11th grade)
AP English III - 4 on test
AP World History - 4 on test
AP US History - 3 on test
SAT I - 1940
R - 620
M - 720
W - 600
ACT - 31
E - 29
M - 33
R - 31
S - 30
8 on Writing section
Video Club co-founder
Nerfing League founder
Hip-hop dance club member
Red Cross club member
Green club member
Diversity club member
Currently Life Scout (Eagle candidate, just have to finish project and get the BOR)
562 documented volunteer and community service hours
Recreational basketball: ~14hrs/week on average
Multiple awards from school/ECs
2011 Texas Envirothon team member
2011 EnergyQuest team member
2012 Texas Envirothon team member
Recommendations Pretty good, my science teacher (who Ive been a student for all 4 years) knows me really well and says that Im one of her best students. My school counselor knows me too, but not on a personal level.
Essay Uh, Ive been getting a whole lot of mixed critiques for this, so I cant say for sure.
Went to the WUSTL info session in Houston, also attended the college visit for my school. I showed the admissions director my level of interest in this university (Which basically equates to omg, I really really want to go here, its my dream school, I hope I get in), and we contact each other every now and then.
Im planning to do an interview with an alumnus.
No campus visit though. My family doesnt have the time or the resources.</p>
<p>To add what intparent said about “looked upon favorably”… It IS looked upon favorably because, unlike some ECs (extra-curriculars) that might only add a “few” hours, you can log literally HUNDREDS of hours in participation over the course of your high school years (which are really the only ones the college admissions departments care about). In addition to the EC portion of acquiring Eagle rank, there’s the CS (community service) component, which would be the planning and implementation of the Eagle project as well as other smaller events during the scouting period.</p>
<p>Here’s why I think Eagle Scouts are looked upon favorably in the admissions process:</p>
<p>The rank of Eagle Scout is only achieved after completing a (primarily) standardized list of rigorous requirements. These requirements include substantial community service, leadership within the organization and community, as well as many tasks that are meant to help the boy scout gain valuable life skills that may be hard to come by otherwise. Also, less than 5% of boy scouts become Eagle Scouts (only about 50,000 per year). Admissions officers know these things which helps them in evaluating the candidate.</p>
<p>Now let’s say there are two candidates: one is an eagle scout and one volunteers in his community regularly. Now, both of these things are great; however, the admissions officer knows the work required for the eagle scout rank whereas ‘volunteering regularly in the community’ could be as trivial as mowing lawns or as awesome as founding a homeless shelter. Verifiability is the issue here and the BSA is a well-established, well-trusted independent organization.</p>
<p>This is why I believe Eagle Scouts have a slight leg-up in the admissions process. By no means will it guarantee an acceptance; there are many extremely well-qualified applicants who are not Eagle Scouts. However, the fact that the process is standardized and rigorous is helpful to admissions officers deciding between two comparable candidates.</p>
<p>^Which is extremely annoying as some of us are not eligible to be boy scouts… Personally, I didn’t want to be one, and still got into WUSTL, but for those who do want to, but can’t - well, they’re sol.</p>
<p>^True, and this issue is a point of contention outside as well as inside the organization.</p>
<p>I think there is an inverse relationship between the age you receive your eagle scout ranking and the impact it has on your college application process. In our area people have gotten pretty savvy to the importance of eagle scout so they start pretty early. When I say “they” I mean parents. From a time commitment standpoint it is a lot easier to get through all that stuff you have to do if you do it during middle school and parents really push that. There are quite a few 8th and 9th graders that get to that level but, because they were pushed there by their parents, stop after that. I don’t think those kids fare as well as those who continue with the other scouting opportunities that are available after the eagle rank.</p>