Will Civil Air Patrol look good on my application?

Obviously at the interview I'm not going to tell the dude that I joined Boy Scouts so I could put it on my resume, so I don't see how that would be a huge issue.

I don't think "the dude" will appreciate being lied to. Probably not the best idea considering he will have a hand in whether or not you will receive a nomination.
 
IOWS = in other words
SA = Service Academy
WCS = Whole Candidate Score (highest score on a slate wins the appointment....caveat principal)

I am not saying it will be detrimental. I am saying those reviewing you records will probably see it like the posters here....padding your resume.
~ They like to see a long term commitment. Your peers that have Boy Scouts will most likely either be an Eagle Scout or up for it....you won't be even close. They will see it for what its worth....again PADDING!
 
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A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.

If you're accepted into the Academy based on a lie, how can your classmates trust you to live by this most important ideal?

As for the studying for ACT/SAT.. The main benefit of these standardized tests are for college admissions. The main benefit of Scouting is not a box on an application. Scouting teaches brotherhood, leadership, and life skills and values. Being able to write BSA on a résumé or application is for a young man who has put several years and countless hours becoming a better young man.
 
I want to get into a service academy and I am willing do whatever it takes to get in(excluding things like cheating and things of that nature). Not going to sugarcoat anything. People study for the SAT to get a higher score to pad their resume, is something wrong with this?
Bad logic.

Candidates should do their best in every aspect regardless if they get a cookie for doing it. Studying for the ACT/SAT and practicing the CFA to get the best score shows commitment to keep trying.

Joining scouts for a month just to check a box on a sheet is BS.

Now that's sugar free.
I don't see any difference, I study for the SAT when I honestly don't give one (explicative) about 99% of the stuff I am studying. I don't care about what the word draconian means because it has no useful application outside of the SAT, but I study what it means because it will improve my chances of getting a high score on the SAT. I study just so I can put a higher number in a box on an application. If the SAT didn't matter and was completely meaningless test, would most cadets study for it? No. Why? Because there wouldn't be a "cookie" for doing so.

So I guess doing something you don't care about (studying for the SAT) just so you can put a higher number in a box is ok, but doing something you don't care about (scouts) just so you can check a box is a big no-no.

I don't plan on joining scouts for a month, I will do it till graduation if I do end up joining.
That's a rather draconian statement. Perhaps the difference between the SAT and Boy Scouts is that one is a required check box and the other is optional. In any case, I think you're making a mistake of going for quantity instead of quality. I think the nom committees will detect the padding. To answer their questions dishonestly would not be ethical and in my opinion disqualifies you from being an officer. Of course it's not too late to change your approach.
 
Obviously at the interview I'm not going to tell the dude that I joined Boy Scouts so I could put it on my resume, so I don't see how that would be a huge issue.

I don't think "the dude" will appreciate being lied to. Probably not the best idea considering he will have a hand in whether or not you will receive a nomination.
I wouldn't lie, I would answer it in a way that wouldn't make me look bad.

"What made you decide to join boy scouts?"

"I thought it would be beneficial to me and help me become a better person."

I didn't lie by answering that and I wouldn't look awful. Boy scouts helps me get into the academy which is beneficial to me, and I honestly believe that being at the academy will make me a better person.

"Why did you join boy scouts at such a late age?"

"I wasn't aware of all of the great things that could result from being a scout."

Again, I didn't lie, and I didn't say "I wanted to put it on my resume."
 
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A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.

If you're accepted into the Academy based on a lie, how can your classmates trust you to live by this most important ideal?

As for the studying for ACT/SAT.. The main benefit of these standardized tests are for college admissions. The main benefit of Scouting is not a box on an application. Scouting teaches brotherhood, leadership, and life skills and values. Being able to write BSA on a résumé or application is for a young man who has put several years and countless hours becoming a better young man.
I never said I was going to lie and I don't intend on lying. You don't seem to be aiming to help me(Your first post was kind of a jeer, the rest of them have been quite attacking as well imo), you seem to just want to insult me. You also don't seem to understand a lot of the things I am trying to say, so I would really appreciate it if you stopped replying to this thread. I apologize if those were not your actual intentions, that's just the way it came off to me. Thank you.
 
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I want to get into a service academy and I am willing do whatever it takes to get in(excluding things like cheating and things of that nature). Not going to sugarcoat anything. People study for the SAT to get a higher score to pad their resume, is something wrong with this?
Bad logic.

Candidates should do their best in every aspect regardless if they get a cookie for doing it. Studying for the ACT/SAT and practicing the CFA to get the best score shows commitment to keep trying.

Joining scouts for a month just to check a box on a sheet is BS.

Now that's sugar free.
I don't see any difference, I study for the SAT when I honestly don't give one (explicative) about 99% of the stuff I am studying. I don't care about what the word draconian means because it has no useful application outside of the SAT, but I study what it means because it will improve my chances of getting a high score on the SAT. I study just so I can put a higher number in a box on an application. If the SAT didn't matter and was completely meaningless test, would most cadets study for it? No. Why? Because there wouldn't be a "cookie" for doing so.

So I guess doing something you don't care about (studying for the SAT) just so you can put a higher number in a box is ok, but doing something you don't care about (scouts) just so you can check a box is a big no-no.

I don't plan on joining scouts for a month, I will do it till graduation if I do end up joining.
That's a rather draconian statement. Perhaps the difference between the SAT and Boy Scouts is that one is a required check box and the other is optional. In any case, I think you're making a mistake of going for quantity instead of quality. I think the nom committees will detect the padding. To answer their questions dishonestly would not be ethical and in my opinion disqualifies you from being an officer. Of course it's not too late to change your approach.
You make a fair point, BSA is optional and the SAT is required. I can see your point of view and I respect it but I still believe what I said is true. I'm a fairly stubborn person so there isn't really a point in arguing about it. I don't intend on answering questions dishonestly, I intend on answering questions in ways that don't make me look terrible.

I still believe that participating in BSA will be beneficial to me so I still intend on joining it.
 
Regardless of whether or not you are lying to the admissions board, I think what most people are trying to say is that it's not worth joining BSA for one year unless you have a genuine interest in becoming a boy scout. It will be of little to no benefit in your application and will not be enjoyable for you or others in your troop if you do it for the wrong reasons. West Point reviews thousands of applications per year and will recognize this as a late attempt to fluff up your resume.
 
Regardless of whether or not you are lying to the admissions board, I think what most people are trying to say is that it's not worth joining BSA for one year unless you have a genuine interest in becoming a boy scout. It will be of little to no benefit in your application and will not be enjoyable for you or others in your troop if you do it for the wrong reasons. West Point reviews thousands of applications per year and will recognize this as a late attempt to fluff up your resume.
I will consider the input I have been given here, and I appreciate all of it. But BSA doesn't really take up very much time, so even if it barely helps my application it is worth it in my opinion.

Quick Question: Would Boy's State help fill my lack of EC's while not looking like a resume padder? How about getting a job?(I currently have minor interest in both of these activities currently, and would rather do them than boy scouts, but if they both greatly boosted my resume I would DEFINITELY take a stab at both)
 
IOWS = in other words
SA = Service Academy
WCS = Whole Candidate Score (highest score on a slate wins the appointment....caveat principal)

I am not saying it will be detrimental. I am saying those reviewing you records will probably see it like the posters here....padding your resume.
~ They like to see a long term commitment. Your peers that have Boy Scouts will most likely either be an Eagle Scout or up for it....you won't be even close. They will see it for what its worth....again PADDING!
Is there like a chart I can look at for this "Whole Candidate Score" that tells me how valuable everything is?
 
Boys State is probably your best bet at a solid extra-curricular. Also, if there is an FBLA chapter at your school I would recommend that. Many juniors and seniors go to the state competition each year to compete. At my school it wasn't difficult to join and if you do well in competition that could definitely be something to put on an application.
 
Boys State is probably your best bet at a solid extra-curricular. Also, if there is an FBLA chapter at your school I would recommend that. Many juniors and seniors go to the state competition each year to compete. At my school it wasn't difficult to join and if you do well in competition that could definitely be something to put on an application.
I don't believe that my school does have that program unfortunately, is there a way I can join it outside of school?
 
Boys State would not appear to be padding since it's a one time only thing. I'm sure you would also learn something there. There is no chart for the WCS. It's a closely guarded secret. I'm not even sure the President has been briefed on it, as it's strictly need to know. :) The rumor mill says Boys State is worth as much as BSA.... but then who really knows?
 
There is no one process fits all when it comes to Boys State. In some areas of the country schools have competitions to pick candidates. In our area, schools do not participate. We contacted the local American Legion chapter and requested they sponsor our son while we would pay the costs. He was the only Boys State attendee from our area. He gave a short talk about his experiences there at the local American Legion post. One of the vets there gave him his opening line.... "When I first heard about Boys State and Girls State, I was really looking forward to attending Girls State!" :D
 
Boys State would not appear to be padding since it's a one time only thing. I'm sure you would also learn something there. There is no chart for the WCS. It's a closely guarded secret. I'm not even sure the President has been briefed on it, as it's strictly need to know. :) The rumor mill says Boys State is worth as much as BSA.... but then who really knows?
But since there is a chart, after getting past the nomination stage, would I get "points" for being in Boys Scouts, Civil Air Patrol, etc for one year of participation?

Also, I was teammates with 2 football players that are playing/are going to play for service Academies. One went to West Point and is in his freshman year and had a limited role on Special Teams last year; he played the same position as me, cornerback. The other accepted a football offer from the Naval Academy last week and plays wide receiver. I am not nearly at the level of either of these players, and at just 5'8 I have almost no chance of playing college football and I don't plan on doing so, but would these factors make my varsity letters look more impressive? My school has produced a number of D1 football players in addition to those 2 I just mentioned in the last 2 years while I have been on the team(on varsity).
 
There is no one process fits all when it comes to Boys State. In some areas of the country schools have competitions to pick candidates. In our area, schools do not participate. We contacted the local American Legion chapter and requested they sponsor our son while we would pay the costs. He was the only Boys State attendee from our area. He gave a short talk about his experiences there at the local American Legion post. One of the vets there gave him his opening line.... "When I first heard about Boys State and Girls State, I was really looking forward to attending Girls State!" :D
I heard I can simply pay to go to Boys State, does it look less impressive if my parents "sponsor" me or is it exactly the same?
 
As I recall, the application only asks if you attended.
 
But since there is a chart, after getting past the nomination stage, would I get "points" for being in Boys Scouts, Civil Air Patrol, etc for one year of participation?

Also, I was teammates with 2 football players that are playing/are going to play for service Academies. One went to West Point and is in his freshman year and had a limited role on Special Teams last year; he played the same position as me, cornerback. The other accepted a football offer from the Naval Academy last week and plays wide receiver. I am not nearly at the level of either of these players, and at just 5'8 I have almost no chance of playing college football and I don't plan on doing so, but would these factors make my varsity letters look more impressive? My school has produced a number of D1 football players in addition to those 2 I just mentioned in the last 2 years while I have been on the team(on varsity).
Certainly your friends football experiences would be irrelevant. Yours would probably be relevant if they were trying to recruit you. Nevertheless your letter counts for something. Points are granted for each letter and other activities. What those points are, and how the period of participation might impact them, are known by few, if any, people on this forum.
 
But since there is a chart, after getting past the nomination stage, would I get "points" for being in Boys Scouts, Civil Air Patrol, etc for one year of participation?

Also, I was teammates with 2 football players that are playing/are going to play for service Academies. One went to West Point and is in his freshman year and had a limited role on Special Teams last year; he played the same position as me, cornerback. The other accepted a football offer from the Naval Academy last week and plays wide receiver. I am not nearly at the level of either of these players, and at just 5'8 I have almost no chance of playing college football and I don't plan on doing so, but would these factors make my varsity letters look more impressive? My school has produced a number of D1 football players in addition to those 2 I just mentioned in the last 2 years while I have been on the team(on varsity).
Certainly your friends football experiences would be irrelevant. Yours would probably be relevant if they were trying to recruit you. Nevertheless your letter counts for something. Points are granted for each letter and other activities. What those points are, and how the period of participation might impact them, are known by few, if any, people on this forum.
Alright lol I just thought being on an elite football team might look better(kind of like how it looks better if you played football for University of Alabama instead of Kent State) on my application. Thank you for all the information it was very helpful!
 
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