boys state and ss

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I have been accepted to and will be attending both the USAFA SS as well as Boys State in New Jersey. Will both of these help me get into the academy? If so, how much will they help?
 
I have been accepted to and will be attending both the USAFA SS as well as Boys State in New Jersey. Will both of these help me get into the academy? If so, how much will they help?

You should try the search button at the top. There's a lot of topics on this subject. In a short answer; Both will help. Boy's State will "Officially" help you towards your application. Summer Seminar will "Unofficially" help. But applications are all about the "WHOLE PERSON". So there's no way to say how much these will help. It's not like if you complete the following "X" things, you get an appointment. Anyway; search both Boy's State and Summer Seminar, and you'll find a lot of topics that will help with your question.
 
If you had to pick between SS or Boys' State, which would you choose?

Our son is scheduled to go to West Point on Jun 4 through Jun 10.

The following week he is going to USAFA SS.

He found out FRiday, APR 1 that he was nominated to go to Boys' State, but it is the same week that he has SS at WP.

He is honored to have been nominated, but really wants to see both WP and USAFA. What would you do if you were in our shoes?
 
If you had to pick between SS or Boys' State, which would you choose?

Our son is scheduled to go to West Point on Jun 4 through Jun 10.

The following week he is going to USAFA SS.

He found out FRiday, APR 1 that he was nominated to go to Boys' State, but it is the same week that he has SS at WP.

He is honored to have been nominated, but really wants to see both WP and USAFA. What would you do if you were in our shoes?

Boys' State.

My cadet's MALO said that West Point values Boys' State as much as an Eagle badge. It is a wonderful, worthwhile week.
 
Both of my kids went to SS. First my son, he had a wonderful experience. love love loved being at usafa once again. It made little difference in his application and was given ZERO feedback about his application. My daughter loved being there and loved all the leadership activities and the mini basic training. However, she had a cadre who obviously did not want to be there. Wouldn't answer questions and pretty much left her group on their own(top notch quality that one was) Again, she received ZERO feedback on her application. Neither of my kids got in and I wouldn't waste the money if you have been there and pretty much know you are going to apply. IMO
 
My son went to the AFA seminar last summer and loved it! But, from what we learned, the AFA uses this week more as a recruiting tool to introduce kids to the AFA and give them a tiny taste of what it will be like. They don't "keep notes" on the candidates attending, don't record scores on the CFA even though they practice it, etc. I don't think my son learned anything about how he should apply/improve his application to the AFA, but that's not why he went. He just wanted to get a small idea of what it would be like if he got appointed (which he did). I think Boys State would be a better thing to do if you have to make a choice because it is recognized as a wonderful leadership activity and will help on your son's academy application. If your son can't go to an academy's summer seminar, possibly he could visit at some other time, shadow a cadet, etc. to get a feel for it.

Having said that, one place that his attendance at Summer Seminar seemed to matter was for his MOC nomination package. I think 2 of the 3 applications specifically asked if he had been accepted at and attended a seminar at any academy. It was discussed during at least one interview also. How much it really mattered is hard to say, but it was noted.
 
Let me ask this in a different way then- if he is trying to make up his mind about which academy he wants to attend( or prioritize on his nomination process,) is getting to see them in person that valuable? That is really why he wants to go to both USAFA and WP this summer- not so much for his resume.

Until 6 months ago, I had never heard of Boys' State. I understand it is a great honor, but I struggle when someone on here says it can carry the same value as being an Eagle Scout- an accomplishment that takes years of work versus one week. If BS is that important, then I wish they would have done the nominations back in December or January- while the real planning for SLS is taking place.

I truly appreciate the feedback. I think in the end, it simply comes down to what our son needs, as far as experience goes- but the extra perspectives from folks that have been there help too.
 
Flyboy--I get where you are coming from. My son only wanted the AFA, so he didn't have to weigh the merits of West Point vs. AFA etc. I'm sure seeing both would be worthwhile.

Here's a point to consider--if he doesn't do Boys State, what other activities does he have that will show leadership, initiative, commitment, follow-through etc? Has he been in Boy Scouts? Does he have the Eagle ranking? Has he been the captain of his football team (or whatever sport he's been in)? Is he President of Student Council? Has he developed and coordinated a service project at school or church? These are all just examples--I'm not saying one is better than the other and there could be many other possibilities--but in order for him to put forth the best package when he applies he will definitely need something on his resume that can show leadership etc. I agree that for Boys State, lasting only a week, its hard to compare to the years it takes to get an Eagle, but I know it shows a lot if you've been nominated to Boys State (someone obviously thinks your son would be a good candidate) plus they do experience a lot during that week. I would talk to your son's liaison officer at West Point (not sure if that's the right title--its the AFA term) and get his or her opinion. Maybe he/she would recommend doing Boys State and visiting West Point at a different time for an overnight visit. He/she could look at your son's overall resume as it stands right now and recommend a course of action.

Good luck to your son in this process!
 
As has been accurately noted; going to summer seminar will not "Officially" help you get an appointment to the academy. It isn't designed to help you with your application; give you ideas how to improve your application; etc... That wouldn't be fair to the thousands and thousands of others who applied for summer seminar and want to attend the academy. It's a program designed to give the individual a better understanding of the air force academy, and a taste of what they are possibly getting into. To do anything more than that would be totally unfair to those who didn't get selected. Remember; those who got selected were so more based on location than anything. Simply trying to "Spread the wealth" among applicants. There's nothing on your SS application that is "Official". It's all self reported and the academy didn't do a lot of background checking.

Unofficially; as has been noted; people like your representative, senators, and even ALO will be interested if you "Applied, were accepted, and attended". If you DIDN'T APPLY, do you "REALLY" want to go to the academy? If you did apply and were accepted and didn't go; do you "REALLY" want to go to the academy. HOWEVER: They all understand Boy's State. ESPECIALLY your MOC's. If you say you applied to Summer Seminar, were accepted, but had to decline because you were then also "Nominated" for boy's state and had to choose between the two, and boy's state gave you more experience with leadership an government, that is totally understandable, appreciated, and accepted.

There are very few things I'd recommend turning boy's state down for. Very few. Summer seminar isn't one of them. Now; maybe the army cares more about Summer Seminar than actual leadership programs like Boy's State, but this isn't WEST POINT. This is an air force academy forum. If when you have your ALO or MOC interviews, and you work in how you were honored to have been chosen for Summer Seminar, and that you would have LOVED to have been able to spend time in the summer at the academy; but being selected for Boy's State would be of more benefit to you as an academy applicant and as an individual learning leadership and government; your ALO and MOC will totally understand that. Now; if you don't explain to them why you turned SS down, that you're own fault.
 
DS attended Boys State and was able to attend SS at the USAFA. When you fill in your application to the USAFA there is a spot to Check Boys State. Same list has a spot for Eagle Scout. I do not believe Summer Seminar is even on the list! When you look at the class stats for each year; they list the percentages of cadets who have attended Boys State or nation. Summer Seminar is not on the list.

Hands down - go to Boys State. You are nominated by your high school then you have to interview with the American Legion. If you are selected you will have an unbeleivable week. You can always visit West Point and stay overnight which will give you a better feel for what it is like. Even if you choose not to attend an academy - Boys State is highly respected by all colleges. Boys state will help you be a better citizen for life -You will understand your government and how it works MUCH better. It is supported by the american legion but at least in NY; marines are in charge of each group of boys and ds learned some basics in the mini boot camp.
 
The son may be able to do both SS and Alabama Governor's School just by a lucky scheduling break, he comes back from "B" on the 10th and leaves for the Governor's School on the 18th if selected (he's the only one nominated from his school) We'll find out in a couple of days if he's been selected - there are only 75 statewide slots and several hundred high schools so just being nominated is an honor.

Best Regards
 
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