Academy Application Question

Se41196

5-Year Member
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Jul 10, 2013
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I noticed that on the Academy Application, the section where you check the boxes of what you are involved in, under Boys State it only wants you to check if you were elected to one of three positions (gov, lt gov, delegate). I assumed there would be a box to check for just attending, for that is an honor of it's own.

Also under the band box it says "section leader/drum major." This was very surprising to me that they include section leader and drum major in the same box. It's like they weigh both of these positions the same. At my school, Drum Major is the leader of all the section leaders and it is a very prestigious position. I know the application is based on a point system so I am surprised both section leader and drum major are not distinguished thoroughly on the application.
 
Your question is....?

I recall proofreading a very extensive resume that my DD submitted with her application. I would imagine you would include those types of activities and explain any differentiations in that resume. There are lots of ways to add value to your application, aside from the check boxes.
 
I noticed that on the Academy Application, the section where you check the boxes of what you are involved in, under Boys State it only wants you to check if you were elected to one of three positions (gov, lt gov, delegate). I assumed there would be a box to check for just attending, for that is an honor of it's own.

Also under the band box it says "section leader/drum major." This was very surprising to me that they include section leader and drum major in the same box. It's like they weigh both of these positions the same. At my school, Drum Major is the leader of all the section leaders and it is a very prestigious position. I know the application is based on a point system so I am surprised both section leader and drum major are not distinguished thoroughly on the application.

When it comes to extra curricular activities, there are "Literally" hundreds of different types of activities an individual could be involved in. As such, when grading such categories, including 1 athletic program to another, the academy uses the "PREGNANCY THEORY". Basically, you ARE or you AREN'T. You can't be "Sort of, kind of, possibly".

So, baseball, football, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, etc... is sports. Captain, whether team, offensive, defensive, etc. is leadership. Class officer, president of a club, etc... they see leadership. Same with section leader, drum leader, etc... is leadership in band. As you said; "AT YOUR SCHOOL"...... Well, what happens when a different school calls it something else, or it isn't "As Prestigious" of a position. The academy can only differentiate so much.

But you bring up a very important observation. Now; imagine how the academy compares schools academically. Some have AP but no IB programs. Some have neither, but they have honor classes. Some have none at all. Some have ALL THREE, but not ALL CLASSES. Some schools weight a gpa and class rank differently if you are in IB or AP classes. Some schools don't weight at all. Some literally have 10 Valedictorians. So in certain categories, like sports and certain activities where there are leadership or involvement levels, the "Pregnancy Theory" works best. You DID or you DIDN'T. They can't simply weight every possible activity differently. It's just not possible. OR FAIR.
 
As to Boys State...

Delegate is what you would mark if you attended.
 
In the Candidate Activities

section of the AFA App, there is a Resume component. DS has looked in App Instructions but can't find if the Resume is to be broken down by year the Activity took place and for how long its been done. Or, should he just list the Activities out in bullet form? I mentioned I could check here. Should he then assume when he puts his Resume together for the MOC Board(s) Activities, they should be noted there in similar fashion also? Thank you.
 
section of the AFA App, there is a Resume component. DS has looked in App Instructions but can't find if the Resume is to be broken down by year the Activity took place and for how long its been done. Or, should he just list the Activities out in bullet form? I mentioned I could check here. Should he then assume when he puts his Resume together for the MOC Board(s) Activities, they should be noted there in similar fashion also? Thank you.

When my DD did her resume, she organized it by year, starting with current activities and leadership in those activities. Even if she participated in the same activity in a prior year, she listed it and put the position she held so that she could demonstrate progression of leadership. it seemed the most straightforward way to document leadership and activities. Her ALO took a look at if for her and gave her good suggestions as well, so you might see if your ALO would be willing to comment. I'm sure there are many ways to organize it so that is is coherent and easy to read.
Her MOC applications asked her to organize it a bit differently -- athletic, academic and other extracurricular achievements in different sections -- so she had to jig around the basis document to address their different formats.
Make sure you don't just use the same format for all if they ask for something different; it doesn't show the kind of attention to detail that is expected.
 
Thank you,

the AFA Resume is done Online on Form 147 Candidate Record, yes? I guess then for the MOC's is all paper Resume's, yes? DS is PA-06, and Recruited IC. He hasn't met the ALO yet, he thinks he's to have more done then contact her.
 
the AFA Resume is done Online on Form 147 Candidate Record, yes? I guess then for the MOC's is all paper Resume's, yes? DS is PA-06, and Recruited IC. He hasn't met the ALO yet, he thinks he's to have more done then contact her.

Yes, and Yes. So my DD did it in a Word document and copied into the Candidate Record, which allowed her to jig around the document for her MOC applications. Good Luck! :smile:
 
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