Boys' State and Service Academies

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milliencruz

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When applying for Service Academies, how important is it to attend Boys' State? Currently, I am starting my application process, and waiting on Summer Seminar dates, however, Boys' State in my area is holding their week the same week as one of the Service Academy's Summer Seminar dates. If I arrange the schedule to attend both, it will put me out of school for three weeks. Just want to know the importance of Boys' State in the application process.
 
When applying for Service Academies, how important is it to attend Boys' State? Currently, I am starting my application process, and waiting on Summer Seminar dates, however, Boys' State in my area is holding their week the same week as one of the Service Academy's Summer Seminar dates. If I arrange the schedule to attend both, it will put me out of school for three weeks. Just want to know the importance of Boys' State in the application process.
 
It's a great opportunity because it supposedly adds points to your whole candidate score, which is a score admissions uses to score applicants' academic, athletic, and extracurricular achievements/activities. Many on this site are adamant that it is an essential part of the process, but it is not necessary that you go IMO. I didn't attend Girl's State and I am still heading to I-Day in June.
 
USNAismyplace said:
It's a great opportunity because it supposedly adds points to your whole candidate score, which is a score admissions uses to score applicants' academic, athletic, and extracurricular achievements/activities. Many on this site are adamant that it is an essential part of the process, but it is not necessary that you go IMO. I didn't attend Girl's State and I am still heading to I-Day in June.
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Congratulations and THANK YOU. This is awesome to know. God Bless!!
 
milliencruz said:
When applying for Service Academies, how important is it to attend Boys' State? Currently, I am starting my application process, and waiting on Summer Seminar dates, however, Boys' State in my area is holding their week the same week as one of the Service Academy's Summer Seminar dates. If I arrange the schedule to attend both, it will put me out of school for three weeks. Just want to know the importance of Boys' State in the application process.
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I cannot stress the importance of attending Boy’s State. It was so fun that I remember it to this day and get the chills when I think about the times my friends there and I played cards at 12:30 after midnight.

Not only is it somewhere where you begin to develop your love for the military and how it operates, but the experiences were astounding and it helps a lot on your application.

I got accepted to both USNASS and USAFASS and it was either i go to Boys State for free or both of them (having to pay of course over one grand plus air fare and miscellaneous expenses). I chose Boys State and never regretted it.

I got accepted to both USNA and USAFA (gojng to USNA) and I credit Boys State for being a big help.

You can always go visit the two schools, but Boys State is a one in a lifetime opportunity that will mean so much more than summer seminar, according to my research and opinions.
 
Mods,

This is a duplicate thread, perhaps this can be merged with the duplicate in the USAFA forum?
 
Boys State is rumored to give you as many points as an Eagle Scout. Not sure if this is true but I heard somewhere. Boys State is great for leadership. If you get into SS and it is the same as Boys State I would contact USNA and see if there is a way to switch weeks or you have a decision to make?
 
Boy's State is not necessary, nor is summer seminar. Boy's State will add points to your Whole Person Score. Summer Seminar will not add points. I'd base any decisions on that knowledge. Have you been accepted to both? I find it hard to believe Boy's State will conflict with school but stranger things have happened. Perhaps you can change the dates on Summer Seminar to avoid missing so much school.
 
sa_applicant2023 said:
milliencruz said:
When applying for Service Academies, how important is it to attend Boys' State? Currently, I am starting my application process, and waiting on Summer Seminar dates, however, Boys' State in my area is holding their week the same week as one of the Service Academy's Summer Seminar dates. If I arrange the schedule to attend both, it will put me out of school for three weeks. Just want to know the importance of Boys' State in the application process.
Click to expand...

I cannot stress the importance of attending Boy’s State. It was so fun that I remember it to this day and get the chills when I think about the times my friends there and I played cards at 12:30 after midnight.

Not only is it somewhere where you begin to develop your love for the military and how it operates, but the experiences were astounding and it helps a lot on your application.

I got accepted to both USNASS and USAFASS and it was either i go to Boys State for free or both of them (having to pay of course over one grand plus air fare and miscellaneous expenses). I chose Boys State and never regretted it.

I got accepted to both USNA and USAFA (gojng to USNA) and I credit Boys State for being a big help.

You can always go visit the two schools, but Boys State is a one in a lifetime opportunity that will mean so much more than summer seminar, according to my research and opinions.
Click to expand...
 
Well, it looks like I will have to make this work. I am sure I will be excused from school, considering this is all considered College Visits. I will have to work with my teachers. I do take 3 AP class tests in May, so that will be out of the way, just have to worry about the other ones. Thanks so much for your responses and input. It was truly helpful. God Bless!!
 
I think this is discussed nearly every year (do a search and you will find several threads, including one started by me). My DS, for scheduling reasons, had to chose between NASS and Boys State. He chose NASS. He loved it and it solidified his desire to attend USNA - a primary purpose of NASS. He did worry that he may have "left points on the table" by not attending Boys State. We'll never know if he did or not. It was a calculated risk on his part. He (not me or DW) made the decision not to go to Boys State in favor of attending NASS. He speculated that, being an Eagle Scout and having substantial and somewhat unique leadership experience in Scouting through NYLT staffing, not attending Boys State would not hurt him too much. But he didn't know who he was competing against in his slates. He got an appointment.

No one will ever know if not going to Boys State will hurt you or not. But attending Boys State is, at a minimum, not going to hurt and will probably help. At the end of the day, you've got to decide.
 
THParent said:
I am still trying to wrap my mind around the statement "I played cards at 12:30 after midnight". ;)
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I stood stone-like at midnight, suspended in my masquerade
I combed my hair till it was just right and commanded the night brigade
I was open to pain and crossed by the rain and I walked on a crooked crutch
I strolled all alone through a fallout zone and come out with my soul untouched . .
 
When we went to a USMA info session at our local university, the person presenting said to prioritize Boys/Girls State over SLE. SLE is a recruiting tool for the academy and not supposed to help your admittance chances. Boys/Girls State is a feather in your cap and can boost your odds of getting an appointment.
 
As a parent of 2 appointees who did not attend Boys/Girls State but did attend NASS I have some thoughts.
Both my kids were captain of spring sports that went until second week of June as they were state contenders so they only had one week as an option for NASS and it was a choice between State and NASS that week. They both were torn and researched on this forum what to do. My thoughts:
If you really feel like you need more info about USNA do NASS.
If you have already decided that USNA is your place, State does sound like both a phenomenal experience and a plus for your application.
If you foresee not being able to that well on the CFA and that you need more time to get great scores I would think about doing State. The CFA is the second day of NASS and I think your squadron leader is more likely to give you positive recs if you do well. While NASS does not give you "points" my DD received a very early LOA with hand written note from the admissions person about her doing a great job at NASS. She was "not a walk on water candidate" according to her BGO prior to this, so I think this was extremely important for her. Both my kids maxed out or nearly maxed all the categories on the CFA. I also feel that they learned a lot at NASS about the career options as Naval officers. Not that you could not learn these options without NASS but I think it helped them with their future interviews when asked the question of what do they plan to do as Naval officers, to go into it in much greater detail. If it had just been about missing school to do both I would consider talking to your teachers/guidance counselor/principal about how to make this happen especially if you will have already taken the AP tests.... then it is a win -win!!!
My kids were not looking at anything besides being a Naval officer. So I can not speak to SLE/AIM/ or whatever USAFA calls theirs!
Best of luck!
 
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