Boy's State Application Question

DoctorShrinker

DoctorShrinker

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Joined
Sep 12, 2017
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34
Hey, everybody.

So, I'm a Junior in high school. Aspiring to go to USMA or USNA. I've heard a lot that Boy's State is an extremely good thing to put on any resume let alone one for a Military Academy. When I spoke to my guidance counselor, she told me that the process bases itself from the American Legion giving us a list of potential candidates- ones that they think are qualified- and the faculty accepting/reccomending them for an interview. This is contrary to everything I've read or been told before by others. Important to note is that I'm out of central New Jersey (a few miles north of Trenton). What I've gathered & researched is that people are collected by the faculty and their information is sent to the American Legion for consideration. So, how exactly does this work? This also seems contrary, considering I can apply online supposedly?

That brings me to the latter question. Second, since I'm out of New Jersey, I'm hoping to come into the ALJBS (American Legion Jersey Boys State), and they claim to have an application, something I wasn't previously aware of. However, when I attempt to access it, I get an "HTTP Error 500" page on Google Chrome and Internet Explorer, and a blank screen on Mozilla Firefox.

TL;DR: I'm almost uneducated on the idea of Boys State (Specifically ALJBS). Could someone run me through the process for someone really wishing to attend this year (2018)? Any information at all is appreciated.
 
You should try to attend the MD Boys State program next summer. My son attended and thought it was very worthwhile. I think all of the applications are now on-line - no longer paper applications as of last year, at least in our state. My son filled out the on-line application and asked his high school principal to sign the recommendation for him. He then contacted our local American Legion and asked if they would sponsor him. He sent his application to the local Post and he was accepted. If your local Post is not able to sponsor you, find another one in the area that may be willing to sponsor you.

Here is the information on the program:
https://www.legion.org/boysnation/stateabout
Many of the Boys State programs have Facebook pages (such as Maryland) and can have a lot of helpful information.

Good luck to you! By the way....I believe that USMA looks even more favorably upon Boys State than USNA.
 
@MomMD

Appreciations, and thank you kindly. Reading your response, I can assume that you:
1) Fill out application
2) Receive a nomination (signature :P) from school principal/faculty member
3) Ask for a sponsorship from local American Legion post

From there, I guess you interview and then it's a yes or no?

I greatly appreciate your response, by the way. In addition, thanks for the good tidings! I do hope to get a successful nomination to Boys State this summer! :)
 
You are correct. A representative from your school (principal, guidance counselor, etc.) will sign the application to attest to your high character and potential to succeed at Boys State. Once you complete the application, make contact with the individual at your local American Legion Post and let he/she know that you will be mailing a copy of your electronic application. Sponsorship by a AL Post means that it will pay all the costs for you to attend the program - around $400. Even if you do not end up going the SA route, I think Boys State is a valuable program. If you do end up attending, be sure to send a nice thank you note to the Post which was your sponsor. Best of luck to you!
 
@MomMD

What's to entice them to take me over others? Also, what does SA mean?

Sorry to bother you so much, I just appreciate the quick responses. :)
 
@rkv

Hey, thanks man. I admit- I see those sorts of guides on sites and I assume I already know them all. Guess I was incorrect yet again, haha!
 
The process for attending Boy's State varies across the country. I don't believe there is any one set way to do it that applies everywhere. I expect your guidance counselor is giving you accurate information. Nevertheless, this doesn't prevent yo from contacting your local American Legion post and finding out what's involved in your area. Also, even if you don't get to attend under normal processes, you can always ask for the Post to sponsor you anyway. DS attended Boy's State because we contacted the Post and we paid the costs. They were more than happy to then sponsor him at Boy's State. There is always more than one way to skin a cat.
 
DoctorShrinker said:
Hey, everybody.

So, I'm a Junior in high school. Aspiring to go to USMA or USNA. I've heard a lot that Boy's State is an extremely good thing to put on any resume let alone one for a Military Academy. When I spoke to my guidance counselor, she told me that the process bases itself from the American Legion giving us a list of potential candidates- ones that they think are qualified- and the faculty accepting/reccomending them for an interview. This is contrary to everything I've read or been told before by others. Important to note is that I'm out of central New Jersey (a few miles north of Trenton). What I've gathered & researched is that people are collected by the faculty and their information is sent to the American Legion for consideration. So, how exactly does this work? This also seems contrary, considering I can apply online supposedly?

That brings me to the latter question. Second, since I'm out of New Jersey, I'm hoping to come into the ALJBS (American Legion Jersey Boys State), and they claim to have an application, something I wasn't previously aware of. However, when I attempt to access it, I get an "HTTP Error 500" page on Google Chrome and Internet Explorer, and a blank screen on Mozilla Firefox.

TL;DR: I'm almost uneducated on the idea of Boys State (Specifically ALJBS). Could someone run me through the process for someone really wishing to attend this year (2018)? Any information at all is appreciated.
Click to expand...

Fyi, we learned about boys state after the school has already submitted its "suggested applicants" to our local American Legion Post. So my son reached out to ask the local American Legion posts around us, sent them an email stating that he wanted to attend and his desire to attend the USAFA and serve our country. He had three posts respond to him. He responded to our closest one and they interviewed him and they sponsored him to go.
So in our area in CA, the post tells our HS how many kids they well sponsor. The counselor has the American history teachers nominate bits and the post interviews.
If you really want to go, it wouldn't hurt for you to reach out to your local American Legion Post Commander, tell him about yourself, that you want to go to a SA and your desire to attend boys state to gain some leadership skills to add to your SA resume. Be proactive. My son enjoyed his experience last summer
 
I glanced at the "American Legion Jersey Boys State" website and there is extensive info about the program, suggest you start there. Perhaps the application window isn't yet open since the event doesn't take place until June, 2018. As mentioned in prior threads, the 'process' to apply varies by state and in some areas is has become a 'pay to play' type of event. The SELECTION process of who gets to attend is what used to matter. In those places where anyone who pays a fee can attend, it becomes just another paid seminar, no matter how much you actually enjoyed the event.

No one ECA or event will guarantee acceptance to any college much less an SA.

Several older threads on this topic.
 
@time2

I actually did look extensively into it, although I appreciate the advice. Your latter comment that it doesn't take place until June 2018 is actually something of a smack to the head; I didn't even think about that, but it all makes sense now:

Why would the 2018 forms be open if 2018 hasn't even started yet?

I guess I'm just getting too preemptive, but it seems to make sense. Heck, the site still is promoting the 2017 event; suggesting they've yet to even change the site.

Otherwise, @kkg2000 @kinnem I appreciate your comments and aid, as well as yours, @time2 . I'm just a very coordinated person; not having a plan or arriving late to the party bothers me quite a bit. I'm the guy that shows up 15 minutes early to a meeting or event just for the heck of it heh. Arrive 20 minutes early to the cinema, and so forth. I guess I'm just so caught up in the future that I'm not focusing on the present and current situation at all, and I factor @time2 's words especially in the latter fact that "No one ECA or event will guarantee acceptance". Thank you all for your kind words, and thank you for anyone in the future. I think I know how to go about this now- starting with contacting my local American Legion post. :)
 
time2 said:
The SELECTION process of who gets to attend is what used to matter. In those places where anyone who pays a fee can attend, it becomes just another paid seminar, no matter how much you actually enjoyed the event.
Click to expand...
While I don't disagree with the spirit of your comment, the application only asks if you attended. It doesn't ask how you got there.
It's sort of like golf. You only have to write down a score, not draw a picture.
 
^^ Several recent threads on that topic. Admissions people will become wise to the fact it has become a 'pay to play' event in some states without the applicant having to volunteer that information.
 
That's why if you are selected and sponsored by your local AL post... You indicate that on your resume
 
kinnem said:
The process for attending Boy's State varies across the country. I don't believe there is any one set way to do it that applies everywhere. I expect your guidance counselor is giving you accurate information. Nevertheless, this doesn't prevent yo from contacting your local American Legion post and finding out what's involved in your area. Also, even if you don't get to attend under normal processes, you can always ask for the Post to sponsor you anyway. DS attended Boy's State because we contacted the Post and we paid the costs. They were more than happy to then sponsor him at Boy's State. There is always more than one way to skin a cat.
Click to expand...

The above is excellent advice and kudos to you for looking into and reaching out. New Jersey has very strong Boys State program and contacting the local American Legion soon is a good first step. It is free in NJ. We are from Central NJ and DS attended a few years back and loved it. Many of our local politicians, Congressman and Senators have attended over the years. The process doesn't really begin until after the first of year but you are wise to look into now, let the guidance counselor know your interest and occasionally followup. Even if the Local Post finds it cannot provide you a slot they can recommend you to other Posts who may have openings. Working with the local American Legion Post is most important. The guidance Department at any school has many priorities which may not include Boys State (such as support of College Applications with deadlines). You should also know that there is NJ Eisenhower award for West Point which you must go through the school to be nominated. Unfortunately my DS was never told until afterwards even though they knew from beginning of Freshmen year he wanted to attend W.P. Part of life, it is up to you to followup and ask questions, otherwise these opportunities are missed.
 
@1mountaintop

Thank you for your words, that pretty much helps to surmise what I've gathered from the collection of responses.

What exactly is the NJ Eisenhower Award...? Do I need that to get into Boys State and/or West Point or is it a good idea or something? I'm just a bit lost on your mentioning of it.
 
For the previous posts talking about MD Boy state, what was the post the sponsored your son? I've emailed mine but haven't heard any response.
 
Hey I went to NJ Boys State last summer. Had the time of my life there, the staff is great and the activities are so much fun. Look you don't have to be delegate that your school chooses for Boys State. I know a lot of people that asked other Legion Posts outside of their towns for a sponsorship. Also there are ways to self sponsor yourself for around $400.
 
I went to Boy'sState last year and literally went to my local legion post and dropped off a resume. Sure enough, they paid for me to go.
 
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