Eagle Scouts

joe882003

10-Year Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2006
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14
I have always been amazed at the number of Eagle Scouts that get accepted to the Naval Academy, I know that only about 2% of Boy Scouts ever attain the rank and for there to be about 11% in each class is just amazing, does anyone know how many Eagle Scouts apply that don't get accepted? I was telling my mom the statistics and she jokingly asked the question but now i really wonder how many Eagle scouts dont get accepted.
 
You'll be "really wondering" a long time about this question unless you can uncover that nugget in a naval college masters degree thesis. Unlikely.

It's a great accomplishment, for sure, and one of the best when applying. But like virtually every other specific aspect, it's no 1:1 correlation with appointment. Although, while I'm not sure it's true, I once heard this was one of the strongest predictors of success in an academy.

Think "whole person", challenging curricula, good health, physically fit. And cook on the standardized exams.
 
What ever happened to the venturing silver and ranger awards, also the seascout quartermaster award? These awards are both equal to if not surpassing the requirements for the boyscout eagle award and the girlscout gold award. Just a thought to propose.
respectfully,
usnahopeful
 
Well, I earned Eagle in 2002 and was rejected for c/o 2009. I just reapplied for 2010 and now I'm here.

I think there's more recognition for the Venturing and Sea Scout awards in the enlisted ranks. I know that if you have Eagle and enlist, upon graduation from boot, you are advanced to E-2. If you have the Sea Scout Quartermaster and enlist in the Navy or CG, you go up to E-3 automatically. On average, less than 20 earn Quartermaster annually, versus the thousands that earn Eagle.
 
well i dont know what the story is on the rank after bootcamp, i was told by a recruiter he would get me to E-3 right after boot camp so i dunno, ill ask next time i see him.
 
Is there special distinction for those who go beyond earning Eagle?
I am referring to things like palms, assistant scoutmaster, and OA vigil honor.
 
I'm and Eagle Scout with 95 GPA and awesome CFA scores and I did not get accepted last year.

There's more to it all than looking good on paper. hopefully my 2nd ateempt on applying will be successful :)
 
The same for my DS. Eagle Scout, Pilot, Pres of both senior class and beta. Captain on both Baseball and basketball teams, 98.6 GPA and graduated salutatorian. Plus more. But he knows that everything happens for a reason and that Gods timing is perfect. He will be attending MMI as an unsponsored cadet, with the hopes that the second time will be the right time.
 
This off the USNA NESA site

A Few Brief High Points
• Eagle Scouts at USNA have a higher probability of completing the
4-year program than any other demographic group including
o high scholastic indicators (SAT's, etc.)
o a family tradition of military service.
• Eagles begin their Plebe year at approximately 11% of their class and
complete the four years as approximately 14% of their graduating
class. Their rate of attrition is very low!
• On average, Eagles are in the top 17% of their graduating class.
• Because of the above statistics, all four Service Academies send out
"unsolicited application packages" to any Eagle Scouts that join the
roles of NESA National.
 
This could well be "true" as it's been a long-considered significant EC among the SAs. I'm not aware of them sending out "unsolicited application packages."

And it makes sense that the Eagle Scout completion would be a more reliable predictor of completing the SA "race" once inducted.

So issues here, relative to the candidacy process, would seem to include:

1. Allegedly being invited to participate in the candidate process (Anyone(s) verify this?);
2. Being given credit/points in the EC portion of the whole person/scholastic qualification process. Some have said it is equivalent credit to Boys State;
3. Beyond receiving points, there is no special consideration for appointment given to Eagle Scouts;
4. IF an appointment is accepted, the likelihood of completion is higher.

It would seem the key issues relative to the candidacy process would be #1 and #3. Can anyone verify #1? I've never heard this one before. Eagle Scouting is a tremendous achievement and clearly a meaningful contributor to candidates. Perhaps it merits emphasizing however that beyond the points contributed, it is not a "magic bullet" or path to appointment. It is a significant contributor.

NESA's stats are impressive and worth noting. However, they imply that Eagle Scouts may have some special, implicit advantage in receiving appointment. There is no evidence of this. In fact, it may well be that successful Eagle Scouting is symptomatic (not causal) of a higher degree of success, i.e. Eagle Scouts BECOME Eagle Scouts because they are focused on appointment to SAs. And if one wanted to play the game of cost/benefit considerations, it might be argued (I am not, btw, contending this is true) that it is a very costly, high risk activity, i.e. those many hours might have been devoted to other activities carrying equal or more weight in the process. Of course all this presumes, wrongly!, that the reason for pursuing activities is to score WP points rather than because of the love of scouting or alternative activities.


Either way, Eagle Scouting is a great thing, and merits careful analysis of what it means relative to this process of interest-to-candidate-3Qed-to-nominated-to-appointed-to-commissioned. I'd offer that it shows both capacity to persist and prevail on long-range, challenging goals as well as perhaps either or both a pre-determined interest in SAs and/or the type of disciplined, structured process implicit in this form of education. In other words, both "chicken and egg."

From POV of the SAs, what is crystal clear? Academics is THE MOST IMPORTANT factor, and w/in that component, standardized math scores.

And simple answer to navy2016s question, despite what NESA might subtley imply: No
 
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I agree with Whistle Pig's comments. It is true we have chicken and egg happening with this question/topic. For many reasons Eagles have a leg up versus non-Eagles.

navy2016 asked specifically about post-Eagle items like palms, assistant scoutmaster, and OA. With the various SA & ROTC applications, a minority of the applications have asked in yes/no format: Scout?, Life Scout?, Eagle Scout?, SPL?, JASM?, and ASM?. Never seen anything about palms or OA being asked although via a resume, essay, and remarks sections they could be included there if warranted and appropriate.

As said on these boards frequently, it's quality over quantity on ECs and leadership. Few Eagles get Palms and few Eagles become ASMs/leaders while in HS so those could help. However, if the admissions rep is familiar with Scouting they would know what level of effort is needed for a palm or to become an ASM and for ASM you need to fill out an application and get the Troop leader to sign it - that's it. It would be far more valuable to state what you have done AS an ASM rather than just state you are one.
 
I agree with Whistle Pig's comments. It is true we have chicken and egg happening with this question/topic. For many reasons Eagles have a leg up versus non-Eagles.

navy2016 asked specifically about post-Eagle items like palms, assistant scoutmaster, and OA. With the various SA & ROTC applications, a minority of the applications have asked in yes/no format: Scout?, Life Scout?, Eagle Scout?, SPL?, JASM?, and ASM?. Never seen anything about palms or OA being asked although via a resume, essay, and remarks sections they could be included there if warranted and appropriate.

As said on these boards frequently, it's quality over quantity on ECs and leadership. Few Eagles get Palms and few Eagles become ASMs/leaders while in HS so those could help. However, if the admissions rep is familiar with Scouting they would know what level of effort is needed for a palm or to become an ASM and for ASM you need to fill out an application and get the Troop leader to sign it - that's it. It would be far more valuable to state what you have done AS an ASM rather than just state you are one.

Thanks for the clarification.
With scouting, it will probably take someone at least four years to get to Eagle (It took me about 5.5 years). I have known people that earn varsity letters doing a sport within two or three years. In many clubs and organizations, you can run for positions in your first or second year.If I remembered correctly, you have to serve in leadership positions for 6 months per rank to advance for the ranks of Star, Life, and Eagle.

From personal experience, I did by far more work to be tapped out for Vigil in OA than earning Eagle. I guess I can explain this during my interviews since OA is a part of scouting that is probably not as well known.

Getting the rank itself really is not that hard but rather a test of time commitment, will, and balancing between schoolwork, and sports, other clubs/organizations. In my area, cars and girlfriends are often cited by scoutmasters as the factors that keep scouts from earning Eagle.
 
...Getting the rank itself really is not that hard but rather a test of time commitment, will, and balancing between schoolwork, and sports, other clubs/organizations. In my area, cars and girlfriends are often cited by scoutmasters as the factors that keep scouts from earning Eagle.

Don't underestimate the value nor the appreciation of USNA admissions folks for the quality of diligence, commitment, focus, staying the course, long-haul trucking, personal development, and many more cause and effect components essential to becoming an Eagle Scout. Last I looked, one need not be a certified brain surgeon to play football, play the bass drum, or mud-wrestle either. Even or perhaps especially at D I levels! :eek::bang::hammer:

Intelligence comes in many forms. And at least in its academic form, not all professors might attempt to persuade us. IQ is often overrated.:rolleyes::cool:
 
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