HOBY ALA Scam?

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dlee96

5-Year Member
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I've heard about HOBY on this forum and decided to look it up. So there's going to be a new HOBY Advanced Leadership Academy (fancy name :shake:) around the beginning of March. However, it costs $875 to attend EXCLUDING transportation (air fare, ground fare). I have heard good things about HOBY, but isn't $875 for a "leadership academy" a bit excessive :confused:? I've had thoughts that this might be one of those "Who's Who" and "National Honor Society of High School Scholars" type of deal where you pay money and not get anything out of it. Any thoughts anyboody? :thumb:
 
These types of field trips get discussed on here every so often. Paying to attend an expensive field trip is NOT an example of 'leadership'. They are mostly money making propositions for those who run them regardless of how they market themselves.
 
HOBY has a pretty decent rep. However, there are leadership opportunities for less $$$$$. Boys / Girls State for example is more on merit and less on money.
 
Boys/Girls state or National Honors Society are legitimate programs/activities that involve recognized selection criteria and do count on your application. Things you get invitied to attend through a mass mailing or flimsy 'criteria' are not worth anything when applying to USNA (or most other schools as well).
 
time2 said:
Boys/Girls state or National Honors Society are legitimate programs/activities that involve recognized selection criteria and do count on your application. Things you get invitied to attend through a mass mailing or flimsy 'criteria' are not worth anything when applying to USNA (or most other schools as well).
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Yeah, I'm predetermined for Boys State @ my school and I'm part of NHS, so thanks to ALL who replied for your advice. HOBY ALA is a no go for me :shake:
 
1964BGO said:
You might also consider some of the camps at USNA listed in www.navysports.com.
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My sons (now members of the class of 2013) attended the Naval Academy's baseball camp prior to their junior year in high school.

The name of the camp was actually called the Baseball-Leadership camp.

The speech Coach Kostacopoulos (head baseball coach) gave to the group was, alone, worth the price of admission. The theme, basically, was "Take control over your own destiny. People who love you will always be there to help you. And they will help you. But you are responsible for making things happen in your life." (paraphrased)
 
Information on the ALA

I apologize for the delay in this reply. I had posted a reply earlier but it had URLs included which meant it was rejected.

I am a HOBY alumna and staff person leading the ALA curriculum design.

I guarantee you this is not a scam. HOBY takes youth leadership development very seriously which is why this new program was created.

In regards to your question about the price: we researched over 50 other leadership programs that target upperclass high school students. The $875 price is right in the middle of the range of registration fees charged for said programs. All of them also require participants to provide their own transportation to/from the site unless the program itself is travel or tour-based.

The program is an opportunity for older high school leaders to dig deeper into their understanding of leadership. We are using a book targeted at college students called, Leadership for A Better World: Understanding the Social Change Model of Leadership Development. We will also use the Socially Responsible Leadership Scale (SRLS), a research-based instrument to help participants measure and identify their leadership capabilities. :thumb:

Participants will also be expected to organize and launch a service project back home so the program includes action planning training along with follow up support when they return home to implement their plans. :shake:

I am happy to answer any additional questions you may have.

Joy
 
joylanz said:
In regards to your question about the price: we researched over 50 other leadership programs that target upperclass high school students. The $875 price is right in the middle of the range of registration fees charged for said programs.
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Joy,
why are you targeting "upperclass" high school students?
 
Back to the original question.......paying to attend a seminar (on any number of topics) that you learned about through a mass mailing marketing campaign is NOT an example of leadership and counts for ZERO on your academy application.

In the context of the academy application....they use the term 'leadership' to mean things you have accomplished while in high school. If your parents have the money to enable you to attend a pricey seminar, there is nothing wrong with that, but don't expect that to help you get an appointment.
 
Upperclass= juniors and seniors

Vista123 said:
Joy,
why are you targeting "upperclass" high school students?
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"Upperclass," in academic vernacular, means high school juniors and seniors. It does not refer to socioeconomic status.

We are targeting those students because we already have programs for high school freshman and sophomores.
 
time2 said:
paying to attend a seminar that you learned about through a mass mailing marketing campaign is NOT an example of leadership and counts for ZERO on your academy application.In the context of the academy application....they use the term 'leadership' to mean things you have accomplished while in high school.
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That is an excellent point that I never thought about. Some common definitions that in civilian world have different meaning with regards to the academy application process. For example one might be a minority in the US but they may not be considered a minority for admission purposes. Also because something you attend is called leadership that does not mean it is considered leadership for admission purposes.
 
HOBY ALA is NOT a scam. Buckeye Girls State is.

Hello, I am a senior at my high school and am about to go to ALA this week. Has anyone on this forum actually attended HOBY? Did you know that students going to their local seminar are still required to pay for this leadership program? But, the school usually covers that price.

Now, I have also gone to Buckeye Girls State. Firsthand, I have experienced how terribly this promotes leadership skills. It's politics. That is all it is. In the beginning, you learn about your government. Then, you get to act like a politician. "Act" as a politician. Are all politicians good leaders? No. Did all students at Buckeye Girls State act as good leaders? No. When I attended, people were sneaking out, sending massive nude pictures to their boyfriends. We had ONE person keeping track of 45 people.

HOBY, on the other hand, has a lot more security when it comes to this. You have smaller groups, making it more of a one-on-one experience. You actually learn leadership skills. Guest speakers come in, panelists come in and talk to you and interact with you.

At BGS, none of that happened. There was no one on one experience. Nobody legitimately "cared" about my individual interests. In all reality, it became full of cliques and irresponsible teenage girls who had no interest in the government. HOBY is about how volunteer service can change the world for the better. Buckeye Girls State? That was about politics.
 
If any of you actually new what HOBY was, had done true research regarding HOBY's values, you would understand that HOBY allows students to develop their own ways of leadership. Simply because you pay for this seminar does not correlate with it being false. If a parent chooses to send their student to a parochial school that must be paid, does that mean they are not learning, or are learning false information? No. I wish I wasn't two years too late on this post. But the lack of knowledge and "research" (even though you've said you have done some) is awful.
 
Vista123 said:
HOBY has a pretty decent rep. However, there are leadership opportunities for less $$$$$. Boys / Girls State for example is more on merit and less on money.
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Buckeye Girls State has absolutely nothing to do with merit. Yes, good students are selected for, but it was all a name game through the American Legion. If you knew somebody in the American Legion, you automatically got it. Luckily, only myself and one other girl in my area applied, or else I would not have gotten it.
 
passiionfruit said:
Buckeye Girls State has absolutely nothing to do with merit. Yes, good students are selected for, but it was all a name game through the American Legion. If you knew somebody in the American Legion, you automatically got it. Luckily, only myself and one other girl in my area applied, or else I would not have gotten it.
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I'm sorry you had a bad experience with Girls State, but overall Boys/Girls State is not a scam and is very much a rewarding/learning experience. Remember that each B/G State is run by a local/state group of individuals. It's not unexpected that the quality of the program may be different from state to state, but the essential core of the program is the same. Unfortunately you ended up with a less rewarding experience, and with students who weren't there for the same reasons as you were. However, remember you will experience this also (to some degree) in other areas of your life (SA's, civilian college, jobs, etc.).
 
There is a series of offerings in DC each year by the NSLC. Over 3 times the cost of the program you are discussing. Both of my children were somehow "selected" to attend. Neither did, and I had a hard time explaining to them the true nature and purpose of these symposium/conferences.

They are not scams, but they are extremely overpriced experiences in my opinion.

http://www.nslcleaders.org/youth-leadership-programs/

This link is not intended to be an endorsement for NSLC - Check out the tuition fees!
 
I agree with ca2midwestmom. All the folks that attended Boys State here in Virginia thought it was tremendous. My DS did not apply or even know what Boys State was until after those selected from his school returned and boasted about it.

Initially, I felt that the communication, selection, recommendations was all rigged. Perhaps to a certain extent it was, but ultimately I blamed myself and was disappointed with DS for not knowing about this opportunity.

I can see why a service academy would look favorably on those attending Boys/Girls State. Getting there is maybe half the battle. It shows initiative, support from your school, support from your local American legion, and perhaps a little Machiavellianism.

The process, paths and pitfalls to applying to a Service Academy is an extraordinary education.
 
USCGA, My parents too. I had and still do have a hard time understanding why I couldn't and others could go. Didn't apply or go to state either. 3 yrs after, it does feel good to see I made it without those things. Feels good looking back at the app I put together. At times now I still feel I'm at a disadvantage when those things get discussed again or wanting to do something but hopefully no one will hold it against me.




USCGA_2018 said:
Over 3 times the cost of the program you are discussing. Both of my children were somehow "selected" to attend. Neither did, and I had a hard time explaining to them the true nature and purpose of these symposium/conferences.

They are not scams, but they are extremely overpriced experiences in my opinion.
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