HOBY IL - Awesome!

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xray328

5-Year Member
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Apr 7, 2015
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Hey guys, my son went to HOBY Illinois this weekend. Totally awesome experience for him. He couldn't say enough good things about it and wants to return as staff next year. I wish I could send him to the World Leadership Conference but at $1875, it's a little out of the budget. Anyway, if you were on the fence about sending your son or daughter I highly recommend it.
 
Why do you think it matters? It's not a sport, it's not an extracurricular - it doesn't appear to be an Award or some type of recognition?

It appears that anyone that pays the fee can attend, and my understanding is USAFA would discount the value of it because it would exclude candidates who lacked the financial resources.

Is it called out on the USAFA Admissions application?
 
HOBY attendees are supposed to be selected by their schools through an application process. Two sophomore's attends per school, ideally the best of their class. The fee is $195 and is usually paid for by the school. It's a similar process for those that attend Boy's/Girls State, except this is for Sophomore's while Boy's State is for Juniors.

Honestly, I don't know how much it matters to the USAFA folks. I think anything that shows you're attending leadership seminars etc can't hurt though. In my son's case he isn't able to participate in school clubs due to sports. His coaches just won't allow it (he's tried). So he's in Civil Air Patrol and HOBY was a recommended summer leadership activity for his soph/junior summer, Boys's State was recommended for his junior/senior summer. He's also attending every encampment he can while taking on increased leadership roles as well as attending cadet leadership academies.

Again, will it matter to admissions one way or another in the end? No idea. I do know that he needs some sort of leadership experience though so we're doing what we can.

There's was talk on here about HOBY and my point of this thread was to confirm that my son had a great experience and highly recommends attending for the experience if nothing else.
 
There are a lot of things I am unfamiliar with including HOBY. If he continues down the path of applying to USAFA, make sure he can articulate to the Liaison Officer that there is a selection process and draw comparisons to Boys State, and why the experience was relevant. Don't assume they will know.
 
^^^^ And even then what matters is how the USAFA views this. While some make think a certain activity is wonderful/amazing, perhaps USAFA doesn't share that same level of enthusiasm. Reminds me of the discussion by those consider band a sport, while the SA's consider it an ECA. What ultimately matters is how the SA views something.
 
It is important to understand what these programs are about. Most are designed to be resume padding, a means by which a student can put something that approximates leadership or experience on a college application. While that is not to say these programs are without value, it is important to understand the context and why this might not be that compelling on a SA application as something where you spent years working at and from that gain leadership experience and credentials.
 
USAFA's application does not "call HOBY out," but USNA's application does. Even though USAFA's application does not, like falconfamily indicated, it is a great place to develop leadership and life skills. I attended HOBY and it is a program that surrounds you with many strong leaders, thus requires attendees to occasionally, and temporarily, become followers. Correct me if I am wrong, but one of BCT's purposes is to accomplish that same thing. So HOBY prepares potential appointees for that part of Basic. Frankly, no extra curriculars should be utilized to build a person's resume because that practice becomes habit and translates to parts of life that are not voluntary. For example, attending an Academy might be used solely as a resume builder. And I think taxpayers would agree that their money is wasted on those students. When do activities stop being resume builders and start being the foundation for a happy life? xray328, I would like to thank you on behalf of future students considering attending HOBY and surrendering a whole week of their valuable summer to do so, for sharing your DS's insight. I received my appointments to USAFA and USNA in December and November; and seeing that one of the enrichments at HOBY CO taught attendees how to fill out a resume, I'd say it is an invaluable experience.
 
USAFACandidate2020 said:
USAFA's application does not "call HOBY out," but USNA's application does. Even though USAFA's application does not, like falconfamily indicated, it is a great place to develop leadership and life skills. I attended HOBY and it is a program that surrounds you with many strong leaders, thus requires attendees to occasionally, and temporarily, become followers. Correct me if I am wrong, but one of BCT's purposes is to accomplish that same thing. So HOBY prepares potential appointees for that part of Basic. Frankly, no extra curriculars should be utilized to build a person's resume because that practice becomes habit and translates to parts of life that are not voluntary. For example, attending an Academy might be used solely as a resume builder. And I think taxpayers would agree that their money is wasted on those students. When do activities stop being resume builders and start being the foundation for a happy life? xray328, I would like to thank you on behalf of future students considering attending HOBY and surrendering a whole week of their valuable summer to do so, for sharing your DS's insight. I received my appointments to USAFA and USNA in December and November; and seeing that one of the enrichments at HOBY CO taught attendees how to fill out a resume, I'd say it is an invaluable experience.
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Glad it was a great experience for you. The OP announced that his son had a great experience at HOBY and thought it was well worth the time. As this is a forum predominantly focused on helping parents/students work through the nomination/appointment process, when someone posts about a program like HOBY my original thoughts: 1. What is it? 2. Does it help further the cause?

And I am personally leery when someone says it costs money. High school students are inundated with offers to be on a 'Whos's Who'; attend this prestigious week long conference for $3995; etc. All come with the implication that this will somehow help you gain entry to the college of your choice.

I don't think any follow-up posts were designed to take shots at HOBY - and again - glad it was a great experience for you - but the follow-up posts were implying a 'Buyer BeWare' because we have seen people get scammed before thinking this program or that program will be a difference maker. (Please note that every follow-up post questioning the program are from people that have been through the nomination/appointment process - many have counseled people through it many many times).

I do have to say that when you compare HOBY to BCT - you have made a great leap (and 'surrendering a whole week of their valuable summer to do so' Really??). And if someone does attend and graduate from USAFA and serves honorably for 5 or 30 years on active duty just to enhance their resume - I don't see how the American taxpayer was shortchanged. I graduated with a lot of folks that saw USAFA as a vehicle to fly. Whether they stayed the entire 20 plus years or not, they served with Honor and many continue to fly the friendly skies.
 
It's actually a weekend program at the level my son attend. My sons normally a shy kid but there was a total transformation during the seminar. There's a very charged welcoming atmosphere that really unlike anything I've seen before. Part of what they focus on is volunteerism and challenge the kids to a 100 hour community service project that he really seems excited to get started. I totally understand what you mean about these scam programs out there just looking to get your money. HOBY isn't one of them. For the $195 (which again the school usually covers) it was well worth it.
 
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