Scouts after Eagle?

[Charlie W]

Current HS Sophomore here planning to apply to USMA next year. I'm in Scouts and close to earning Eagle, and I was wondering about how much weight WP and the SA's in general give to advancement after earning ones Eagle Scout- for those familiar, things like Eagle Palms, continued leadership in my Troop, or Order of the Arrow participation. Would anything past Eagle Scout on my application be viewed as basically equivalent to it?

I'm planning to stay with my Troop and continue to give leadership to younger Scouts (possibly as a JASM) regardless, I'm just wondering the appropriate level of focus to give it and whether the extracurricular side of my application would be improved more by focusing more of my efforts elsewhere.

 

[Meowspike13]

Get your Eagle Scout rank!!! Even outside of applying for SAs and ROTC, it has helped me a lot with my college admissions for UCs, CSUs, community college, jobs, and more. Besides mentioning if you get your Eagle Scout, be sure to put if you were an SPL, ASPL, member of Order of the Arrow, etc. It has also given me an edge since I never participated in ROTC in HS; as showing leadership outside of ROTC to some sort of equivalent is valuable (in my opinion).

 

[Frigga]

My son's an Eagle. He has one palm. AFTER you earn Eagle there is no advantage per se to achieving palms though it may show some degree of added commitment and I wouldn't discourage it if you have time and interest. Taking on more leadership roles and more service on your journey to Eagle and after will add to your competitive package.

 

[Allectus]

Scoutmaster and parent of a plebe here. Order of the Arrow offers leadership positions beyond the troop at the Chapter and Lodge level. These can be meaningful and entail greater responsibility. See if you can obtain such leadership. Our Lodge has about a thousand members and a budget of about $40,000 and needs good Scouts to conduct the business of the Lodge. These positions would be relevant to your application And shows further leadership responsibility beyond the troop level.

You may also look at the class profile and see what West Point lists as significant activities And what may interest you.
DS saw class officer as an activity on the WP class profile and felt he could be elected class president his Sr year. He set his sights on running and campaigned smartly and was elected, thus adding a significant position beyond his scouting leadership.

Definitely seek out Boys State as there are specific application points for this activity.

You are wise to be thinking ahead. Hope this post helped. Good luck to you!

 

[SA2026hopeful]

Current HS Sophomore here planning to apply to USMA next year. I'm in Scouts and close to earning Eagle, and I was wondering about how much weight WP and the SA's in general give to advancement after earning ones Eagle Scout- for those familiar, things like Eagle Palms, continued leadership in my Troop, or Order of the Arrow participation. Would anything past Eagle Scout on my application be viewed as basically equivalent to it?

I'm planning to stay with my Troop and continue to give leadership to younger Scouts (possibly as a JASM) regardless, I'm just wondering the appropriate level of focus to give it and whether the extracurricular side of my application would be improved more by focusing more of my efforts elsewhere.

All SA admissions looks favorably upon Eagle Scouts. I am an Eagle Scout and was offered an appointment to USMA and USAFA. After speaking with several admissions counselors, they all said Eagle Scouts stand out in their eyes because of the commitment and leadership that you gain throughout the journey.

 

[josh876]

Try running for SPL if you haven’t done that already, and if you have you could even do it again if your troop allows. JASM is a good option too.

 

[USMAROTCFamily]

I think it is great to stay in Scouts after achieving the Eagle rank. I think you should look for JASM opportunities or opportunities to lead Treks at Philmont or equivalent. Personally, i don't think you should focus on getting additional merit badges, but more on true leadership/mentoring opportunities.

 

[DrMom]

Get your Eagle. Take a JASM position and see if you can go to Philmont--it will give you good leadership experience to talk about in your essays for West Point. Don't worry about merit badges or palms. It is ok to give guidance to junior scouts.

 

[ProudMom7]

Agree with some of the above:
- Definitely get Eagle rank
- Any other troop leadership you haven't done (SPL, etc..)
- Volunteer to assist others in your troop on their Eagle Projects
- Do the work and scheduling required to do things like a Merit Badge day for your troop - where you (individually) do the work to reach out to people in the community who might be willing to help scouts earn some of the harder/more unique badges.
- Go to Philmont and serve as a Crew Leader if you can. For my son's troop this meant he was in charge of planning prep hikes ahead of time, getting everything together, and then leading his crew during their time at Philmont.
- If you happen to turn 18 during your senior year, you can take the training to continue serving your troop in an "adult" capacity as an Assistant Scout Master. My son turned 18 early in his senior year so the fact that he immediately switched to an Assistant Scout Master was good for applications. He is not at an SA, and he continued to serve as an Assistant Scout Master while home on breaks.

 

[NavyHoops]

If you enjoy Scouts, then stay with them after Eagle. If you are concerned about your SA apps, focus on leadership opportunities with Scouts as that will help with your app and your interviews. There is a lot to say about giving back. Also, do what you enjoy. Life is short.

 

[retiredradar]

DS ('24 at USNA) got his Eagle at 14 and stayed, earning 73 merit badges. He was OA Chief for 2 years and earned Quartermaster in Sea Scouts at 17. If you enjoy it, stay and get more leadership. Colleges in general like to see devotion to Extracurriculars you enjoy rather than a year in other activities just to fill up the application.

 

[Charlie W]

Thank you all for your advice! I'm in the final stages of planning my Eagle Project, just fighting through the bureaucracy... Philmont is definitely on my radar and I'm planning on attending some leadership schools such as NYLT or NAYLE in the next year or two. I may also look into positions in OA, although my Troop has unfortunately never been particularly involved with it. I'll definitely stay with my Troop and continue to give leadership, though!

 

[shiner]

TIme is a precious commodity and one you seemingly have less of each day as you approach the admissions cycle and your senior year in High School. As others have mentioned, you have maxed out WCS points for the activity with the achievement of Eagle Scout. Additional pinnacle achievements like Venture Summit or Sea Scout Quartermaster are of great resume value, but questionable admissions point value because the assumption is that there is one check box for admissions to mark complete - Eagle/Gold (or equivalent).

Leadership roles are always great IF YOU CAN DEMONSTRATE IMPACT. Holding a role is different than being a leader. As others have suggested, if you can anchor into a role that allows you to document your impact, that is always beneficial to you as a person but also in your quest for SA admissions.

There are two paths forward - resume building or simply having fun to enjoy the time you have left in High School. Under ideal conditions, the two paths are aligned and you can do both. In my case, they were different (but I still had fun). After earning the rank of Eagle, I served as JASM for my troop (after previously serving as SPL and OA Chapter Chief). I used the opportunity to shift time commitment away from BSA and into CAP. I rose through the ranks of that program and assumed the role of Squadron Commander during my senior year. In a way, it let me max out one program and then pivot into another that allowed for additional point scoring with new available check boxes on the admissions form.

There are many ways to approach this quest, and there is no singular path to success. Someone may work to achieve as many activity check boxes as possible (i.e. Eagle, Boys State, Class President, Varsity athlete, Team Captain...) and then there will be the other successful applicant who tripled down on one activity and demonstrated major impact. The vast majority of grads and parents here would advise to pick the path that interests you the most and roll the dice on admissions. Your appointment is not guaranteed and it would be unfortunate for you to have tried to game the system or follow an ill-defined recipe that did not result in success.

Hindsight and regret stink. By going with your gut and following your passions, you will do your best work and the resume should speak for itself when you are done. In my case, I received the appointment and that was the ultimate goal. I enjoyed my time in High School, but there was a focused mission to achieve as many points as possible because I knew my superpower was not academics or athletics and I needed all the EC points I could garner to elevate the admissions package. Does achieving Eagle complete your personal goals and objectives for your time as a youth in BSA, or are there higher level roles at the district, council, section, or national levels that would be of interest to you? Starting a new activity can be exciting, but you do have an opportunity to springboard your experience and knowledge into serving a larger audience within a program that you are comfortable with. Only you know the answer to this.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

I agree with 'Hoops (as usual !). Palm's really don't add anything to an application; it is the goal setting, achievement, and leadership opportunities represented by earning your Eagle that a Service Academy looks for. There are still many great leadership opportunities after earning your Eagle , both within your Troop, but also in OA or the Council. Giving back to Scouting and serving as a Mentor and Role Model is also important ...
(Eagle Class of 1977 and a Council President).

 

[Charlie W]

TIme is a precious commodity and one you seemingly have less of each day as you approach the admissions cycle and your senior year in High School. As others have mentioned, you have maxed out WCS points for the activity with the achievement of Eagle Scout. Additional pinnacle achievements like Venture Summit or Sea Scout Quartermaster are of great resume value, but questionable admissions point value because the assumption is that there is one check box for admissions to mark complete - Eagle/Gold (or equivalent).

Leadership roles are always great IF YOU CAN DEMONSTRATE IMPACT. Holding a role is different than being a leader. As others have suggested, if you can anchor into a role that allows you to document your impact, that is always beneficial to you as a person but also in your quest for SA admissions.

There are two paths forward - resume building or simply having fun to enjoy the time you have left in High School. Under ideal conditions, the two paths are aligned and you can do both. In my case, they were different (but I still had fun). After earning the rank of Eagle, I served as JASM for my troop (after previously serving as SPL and OA Chapter Chief). I used the opportunity to shift time commitment away from BSA and into CAP. I rose through the ranks of that program and assumed the role of Squadron Commander during my senior year. In a way, it let me max out one program and then pivot into another that allowed for additional point scoring with new available check boxes on the admissions form.

There are many ways to approach this quest, and there is no singular path to success. Someone may work to achieve as many activity check boxes as possible (i.e. Eagle, Boys State, Class President, Varsity athlete, Team Captain...) and then there will be the other successful applicant who tripled down on one activity and demonstrated major impact. The vast majority of grads and parents here would advise to pick the path that interests you the most and roll the dice on admissions. Your appointment is not guaranteed and it would be unfortunate for you to have tried to game the system or follow an ill-defined recipe that did not result in success.

Hindsight and regret stink. By going with your gut and following your passions, you will do your best work and the resume should speak for itself when you are done. In my case, I received the appointment and that was the ultimate goal. I enjoyed my time in High School, but there was a focused mission to achieve as many points as possible because I knew my superpower was not academics or athletics and I needed all the EC points I could garner to elevate the admissions package. Does achieving Eagle complete your personal goals and objectives for your time as a youth in BSA, or are there higher level roles at the district, council, section, or national levels that would be of interest to you? Starting a new activity can be exciting, but you do have an opportunity to springboard your experience and knowledge into serving a larger audience within a program that you are comfortable with. Only you know the answer to this.

Thank you for your perspective on this- I'll definitely keep all of that in mind when the time comes to make my decision.

 

[Herman_Snerd]

All terrific posts above. Proceed to eagle without pause - so many benefits. my uncle and DS are eagles and I'll just share:
1. There are on specific (not all) like AFROTC applications a box you can check for Eagle/ Senior Patrol leadership. So if you apply it could help you. Certainly the eagle plays well for colleges, your SA/ ROTC applications, and even job applications in life. Dads of women my DS has or is now dating really seem impressed by it, too (just sayin). It's sweet and better that kind of relationship than animosity.
2. Beyond eagle and that check the box, or personal fulfillment if you can afford Philmont. that's great. The order of the arrow provided a nice advancement of leadership opportunities for my DS while in HS.
3. The reality is that there are for each of the past six years more than 50,000 eagle scouts now achieving the rank annually on average, so it's perhaps not as distinctive as it once was on the application. So I would round out that great accomplishment with others to strengthen your application - scholar, athlete, leader, civic impact. How do you make a difference in the classroom, community, on the athletic field - how do you lead through change, diversity, etc.
4. OK, just my take, but I've seen a groupings - some who are eagles who soar on in college, SAs/ROTC, astronauts, governors, presidents, corp titans, - awesome potential realized adults. and there are also some who earn the eagle scout as the highlight of their life, and they seem to "retire" on that laurel, name drop being an eagle scout relentlessly, and consider it the same honor as someone who saved 4000 people during the tet offensive or who were in on the raid for OBL. I find it sad. A few of my son's peers are now 21-24 years old, still full time at the unit and all activities, are working at the same jobs they had in HS (asst .bank teller for 13k a year) are on an 8-12 year undergrad plan, and that's the life they enjoy. I'm just saying that it's OK too if you find yourself feeling ready to pull back a little from the unit and to move on vs the same routine? Some do and some don't - That's OK -- you be you. if my DS becomes a Dad then I hope he'll be involved with scouts, but as a young man in his 20s do I want his life revolving around camping with 12 -17 y.o. boys and girls (yes girls are now in "boy" scouts? Honestly I'm glad he's mostly too busy now to still hang on at the same places he did through cub and boy scouts. Fart contests, widdling, and singalongs are fun but honestly I'm glad he's got other adventures he's living with people his own age.

 

[nomad556]

Do everything. Eagle Scout is a very good thing to have on your record, and during the application process there's an extra space to add in notations on each of your activities/positions concerning special achievements/details/recognition. It can only help you, and you'll get to tell the admissions officers all about it.

 

[Don't Give Up the Ship]

Lots of good information above. If you stay in Scouts after Eagle, it should be because you want to-no other reason. Many Eagles just want to get out after obtaining the Eagle rank (I have two sons - both Eagles). One earned multiple palms the other (now at USNA just did the minimum 21 badges and the project-however his leadership was exercised in Sports (Captain of two teams) and starting a Rugby club in HS). If you stay in scouting...do service to help mentor scouts that are struggling or disadvantaged...this can be a great experience and provide opportunities for essays, interview discussions etc. It's all about applied leadership and being able to learn from those experiences. It's not about just getting more "stuff" on your resume. I see many young adults with lots of "stuff" but not that many that can articulate what they have learned from those experiences.

 

[OldRetSWO]

Do everything. Eagle Scout is a very good thing to have on your record, and during the application process there's an extra space to add in notations on each of your activities/positions concerning special achievements/details/recognition. It can only help you, and you'll get to tell the admissions officers all about it.

Not sure of your particular experience level in Service Academy admissions but candidates very very rarely actually talk to admissions officers and instead are speaking to Field Force (USMA) and Congressional interviewers. Generally the typical successful candidate has significant leadership experience in a number of areas, not just scouts. Yes, Eagle Scout IS a good thing to have in your record but you get no "points" for additional palms, badges, etc. Thus the issue becomes whether to stay because you like it a lot or move on to something else to gain additional areas to shine since the "Scouts points" are already maxxed out.

 

[nomad556]

Not sure of your particular experience level in Service Academy admissions but candidates very very rarely actually talk to admissions officers and instead are speaking to Field Force (USMA) and Congressional interviewers. Generally the typical successful candidate has significant leadership experience in a number of areas, not just scouts. Yes, Eagle Scout IS a good thing to have in your record but you get no "points" for additional palms, badges, etc. Thus the issue becomes whether to stay because you like it a lot or move on to something else to gain additional areas to shine since the "Scouts points" are already maxxed out.

I don't think I ever said that candidates speak directly to admissions officers. I was referring to the online application.

I disagree about not getting additional points. I did something similar on my application that had a significant impact on my application.