will quitting BSA affect my application

Bennett611

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Feb 3, 2020
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I am a sophomore in high school and I quit scouts last year. I held the rank of first class.I was wondering if USNA would like that I had scouting experience or if they will look at it negatively because I quit. If anyone knows anything about this it would be extremely helpful.
 
I think if there's a good reason as to why you quit, then talk about it. If not, you may want to omit it from your application. There's no telling for sure how admissions will feel about it. On the application, it asks if you participated in BSA and then if you got your Eagle.
 
my understanding not obtaining the top achievement in an organization like BSA is definitely a negative - will it rule you out, no especially if you have something like being a desirable athlete or demographic but it's not going to help
 
I'm a big supporter of Scouting, but frankly I don't think it helps you or hurts you if you tried it out , decided it wasn't for you and moved on and were engaged and succeeded in other extracurriculars. That said, unless the application specifically asks, you can avoid the issue by simply not reporting that you were involved in Scouting at all.

Achieving Eagle Scout will definitely help....for those that are on the edge and running up to the deadline to earn Eagle, I always tell them that 30 years from now, no one will care that you were a Life Scout, but an Eagle is forever.

That said, you don't need to be an Eagle to benefit from the Scouting program -- a lot of good skills, leadership opportunities and morale development occur well before Eagle. For those that are reluctant to launch down the Scouting path because they don't know whether they want to make the commitment necessary to earn your Eagle, I would encourage them to give it a shot , including at least one trip to Summer Camp, and who knows where it will lead you !
 
I'm also a big supporter. I still sit on monthly Eagle Boards of Review and volunteer with my DS' Troop, even though he aged out a few years ago.

Only 4% of Scouts attain Eagle Rank. Dropping out of Scouting won't hurt you a bit. Having the Rank of Eagle may make a bit of a positive difference in Admissions (no one really knows how much that is, however), but if you tried it and it isn't for you, don't sweat it. It won't make or break your application. Excel in other areas. Put your best foot forward and let the chips fall as they may.
 
my understanding not obtaining the top achievement in an organization like BSA is definitely a negative
Not True. I have had quite a few candidates over the years who had been scouts at some point but were not Eagles. A non-Eagle should probably not spend a lot of time talking about scouting but provided that they have other significant leadership "stuff", it is not an issue.
 
Scouting is not for everyone. Some troops are not good. I had a great Scouting experience as a kid and my two younger boys thrived. But if it’s not your thing, find something that is.
 
My DS was in scouting for a couple of years age 12-14 and got out when the church that was our sponsor dropped the troop over the changes that were being made. I don't think his time in BSA had any impact on his application one way or the other.

Eagle helps but so does Boy's State, being captain of your sports team, being President of a club in High School, etc, etc,

SA's are looking for well-rounded candidates who demonstrate leadership. Where you get that leadership is up to you and it should be driven by what you have a passion for.
 
I am a incoming plebe and Eagle scout, from a purely scout to scout level, I urge you to go back and grind it out. I have many friends who aged out and legitimately months after their 18th bday have texted me saying they wished they stuck through it. On another note, my parents both knew people on the Admissions Board (albeit in the early 2000's) and everyone of them said Eagle was a big deal. After all, it shows a long term commitment to something (what they want) and leadership (also what they want). In an admissions competition where everyone has great grades, athletics, EC's, you want all the chips in your favor. Go get it man it is still achievable. Good luck!
 
People get tired/lose interest in activities. It can happen at 16 or 60. Continuing something voluntary that no longer interests you is rarely a good plan. "Grinding it out" is necessary in some situations (like when you're earning a paycheck), but personally I don't think it's valuable with an ECA or sport.

I've met with quite a few scouts who earned Eagle. Some seem highly motivated, love scouting, are excited about their Eagle project. Others . . . it appears to me that they finished just to finish. The project was something to check a box. So, yeah, they get the credit but was it really the best us of their time?

I suggest you start by asking yourself why you're quitting. Does it take time away from something you enjoy more or a new-found interest? Do you no longer enjoy the activities? Are you burned out? Has the organization changed (new scout leader, your friends have left)? Make sure it's a "good" reason -- something that makes sense and that you could readily explain if asked.

Then ask yourself what you plan to do with the time you used to spend on scouting? It should be something equally or more productive. You've found a new activity or want to focus more on another activity. You're taking a leadership role in another activity that will take a lot of time. You are dedicating more time to a sport or joining another sport. You're starting a job during the school year.

Reasons that USUALLY aren't good . . . "I want to focus more on academics." Focusing on academics is good, but mids have to do that and a LOT more. Thus, USNA wants to see that you can do well in school and also be active outside of the classroom. Obviously, if you're struggling academically b/c you're spending SO much time on scouting, it may make sense to re-evaluate. "Studying for the ACT/SAT" -- again, good idea, but spending more than an hour per day will be counterproductive. You should be able to do that and scouting.

Bottom line . . . as with most things you're considering quitting -- be sure you're going TO something, not just leaving something.
 
My youngest son is a sophomore in HS and a Scout. He cannot be in military service because of a medical condition so that is not his motivation for being in Scouting. This is a hard time right now for traditional Scouting activities. Our Council has a ban on all in-person activities but we do zoom troop meetings and the older scouts are showing great inventiveness making videos of things like Tote’m Chip for the new scouts. Nevertheless, our Philmont trip is cancelled (we were cancelled in 2018 because of the fires so my youngest probably will never get to experience Philmont).

The ranks beyond First Class focus on merit badges and service projects - a very different approach from the tenderfoot thru 1st Class experience. I agree with others that you should honestly ask yourself why you are quitting. If HS athletics is all consuming and you are interested in CAP or something like that, you may have a point. But if you’re not jamming every moment of your young life with opportunities to grow, you are another “wasting youth on the young”, to paraphrase Mark Twain.

Not all troops function as they should, especially in terms of being successfully youth-led. Check with your District contact and ask which troops have it together. Believe me, they know! They can get you into a well-functioning troop that has the critical mass, good adult leadership and does lots of stuff. Scouting is not everyone’s cup of tea but problems are typically not with the program but with the unit execution.
 
I only chime in when I think I have enough experience or knowledge to add to the conversation.

I am an Eagle Scout. Proud of it.

Both my sons tried scouting. My oldest made it to 2d Class, and lost interest. Yes, he was very interested in sports, but truthfully, that is not why he left scouting (I don't like the term 'quit' in this situation. He left...). He just wasn't interested. He did not include scouting in his application. He received an LOA in August before his senior year, without having any reference to scouting on his application.

I think every group, activity, sport, volunteering, etc that you are part of should be based on interest only. I do not like the idea of 'padding' a resume. Because in the end, you are being evaluated on your 'whole person.' You need to present to admissions who you really are as a whole person. You want to be honest with them, and more importantly, to yourself. If you are truly not interested in being a boy scout, do you really want to commit that much time to it, for the sake of a chance to bump you up in your score?

And back to your original question... You never asked if you should rejoin scouting. You asked if you should include it on your application. FWIW, my son did not. Good luck to you!
 
Nevertheless, our Philmont trip is cancelled (we were cancelled in 2018 because of the fires so my youngest probably will never get to experience Philmont).

If your son is in the Order of the Arrow look at th OA High Adventure options. They are great experiences at all the high adventure bases for age 16-20 and are a fraction of the costs of going with a council contingent.


 
Nevertheless, our Philmont trip is cancelled (we were cancelled in 2018 because of the fires so my youngest probably will never get to experience Philmont).

Philmont has said that they will waive the leadership /scout quota through 2022. (4 leaders max per crew) So, an 18/19 year old can still go as an extra adult.
 
Join Sea Scouts BSA (seascout.org) and get both Eagle and Quartermaster. Because you are already first class, you can achieve both ranks with the Sea Scout Ship.

It will put you on boats and give you a chance to develop leadership skills.

PS - both the USNA Offshore Sailing coach and one of the chaplains at the chapel were Sea Scouts
 
PS - both the USNA Offshore Sailing coach and one of the chaplains at the chapel were Sea Scouts
Great intel - didn't know that. DS is wrapping up QM now before graduation.
 
Philmont has said that they will waive the leadership /scout quota through 2022. (4 leaders max per crew) So, an 18/19 year old can still go as an extra adult.

I know. But my son will be doing other things and I am already over 60 so I think my hiking days are limited.
 
One of my true regrets is not going back to Philmont as an Adult. I went right I after I earned Eagle Scout, at 14 or 15, I was youngest in my trek. It was an amazing experience, but I will admit now (a long time later), that I spent alot of time cold and afraid. I often wonder what it would be like to go back as an adult, with modern gear (down, nice tents, gore tex, etc).

I had daughters, so never got back into Scouting after the Navy, until a few years ago. I am active at the Council Board level, and it has been very rewarding, giving something back to the organization that, probably more than any other factor, helped me get into USNA. I was a kid that moved a few times in HS, and the one constant that I had, was Boy Scouts.

Yes, I am a big fan and supporter of Scouting and what it does, and am living an guiding my Council through some rough waters, including both the Bankruptcy and COVID. These are tough times, but its a great program and will come through stronger !
 
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