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How much will being an eagle scout help you? I've done scads (yes, scads) of other stuff with scouts, most of it far more impressive that eagle scout, but I'm worried that colleges won't exactly understand what I did. Should I try to emphasize the eagle scout since they recognize this (but 1 out of 50 scouts have), or take the extra space to try to explain the other things (only 1 out of 1,000 scouts did)?

I'm asking this question because I'm applying to Stanford and they limit your essays to a certain number of lines, and you can only send in 1 sheet of extra paper explaining other things.

By MrBubba on Saturday, November 02, 2002 - 03:02 pm: Edit

Maybe a good way to communicate everything you did in scouting would be to get your scoutmaster or some other adult scouting official to write you a rec. That way you waste no space, and get possibly something that is even more influential. Also, I think being an Eagle Scout might be like a sort of underground secret society kind of thing. So, if one of the admissions people is an Eagle, they just might help you out.

By Dan on Sunday, November 03, 2002 - 11:58 am: Edit

Mr. Bubba-

First of all, being an Eagle Scout is NOT "a sort of underground secret society kind of thing." It's a prestigious award like any other. Secondly, getting a rec from your scoutmaster is a good idea, but may take away the chance for a good rec from a teacher. Remember, you generally want to get 2-3 recs from teachers in a broad range of subjects.

Quakerboy2 - getting a rec from your scoutmaster won't neccesarily equate to an explanation of what you did. Depending on what it was, for instance, Order of the Arrow, or some other high adventure commitment, your scoutmaster might not be able to concur and explain this.

By Kheldar on Monday, November 04, 2002 - 04:56 pm: Edit

Hey man, I'm an eagle too, and you have to kinda admit, some people get all cultish about the whole affair. I can see where someone could call it a secret society.

Here's my advice: write about the other stuff in your essay. If ur that passionate about it, they will see and recognize your devotion, and it would be more impressive, coming from you, in my opinon, then ur SM. This may be only true for me, since my SM is an imbecile :-)

By Dan on Monday, November 04, 2002 - 09:06 pm: Edit

Kheldar, I'm an eagle too... it's no "secret society." Quaker, as long as you express it in your own way, you'll be fine.

By jamescook on Sunday, November 24, 2002 - 10:51 pm: Edit

i agree that the Eagle are like cultists. cause one time i applied to this job and the guy pretty much wasn't so impressed until he found out i was an eagle, then he was like you're hired even though it had nothing to do with computer work. i think people just want to say there an eagle so your impressed and then they feel good when they let you in. personally i don't think Eagle is that super cause look, even i got it!

By Xtreambar (Xtreambar) on Tuesday, November 26, 2002 - 04:52 pm: Edit

What other stuff are you refering to Quakerboy2? I have my Eagle, Vigil, Lodge Vice Chief, 4 years on camp staff and hired next year for an Area Director position, JASM position, and some other stuff.