eagle scout college essay examples

Eagle Scout College Essay Samples And Tips For Admission

One of the most dreaded parts of applying to colleges and universities are the supplemental essays. As an Eagle or Life Scout, you might be wondering how best to write about your Scouting experience — or maybe whether you should even include it at all (You should 🙂 ).

Worry no longer! In this article, we’ll be covering some of the best ways to make your Scouting experience shine on application essays and even the Common App. Plus, I’ve also pulled together some fantastic example essay passages so you can get a feel for the writing style of great college applications.

How Should You Write An Eagle Scout College Application Essay? When writing about your Scouting experience on a college application essay, your main goal should be to tell a story about personal growth. The essay should be free of acronyms and easily understandable. The best topics to write about, for most scouts, are their unique outdoor experiences, troop leadership roles, and Eagle Scout service project.

However, there’s a lot more that goes into a successful application! Carefully read the section below to learn the best methods of structuring your application essay. Then, we’ll be jumping into some real-life examples of the best ways you could write about your Scouting experience to really make your application stand out to an admissions committee!

How to Structure a College Admissions Essay

Do you know the ways your Scouting experience can help you stand out on a college application ? If you don’t, I’d highly suggest checking out the linked article! College admissions essays may be the trickiest documents you’ll ever write, as these personal statements require both conciseness and detail. Therefore, use everything you can to get a leg up! Your writing structure will be key to clearly communicating your message.

To create an effective structure, you first need to decide on your essay’s message. What is your main point for the beginning, middle, and end of your essay? Often, effective application essays begin with a story of a personal obstacle, guide your reader to the problem’s unexpected solution, and then end with a description of the lessons you’ve taken away from overcoming the challenge you’ve faced.

The Challenge->Solution->Takeaways structure is also effective when writing informative anecdotes in your essays. Here’s a quick excerpt showing of how I used this structure in one of my actual college application essays:

Challenge: In my freshman year of high school, a classmate and I were tasked with creating a joint presentation detailing the effects of GMOs on the environment. I had prepared my materials beforehand, so, naturally, I was excited to speak. My partner, however, had completely forgotten about the project and hastily began to plan a way out. Solution: After I’d delivered my portion of the presentation, complete with graphics and pie charts, I anxiously stepped aside and began mentally preparing for my partner to get us both laughed out of the room. To my dismay, my partner resourcefully rolled a short but informative Youtube video relating to the subject, and then, in a stroke of genius, improvised a quick activity. In seconds, the entire classroom was gleefully chanting the NATO phonetic alphabet parodied to GMO-related terminology! Takeaways: I was struck, and my B to his A was all it took to convince me that effort is not directly proportional to success. From that moment, I realized that I needed to think less about the work and product itself, and more about the audience that I was delivering my creation to.

I’m sure you have stories like this in your own life as well! In Scouting, maybe you thought you’d be a great leader right away, but later realized you needed to improve your approach. Maybe your path to Eagle had a few twists and turns. Either way, by using this structure, you can better place the reader in your shoes and guide them through an interesting and exciting journey.

Remember, the goal of your admissions essay should be to show as much of your personality to the reader as possible. Tell a story. Let them see you as a unique, endearing individual, and try to get them to like you. By describing a challenge, you show vulnerability and mark yourself as the kind of person who’s able to reflect, learn, and overcome difficulties.

Sample Outline For An Eagle Scouts Admission Essay

Now that you know how to effectively structure your story, it’s time to begin looking at a few essay samples that you can draw on for inspiration. As an Eagle Scout myself, there are 3 main Scouting topics and values I’d recommend writing about in your own application essays.

• Earning Eagle: Personal Growth and Persistence
• Leading Your Troop: Teamwork and Leadership
• Your Eagle Scout Service Project: Service and Contribution

Each of these three topics demonstrates values that are in high demand by universities. However, even if you don’t choose to write about these topics specifically, it’s still important to come up with a value-packed idea to serve as the core of your essay. I’d recommend watching the following video (8:51) for some great tips on coming up with your own essay idea.

Have a general idea for what you’ll be writing about? Great! Below, I’ll first be covering the best ways to capture your reader’s attention and frame your experiences. Then, with sample essays, I’ll be breaking down some of the best techniques for crafting a structurally-perfect application!

Capturing Your Reader’s Attention With Scouting

Your ‘hook,’ which serves to capture your reader’s attention, should be a concise but intriguing statement that reflects your personality. Hooks can take many different forms and engage the reader through the use of quotes, excamatory statements, or even questions.

Personally, this was the hook I used in one of my own college essays:

“Guten morgan, wie gehts. Ich heiß Cole. Ich bin seibzehn jahre alt.” I hear myself echo as I stand before my German class. Nervous, I mouth a half-smile and try to remain calm. Apprehensively making eye contact with the faces before me, even at a glance I can tell that this room is inhabited by people from all corners of the world. Judging from her defined jawline and shining blond hair, the girl who’s absentmindedly looking away appears to be Russian. The bespectacled boy with the tousled dark hair who wears a badly-translated t-shirt seemed to be distracted as well, reading from what I can only guess to be a Chinese dictionary. Another girl sits beside me, dressed in alternative clothing and sporting a septum piercing; judging from her edgy look, one would never have guessed she was from the suburbs of Rhode Island. Hearing the melody of birds chirping, I glance outside the window. On that beautiful Autumn afternoon in Switzerland, I see snow glistening on the Rhône glacier. It’s an enormous mass of brilliant blue hues, swirled together, filling the space between two gargantuan mountains: the Schwartz Horn and the Eiger. At that moment, a thought crosses my mind: “How on earth did I, just some kid from Hawaii, wind up in a place like this?”

While my introduction isn’t perfectly written, I think it does a solid job of capturing attention and pulling the reader down the page. Your essay should do the same! Keep in mind, my essay was about personal diversity and transitions, so this introduction really catered to my core theme. Your intro should also be informed by your essay’s main idea.

Now for some example hooks! If the focus of your essay is your Scouting experience, some possible hooks might be:

• I figured I’d peaked at the ripe old age of 13 years old when Scouting officially granted me the power to mobilize a legion of 12-year-olds in carrying out community service projects.
• I’ve recently come to the realization that community service just isn’t for me. Now before you start making assumptions, keep reading.
• Inside the meeting room of South Church where I’d spent almost every Thursday night for the past six years, I held my breath as the whole troop stood by me awaiting a decision. What hung in the balance was the culmination of years of commitment and hard work since joining my Scout troop at age 12.
• Who’d have ever guessed that a single small disc made of fabric and glue was exactly what I needed to catalyze my passion for (Topic)? When I began working on the (Topic) merit badge…

Basically, the point of your hook is to first grab attention and then segway into a significant experience that will continue to intrigue your reader. Tell a story around your experience, then identify a key value that you’ve learned or embodied which will serve as the core of the essay.

In the next section, I’ll teach you to craft a thesis statement based on your core theme!

Eagle Scout Values as a Core Theme

Now that you know the point of your introduction, it’s time to get into the meat of your essay: your core theme. Your core theme should be based around the values that make you, you. Remember, a reader should be able to identify your core focus at least halfway through your essay. The most effective way to do this is with a thesis statement!

It might seem like you don’t need a thesis statement for an admissions essay but having one or two sentences to encapsulate your core theme will ensure that your essay is coherent from start to finish.

Using our examples from earlier, here’s what an effectively phased thesis might sound like:

• Earning Eagle: The 4 years it took me to earn Eagle taught me more about persistence, leadership, and growth than I’d learned in my previous 12 years of schooling. ( What you do now, in contrast to your first story)
• Leading Your Troop: In my time with troop (troop ), I’ve learned that skillful and supportive leadership can make any team greater than the sum of its parts. By appreciating each other’s faults and growing together, my patrol was able to put aside our differences and. ( reference story) ..
• Your Eagle Scout Service Project: Serving the ( Area ) community through my Eagle Scout Project was the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. Through collaboration, sheer will, and an overwhelming desire to do good, I was able to bring together ( number ) volunteers over a total of ( time ) manhours, to (your result). Now, when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, I ( how you grew).

Remember, your thesis should perfectly suit your essay. Now that you know each of the ingredients for an amazing personal statement, it’s time to review some examples! Most of the experts agree that the best way to write well is to read good writing. Afterward, you’ll be ready to craft your own application and get that “Yes.” 🙂

Eagle Scout College Essay Samples and Examples

Below is a great excerpt from a personal statement that talks about a scout’s journey to Eagle. The writer does a fantastic job explaining the wide-ranging value of merit badges.

The Importance of Merit Badges

It was a long journey from an energetic adolescent to the mature man I am today. With every merit badge earned, I learned a valuable lesson about how to conduct my life. For example, the Personal Management merit badge taught me how to manage a budget. The Family Life badge gave me the skills to pitch in and help my parents run a household. Two trips to West Point Military Academy for Scout jamborees exposed me to cadets who were studying to be US Military officers and made me think about a military career. Source: https://www.collegeessayconfidante.com/sample-essays/

Leadership in Scouting

Leadership means holding yourself to a higher standard and putting your fellow scouts above yourself. In my last six years as a Scout, I have led others in finding their strengths, weaknesses, and encouraged boys to work as a team to accomplish a common goal. I started as an Assistant Patrol Leader and worked my way up to the highest leadership position, Senior Patrol Leader. Source: https://inlikeme.com/leadership-essay-scouts-effort/

Reflecting on How to be a Great Leader

While in Scouting, I took on multiple leadership roles and gradually became more involved in my troop. With those roles comes a great responsibility. Once you become involved and have responsibility, it is up to you how you want people to recognize you. You can be the leader who just points fingers and gives orders, or you can be the leader who teaches others how to do their job, is involved, is supportive and gives rewards when it is appropriate to do so. It may be difficult to do, but a true leader puts others before himself. Source: https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2014/01/14/what-scouting-did-for-me-a-recent-eagle-scout-tells-his-story/ Written by Ryan Eberlie

Your Eagle Scout Service Project

These experiences molded and shaped me. But the most significant experience came from completing my Eagle Project, during which I recorded the oral histories of eight war veterans from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. As I listened to their stories, I learned the meaning of self-sacrifice. The project took 140 hours—longer than a typical Eagle Project, but while I was working on it, I was not thinking about the time I was spending or even whether I would make Eagle if I completed the project. My only focus was on preserving the history of these noble citizens. That is when I understood why I felt no different the night my Scout leaders named me an Eagle Scout. It was because what was inside of me—a commitment to public service and a willingness to sacrifice—had been there all along. Also by Ryan Eberlie

Reading well-reviewed essay samples is something I did when crafting my own personal statement, and it definitely paid off! If you’re looking for more amazing personal statements to draw inspiration from, I’d highly recommend checking out the accepted essay collection from Johns Hopkins university

Now that you know what good writing sounds like, there are only a few more things you need to know to knock your personal statement out of the park! Firstly, try to place yourself in the admission’s officer’s shoes and connect your experience to what’s most relevant to them.

Consider, how will this experience help me at the school I’m applying to? What kinds of students are they really looking for? Have they seen an essay like mine before; is the story I’m telling unique enough? Use these questions to guide your writing, and connect your essay’s conclusion to your future ambitions. This, in itself, is a recipe for success!

Mistakes to Avoid on an Admissions Essay

Now that you’ve learned what to do when writing a college essay, it’s also important to keep in mind a list of things not to do. You’ll definitely want to avoid any cliche’s in your essay, and use impeccable grammar to convey your point. Remember, certain errors can make admissions officers immediately stop considering your application.

While we could spend hours talking about what not to do, I think the video (12:59) below does a great job of covering the most common mistakes students make. By avoiding these traps and improving your writing style by reading successful applications, every university will be dying to admit you!

General Tips To Keep in Mind While Writing Your Own Essay

In closing, here are 8 essential tips that you should keep front of mind when writing your essay. In this article, we’ve gone over a lot, but these points will help you to easily recall what we’ve covered so that you can write an incredible, engaging college essay!

• Conveying passion, critical thinking skills, and experiences, through a story, are key to making your application stand out.
• Essays should be free of grammatical errors. This is crucial! Get your English teacher to edit your essay, if possible.
• Don’t submit your first draft or even your second. Work and rework your drafts so that every word is strategically placed for maximum impact. 
• Remember the Challenge->Solution->Takeaways structure we covered earlier. Use it to make your stories more engaging.
• After describing an experience, make sure you analyzing the skills that you’ve learned and developed as a result. Have clear introspection.
• Show your personality! Get the admissions officer to laugh or like you. Make it difficult for the reader to get bored or stop reading partway through.
• Read successful essays from previous years. By drawing on many sources, you’ll improve your writing and develop a unique style.
• Avoid common mistakes. Don’t use cliches and keep your essay flowing smoothly,

Got it? Awesome! With these tips, not only will you be able to craft an essay that’ll get you into your dream school — you’ll also be able to write competitively to win Eagle Scout Scholarships ! Click the link to check out my painless guide to finding (and winning!) financial opportunities that are exclusive to Eagle Scouts. 🙂

You’ve made it! To thank you for sticking with me to this point, below are a few facts you might consider mentioning to bolster your application essay. Numbers lend credibility to your personal statement and could help to better communicate your accomplishments. Use them if they fit your theme.

• You’re part of the 4% of scouts who’ve earned the rank of Eagle! Alternatively, you can emphasize that 96% of scouts don’t reach Eagle.
• You’ve likely completed 100’s of community service hours and lead ambitious projects. Mention that!
• At a minimum, you’ve spent 2 YEARS of your life involved in Scouting to become an Eagle Scout. If that isn’t commitment, I don’t know what is!
• You’ve earned at least 21 merit badges in an eclectic range of disciplines. The ability to master new skills is key to success in university.

At this point, if you’re not 120% sure of what you plan to write about, I’d highly recommend checking out my article on the 7 best skills to highlight on Eagle Scout college applications . If you exhibit these values in your own life, they might be the core idea of your accepted college application essay!

Give yourself a huge pat on the back for reading this far! That kind of persistence is also what helped you to reach Eagle, and likely what’ll get you into the university of your dreams. Wishing you all the best on your applications and beyond. 🙂

I'm constantly writing new content because I believe in Scouts like you! Thanks so much for reading, and for making our world a better place. Until next time, I'm wishing you all the best on your journey to Eagle and beyond!

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How To Write An Eagle Reconnoiter Statement of Ambition & Life Purpose

Before yours can startup Vulture Scout rank requirement 7 and hold your final board regarding review, you’ll be tasked with writing an comprehensive essay that discusses your long-term destinations and values. This piece of writing, which must be submitted with your Hare rank application, is called a Statement away Ambitions press Live Purpose!

That lives an Eagle Scout Statement of Your And Your Purpose? An Eagle Scout Statement of Aspirations and Life Purpose is a little essay, written by an Eagle Scout candidate, that describes their goals, scores, and mindsets. Often, diese statements are info 500 words in length and are broken into 4 parts: Show, short-term goals, long-term goals, and life purpose.

PS. This article is based on the experiences and research of Eagle Scout, Kevin A and Borecole  🙂

While most Eagle Scouts (myself at which time, included!) usually aren’t aware that your even need to write this essay for the last minute, it’s actually at incredibly important do toward do. Why? Well, the Chair off your final Eagle Guide Board regarding Review intention be reading your Statement of Ambitions and Lifetime Purpose and asking you questions, accordingly!

Additionally, written ampere Statement von Ambitions and Life Purpose gives you that hazard into start thinking about your life’s vision. What do you hope to give to the world? Where do thou see yourself with 3 years? These are sum very significant questions, and this essay should become one-time is the first dates inside your life where you’re directly ask to critically think about what you do your future to hold!

Plus, insert Command of Ambitions and Life Purpose is a great groundwork upon which yourself can write the amazing Eagle Scout college user . (Click the link for my ultimate guide to taking Eagle Scout university acceptances) Knock two birds with one stone by using these display to outline your thinking for study plus beyond! Trust me, my customized Aquila Assertion of Goals really set insert sights in the right direction. I guarantee it’ll help to too if she put ampere lot of thought into it, jab deep, furthermore keep einen open mind.

With all is being said, you’re probably wondering how to write a great essay of your own. Nay the apprehension! In this piece, I’ll be using my own Statement of Ambitious and Life Purpose essay as an example to get your writing liquors flowing! Then, I’ll give you some questions to reflect on, so you can make your attempt even best rather mine was. 😉

My Example Statement off Goal and Life Purpose Essay

First, take a second to read through my example endeavor. This is a bit shortened than the typical essay of 500 words (2 double-spaced pages), but it should give you a good idea of what’s required. Then, in the next sections, we’ll be reviewing each component, from an introduction to your life vision, so that you can creation an incredible statement of yours own!

Without keep ado, here’s Kevin and insert view Statement a Ambitions and Existence Purpose:

1. Introduction: “Reflecting back, as I’m now applying for Eagle, the hiest rank in Scouting, I realize just how far I’ve come. Not only have I learns how to light a fire in a single matche, tie a bowline around myself with one hand, and sell ungodly sum of Trail’s End popcorn — not, Scouting had given me much more. Scouting does given me the core values furthermore principles this ME now carrying with me through my life.”  2. Short Term Goals: “In my high school life, I am planning on taking two Fortgeschrittener Plant courses: APE Environmental Science and AP English Language and Arrangement. These courses, can challenging, will hopefully help me scale my knowledge into areas that I may be interested in pursuing while in college.”  “My next big hurdle comes the the form of college user. Between club responsibilities, AP your, Reconnoiter, and your, I’ll be hard-pressed to find the time. However, same earning Eagle, nothing payoff arrival easy. To achieve my short term goals I’ll set a schedule, make a design, and checkout things set one condition at a time.” 3. Long-Term Goals “Upon graduation from high language, IODIN will to attend a four-year community within the University of California system. I got not decided what studies to pursue in community, but I am leaning towards majoring in the chemistry field.”  “In college, I hope to develop that skills real connects in land a chemical engineering job where I can directly help select. I want ampere comfortable remuneration, and to expertise till have my ideas be overheard within the workforce. I won’t be satisfied simply remaining a follower in my field and intend to lead other to assistance bring about breakthroughs ensure improve human wellbeing.” 4. Life Purpose “My ultimate vision for life is to be and personalized who lifts others up. Grown up an only child, I always felt superior whenever I was able until contribute to the people around me. Whether it’s doing scientific breakthroughs, leading a team, or even teaching scouts, my life’s purpose will always be to make good for others.” “Although my specific goals will probably change as I grow elderly and experience the world from a different perspective, MYSELF know that this valued ME learned from Scouting will forever remain in my mind and heart. Regardless of what I end up doing, for I’m doing is I’ll be physically strong, mentally awakening, and morally straight.” 

If you’ve read through our essay, in now you should have a few ideas bouncing by your head about what to write in your own Statement of Ambitions and Life General. Spell they down ASAP! Those ideas will serve as your essay’s foundations. 🙂

Right if you’re like most tv, thee might instead be thinking, “I’m worried that I won’t exist able into studs to my aims and ambitions that I wrote downhill because I’m not sure what I truly want to do with my life!” Yup, I’ve been there too. However, if that is something you’re concerned over, don’t fret! 

• Firstly, your Eagle Board of Reviews team won’t be making him promise on fulfill every single goal thee set in your essay, as they realize that most Eagle Explorers contestants (and most teens in general) don’t have choose figured out in terms of their life goals.
• Secondly, int of following sections, I’ve prepared a questions fork him that might give yourself a feel thought of your actual ambitions and life purpose!

Here’s an tip: When reading the questions we pose, bear your time. Endeavour to think critically and come up with optional answer. Then, ask yourself, “is my respond true, for me?” If it isn’t, question why thou thought of to. Ask supposing it’s true in every way.

Doing this moving will help you succeed in one concerning the most important areas of your life: knowing yourself . Now, it’s date to read through a details breakdown of you essay and answer the faq we’ve posed so that her sack create an amazing statement of our own! Let’s walk!

Introductions Your Statement of Ambitions and Living Purpose

Your introductory paragraph should go over some of the most impactful experimente you’ve was in Scouting thus far, how well as about you’ve learned from those our. Some expert you can highlight are playing when you acted when a head, multiplication somewhere you learned an important value, other even toys the you learned in Scouting which you’ve applied to a situation outside of Scouting. 

An crucial part here is to consider what you’ve learned from choose Boy our (Hopefully, ampere lot). The Eagle Your is and highest grade inbound Scouting, and from it comes a wealth of experiences and wisdom that you’ve had to discover along the procedure. Click is how I chose to tie in what MYSELF learned from Scouting: 

“Reflecting back, as I’m right applying for Eagle, the highest rank is Scouting, I realistic equal how from I’ve come. Does only have I learned how for light a firing equal a single matchings, tie a bowline around myself with one hand, and sell atheist dollar of Trail’s End popcorn — negative, Scouting had given me much more. Scouting has given me the core values and principles that I now transport with i through my life.” 

Thy introduction shouldn’t be long-winded, as you’ll have lot other sections of their essay toward get into more detail. Keeping is brief and to the point will likely be an most effective approach to completing your introduction. When writing your intro, here are ampere few questions you could ask you:

Introducing Questions to Consider

• What part to the Scout Oath and Law means the most to you? How have you survives by it in your Scouting and non-Scouting life? 
• What remains a specific Scouting experience you’ve had where you’ve learned something of great value? What worked you learn? How did them end top learning it? 
• Wherewith have you most changed from for you were a new Scout?  Think back to who yourself were, more a person, when just entering Scouting.
• When she hear the word “Scouting,” what comes to brain? Why?

Short-Term Goals forward High School 

The focus of your next fachgebiet should be the goals you’d like to complete before finishing high school. These short-term goals can be academic (like getting all A’s), illicit (Like making varsity), press even personally-related (such as a hobby, occupy, or side-business).

This section can furthermore be used to describe how for plan to achieve these goals. Success comes from making solid plans the and executing on them, consequently make sure you think about as to achieve our goals. This way they won’t just be dreams! Here’s wie IODIN wrote about own high school goals:

“In my high school life, I am planning on recording two Progressed Placement courses: AP Environmental Science and AP English Language also Composition. These online, though demanding, will hopefully help me expand my knowledge into areas such I may be interested in prosecution while at college.”  “My next big hurdles comes in of form of college applications. Between club responsibilities, AP classes, Scouting, and friends, I’ll may hard-pressed to find of time. However, like earning Eagle, anything worthwhile comes easy. Until achieve my shortly term goals I’ll set a schedule, make a blueprint, and control things turn one requirement at a time.”

When I highly urge you to talk about your extracurricular or custom goals as well, I’d highly recommend that you mention your large school academics in some way when handwriting this section.

Even if you don’t have plans to continue your teaching after high train, the main point is this component of choose life exists possible to become educated and graduate with your high school diploma. As such, adenine portion of these section should live dedicated to discussing your academics (it could even be one sentence stating that you schedule on ending high school!). 

Short-term Questions at Consider 

• Have thither any classes you want to take before you graduate, such like each AP otherwise IB classes? Why done you want to take these classes? How do you think they could help in your future?
• Do you have either objectives you want to comprehensive in their extracurricular active? How can them take on more company in your groups, shoe, and community maintenance groups?
• Are there anyone personal interests you’ve developed while in high school that might steer you towards a certain career?  Consider things you’re go at, love doing, and might make you capital.

Long-Term Goals For After Closure

This section focuses on your long-term plans after graduating from high school. There been many avenues you could pursue after choose graduation! Will you must going till a trade middle? The military? Continuing your educational by attending a four-year university either adenine community college? Edit straights to the workforce? The possibility are endless! 🙂

I’d recommend take how you wish your life after high teach to look (especially since it’ll be happening eventually). Reckon not just about continued education, but also the principles and jobs you’ll be taking on. Here’s how I discussed my own plans in this section of my Account of Ambitions also Life Purpose:

“Upon graduating from high school, I want to attend ampere four-year college within who Technical of California system. I have not decided what studies to prosecute at college, but I on sloping towards majoring in the chemical field.”  “In technical, I hope to develop one skills and connections to land an chemical engineering your where I can forthwith how others. IODIN want a comfortable salary, and the expertise to have my ideas be audition within the manpower. I won’t be satisfied simply remaining a follower in my field and intend to lead others to help bring about breakthroughs which improve human wellbeing.”

This section gives you a lot of freedom to communicate herself; you can go into as loads detail as you’d like as explaining your post-graduate plans. For example, if you’re sure that you want toward enter a trade school, feel loose to talk about the stairs you’re going to take included order to get educated, certifications, real hired for the trade of choice! 

Since you’ll be earning your Eagle Title sooner, it’s crucial that you get how to Properly Register Bird Scout On Your Resume . Not no did save improve your quotes of landing a mission and getting for a good school, it’ll also help you to more effective describe their Scouting experiences (and learn from them, too)!

Here’s a Tip: Can realistic, but also dream big! Since in diese section you can spoken about your desired career, felling free go sets an big, hairy, venturesome goal (I call this a BHAG). Setting a huge, motivating goal for your future can spur you into action and help you to accomplish anything!

With your BHAG in mind, present are a few questions to consider that can point you includes the right direction when writing this section:

Long-term Questions to Consider 

• If you’re planning turn entry the workforce, what type of task be you looking for? What steps might to take to increase your chances of be hire for the position you’re interested in? 
• If you’re planning on attend who martial, what branch of aforementioned army are you interested in joining? Why take she want to join that piece of this military? 
• If you’re planning on going to trade school, what type of exchange interests you? Do you know any schools that excel in teaching this trades? Do you want to start your own business the this trade or unite can existing company? 
• Wenn you’re provision on continuing your education, will you be going to a community community or a four-year university? What do you want for get out of the continued education, and how will him do it go?
• If none of these options apply to you, what will him be what? Do you have plans at do one von the last options end or are you planend upon sticking to your original plans available a long time? 
• In a perfecting worlds, where do you see myself in 5 years? What do you want to (and not want to ) be making?

Your Life’s Purpose and Ethics

That final section a your Statements of Ambitions both Life Purpose should shall spent to describe your ultimate life’s vision. What do you really want get of life? Good our to consider available this section may include plans about a future family, community involvement, and bucket-list empirische.

One thing you should check to mention in this section is how you plan till employ the lessons you’ve learner from Scouts when you’re older. You don’t have to promise to return to Scouting are the subsequent (although if you do watch yourself volunteering, being sure to mention it), but you should try to discuss how you’ll use what you’ve learned to better the world.

Here is how I chose to describe my life’s purpose and values: 

“My ultimate vision for life is to to an individual who raises others up. Growing up an all child, EGO usual felt superior whenever I was able to contribute for the people nearby le. Whether it’s making academia breakthroughs, advanced a teams, or regular teachings Explorer, my life’s vision will always be to make okay by others.” “Although my specific goals desire probably change such I grow older and experience of world from a different perspective, I know that the values I schooled from Scouting will forever remain the my mind and center. Regardless are what EGO end up doing, as I’m doing it I’ll exist physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.” 

If you’re having trouble figuring out how for write this last section, keep in mind that your goals represent only half a the question. Consider what values you feel are most important into you as well. What brings purpose and meaning to your lifetime? There’s no right or wrong answer here, as felt free to enlarge on these points as of as you’d like! 

You pot frank take any direction you’d like when writing about will life’s usage, but I’d recommend asking yourself this following questions to first net several clarity:

Life Main Questions to Consider 

• Thin about when you’ll be 30-40 years old. What do it picture your real wants be like at that date? What will you got accomplished? Which part of doing that will make you happy?
• How will you stay involve with your family when you’re ancient? Do you have maps on ultimate that one family of your own? 
• What would you most like to do in your free time? Do you plan to travel, volunteer, or possible also does something else?
• What will you stay participant in your community as you’re older? How close do thou want to be with others in your community? Do you will the breathe a mentor? 
• If you could consign self a life ‘theme,’ whatever would it be? Some ideas include creativity, system, resourcefulness, or anything different you can come up with. How will your embody this theme in your life purpose?

Conclusion 

When the ideas you’ll cover inbound choose Declaration regarding Desires and Life Purpose will likely change as you get older, I indeed stimulate you to be as detailed more possible when writing your superior. Believe i, when you’re older you’ll look back set on essay and appreciate the glimpse it yields you into your lived right now!

Your Statement of Ambitions real Life Main is essentially ampere time capsule of your teenage person, consequently it’s vital to done it select. By using the structure we covered in this magazine, and asking yourself important questions regarding how you will will life to look, I’m sure you’ll create an awesome essay! 🙂

Choices are these won’t be the latter essay you writers. In fact, your Statement of Ambitions and Life Purpose may just be the start of an awesome college application essay! The make your college goals a what, check out my complete guide to Script An Eagle Explore College Essay That Gets You Accepted .

Congrats on making it at the end of this article, as well as for your upcoming Sea Rank! Hope to see her back at ScoutSmarts repeat anytime and, till after wetter, be the best individual you can breathe!

I'm constantly type new site due I believes in Scouts like you! Thanks so much for reading, and for making ours world a better place. Until next time, I'm wishing you all the best on your journey till Eagle and beyond! EAGLE SCOUT RANK APPLICATION

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How to Write an Eagle Scout Personal Statement

An important part of becoming an Eagle Scout is writing a personal statement of your goals, ambitions and leadership skills. Your statement has to be included with your application to the Eagle Scout board of review. This should be an enjoyable and inspiring activity as you think about your life path so far and what you most want to do with your life. You may be surprised one day to see how inspiring this statement can be, so make sure you save a copy for yourself.

Life Purpose and Ambitions

Begin your personal statement by describing what your ambitions are for the future and what you believe your purpose in life is. If you already know what you want your life to be about, this may be easy. For others, it may seem like a difficult task. Get advice from friends, family and teachers but when it comes time to write it down, it should be your ideas. Find a quiet place and give it some serious thought. Try writing a rough copy just for yourself, jotting down what comes to mind, and exploring what you want and don't want your life to be about. Use the ideas you discover in the rough copy to create a good copy for submission.

Leadership Positions

After describing your life purpose and ambitions, list the positions you have had that demonstrate leadership skills. These may be positions you've had at school, church, summer camp or anywhere else. For example, if your teacher asked you to help a younger child with his reading, this could be something to include. If it's hard to remember, think about any time you did more than what was expected of you, when you took additional responsibilities or when you were able to help someone in need.

Include Awards and Other Honors

In addition to leadership positions, include any honors or awards you received. This doesn't have to be a separate section; add them when you describe your leadership positions. Like everything else in your personal statement, these should be the things that matter to you most. If you won first prize at the science fair, this may be something you want to include. If you spent an afternoon getting a lost dog to its rightful owner, you probably didn't get a trophy -- but perhaps the smile of gratitude was an honor to you just the same.

Things to Consider

The Boy Scouts of America doesn't say how long a personal statement should be or how it should be written. It's important the statement is in your own words and it reflects an honest effort. If you don't think something is important, you don't have to include it. Spelling and grammar are important, so approach a personal statement as you would a school paper. Use spellcheck if you are writing it on a computer. If you want to write it by hand, make sure it's neat and legible. Read it over a couple of times to make sure it's your best work.

• National Eagel Scout Association: Notable Eagle Scouts
• Boy Scouts of America: Eagle Rank Requirements

A published author and professional speaker, David Weedmark has advised businesses and governments on technology, media and marketing for more than 20 years. He has taught computer science at Algonquin College, has started three successful businesses, and has written hundreds of articles for newspapers and magazines throughout Canada and the United States.

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How To Write The Eagle Statement of Ambitions

Home » How To Write The Eagle Statement of Ambitions

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog post Don’t Forget – Most Commonly Skipped Eagle Requirement , which talked a bit about how to write the Eagle Statement of Ambitions.  I want to expound on that requirement a little bit today.

I have served as an District Eagle Coach and have sat on hundreds of boards of review and read the Statements of Ambition for those Eagle candidates over the years.  I can honestly say that all of them are very different.  This is one of the funnest things for board members to read and it gives them insight to what kind of scout and person the candidate is.  It is very obvious that some candidates have spent the minimum amount of time writing and thinking about what they put in that statement.  Some are very thoughtful.

I remember one in particular had a statement that said he wanted to be the President of the United States.  I thought, wow!  What a bold statement from a 17 year-old.  When he came in for the review, we asked him about it. He was very serious and we found out that he had plans to make that happen.

You should think of your board of review like a job interview.  You are trying to show the board that you are the right candidate for the job, which is attaining the rank of Eagle.

Your Statement of Ambitions should be a minimum of two pages. The first page should be a double-spaced typed letter of what you want to do with the rest of your life.  This should be really easy for scouts to write.  I think of the movie “A Christmas Story,” when Ralphie is in school and his teacher tells them they need to write a theme.  They all moan!  Then when she tells them the topic, “What I Want For Christmas,” they all get very excited and want to do the assignment.  Scouts should feel the same way about this “theme.”

I have seen scouts write as little as 2 sentences or as much as 3 pages.  It should be 1-2 pages.  Also, you should use the spell checker on your computer and have your mom, dad, or scout leader proofread it to polish it up to look good before it is turned in with your paperwork.

This first page is where most scouts stop. That is only half of the requirement.  It also says to include a list of any leadership positions you have held over your scouting time in anything.  This includes school, band, church, work, anywhere!

Also, you need to include any awards you received while serving in these leadership roles.  If you earned your Duty to God at church, list it.  If you won high honors in your band at school, list it.  Basically this is a “brag sheet” of all your accomplishments while you were a leader.  Most scouts either forget to add this or don’t feel comfortable bragging about themselves.

In the real world when people are interviewing for jobs, they present a resume to potential employers to show off their skills and list all the great things that they know and have done.  This distinguishes them from all the other job candidates and proves they have the necessary skills to be there and do the job.  An Eagle Board of Review is no different.  You are a candidate for the Eagle Rank at the time of your board.  Present yourself it the best possible light.

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Eagle Scout College Admissions Tips

The effort, commitment, and also social work achievements called for to earn the Scouting rank of “Eagle Scout” can make Eagles specifically eye-catching to college admissions boards.

Knowing exactly how to effectively communicate the abilities you possess can mean the distinction in between an accepted or rejected college application if you’re an Eagle. The skills, morals, and management capacities that Eagle Scouts exhibit are in high-demand by universities.

That reality should be featured prominently in your college admissions materials if you have actually gained the rank of Eagle Scout. Eagles can likewise highlight positive facets from Scouting to reinforce their application essays.

Making the experiences distinct to Eagle Scouts beam on college admissions products refers to just how those abilities are represented. While the rank of Eagle alone, can’t make up for bad qualities, it can certainly assist to establish a currently strong application ahead of the pack!

Providing Eagle Scouts Abilities On College Applications

From time administration as well as troop management to offer as well as your Eagle Task, there’s no doubt that you have actually developed valuable and valuable experiences in Scouting.

These abilities will certainly make you an extra appealing trainee to universities specifically those with competitive admissions criteria!

Universities are looking for well-shaped as well as engaged pupils and also the reality that you’ve progressed to the ranking of Eagle Scout shows that you’re devoted to your endeavors.

Honestly, every Eagle Scout’s college admissions essay must locate some method to mention their achievements as well as what they’ve discovered in achieving their extensive rank.

Tips: Many college admissions essays only permit 650-1000 words. Consequently, it’s important you write briefly and with enthusiasm concerning your abilities, experiences, and scholastic goals. While some admissions boards will not be familiar with the skills it requires to become an Eagle Scout, good writing can still assist to impress the customer with the value of your achievement!

It is essential to showcase your Scouting skills, experiences, and also accomplishments to persuade visitors of your interest to pursue higher education.

Keep in mind, universities are trying to find pupils that will likely succeed if accepted right into their academic programs and also excel as members of their school community.

Bear in mind, you don’t want your essay to show up scattered. Select a couple of the values if they’re your strongest factors, however, don’t try to consist of everything.

With all that being said, it’s currently time to delve into the initial Scouting worth that you can highlight on your college applications to really stand apart!

1. Dedication: Your Years In Scouting

Lots of university students fall short due to an absence of devotion and also determination. The commitment you have actually displayed in making the Eagle Scout ranking can be utilized as proof of your capability to see your objectives via to the end!

In addition, interest is one of the main points that college admissions boards will certainly look for in your essay. Use descriptions of your commitment to Looking to offer evidence of your passion to pursue a college. Ideally, attach your Scouting experience to your preferred discipline.

The list below few sentences are an example of exactly how to utilize your Scouting experience as an instance of your passion and dedication:

“The time that it required to make the ranking of Eagle Scout was a rewarding however difficult procedure that instilled in me the worth of effort and dedication. In particular, preparation, arranging, and leading my capstone “Eagle Scout Service Job” presented a one-of-a-kind challenge that I was just able to get over via enthusiasm and perseverance. I am excited to apply these same abilities to stand out as well as discover within a collaborative university setup.”

2. Service: Area Work & Your Eagle Scout Project

Social work is among the specifying principles of Scouting. Luckily for you, college admissions additionally love to confess students will likely contribute to the campus area with service as well as volunteer work!

Affordable universities see hundreds of applications from students that fulfill the standard requirements for admission.

However, for a lot of senior high school students, having a thorough record of social work is uncommon. Discussing your extensive background of service is a fantastic way to make sure that your application rises to the top.

Tips: The Typical Application that allows trainees to put on dozens of colleges with one application has new prompts for application essays every year. When choosing a time to reply to, choose one that will allow you to smoothly make your service job as well as Eagle Scout Task a focus of the essay.

Remember how one of the requirements towards making your Eagle was developing, and also implementing a neighborhood solution job to profit your neighborhood? Be certain to specify your intent to continuing giving your neighborhood with comparable services.

3. Self-Learning: Making Advantage Badges

To get to the rank of Eagle Scout, you have actually had to gain a minimum of 21 benefit badges. Each quality badge you have actually made represents a one-of-a-kind area that you have actually separately examined.

This is an unbelievably beneficial skill to highlight for colleges, as education and learning is all about grasping topics you were initially not familiar with!

Some topics that you’ve researched consist of the Citizenship world, Communication, Personal Management, as well as Environmental Science. Each of your badges, and the experience you have actually acquired from completing them, can be made use of to boost your application essays!

Consider writing statements like the following to explain the value of those badges:

• Making Citizenship in the Country quality badge taught me just how important it is to be active and also engaged in the neighborhood, state, and also national political processes.
• In the process of making my Environmental Science merit badge , I was inspired to seek an education and learning as well as a career in a field where I can contribute to developing an eco-friendly culture.
• Gaining Citizenship on the world badge assisted me to comprehend the worth of variety in society. The lessons I have actually extracted from this badge aid me to value the distinctions of the viewpoint that I encounter daily.
• The Interaction advantage badge showed me to confidently verbalize my ideas as well as helped me to far better get in touch with others.

If it fits the rest of your application, I’d extremely recommend pointing out a value badge you’ve finished that showcases your rate of interest in a certain area.

The Environmental Scientific research value badge could be discussed by Eagle Scouts going after a degree in biology, as it offered them a firsthand possibility to analyze an ecological community over time.

4. Time Management: Individually Completing Requirements

Together with the commitment, it requires to earn the Eagle Scout ranking comes to the growth of reliable time administration abilities. Completing your ranking requirements, advantage badges, and Eagle Scout Project were all tasks that needed excellent time management skills.

You might take into consideration consisting of a sentence regarding time administration in your admissions essay. Recognize that correct time administration is key to success in higher education.

By remembering individual examples of job preparation as well as handling the time-sensitive demands, you’ll prove that you have what it requires to be successful!

There are likewise means to link time administration skills to details majors. For example, if you’re learning innovative self-control, you’ll likely require to handle multiple jobs with stringent target dates.

As an Eagle Scout, you can highlight the fact that you’re certainly familiar with managing complicated scenarios and also attaining your goals!

5. Leadership: Reliable Troop Teamwork & Collaboration

One idea that Eagle Scouts discover early on is that good leaders lead via instance, not orders. In college as well as Searching alike, synergy is the foundation of any successful group.

While it may appear tough to include these ideas right into your college application, college admissions police officers will certainly understand that management as well as a team effort is central for Eagle Precursors.

Eagle Scouts learn to lead by instance, not via orders. They also discover to support their team by supplying on their duty to the most effective of their abilities. A couple of sentences in a college admissions essay that demonstrates your understanding of these principles could aid to establish your application apart.

SUGGESTION: When explaining your Eagle Scout Job, you might possibly consist of a couple of lines about the leadership abilities that the project helped you to create.

You might additionally discuss the job you have actually done with your patrol, and just how you grew as a leader by working to understand each scout as an individual. Attempt to keep your instances as certain as feasible!

You may even consider connecting your leadership and also team effort abilities to your major. Company majors have to be prepared to work together, endanger, as well as work in groups to develop effective tasks.

6. Values: Long-lasting Morals From The Scout Law & Oath

Above all, Eagle Scouts have impeccable precepts and constantly strive to support the Scout Oath and Law. As an Eagle Scout, you’ve created the foundation upon which your values and morals can expand.

The college will unavoidably test your worth as you come across diverse pupils, get a new point of view, and also discover more details. This was certainly real in my situation.

Striking a balance in between sticking to your morals and also being open to new ideas is very important, and also, as an Eagle Scout, the values you have actually discovered must assist you to preserve that equilibrium.

As you’re creating your admissions essay, bear in mind that your tone must share an interest for the new experiences that college will certainly bring.

While passing on the worths of community service, synergy, citizenship, and also interaction that you discovered in Scouting, be sure to show your passion, and also I assure the admissions officer will certainly be impressed!

7. Network: Eagle Scout Programs and Scholarships

You must be aware that there are lots of scholarships that are specifically readily available to Eagle Precursors, as well as most will certainly call for an application essay.

Additionally, making your Eagle rank unlocks countless possibilities beyond simply university. By making the most of these experiences, you can bolster your return to and also craft an also stronger application!

Now it’s time to put what you discovered in this article to make use of as you compose about your Scouting experiences! Whether it’s for college admissions or scholarship applications, the skills you have actually learned in Scouting will certainly set you apart in any application.

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Does Being an Eagle Scout Help with College Admissions?

Reviewed by:

Rohan Jotwani

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 4/13/22

Being an Eagle Scout is the highest rank you can achieve in the Scouts BSA. So, how does being an Eagle Scout help with school admissions? Is it a big deal to be an Eagle Scout? Read on to learn more about how your BSA ranks can boost your college profile! 

The college admissions process is an exciting endeavor, but it requires diligence and effort. Millions of hopeful high school students apply to a roster of colleges every year, and they all hope to be offered admissions to their top choices.

College applicants do their best to differentiate themselves from their peers to stand out in the admissions process through their academic achievements, well-written essays, and meaningful extracurricular activities. 

If you’re affiliated with Scouts BSA, you may wonder if being an Eagle Scout helps with college admissions. The answer to this is yes, colleges tend to look favorably upon Eagle Scouts. 

In this guide, you’ll learn how colleges view your Eagle Scout status, how your skills translate into the college experience, and how to include your status on applications. 

What Colleges Think About Eagle Scouts

Earning the Eagle Scout rank is the highest advancement rank you can achieve in the Scouts BSA. The level is attainable only after a Scouts BSA member moves through six other ranks. 

Only 8% of all Scouts BSA members have earned the Eagle Scout rank, which indicates you accomplished a goal few others in the organization have. Recent data states that 17 years old is the average age to become an Eagle Scout—the approximate age of a typical high school senior. 

Being an Eagle Scout not only adds an element of interest and differentiation to your application but also demonstrates your commitment to an extracurricular activity. College is a big commitment, and admissions committees view you sticking with something you’re passionate about for so long as a predictor of your future behavior. 

When college admissions officers see “Eagle Scout” on your application, they may automatically think you’re a stand-up person with numerous positive character traits. 

The skills you’ve learned while moving through the Scouts BSA rank are also important to college admissions committees. Eagle Scouts embody positive character traits and values and are involved members in their communities and beyond. 

Your community service work and Eagle Scout project display your community involvement. Colleges hope to admit students they believe will contribute to the school’s community and culture, and touching on your community service in your application can show you wish to uphold your community involvement. 

BSA Troop 106 in New York asked 17 universities one question to learn more about the impact of being an Eagle Scout in the college admissions process: “What kind of effect does being an Eagle Scout have on a prospective student’s application to your school?”

Top national schools such as John Hopkins University, University of California—Los Angeles (UCLA), and University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill (UNC) responded:

“When we review an application, we look for three things: academic character, impact and initiative, and personal contributions. Anything a student does to make a difference through service, leadership, or innovation — from participating in the Boy Scouts, to caring for family members, or participating in a school club — is considered as we try to get a sense of who they are and what impacts they’re making on the community around them.” — John Hopkins University

“We do not consider any one kind of extracurricular activity inherently ‘better’ than another. What is important is that students select activities that are truly meaningful to them and that they really get involved with them…With this in mind, students should include Eagle Scout in their application if they believe this particular extracurricular activity meets the criteria above.” — UCLA

“We appreciate the service and dedication required to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. Within the extracurricular portion of the application…This is where we would hope to hear from students, in their own words, about what makes their Scouting experience meaningful to them and their community. Hearing personally from students gives us a deeper and more nuanced appreciation for any activity or award.” — UNC 

It’s important to note that while you should certainly put “Eagle Scout” on your college applications, your rank on its own won’t gain you admission to your dream college—you must still perform well on the SAT or ACT , get good grades, write impactful essays, and acquire stellar letters of recommendation . 

However, adding your Eagle Scout status to your application can add value and uniqueness to make you stand out. 

Applicable Eagle Scout Skills 

Becoming an Eagle Scout indicates you embody multiple positive traits , including “trustworthiness, loyalty, helpfulness, friendliness, courteousness, kindness, obedience, cheerfulness, thriftiness, bravery, cleanliness, and reverence.” 

Beyond personal characteristics, your rank means you’ve earned at least 21 merit badges, including Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communication, Environmental Science and Sustainability, and Personal Management. These achievements showcase skills colleges want to see in their students. 

Because of your Scout background, you’re used to working in a team setting toward a common goal. Collaboration is a crucial transferable skill in college to help you connect with your peers and manage the workloads of any group project. 

Eagle Scouts are taught to have impeccable time management skills, another important aspect of college life. You’ll deal with numerous deadlines in your college career that require solid time management skills. 

Colleges want to know you can handle the rigor of undergraduate education, and having good time management skills can make your college career easier and less stressful as you navigate more challenging courses and an increased workload. 

Moving through the Scouts BSA ranks has primed you for leadership. Colleges search for leadership capabilities in your application, as it can help you have an enjoyable college experience. Don’t be afraid to get involved with causes and clubs you’re passionate about. You might be a driving force for positive change in your new community. 

Every Eagle Scout skill in your toolbox is transferable to your college experience, no matter what degree path you hope to pursue. “The skills learned during these scouting years can help a student to achieve the best outcome for years to come. Many will earn honors in their college education for their hard work,” states Unity College. 

How To Include “Eagle Scout” on Your College Application

Now you know your diverse skill set, character traits, and values are transferable to college life and make you a more competitive candidate. But how do you ensure admissions committees know the depth of your work on your college application? 

First, including a phrase such as, “Earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2019” is not enough. While most college admissions officers will understand what your rank entails, you should provide more context than one phrase on your application. 

Brandie Eneks , director of freshman admissions at Texas A&M University, said, “While identifying oneself as an Eagle Scout is important, it is also critical to provide detailed information.” 

There are three places in your application where contextualizing your Eagle Scout experience makes sense: your resume, extracurricular activities list, and personal or supplemental essays. 

Contextualize your community service projects 

Eagle Scout service projects “show that the young person can manage a multifaceted project, create a budget, lead others and commit themselves to something that takes months to complete.” And that’s only what your involvement reflects on you. Your community service also undoubtedly made an impact on the community. 

You can write about your service project on your professional resume or in your essay. If your project was especially meaningful to you or helped significantly shape who you are today, it can make for a highly compelling admissions essay. 

Be sure to touch on your leadership role and how you managed to plan and execute the project, and elaborate on how that experience was meaningful to your growth, mindset, or personality. 

Emphasize Leadership Experience 

Leadership experience helps you stand out from the pool of other applicants. If you took on specific leadership roles as you moved through the Scout ranks, touch on them in your resume or extracurriculars list.

Remember, most online applications, like the Common Application , allow you to add more information. Take advantage of the space to contextualize your experience!

Explain the Significance of Select Merit Badges 

To earn Eagle Scout designation, you’ve earned at least 21 merit badges, but you’ve likely earned more badges pertaining to your interests. Colleges want to accept students who demonstrate a range of varied interests; explaining a handful of your merit badges can help show the breadth of your skills and interests. 

You’ll want to share how many badges you’ve earned, but you won’t have the space to write about all of them. Choose merit badges that are varied, not necessarily the ones you earned first or last, or the ones you think will be most impactful to admissions committees.

However, you should pick a badge or two that relates to your program, if you have them. For example, if you earned the American Business merit badge, you should share that in your application to an undergraduate business program. 

If you’re applying to a computer science program, you should spotlight your Programming badge, if you’ve earned it. Think of your badges as small insights into your interests and skills.

Eagle Scout College Scholarships

There are 65 Eagle scout college scholarships available through the National Eagle Scout Association: 

• “One national four-year $48,000 Lawrence S. and Mabel Cooke Scholarship
• One four-year $16,000 Lawrence S. and Mabel Cooke Scholarship per national service territory (“NST”)
• One $7,500 scholarship per NST
• Two $3,500 scholarships per NST”

High school seniors through their junior year of college are eligible for any of these Eagle Scout college scholarships, as long as they plan to attend or are attending a four-year college or other approved programs. Other conditions include: 

To be eligible for any of the above scholarships, Eagle Scouts must fulfill all requirements and conditions: 

• You will register, maintain and provide proof of your full-time study schedule to The National Eagle Scout Association (NESA). 
• All awarded scholarship funds are paid directly to your selected institution to pay for tuition and other expenses. 
• You must maintain a GPA that places you in the upper third of your class. 
• You can’t defer a scholarship; it must be used that year. 

Applicants must use the NESA scholarship portal to apply when it opens in December. 

Not An Eagle Scout? Other Things Can Help 

If you’re not an Eagle Scout, you can still craft an impactful and competitive college application. Being affiliated with the Scouts BSA organization, in general, can still add value to your application if you explain the merit badges you’ve earned and any other impacts you’ve made in communities. 

If you’re not involved with the Scouts BSA at all, you can showcase your volunteer services in your extracurricular activities list. Think about where you’ve volunteered your time, what you did, and how your actions or involvement benefited other people. 

Remember, extracurricular activities are not limited to organizational work. Taking on a more prominent role in the home or offering to babysit neighborhood children counts toward community involvement, too. 

Whether you’re an Eagle Scout or not, your essays are a critical aspect of any college application. College admissions essays humanize your application and show who you are beyond your grades, test scores, and accomplishments. 

Essays are often the differentiation factor between applicants with similar qualifications, so ensure your narratives are vibrant and polished before you click “Submit.” 

Choose highly personal experiences that impacted your character, beliefs, or thought processes. Demonstrating growth shows admissions committees you’re an open-minded and compassionate candidate. 

Finally, do everything you can to raise your GPA and reinforce your test scores before applying to colleges. Remember, an Eagle Scout rank by itself isn’t enough to cover poor grades or other holes in your application. Boosting your GPA always bolsters your application and performing well on your tests showcases your academic aptitude and college readiness. 

Eagle Scout for College FAQs

If you still have questions about how being an Eagle Scout helps with college admissions and more, read on! 

1. How Do I Become an Eagle Scout? 

To become an Eagle Scout , you must progress through seven ranksScout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, and Life. You must earn at least 21 merit badges, serve six months in a position of responsibility, and attend a Scoutmaster conference as a Life Scout. 

Finally, you must “plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or their community.” After you’ve met all these requirements, you must complete your board of review to become an Eagle Scout. 

2. How Important Is Being an Eagle Scout to Colleges?

Being an Eagle Scout is a big deal to colleges. Many schools value Eagle Scouts because they know they’ve learned specialized skills, display positive character traits, and are capable leaders. Your Eagle Scout status is an excellent way to add more differentiation to your application. 

3. How Do I Put Eagle Scout on My Resume? 

Your Eagle Scout status should be at the top of your extracurricular activities section on your resume. Putting “Eagle Scout” on your resume means more than just writing down your rank. You should add context about your Eagle Scout project , troop leadership responsibilities, and a point that shows a character trait catering to the role you’re applying to. 

4. How Do I Write College Essays as an Eagle Scout? 

Application essays require time, effort, and likely more than a few drafts to reach a final product. Writing about the experiences leading up to your Eagle Scout rank can make a great essay if your story is creative and well-constructed. 

Remember to show your passion, critical thinking skills, and self-awareness. Don’t get caught up in just retelling a story; ensure you’re analyzing how the experience shaped you into who you are today and why it makes you an excellent candidate. 

If you’re unsure how to structure your essay, looking at Eagle Scout essay examples can help inform and inspire your writing process.

5. Which Colleges Offer Eagle Scout Scholarships? 

Some colleges offer school-specific Eagle Scout scholarships , including: 

• University of Mississippi
• Abilene Christian University
• Florida Institute of Technology
• Lipscomb University
• Hampden-Sydney College

Ensure you check whether the schools you want to apply to offer Eagle Scout scholarships.

6. I’m an Eagle Scout Who Needs Help Applying for College: Who Do I Ask?

The college application is lengthy and can be a somewhat nerve-wracking experience for Eagle Scouts, even though you’ve had experience compiling applications. An admissions consultant can help you make the most of your application and ensure your experiences and qualifications that make you unique are emphasized. 

Beyond application content, they have the know-how to tailor your application to what specific admissions committees seek most. If you want to boost your chances of acceptance (especially at top-ranked schools), an admissions expert can give you a competitive edge.

Final Thoughts 

Your Eagle Scout rank shows admissions committees your ability to commit long-term, that you possess positive character traits, and you have multiple transferable skills to help you through the college experience. 

While being an Eagle Scout won’t cover any holes in your application, it can take an already well-rounded application from good to excellent. 

Remember to contextualize your experiences and qualifications in your resume, extracurricular activities list, or essays. Your Eagle Scout rank is a fantastic accomplishment that deserves space on your college applications. 

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The experience of being a scout ; Eagle Scout rank

polaris 2 / 4   Oct 10, 2011   #1 Hi, I'm working on my common app college essay and I need some help with my ideas. I'm a Boy Scout right now, and in November I will finish my project and receive my Eagle Scout rank, but it's hard for me to fully flush out what it has changed about me. The experience of being a scout has changed me profoundly and made me a better person, but is it too generic? I'm applying the Northwestern University by the way. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

richard35568 6 / 14   Oct 10, 2011   #2 well, i think you could write down some specific examples about how the boyscout experience reshaped ur personality and changed ur value system. Also, google what quality of students that university need and illustrate related experience to meet that need. g'd luck anyway!

Lovemedoosie 3 / 12   Oct 10, 2011   #3 Perhaps this is just my style of writing, but I have NEVER gone by the book. Honestly, I would avoid (at all costs) using Boy Scouts as a way to dicuss leadership. Try to stay away from "Participating in Boy Scouts has instilled within me leadership skills..." Any college admissions reader can finish that essay without even reading the rest of it. If you want to stand out, relax. So many of us applying try to impress colleges with what we think they want to hear. I actually disagree with Richard (^)... don't Google anything. Chances are, other students are doing the same. I wish I could help with specifics, but something I gleaned from one of my college advisor's infamous diatribes: Colleges don't care what you write about. They care about the voice you use. A good writer can turn ANY topic into something interesting, just as bad writer can turn any dramatic topic into something awful. When beginning your essay, start in the MIDDLE of the situation. Never start by restating the question they are asking you. Personally, I never directly answer the question or repeat aspects of it. It seems a little too cookie-cutter for me. Let me know how it goes!! I wish I could be more help! I'm sorry. );

trishhha 8 / 23   Oct 10, 2011   #4 @Lovemedoosie just read your reply and it was actually helpful for me too. thats great advice :) I tried avoiding the same old topics and experimented with a silly topic. its the essay I wrote for UNC. if you have time, could you please take a look and comment?

Lovemedoosie 3 / 12   Oct 10, 2011   #5 I'm on it. :) We're actually applying to some of the same schools! @polaris, when you're done with your essay, post it!! I'd actually love to read it and see how it turns out!

JF123 1 / 1   Oct 10, 2011   #6 I know how you feel, I've been a Boy Scout my whole life, and its hard for me to imagine how it has shaped me because I can't imagine my life without it. I think the best of doing an essay about the Boy Scouts is to pick One memory that stands out to you and write about that. For instance in my application I'm writing about how the BSA taught me to lead by talking about the first major leadership position I held ( an awful, awful day). But please post the essay when your done I'd love to read it.

foxbody 1 / 3   Oct 10, 2011   #7 You can write how it changed you and how you percieve it may help other youths from getting involved in the darker parts of life i.e. gangs, drugs. You can elaborate on how it helped you get through some hard times during your life, or what path you would have taken in life had you never joined the scouts.

OP polaris 2 / 4   Oct 11, 2011   #8 @Lovemedoosie Thanks for the ideas, I'm currently working on the Boy Scout essay right now, but I have another topic I'm considering. It goes along with what you said about using any topic, even a silly one. I have this theory that I'm the only person that exists, not to be egotistical, I just thought it was interesting how everything could be a projection of my mind. I've thought a lot about it and I don't think many people can say they have. What do you think?

Lovemedoosie 3 / 12   Oct 11, 2011   #9 That sounds like a really good idea :) I know what you're talking about. Except I feel as if I'm in a video game and someone is controlling everything? Anyway. That's irrelevant. I think that would be a really interesting topic, and definitely something college admissions don't run into often. I'd love to see it! Good luck! :)

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How to include Scouting experience on a job or college application

Five letters can say a whole lot.

By simply calling someone a “Scout,” you’re saying that person has strong moral character, is confident in the outdoors and has experience leading a team.

In fact, the Scouting name is so synonymous with positive attributes that master storyteller Stephen King included BSA references in more than half of his novels to date.

But there are some places where less isn’t more — where simply calling yourself a Scout won’t quite cut it.

When completing an application for college or a job, it’s not enough to just list Scouting as one of a half-dozen bullet points on your résumé. You need to explain the significance of that experience and how it shaped you.

That’s not just me talking. That’s the advice of the college admissions professionals we contacted last month for this comprehensive look at how colleges weigh an applicant’s Eagle Scout status when reviewing applications.

“While identifying oneself as an Eagle Scout is important, it is also critical to provide detailed information,” says Brandie Eneks, director of freshman admissions at Texas A&M University. “The essay provides a platform for Eagle Scouts to share any unique experiences they’ve had through Scouting.”

When you elaborate about your awards, leadership opportunities, volunteer hours and hands-on experiences, you’ll bring your Scouting experience into sharp focus and make your application soar to the top of the pile.

This advice isn’t just for Eagle Scouts

We spend a lot of time on this blog spotlighting the accomplishments of Eagle Scouts — and with good reason. These young people worked hard to complete the requirements for the highest honor in Scouts BSA.

But the Eagle Scout Award isn’t the sole mark of a Scouting experience worth including on an application. Even if your involvement in Scouting spanned a year or two, you had life-changing experiences worth sharing.

Below, we’ll show you how.

Why context matters

So why isn’t it enough to just list that you’re an Eagle Scout or spent however many years in a pack, troop, ship or crew?

Because colleges and employers want more than the “what.” They also want the “so what?”

Check out these excerpts from two fake-but-realistic résumés — both from the exact same Scout. Which reference to Scouting looks more impressive?

As Scouters, we know what it means to have four years of Scouting experience. It goes without saying that the young person completed service projects, earned merit badges and held leadership roles during that span.

But how would an application reader or hiring manager know that? They wouldn’t, so you have to show them.

Where should you include Scouting experience?

Job applications

• On your résumé: Under volunteer experience, include an overview of your Scouting accomplishments. If you worked a paid job — at summer camp, for example — list that separately.
• Example 1: “I spent four years as a Scout in Troop 123. As senior patrol leader, I learned how to overcome setbacks, lead my peers and work in a productive team.”
• Example 2: “Sunset was just an hour away, but that night’s campsite was still 10 miles down the trail. As the leader of this group of Scouts — someone elected to get the job done — I had a decision to make.”

College applications

• In your application: Every college says they take a holistic approach to admissions, meaning they look at everything you send — not just your GPA and test scores. This means you’ll want to include your Scouting experience under sections like volunteer experience or extracurricular activities. If you’re given space to do so, include a few highlights (see the section “Why context matters” above).
• In your essay: Find the university’s mission statement. Which of the university’s stated values align closest with the values you learned in Scouting? In that overlap, you might find inspiration for your essay. If the university values innovation, talk about the time you invented a camp gadget using only the materials in your troop trailer. If the university values leadership, write about the way you led a group of Scouts on a 50-mile hike across rugged terrain.

How to spotlight service projects

Eagle Scout service projects check so many boxes. They show that the young person can manage a multifaceted project, create a budget, lead others and commit themselves to something that takes months to complete. All that, and we haven’t even mentioned the impact on the community.

If you’re an Eagle Scout, your service project should be included in your résumé or application. It also might form the backbone for a cover letter or admissions essay. Tell how you planned, developed and gave leadership to a project that required you to juggle a number of different priorities.

If you aren’t an Eagle Scout, choose any memorable community service project. Describe how the project ignited a passion for selfless service.

These words can be more impactful when paired with numbers, so include how many hours of volunteer time you’ve devoted to Scouting.

If you think it would help, you could also include the “value of volunteer time” calculation, available here . The nonprofit group Independent Sector has determined that each hour you volunteered in 2020 is worth $27.20 to the nation. If you have accumulated 100 hours of service in your Scouting career, that service is worth $2,720.

How to describe leadership experience

Scouting is unique among extracurriculars because it’s truly led by the youth. Make this as clear as possible by sharing how, as senior patrol leader or patrol leader, you planned an entire year of activities, including meetings, campouts and a weeklong canoeing trip.

This advice isn’t just for Scouts with two or three green bars on their sleeves. On a job application, describe how, as quartermaster, you prepared a detailed inventory for $3,000 in troop camping equipment. Or tell in a college essay how, as troop historian, you conducted interviews and historical research to prepare a video celebrating your troop’s 100th anniversary.

How to explain merit badges

The depth of a young person’s Scouting involvement will impress recruiters and application readers. These days, it’s exceedingly rare for young people to be involved in something for more than a year or two.

But the breadth of experiences available in Scouting deserve attention, as well. Every time a Scout earns a merit badge, they gain skills in a subject area with real-world value.

Employers want to hire people who have many talents and can adapt to the ever-changing needs of the workplace.

Colleges want to admit people who demonstrate a range of skills and show a willingness to learn new things.

Share both the number of merit badges you earned and a few specific examples. I’m a big fan of sets of three, so I recommend including a curated trio. But don’t just pick the first three you completed or even those you believe to be the most impressive.

Choose merit badges that demonstrate your skills have more applications than a Swiss Army knife. If you earned a merit badge that has a direct link to the job or university, include that one for sure.

For example, if you’re applying for an after-school job at a pet store and have earned the Pets merit badge, list it. If you’re hoping to major in anthropology and earned the American Cultures merit badge, be sure to say so.

How to include high-adventure experiences

No college or employer wants to read about your vacation. So it’s a good thing your high-adventure experiences are anything but a lazy week at the beach.

Scouting trips lasting a week or longer are memorable for more than the trips themselves. They require months (or years) of planning, training and fundraising.

The story isn’t that you got to go kayaking in Alaska or hiking along the Appalachian Trail. It’s about everything leading up to the trip. It’s about the hurdles you overcame along the way. It’s about how you came back changed forever.

Three other quick tips

• Don’t rely on jargon . Don’t assume everyone knows common Scouting terms like “merit badge,” “senior patrol leader” or “National Jamboree.” Briefly explain why these mattered to you.
• But don’t leave out keywords, either . Building off that previous point, you also don’t want to totally omit Scouting keywords. This is especially important as some employers move to computerized résumé scanners that automatically organize and rate applicants. If you’re an Eagle Scout but only say that you “earned the highest award in the Boy Scouts of America,” the employer might overlook the honor completely.
• Plan for the interview, too . If you make it to a job interview (or if a college on your list conducts applicant interviews), consider how your Scouting experience might be showcased verbally. Interviewers often use your résumé to find icebreakers, and your time in Scouting might be what they choose. Be Prepared to tell your Scouting story by rehearsing it with friends or family.

By following these steps, you’ll demonstrate to the hiring manager or college admissions counselor that Scouting isn’t just another extracurricular activity. It’s a movement that prepares young people for life.

Inspire Leadership, Foster Values: Donate to Scouting

When you give to Scouting, you are making it possible for young people to have extraordinary opportunities that will allow them to embrace their true potential and become the remarkable individuals they are destined to be.

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Boy Scouts — Eagle Scout: Strengthening Leadership Skills

Eagle Scout: Strengthening Leadership Skills

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Published: Apr 17, 2023

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