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So as I finished writing up my final eagle project application (6 hours before my 18th birthday lol) I started to wonder, how much weight does something like an eagle award hold in the real world?
Say what you wan about the organization. I personally don't agree with a lot of their principles, but I do appreciate the experiences and skills scouting was able to give me. And really, it does feel good to have achieved atleast one significant thing in a teenage life largely filled with excessive partying/video game playing. And it did give me something worthwhile to write about on my college essay.
While in the program the always told us how prestigeous eagle is and how it helps out on resumes and applications. But to be honest in the back of my mind I always thought this was almost used as a sort of propaganda to keep you in.
So I figured atleast a few people might have experience working with this on TL. Does the eagle scout award basically hold any weight in the real world? Can it help on applications etc?
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Hrmmm well I'm an Eagle Scout, and I put it on my college applications.
Almost everyone I've ever met who found out I was an Eagle Scout was significantly impressed with what I had done to earn the rank, and all of my teachers and my school counselor said it would come in handy come college app time.
Close call with your finishing 6 hours before you turn 18, dude! I got mine with time to spare. ^_^
Also I remember hearing from an Air Force recruiter that holding the Eagle rank gives you like, the first two ranks or something in the Air Force...I was 6 when I heard this so I kind of don't remember. But there are certain organizations that recognize the skills and experience that scouting has imparted upon you, and reward that accordingly.
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For the most part I don't think the average person cares whether or not you're an eagle scout. There are, however, a few of perks that come with it. Like punchabird said, if you ever go into the armed forces, you automatically start a few ranks ahead of everyone else. I think there's also auto insurance discounts offered from certain companies; not too sure which ones. Probably a few more tangible ones, but those are the only ones I know.
I think there's 2 really good things about being an eagle scout. The first: when I run into other eagle scouts, we can talk about being in scouting, being an eagle scout, etc, and basically network effectively over that one fact. Most of the time, if they're an eagle scout, they'll be worth talking to (someone who can help you out in life, as well as just cool to talk to).
The second is, like you said, the skills and experience that I got from being in scouting. A lot of people lack pretty important skills like discipline, responsibility, etc; all the soft skills scouting tries to impart on you. Pretty damn important.
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I gotta go with puncha here. In my first job interview after college, my employer specifically brought up the fact that I was an Eagle Scout, and I got the job.
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On January 21 2011 14:10 pullarius1 wrote:
I gotta go with puncha here. In my first job interview after college, my employer specifically brought up the fact that I was an Eagle Scout, and I got the job.
Immediately? Or did you talk about anything else?
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I was always told being an eagle scout is something that is difficult to do and is very good for you overall.
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I got a full ride scholarship to school because of it. I also have much better chance to fly in the air force because of it. It is a big thing, i received mine when i was 16 and got 4 palms so i was all set. Scouting is fun depending on who you do it with, luckily i did scouting with a bunch of my friends so we kicked backed, yelled at the younger kids and played sports, made every event fun.
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I agree with punchabird and milikan and I sympathize with having only a few hours to finish up that report. I'm sure you're feeling extremely relieved to have it done after waiting until the last moment
Seeing scouting through to Eagle is one thing I will certainly never regret. i wouldn't have gotten into the school of my dreams without it either.
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On January 21 2011 14:24 Diader wrote:Show nested quote +On January 21 2011 14:10 pullarius1 wrote:
I gotta go with puncha here. In my first job interview after college, my employer specifically brought up the fact that I was an Eagle Scout, and I got the job. Immediately? Or did you talk about anything else?
I don't really remember :-/ I think it was sometime after she had already decided I was probably a good candidate.
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First of all, congrats on your achievement! Its pretty tough going all the way.
As for real world application, I can definitely say it has helped in things like college applications (interviewers were always impressed with this achievement). It definitely lets people know that you have the dedication to stick to something all the way through.
I haven't had too much experience with how it holds up in job interviews, but I will find out soon as I'm starting to interview for summer internships.
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There was also this one time when my friend got pulled over by a police officer, and he had conveniently placed his Eagle Scout card underneath his driver's license in the pocket of his wallet.
Once the cop saw that my friend was an Eagle, he let him go. =P
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I am in college, first year. Other than putting it on any apps to schools, i havnt found any of the perks people talk about. I am very proud of it while the common person you talk to wont give two shits about it... All i have to say is congrats man!
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I figure it just depends on the luck of the draw for whoever is going over your applications. If you get someone who thinks it's a big deal, congratulations! But at the same time, I'm also sure there are people who would judge your applications and not really care about it at all. Like I said, it all depends on the person's opinion on the Eagle Scouts, unless it's some kind of policy.
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Great job! pretty sure its helped me get my first internship, and to get into college 
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I agree with how you feel, scouting has some MAJOR pitfalls. But putting together a budget, getting a plan approved, helping the community, and leading a team of people...these might seem like small things, but an eagle award means you did all of these before you were 18. The rank of eagle means you demonstrated all of these skills to a decently high standard while your peers were doing whatever the person hiring you thinks teenagers do. Its meaning and its usefulness will become more and more apparent as time progresses and if a person doesn't care about this then they don't matter to your livelihood. Pretty much you'll be following some variation of this formula the rest of your life, whether for yourself or a big company.
Sincerely,
A fellow eagle scout
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EPT
