<p>So I am nearly finished with my Duke app, but I haven’t done the question about a ‘significant research activity.’ I was wondering if Boys’ State could be considered one of these, otherwise I am done lol :)</p>
<p>@kevination</p>
<p>If the Boy’s State you are referring to is the one sponsored by the American Legion I wouldn’t think it would necessarily be a “research activity.” It was a lot of fun and all, but I really don’t see how it fits exactly. If your experience was anything like mine it was mainly a week filled with interesting (albeit a few cutthroat) individuals. I included it somewhere on my application in a relatively obscure spot because I don’t really think it matters that much. It may be an invitation only program etc. but so many guys go I really doubt it will impact a decision. Boy’s Nation on the other hand is kind of a big deal, so I would definitely make that more prominent if you were lucky enough to attend</p>
<p>Research does not imply lab research. I’ve done a lot of business type research, like marketing research as an intern at Microsoft. I’m not.sure what kind of research you could have done at Boy’s state.</p>
<p>The Blue Devil would like to answer all your questions, and it seems like this one is perfect for me! Boys’ State, as amazing as it may be, does not qualify as research. As an ALJBS junior counselor and former Boys’ State Senate President (me) will tell you, the American Legion Boys’ State program is an academic summit targeted at rising seniors in high school aimed to develop leadership qualities, public speaking proficiency, and awareness of American citizenship as well as political procedures. The experience is meant to stimulate delegates through exposure and involvement in American-system-styled politics. However, this does not qualify as quantitative research yielding any measurable evidence. I’m glad to hear that your Boys’ State experience was good, however, and I wish you the best of luck in your application!</p>
<p>How about the New Jersey Scholars Program? I wrote a 15 page paper and could provide an abstract I wrote or something for it. Or even the whole thing, though I doubt they’d want that much. It’s a highly competitive summer program, and the research was the highlight of the 5 week experience. Your opinion?</p>
<p>It’s amazing how many of you have already followed The Blue Devil’s footsteps! I would qualify the NJSP as a research opportunity seeing as you often perform quantitative research and analysis that culminates to Journal-styled piece. I would qualify this as research, though it is not as intensive as other programs–whether you mention that in your application is your choice. Regardless, I strongly hope you have brought up the experience in either/both in your interview or/and in your academic supplement. Furthermore, I hope you have sought out recommendations from one of the professors that knows you personally from the experience. The alma maters of those professors often give an advantage to applicants–in my research, Harvard actually values personal faculty recommendations as highly as athletic recruits. I found that information in the website of the “Harvard Summer School” sham. How much weight that actually carries, I have no idea.</p>
<p>Keep in mind, none of you are admission’s officers, so not being able to clearly distinguish these type of things is not a negative. No one in admissions will look at you and say “Bah, this ardent mislabeling of this NJSP makes this applicant worthless to Duke!” (Note: we may have Winnie Churchill in admissions. Spoiler: We don’t) That won’t happen. They understand that this is one of the most nerve-racking experiences in your pre-18/19 life and are expecting small, small errors like that. Congratulations on your NJSP experience; I hope you enjoyed it! Good luck!</p>