Boys State and Girls State programs guide | RISE Research

TL;DR: Boys State and Girls State are selective civic leadership programs run by the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary. They simulate state government, develop leadership skills, and carry real weight in college applications. Each program lasts about one week and is held on a college campus in each state. Acceptance is competitive and typically requires a school nomination. This Boys State and Girls State programs guide covers format, selectivity, application tips, and how published research strengthens the profile of students who attend. Our deadline is closing soon.

Introduction

Boys State and Girls State programs have produced two U.S. Presidents, multiple Supreme Court Justices, and hundreds of senators and governors. This Boys State and Girls State programs guide exists because most students hear about these programs through a single school nomination and have almost no time to prepare. Understanding what the programs involve, what selection committees look for, and how to build a competitive profile before you are nominated makes a measurable difference.

The challenge is that civic leadership programs like these reward students who can demonstrate genuine intellectual depth, not just enthusiasm. A nomination gets you in the room. What you bring to that room determines your outcomes, including whether you are selected as a delegate to Boys Nation or Girls Nation, the national-level follow-on program held in Washington, D.C.

Students who arrive with published research, demonstrated analytical thinking, and the ability to argue a position with evidence stand out. RISE Research is a selective 1-on-1 mentorship program where high school students produce peer-reviewed published papers under PhD mentors from Ivy League and Oxbridge institutions. That kind of verifiable academic output builds exactly the intellectual foundation that Boys State and Girls State reward.

What Are Boys State and Girls State, and Who Are They For?

Boys State and Girls State are week-long civic education programs for rising high school seniors. Boys State is run by the American Legion; Girls State is run by the American Legion Auxiliary. Both programs simulate the operation of state government, with students forming political parties, running for office, and passing legislation.

Boys State was founded in 1935 in Illinois. Girls State followed in 1937. Both programs now operate in nearly every U.S. state, with each state running its own independent session on a college campus. Participation is free for most delegates, with the American Legion or its Auxiliary covering costs in the majority of states.

The programs target students who have completed their junior year of high school. Most delegates are nominated by their school, a local American Legion post, or a community organization. Not every student who wants to attend can simply apply. Nomination is the entry point, and schools typically nominate their most academically strong and civically engaged students.

Boys Nation and Girls Nation are the national follow-on programs. Each state program sends two delegates to Washington, D.C., where they meet members of Congress and engage in federal-level simulation. Selection as a Boys Nation or Girls Nation delegate is among the most competitive civic honors available to a high school student in the United States.

How Do Boys State and Girls State Programs Work?

Both programs run for approximately one week on a college campus. Students are divided into cities, counties, and political parties. They campaign for office, debate legislation, and vote on policy. The simulation mirrors actual state government structure, including judicial, legislative, and executive branches.

The format varies by state, but the core structure is consistent. Students arrive, receive orientation, form parties, and immediately begin campaigning. Elections happen within days. Students who win office govern the simulated state. Those who do not win elected positions participate as legislators, judges, or party officials.

Debate is central to both programs. Students argue policy positions, draft bills, and defend their positions in front of peers. Strong public speaking and the ability to construct a logical argument are essential. Students who have experience writing and defending original research, as RISE scholars do through the peer-review process, are better equipped for this environment than students who have only practiced debate in a classroom setting.

At the end of the program, each state selects two delegates for Boys Nation or Girls Nation. Selection criteria vary by state but consistently reward students who demonstrated leadership, articulated clear positions, and engaged substantively with the policy process.

How Competitive Are Boys State and Girls State Programs?

Competitiveness varies by state. In larger states such as California, Texas, and New York, the number of nominees far exceeds available spots. In smaller states, acceptance rates are higher, but the quality of delegates remains strong because nomination itself is selective.

Most high schools nominate one or two students per year for each program. That means the initial filter happens at the school level. Students who receive nominations are already among the strongest candidates their school has identified. The program then selects from that pool.

There is no published national acceptance rate for Boys State or Girls State. Acceptance depends on the number of spots available in each state session, the number of nominations received, and the selection criteria used by each state's American Legion or Auxiliary chapter.

What makes a strong candidate? Consistent academic performance, demonstrated leadership in school or community, and the ability to articulate a clear civic perspective. Students with published research have an additional advantage: they can point to a specific, externally verified intellectual contribution. RISE scholars arrive with a peer-reviewed paper in hand, which is a concrete signal of analytical depth that most nominees cannot match. RISE carries a 90% publication success rate, and mentors are published in 40+ academic journals. See the full range of RISE scholar publications to understand what that looks like in practice.

What Do Boys State and Girls State Programs Actually Involve?

A typical week begins with orientation and party formation. Students meet peers from across their state, many of whom they are immediately competing against for elected positions. Campaigns begin within the first 24 hours. Students write platform statements, give speeches, and canvass for votes among their fellow delegates.

Once elections conclude, the simulated government begins operating. Legislators draft bills. Executives manage departments. Judges hear cases. Every student has a role, and the pace is intensive. Sessions run from early morning through evening. Students are evaluated not just on whether they win elections but on how they engage with the process.

The program produces no formal academic output. There is no published paper, no graded project, and no certificate that carries independent verification. The value is experiential: students develop public speaking ability, policy reasoning, and civic confidence. These are genuine and important skills.

For college applications, Boys State and Girls State participation is a strong extracurricular signal. Nomination alone is worth noting. Selection as a Boys Nation or Girls Nation delegate is a significant honor. But participation does not produce a verifiable academic output that appears independently in a college application.

Published research does. Every RISE scholar who completes the program produces a peer-reviewed paper that appears directly in the Common App Activities section. That paper exists independently of the application and can be read by any admissions officer. See RISE admissions outcomes for the data on how published research affects acceptance rates at top universities.

How RISE Research Compares for Students Targeting Selective Programs

Boys State and Girls State reward civic engagement, leadership, and policy reasoning. RISE Research rewards intellectual depth, original thinking, and the ability to produce a rigorous academic argument. These are not competing goals. They are complementary ones.

Students who complete RISE Research before or alongside Boys State and Girls State arrive with a specific advantage: they have already experienced the process of forming a precise argument, defending it under expert scrutiny, and producing a published output. That experience translates directly into stronger debate performance, more credible platform statements, and more confident engagement with policy simulation.

RISE is fully online, available to any student in any state, and runs on a 10-week timeline. The program pairs each student with a PhD mentor in their chosen subject area. Students produce a peer-reviewed paper published in one of 40+ academic journals. The 90% publication success rate is verified and consistent.

For college applications, the combination of Boys State or Girls State participation and a published RISE paper is significantly stronger than either alone. Boys State signals civic leadership. A published paper signals intellectual contribution. Together, they demonstrate a student who leads and thinks at a high level.

RISE scholars have achieved an 18% acceptance rate to Stanford, compared to 8.7% for the general applicant pool. The UPenn acceptance rate for RISE scholars is 32%, compared to 3.8% for the general pool. Explore the RISE mentor network to see the depth of expertise available to students. Our deadline is closing soon. Book a free Research Assessment to find out what is achievable in your timeline.

RISE Research is open to students preparing for Boys State, Girls State, or any selective civic or academic program. Our deadline is closing soon. Book a free Research Assessment to find out what is achievable in your timeline.

How Do Boys State and Girls State Help With College Admissions?

Participation in Boys State or Girls State is a recognized and respected extracurricular signal. Admissions officers at selective universities are familiar with both programs and understand what nomination and selection represent. Being selected as a Boys Nation or Girls Nation delegate is a national-level honor that carries significant weight.

In the Common App, Boys State and Girls State participation belongs in the Activities section. Students should describe their role specifically: which offices they ran for, which legislation they drafted, and what outcomes they achieved. Vague descriptions reduce impact. Specific descriptions, including any leadership roles or delegate selections, strengthen the entry.

The limitation is that participation alone does not produce an externally verifiable academic output. Admissions officers read about Boys State participation regularly. A published research paper is rarer and more specific. Students who combine civic program participation with published research present a profile that is both leadership-credible and academically verified. For more on how to position academic achievements in applications, see this guide on avoiding common mistakes on the Common App personal statement.

Frequently Asked Questions About Boys State and Girls State Programs

How do I get nominated for Boys State or Girls State?

Nominations come from your school, a local American Legion post, or a community organization. Talk to your school counselor or a teacher who knows your civic involvement. Most nominations happen in the spring of junior year. Demonstrating academic strength, leadership, and community engagement increases your chances of being nominated.

Are Boys State and Girls State free to attend?

In most states, yes. The American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary cover program costs for the majority of delegates, including housing and meals during the week-long session. Some states may have nominal fees. Check with your state's American Legion chapter for exact details, as costs vary by state.

Do Boys State and Girls State help with college admissions?

Yes, meaningfully. Both programs are recognized by admissions officers at selective universities. Selection as a Boys Nation or Girls Nation delegate carries particular weight. Participation signals civic leadership and is worth listing specifically in the Common App Activities section with concrete details about your role and contributions.

What is the application deadline for Boys State and Girls State?

Deadlines vary by state and are set by each state's American Legion or Auxiliary chapter. Most programs hold their sessions in late spring or early fall of the year following nomination. Contact your local American Legion post or school counselor for the specific timeline in your state. Nominations typically open in winter or early spring of junior year.

What are the best alternatives if I do not get nominated or accepted to Boys State or Girls State?

RISE Research is the strongest alternative for students who want a verifiable, application-ready outcome. RISE produces a peer-reviewed published paper under 1-on-1 PhD mentorship, with a 90% publication success rate. That paper appears directly in the Common App and is externally verified. Other options include Close Up Washington, Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership, and state-level model legislature programs, all of which provide civic engagement experience without a published academic output.

Conclusion

Boys State and Girls State are among the most respected civic leadership programs available to high school students in the United States. Nomination is competitive. Selection as a Boys Nation or Girls Nation delegate is a national honor. Both programs develop real skills and carry genuine weight in college applications.

RISE Research strengthens the profile of students who attend these programs and provides a guaranteed verifiable output for students who want more than a certificate. Published research and civic leadership together create an application profile that is both intellectually credible and leadership-verified. Explore RISE scholar research projects to see what students in your subject area have produced. You can also review what top colleges in the United States look for to understand how these achievements fit together.

Our deadline is closing soon. If you are a student preparing for Boys State, Girls State, or any selective program and want a real research outcome on your application, schedule a free Research Assessment and we will tell you exactly what is achievable in your timeline.