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Why I Applied for All-American and Why You Should, Too!

Written by Frank Pobutkiewicz

I'm the founder/Managing Director of the All-American Model UN Programs! If you have any questions, please email [email protected]. Happy MUNing!

February 26, 2018

Why I Applied for All-American and Why You Should, Too!

We reached out to our alumni and asked them, “Why did you apply for be an All-American?” This is how they answered that question, and also maybe why you should apply, too!

I applied to All-American because the opportunity to be part of a team with students from across the U.S. while exploring my passions in a new nation was one that I couldn’t let slip away.”

-Laura Chu, Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology, University of Pennsylvania

“I applied to All-American because I was addicted to Model U.N. While MUN is an activity to fill the resume to some, the friends you will make traveling, competing, and laughing/crying after closing ceremonies are most likely Model U.N junkies too. All-American gave me experiences I would have never had otherwise in high school. From exploring the street markets of Beijing, discovering Ceviche in Panama City, to Frank’s walking tour of Budapest, All-American is more than a Model U.N. program, but a community of MUN enthusiasts who become your family. I applied to feed my addiction, but gained practical, real-life skills, my best friend (shoutout to Eliza Hoang), and a life-long mentor.”

-Jennifer Min, McLean High School, Syracuse University

“I applied after one of the people I befriended at a smaller MUN conference at Rutgers ended up recommending this program. Although I was primarily a tech person, with MUN as a hobby, I thought this would be a lot of fun, and I was not disappointed. This was an amazing and eye-opening experience, even for those of you who (like me) treated MUN as a passing interest rather than a career focus.”

-Vineet Pakirh, Watchung Regional Hills High School, Cornell University

“I saw All-American as a way to grow my own analytical and debate skills, and ended up finding both academic enrichment and a new group of friends that I still keep in touch with today”.

-Bobby Hobart, Bay School of San Francisco, Dartmouth College

“I heard about All-American from a friend at school, Eliza, who went on the Beijing trip in 2015. She told me that she made some of her closest friends on that trip and she was blessed with a supportive community. Seeing her connecting with All-American alumni on our school trips and her success in MUN prompted me to apply”

-Lily Liu, The Loomis Chaffee School, Stanford University

“I applied on a whim, with zero expectation of getting accepted to the program. And when I attended my first conference as part of the All-American delegation, I had zero idea of what this would mean to me in the coming years. Yes, the Model UN advice was helpful and the traveling was fun. But more important than anything, I met close friends and mentors that I know will stay part of my life for years to come. All-American is more than just a team; it is a community. Apply not just for the Model UN, but for the people who do it.”

-Rose Jacobs, Walter Payton College Prep, Columbia University Dual Degree Program

“…probably the only thing I did in high school that wasn’t a mistake.”

-Roshan Shelley, JP Stevens High School, Rutgers University

“More than anything, I applied to the All-American team because I wanted to see where Model UN could take me. I wanted to interact with and learn from kids brought up in totally different worlds, with vastly different experiences—with whom I shared little more than a passion for MUN. I sought an authentic, unparalleled, and thrilling adventure; and the trip delivered.”

-Alex Nerhbass, Lexington High School, McGill University

I originally applied to be an All-American because my high school didn’t offer many opportunities to participate in Model UN simulations. I wanted to become a better delegate, and I knew Frank and his team would teach me how to become a more effective negotiator and leader. Because of Frank, I came to love Model UN and I now enjoy competing on the college circuit.”

-Sara Van Velkinburgh, St. Mary’s Academy, Boston University

“MUN always started off as a way to talk to my friends but has evolved into something so much more–it has changed me as a person. Becoming more open, confident, and knowledgeable. All American provided an opportunity to do that in many unique areas and is easily the best decision I made.”

-Aditya Iyengar, Wootton High School, NYU Stern

Regular Deadline: March 15th

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