I'm an avid mun-er (model united nations!)
Except, I haven't much opportunity to participate. My college has a rule that first year girl students CANNOT participate in ANY events whatsoever, so I missed out on a lot of opportunities back then. I managed to attend my first mun this August. I went on a leave for 6 days from college (I'm in second year now). My father ruled out the possibility of attending any other events this year (there were two: one in October and the other this month I was hoping to participate in).
He has concerns over my academics.
I agreed, and he said I could participate in one next year.
I have my eyes set on another MUN being held in another city in January, where I'll be missing only 2 days of college.
HE REFUSED!
He asked me to stick to events held in my university.
1. events in my university are SEVERELY biased
2. the standard of debating here isn't that high
3. I plan to pursue my mba after my btech degree. Either way, he's pretty old school and does not realize how important it is for me to sharpen my skills and learn while I can.
This time, these opportunities WILL NOT COME BACK TO ME!
Moreover, I am focused on my academics and easily made up for the 6 day leave.
Plus, there are countless examples of students who got nowhere despite 10 point gpa's and ABSOLUTELY NO SKILLS WHATSOEVER.
Help. I'm panicking as right now.

What skills does a MUN give you?

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

What skills does a MUN give you?

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1.It takes more than good grades and strong test scores to get into competitive colleges today. I'm aiming for a dual degree in stanford after completing my engineering degree, masters in science and business administration.

2. It is a fun way to learn about the world we live in today. Researching on a country that you're assigned, big or small: having fun makes it easier to learn something and more likely to stick.

3.It develops leadership skills. MUN is an exercise in research, public speaking, and teamwork. These are skills that I will need throughout my career, and MUN gives me a chance to practice them while I'm still a student.

4. Admissions officers and job interviewers look for examples of leadership, and my experiences as a delegate or conference organizer will be good examples. I will also develop a network of alumni from my MUN club and people I’ve met at conferences.

The ability to critically think takes a huge step forward. It goes beyond just hanging out with people. Anyone can do that anywhere. It comes down to truly understanding the people and nations of the world through their always evolving daily challenges.

~ Travelling is something I love. So two things I love, with one shot? #win.
~You meet new people.
~I love to raise my placard and speak, simple as that. To be out in the arena defending my country out on the last limb: nothing compares.

PS.
Q: Why should I participate in Model United Nations?

A: You should participate in Model U.N. because it promotes student and teacher interest in international relations and related subjects, increases the capacity for students to engage in problem solving, teaches aspects of conflict resolution, research skills, and communication skills, and creates the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.

Q: What are some of the educational benefits of Model United Nations?

A: For over 50 years now, teachers and students have benefited from and enjoyed this interactive learning experience. It not only involves young people in the study and discussion of global issues, but also encourages the development of skills useful throughout their lives, such as research, writing, public speaking, problem solving, consensus building, conflict resolution and compromise and cooperation.
[http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/modelun/faq.html]

Also, one of my friends got into a top class B-school on the basis of his MUN experience. He has a decent GPA, and the recruiters were awarding points to candidates on resumes. Ones with work experience were awarded more points as compared to grads for obvious reasons. But this friend of mine ended up scoring points higher than even the candidates with work experience because of his impeccable MUN record.

Has your father seen your very-well-stated argument in favor of MUNs? Why does he object?

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Has your father seen your very-well-stated argument in favor of MUNs? Why does he object?

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He hasn't. And I wanted a third person perspective of the whole situation because I want to respond to his objections, not react.
We've had similar arguments before, and sadly, I've been unable to put my point across as well as I potentially could have.
You give my reply a thumbs up?