<p>Tomorrow is Academy Day for my State. I'm a female and was wondering what would be the appropriate clothing to wear? Khakis or formal black pants?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>in lakehurst?
i suggest your most beautiful dress</p>
<p>NO KHAKIS! Khakis are for the boys. You want to look like a nice young lady. Sundress, subtle makeup, medium heels (NO FLIP FLOPS :) and don't forget jewelry for the total picture! Keep a smile on your face and HAVE FUN!</p>
<p>Really? Don't worry about it.
As long as you are not so goofy as to stand out, e.g. a black t-shirt espousing "death to Bush", it won't matter.
Khaki or black slacks are fine.
Dress is fine.
Jewelry doesn't matter.</p>
<p>yeah, no khakis! if you're comfortable in a dress that's fine, i'd feel too girly. i'd prefer crop pants, sandals or open toe ballet flats and those long cute tops with a cropped capped sleeve jacket.</p>
<p>Take it from a Mom that just went through all of this last year! Wear Jewelry, you want a finished look. And.. nothing wrong with being girlie! :) And Crop pants are way to casual for Academy Day. Remember to have confidence and talk and meet people! GOOD LUCK!</p>
<p>sorry, but what's Academy Day? Are you taking a tour or something?</p>
<p>I think there's one where all the people associated w/ military academies meet at a set location. I'm certain my state doesn't have one, and if they did, it would be tiny (RI).</p>
<p>i thought it was a picnic but i guess not</p>
<p>Academy Day is when all the service academies have representatives talk to you about the application process. I just got back from mine and thought it was okay. I thought they were going to talk more about the nomination process and it was extremely crowded. I didn't have a sundress so I wore black pants, a nice shirt, and sandals. Some people opted to be more dressy while others came in shorts and t-shirts. Thank you to everyone who helped me out.</p>
<p>So it still isn't clear what "Academy Day" is. Who sponsored it, your high school, some VFW group or someone else?</p>
<p>Did you actually get to talk one-on-one with anyone from an Academy and did they have you fill out anything or did everyone just sit and listen to presentations?</p>
<p>Probably that type of information would be helpful to those on this forum if other schools or states sponsor similar events.</p>
<p>An "Academy Day" is typically sponsored by your Congressman [possibly in conjunction w/ Senator].
All Academies are invited to make a presentation on their school. Usually, mids/cadets are asked to present.
That congressman may/may not make specific comments regarding their nomination process.</p>
<p>Typically held in a large auditorium.
Afterwards, Academy reps, including, sometimes, admissions representatives and/or BGOs are available to answer questions.</p>
<p>The "picnic" you may have heard about is one that many parent's clubs sponsor for incoming plebes. Typically held in June, right before plebe summer, the parents' club [somtimes in conjunciton with alumni association] will invite incoming plebes to meet w/ current mids. You will usually get a specific invidation for this once you have been accepted and have accepted.</p>
<p>The Day is usually a large-scale attempt at getting information out to as amany students as possible. [That is why I said it didn't matter what you wore other than something truly odd.] there is very little time to meet individual admissions reps/BGOs beyond "hello" and "I am interested." </p>
<p>Unless you stand out in some particular way, you presence or absence will not be noted.
On the other hand, this may be the opportunity to make face to face contact w/ the BGO.</p>
<p>Nomination board members are most likely not present at these.</p>
<p>These are mostly informational meetings wehre applicants can ask questions and meet a few mids/cadets. You can fill out an information request card that will get you into the Academy systems [presumably the same for USMA, etc.] for future contact.</p>
<p>Good clarifications, sounds like "Academy Day" is mostly intended to get information to perspective students and is not a job interview. </p>
<p>Whatever the event, probably how you dress is not that big a deal as long as you don't wear something bizarre.</p>
<p>Bill0510's description was perfectly accurate.</p>
<p>Our Congressman held an "Academy Day" at the auditorium of a local community college in his district. He had his Chief of Staff make a short speech about the nomination process, and then each representative (local MALO/ALO/BGO, etc) made a 15-20 minute powerpoint presentation about their respective academy requirements. He stuck around and shook hands at the end of the presentation, and then all of the academy reps manned their booth table displays, handing out literature and answering admissions questions.</p>
<p>They usually draw a lot of kids (+ parents + siblings) and can get quite crowded.</p>
<p>I saw guys in suits & ties, girls in dresses, guys and girls in t-shirts and shorts. No one was "keeping score" of what you wore, you were anonymous if you didn't put on a name badge.</p>
<p>Everybody is, rightlfully so, very nervous about every step of the way.
Let me tell you about my goofball son.</p>
<p>We were scheduled for nomination interviews. The interviews were in the next city over.
He gets up, gets dressed, comes downstairs.
Dad: You're wearing that?
Son: Yes.<br>
Dad: No tie? No coat?
Son: That's right. Rep said that no coat and tie were necessary.
Dad: But don't you think . . .
Son: It's who I am. I am different than others; I want the Academy to know who I am. [He truly believes in his "uniqueness" and this continues on to this day]
Dad: Okay. [Doubt in his voice.]</p>
<p>We drive off . . .
We arrive at the college where interviews were being held.
Most kids had at least a tie on. Some with coats. Some in suits.
Dad: Do you think we should get a tie?
Son: Maybe so. [So much for self-confidence of being "unique."]</p>
<p>Now we have to rush off to a local department store [fortunately we had arrived early] in search of a long-sleeved shirt and tie.
Ross? No. Target? No. I don't know where we ended up, but I bought a shirt and a tie. He puts them on in the car.</p>
<p>We arrive back at the interview location about 5 minutes before his scheduled time.
Just in time to meet a classmate of his who was also interviewing and, by the way, looked very nice in a dress.</p>
<p>Son got the nomination. Quite frankly, I think he would have gotten it even if he had not had a tie on. [I also think he had already been nominated by Senator so that may explain his nonchalence.]
Classmate also got a nomination--to AFA and USNA. She is at AFA.</p>
<p>Anyway, focus on what's important: Grades, SAT, ECAs.<br>
If there are other circumstances about your life that BGO/Admissions/Nominations should know: "I don't own a coat/tie because we have 8 kids in our family and we can't afford it" then explain that to BGO or nominations board.</p>
<p>I think the signifcant mistake some make is not being able to explain their life circumsntaces; what makes them "unique." Applicants get caught up in "what they are supposed to do" and then forget about what qualities they can bring to the Academy.</p>
<p>I recently re-read a letter of recommendation written for my son to the Congressman. It was incredible! But that person truly believed in my son. Find that person who TRULY believes in you and can articulate that to the Acadmey/Nominations.</p>
<p>As was said earlier, all you can do is your best. YOu can't do any better? Correct? Otherwise, what was done was not your best.</p>
<p>Be professional during the BGO interview. That's all that really counts.</p>
<p>Note to other parents, hide shirt/tie in the trunk before leaving home so you won't have the problems Bill0510 had !!!</p>