<p>I agree with you Dad2B, someone out there is dying to have my appointment and since I am on the fence i should give the appointment to them. The Academy also goesn't have my 2/3 of my sports either; they don't have women's gymnastics or fencing but they do have rifle. Thanks for the info jadler, I'm glad I won't have to go to the augmentation selection board to get my regular commission! Thank you all for your help, this is one of the hardest decisions I've had to make. I hope I will see you later in the Fleet, GO NAVY!!</p>
<p>The appointment was given to YOU. It was not given to anyone else. Decide quickly, but do not rush. That is YOUR appointment. Not Billy's, Joe's, John's or Sue's, but YOURS. Don't pass it on unless you're completely decided.</p>
<p>There are two ways to waste an appointment: waiting so long until declining that nobody gets it, and giving it to someone else when it was yours to begin with. Too many people here support the latter because they fear the former. Don't let that sway you.</p>
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they don't have women's gymnastics or fencing but they do have rifle.
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<p>Uh..... excuse me?</p>
<p>Unless they got RID of them, they sure as heck DO have those sports! Let me go look.</p>
<p>Oh, and TacNuke is right. I've posted elsewhere on this subject: That nomination is YOURS. If you choose not to go, that's fine, but don't give it away out of some sense of guilt.</p>
<p>ETA:</p>
<p>Okay, there is a Fencing Club you can join, and which very well may allow you to meet your sports requirement (I, for example, was able to use the SCUBA Club as my sport because it involved me having my butt in the pool with full gear chasing students each afternoon). I would check on that.</p>
<p>Remember, your sport does not have to be Varsity in order to meet the requirements. If, however, you WANT varsity, then obviously USNA can't help you.</p>
<p>Of course, you could become the person that MAKES it varsity. ;)</p>
<p>I am quite shocked that women's gymnastics is not on the Varsity list. It was when I was there. One of my classmates was an exceptional gymnast (and darn' good lookin' too, God bless her!). I recommend you call the Academy and ask. For example, I don't see the SCUBA Club on the ECA list, but I know it's quite active.</p>
<p>Let me ask you a simple question, aside from the above: Do you want to be a Naval Officer?</p>
<p>(More questions will follow... ;) )</p>
<p>last year the dep dant cut/ consolidated a bunch of ecas and club sports. and gave the money to d&b. cause they always need more money. women's gymnastics went a while ago.</p>
<p>while athletics are important, they shouldn't be your driving force for coming here.</p>
<p>They gave it to D&B?</p>
<p>Did they at least get any better for it? :rolleyes:</p>
<p>I DO want to be a naval offier very much and I will be one through either option. Joining the Navy and becoming a naval officer has never been a question in my mind. I have been thinkng about this decision for several weeks now and I am still exactly where I started, dead center. The Academy doesn't offer many of he things that I want but it is the lifestyle I am looking for. Through NROTC I can get everything I'm looking for, major, sport, etc., but the lifestyle will be more "typical college life", how much more I'm not exactly sure.</p>
<p>What is D&B?</p>
<p>Drum & Bugle Corps. Otherwise known as the USNA Noisemaker's Club. :D</p>
<p>OK! So you definitely want to be an Officer! GOOD choice! You'd be surprised how many people apply to USNA without wanting that basic item.</p>
<p>I can certainly understand your concerns about lifestyle. You have to ask yourself the following questions:</p>
<p>What is more important to me: Lifestyle in college, or sense of pride afterwards?</p>
<p>What is more important to me: Sticking with what I know, and losing out on another unique experience, or trying something new, and getting an experience I'll never otherwise get?</p>
<p>Which school will be better for me 10 years, 15 years, 20 years from now?</p>
<p>I know these questions are a tad leaning, and my bias is well-known, but you really need to think about the answers to the questions above.</p>
<p>My advice is this: If you really want to be a USN Officer, there is no place better than USNA. Period. </p>
<p>If, however, you are looking to get a special degree (CM is famous for Computer Science, IIRC), then that is a perfectly valid reason to NOT attend USNA. There is NOTHING wrong with that, either.</p>
<p>Now, if you pass up USNA because you want to live a "college" life, or because you want to fence, then I would submit that you have your priorities out of kilter. In 15 years, what do you think will be more valuable to you, the lessons you know you will learn at USNA, or the number of bar-crawling Fridays you enjoyed? What will give you more maturity, having graduated from USNA, or having done Fencing?</p>
<p>See?</p>
<p>But you need to decide, and soon. Indecision is a poison.</p>
<p>OK here's my decision: NROTC, do the 9-semester program in ChemE but so summer school so I finish in 4 years, become a naval officer with a Masters in ChemE. If I can fit it into my schedule, double major in Physics. </p>
<p>Just because the people around me are living the "irresponsible college life" doesn't mean I have to, and I won't. I have never bent to peer pressure so I have no reason to think I will start in college. I don't drink and will definitely not be "bar-crawling". It will take self-discipline since i won't have the Academy pushing me every step of the way but that is what the Academy is trying to teach, self-discipline. The NROTC swears the same oath that Mids do,: honor, courage, and commitment, and I plan to live by it. I know I am strong enough to do that without the Academy, although it would've been nice to around so many like minded people. I believe that attaining a masters degree and having a unique but relevant major compared to other officers will allow me to better serve the Navy.</p>
<p>Caiendoparatu , I have told this story on another thread a few months ago, but when our child #3 was in the dorms at UCLA...there was one young man, a friend of hers, who stood out from the crowd. I finally asked about this kind, courteous, friendly, helpful, handsome young man. She introduced me and I learned he was a Naval ROTC young man who turned down his appointment to USNA to attend UCLA in some subject ( can't recall now ) that USNA didn't offer. I didn't know the term then, but he stood out in the wild dorm life for his military bearing, courtesy and presence of mind. Bottom line - this young man is now a Naval Submarine Lieutenant in Grouton, Ct. He LOVES his Naval Career and the extra irony is that my daughter is married to a Coast Guard musican in CT, so they see each other regularly when this young officer is in port. </p>
<p>You're absolutely correct that you don't have to choose the 'irresponsible college life' and can rise above your peers by your own personal sense of discipline. This young man did it, you can too.</p>
<p>God bless you, and may you bring your personal gifts to our United States Naval Officers!</p>
<p>Thank you Ma'am</p>
<p>Caiendoparatu, My S is a freshman in the NROTC unit at a our large state u. He has been very pleased with his experience this year. The battalion is very active and you really do get to spend a lot of time around like-minded peers (all those early morning pt runs,lol). He is looking forward to his Cortramid experience this summer. Congratualtions to you on your decision.</p>
<p>Do any of you know about the ROTCs in the Pittsbourgh area or anyone in them? any S or D that go there? I have not met or talked to anyone else going there. Are they very involved/active in the community or with the military? Do they hang out together? I would really like to meet or talk to other ROTC students while at college.</p>
<p>I'm currently in NROTC at the University of Washington. I've had a great time with the unit, but I can't wait to get to USNA this summer.</p>
<p>Feel free to email or PM me with any questions.</p>
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OK here's my decision: NROTC, do the 9-semester program in ChemE but so summer school so I finish in 4 years, become a naval officer with a Masters in ChemE. If I can fit it into my schedule, double major in Physics.</p>
<p>Just because the people around me are living the "irresponsible college life" doesn't mean I have to, and I won't.
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</p>
<p>Outstanding! You have chosen wisely, considering your academic desires, and you certainly have the spirit!</p>
<p>I wish you the best! Go get 'em!</p>
<p>lol trust me, sometimes the "irresponsible college life" looks pretty good from inside the gates.</p>
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sometimes the "irresponsible college life" looks pretty good from inside the gates.
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<p>Ain't THAT the truth....</p>
<p>Trust me, though... You won't miss it later.</p>