<p>I want to send a scrapbook of some of my articles of my athletic success to the admissions to be a part of my file. Does anyone know what the address is?</p>
<p>Admissions Office
USNA
121 Blake Road
Annapolis, MD 21402-5000</p>
<p>Congratulations on your athletic success. Having said that, might i suggest selecting one or two articles from the collection to send in for consideration. It is not necessary to send an entire scrapbook- or every article that mentions your name. Select the one or 2 articles that speak the best to your athletic ability or leadership- and if you are considering playing that sport at the academy, you might want to consider sending them to the coach at Navy as well.</p>
<p>So again- one or two articles- tops- save the scrapbook for when relatives visit.</p>
<p>Thank you for the address. I understand were you are coming from and I'm not sending whole scrapbook, it's just a small one- I think like 6 pages- of the main articles of me.</p>
<p>ummmm..no. Send to the coach of your sport if you must send....but to admissions...are you kidding??</p>
<p>mom3boys..my Blue and Gold officer's son is a mid and he strongly suggested to do so because he believes that is what pushed his son over the edge. Considering USNA is not completely about your academic side I feel it is a great idea of showing them how much of a well rounded person you are. I am MVP in track and field of my county and I'm also All-Section and All-County in basketball so I felt it was a wonderful attachment to my file. I'm being recruited by both basketball and track coaches, both have seen me perform live so I do not feel sending them a scrapbook is worthwhile.</p>
<p>I am with mom3boys on this one. I don't see where track MVP and All-County basketball takes up so much space that it can not be iterated in the 'remarks' section where it will be seen by the Admissions board, not on some scrapbook which probably will not even be looked at.</p>
<p>Of course, do whatever you want...if the coaches want you they have already made their cases to the board. I think (this is only my opinion) sending your scrapbook makes you look like a braggart and a doofis.</p>
<p>doofis? jeez</p>
<p>I think using a more succinct bulleted format as '69 suggests in the remarks section would be far more powerful than 6 scrapbook pages of news that are mostly fluff with the key points buried within. As others have said, if you are a recruited athlete in two sports no less, I would also put some faith in the coaches in at least one of those sports to make their case for you. .</p>
<p>What you have to understand is that when your file goes before the admissions board, it will be presented in a very abbreviated format. The admissions board will not thumb through a scrapbook, no matter how alluring you make it. Your file will be read by someone, who will then "brief" the admissions board of your qualifications.... such as class rank, SAT scores, leadership positions, varsity sports, etc. Included in that brief will be a summary of your BGO interview, and your BGO recommendation- which are taken under careful consideration. Having sat through several "case studies" this past summer of how candidate files get briefed, trust me when I tell you that even the star athletes did not have one word wasted on what newspapers they had their name in, or how many articles where dedicated to their athletic prowess. (which is not to say a coach many not have had his/her head turned a bit, but even there they are only interested in how high you can jump, how fast you can run, how hard you can hit, and how well you have achieved on the field! They don't need newspaper clippings to do that!) </p>
<p>Please consider the advice offered here- send the articles to the USNA coach (only if you must) and get him interested in you- (I presume that is the goal)- and let him/her advance your case from there. Again, I still hold this is most unnecessary and will matter little in the big scheme of things. You can ask your BGO if he/she is interested in looking at it, but don't be surprised if you get a pass there as well- this is not the "meat and potatoes" your BGO is after either. Which is not to say your BGO will not be interesed in your accomplishments- but they want to hear it from you, not read it from a newspaper article, even if it does glow in the dark! </p>
<p>Your goal is to get your accomplishments conveyed to the admissions board.
Present that in the form of an athletic CV or activity CV, or a combination of both, depending on what you have to report. If either of those exceed one page, then tuck a summary page in to highlight KEY accomplishments. The admissions board is looking for key indicators- leadership, physical fitness and mental /scholastic aptitude. Concentrate on highlighting those activities and accomplishments that demonstrate those key components. The rest is just fluff.</p>
<p>I will share one "adage" relayed to me by someone who worked in an admissions office at St. Elsewhere.... to put it simply, it went something like this: "the thicker the file, the weaker the applicant." </p>
<p>Select carefully what you want to have considered when your "few minutes of fame" come to the table..... don't make an admissions board hunt and peck or otherwise wade through some newspaper article to get the info they need to make their decision- the odds are very, very high that they will do no such thing, and it is quite risky, if you ask me. Do you really want to take the chance that they find the key attributes when they are under a time crunch and have to read through your file, and the 50 other ones that are coming right behind it- if you ask me, the odds are better that they will get it if you list it! So keep it simple, and more importantly, keep it succinct- meaning, stick to the essential stuff and leave the fluff out. Keep the file slim but chock full of the essential points!</p>
<p>I am going to offer one other comment, and hope anyone reading this will take it for the good itent in which it is offered. Humility is a good trait in a leader. You are applying to an institution that attracts thousands of really qualified kids- including many, many scholar athletes. You will be standing next to, and amongst, some of the best scholars and scholar athletes from all over the US- and there will be over 10,000+ of you in the mix to get a seat in the next class. No doubt each one of you will have had your picture in some paper, or your name appear in some article, and that is wonderful! But it is small-time compared to what you are entering. While you may have been a big fish in your community, it is a mere puddle compared to what you are entering, and the company you will be keeping. </p>
<p>Bottom line: save the scrapbook for your relatives- they will appreciate it much more!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Do the same with the CV. Get it all on the application. Follow instructions.</p>
<p>"doofis"</p>
<p>LOL awesome word, kudos to m3b. I havn't heard that since I watched Happy Days back when Nick at Night was cool, but I digress. </p>
<p>Is anyone familiar with the USCGA application? It seems like it has much more emphasis on contacting coaches and "athletic achievements."</p>
<p>I'm not here to argue with any of you guys, I just wanted the address and BTW I emailed my regional director and she thought it was a fabulous idea as well as my BGO. He was the one that SUGGESTED that I do it in the first place.</p>
<p>Well, sorry if we offended you then. I guess I found it odd that someone of your generation (the technology generation) would come on a site like this and ask a question that is easily answered by going to USNA.edu or by using Google. You got some great advice here; not necessarily by me, but by some amazing BGO's who think your BGO gave you bum advice. USNA likes strong athletes. If the rest of your file is as great as your athletic skills you will no doubt be competitive. However...if you listen to only one person here, I hope you pick Navy2010: a little humility goes a long way.</p>
<p>USNAathlete2013, If you were simply looking for the address, you could have located it in several places on the CGIS. </p>
<p>Since the CGO does not disallow additional inputs, the regional director is not in a position, at the risk of perceived favoritism, to tell you not to do it. That still does not mean it is a good idea. You are working with the Admissions folks whose job it is to ascertain how well rounded you are, academically, leadership potential, and with extracurricular activities. Athletics are only a very small part of it. Beyond "Two year starter, honorable mention, all-conference, regional runner ups", seriously, what more do you think they need. The application is designed to help you present your whole person. A scrap book might present a one-dimensional viewpoint. Since, as has been stated above, the coaches will be concerned with your athletic potential, do you really want to run the risk of degrading your prescribed presentation to the Board for your ** scholastic ** qualification?</p>
<p>Last spring, I was working with a candidate for NASS who had missed the application cutoff date. Since CGIS was no longer available, we were proceeding via emails. This was the CGO comment to me about her "package".</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'm concerned that she speaks mainly of her athletic abilities.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Do you want them to say this about you?</p>
<p>As to the concerns of the admissions dept, you are going to USNA to become a Naval Officer, not to be an all-star Div 1 athlete. That is the coaches job. Allow the system to work as it was intended.</p>
<p>Don't send the scrapbook. Seriously. Nuff said.</p>
<p>USNAathlete2013, you may be qualified to become a Naval Academy Midshipman, but I think that mom3boys gave you very sage advice. A little humility goes a long way. It seems like you just want everyone to tell you how incredibly talented you are and deserving of a spot at USNA. Which you may infact be, but.... there are literally thousands of kids just like you. Kids who during Plebe summer can't understand why they are continually picked upon by upperclass...
be still... let your accomplishments speak for themselves. Be humble, learn from those around you. Listen to those around you, A good leader listens to everyone, differing opinions included. You have been given great advice with very long, clear explanations for their answers. they have taken the time to advise you to help you succeed. It was interesting to see your response and your tone to them.
Hmmmm....
Good luck to you in whatever happens... you are talented and persistent...learn to be a little humble too.
BTW You could have easily gotten the address right off the USNA.edu site. I challenge your intention on asking in this forum for that information.</p>
<p>usnaathlete2013: well, in light of the fact you are applying to USNA, you have your good points now don't you!</p>
<p>So-
will assume you were reading here, had a question, and decided to join in. All good. Sometimes you have to just stick your toe into the water first before you make the leap!</p>
<p>will also assume you are looking to put your best foot forward. If you have to stumble a bit, best to do it here. If nothing else, this is a good place to send up a test balloon to see which way the wind is blowing, where the strong currents are, and where the tornado's are forming. </p>
<p>You have decided to apply to a terrific program- it takes some guts, a lot of initiative, and a whole heck of character, persistance and tecacity. I will be the last one to shoot you down for trying, so please continue to ask your questions and test the water. The only thing I would ask is that you listen to the comments offered as objectively as you can - keep an open mind- and then make your decision either way. You will get the gammet- the good, the bad and sometimes even the ugly- but one thing is for sure, you will get a broader perspective than what you started with, and in the end, more info on which to make YOUR decision. I stress YOUR decision, because you will be the one reaping the outcome- be that good, bad or indifferent.</p>
<p>So never let us sway you one way or the other- but do factor it all in. As hard as it is sometimes (I struggle with this myself!) try not to take things personally- trust that "most" of what is offered in these forums is done so with good intent- and that which differs will quickly declare itself, and you will quickly learn to discriminate between the two and let the nasty stuff roll off like water off a duck's back!</p>
<p>So you have lots of answers to your question to consider, and now it's your turn to make your decision. Make it in peace! </p>
<p>But more importantly, do continue to stick around and ask away! We will continue to spout our advice- and then some! Just don't lose the forest for the trees! </p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>