<p>We have been fortunate to be able to step back from the two + year USNA application process during our school break week and have just returned home. I was very happy that our son had received his rejection and had accepted his Ivy League NROTC offer before leaving. It would have been very difficult living with further uncertainty for the 11 days. A few thoughts on all the posts since Ive been gone </p>
<p>For those with appointments take pride in that appointment and know that you have survived a brutal application process and emerged victorious! Enjoy your accomplishment and go to USNA on June 30th and make it through! If you have doubts over the next few months and years hang in there. Write yourself a letter now about why you wanted to attend and give it to someone to mail to you part way through plebe summer. Every day think about why you want to be there. Dont give up and Congratulations!</p>
<p>To those that have received rejections take heart that this is one of the most difficult application processes around and you made it to the final cut! Thats a huge accomplishment too. Make your next decision knowing you did your best and there are other options that may open up to you because you are taking a different path. Not all rejections are a bad thing and it only means there were just more qualified candidates in your area and that is a good thing for our country. Take some time to reflect and decide if you want to go through the process again. You may have an advantage mentally, if you do gain admission, because you know how much you want it! Spider MD is a great testament to that path!</p>
<p>Finally, try not to be bitter, and it is sure hard not to be. USNA is a great place but its not the only place to be from. My son is not bitter at all and will always be a die-hard Navy fan! He wrote in his yearbook that Summer Seminar was one of the best experiences of his high school career and he is proud to have made it to the final point of a competitive process in a competitive state. He is looking on the future college experience as an opportunity and he hasnt decided if he will apply again. Yes, he is disappointed but he says he knew from the beginning how competitive it would be! He also has many friends that aren't going to their first choice school and are envious of his choices so it's alll relative.</p>
<p>Having some time away helped. Its easy to get caught up in the life changing academy application process. You learn a lot about yourself in the process and it will help you in life, whatever you do! Best of luck to those on I-Day and to those that take on the daunting reapplication process. Thanks for all the thought and insight on this board the personal emails and of course </p>
<p>Beat Army!</p>