<p>We are anxiously awaiting word from USNA (along with many of you), and at the same time, want to have a well-crafted back up plan that will put our son in the best position to re-apply next year if it doesn't happen this year. By way of background, our son is a young senior (won't turn 18 until August), attends a very competitive private high school, has a 3.0 GPA, yet scored a 2000 on the SAT. His graduating high school will send 20 kids out of 95 to Ivy League schools, yet our son has dreamed of attending a service academy (most interested in USNA) since he was 13.</p>
<p>My question is this: if our son does not secure an appointment this year, how best should we counsel him on another college choice? He has been accepted to a couple of good Big Ten schools where he could also play lacrosse and pursue ROTC, and has also visited and been accepted to a couple of small private colleges with military focus, e.g. Norwich University and Virginia Military Institute. Assuming he takes a freshman course load that includes calculus, chemistry, history, and some English (literature / writing) at any of these schools, which path would the USNA look upon most favorably? Is there a benefit to getting a "cadet" experience at one of these smaller schools prior to re-applying to USNA?</p>
<p>The best outcome (in his mind) would be admission to USNA this year, but we are realistic about the level of competition and think he might benefit from a freshman year where he can raise the GPA and then re-apply next year. My wife and I want to do our best in guiding him and would welcome any thoughts -</p>
<p>Getting into the USNA is incredibly difficult, according to several friends whose sons applied. I know of one family whose son did not get in due to mediocre grades/scores. He spent a gap year at a prestigious private school in CT and he got in the following year. </p>
<p>The program is pretty intense there, and it’s possible admissions folks didn’t feel he needed an extra year of maturity before he was ready. Do you feel this is possible for your son? I did notice you mentioned your son doesn’t turn 18 until August.</p>
<p>I have a friend whose son went to Villanova for a year and reapplied to West Point. He did the ROTC courses at Villanova and got inot West Point the following year. It does happen. You might take a look at which colleges have PMS’s (professors of military scince) who are Naval Academy grads. They may be a great assistance during the reapplication process.</p>
<p>You might also ask about prep school admission. I know West Point has a prep school for students who need a bit of work before they attend the Academy.</p>
<p>I knew several young men who did PG years at prep school before USNA. Admittedly they were mostly recruited athletes who needed a year of seasoning, not so much academic seasoning as maturity and physical growth.</p>
<p>What about NAPS? That’s the Naval Academy Prep School in Rhode Island. I would suggest looking into that. It is a 1 year program - and most students who do NAPS do get into the Naval Academy.</p>
<p>A young man from our high school was accepted into NAPS. Had applied to USNA and was sent to NAPS for more academic seasoning and then will go on to USNA. Sounded like admission to the Naval Academy was a sure thing if he didn’t screw up.</p>
<p>Friend of my son’s is at NAPS this year. She was recruited to play lacrosse, and the Academy suggested she take this route. Don’t know if your son was planning on laxing at Navy, but my understanding is a lot of the athletes do a year at NAPS. They can spend another year developing their sport + get a good academic foundation for their first year at the Academy.</p>