<p>Any advice on what to say or not say at my BGO interview tomorrow? I want to keep it real but wuld love any advice from others.</p>
<p>Be yourself- listen to the questions carefully, then answer them honestly. Make sure you are able to articulate WHY you want the academy- be able to state your reason(s) clearly. Make sure you project a positive attitude- </p>
<p>Remember, they are looking for 3 things: good academics, good physical aptitude, and leadership. In answering the questions, try and highlight what you have accomplished in those areas. Most kids hold back not wanting to appear boa****l- which is admirable- but this time you need to sell yourself- so don't hold back on any accomplishments you have achieved.
Make sure you have read the catalogue cover-to-cover....and have at least 1 or 2 questions ready to ask (not something you should know already- that a little homework on your part should have been able to answer)- so give some thought to those.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>As navy2010 said, know why you want to attend the academy (this is so much easier to tell a BGO than your parents). You don't have to come up with some BS question just to ask a question. After all, we live in a time of the Information Super Highway. You could ask what your BGO did, about the pros/cons he/she saw in the military, and questions about the naval academy that are not answered in the brochures. Just relax. It depends on your BGO how the interview will be---I've had high strung interviews and really relaxed ones (actually, all the interviews I had to do for USMA were a bit edgy while the USNA interviews just flowed nicely).</p>
<p>Hmmm...some say these are reasons why they join the military:
1. Money
2. Travel
3. Adventure
4. Serve country
5. Skills
6. Education opportunity</p>
<p>I think the one kicker that got all my interviewers was when I said I want to go Marines. That opens up a whole new conversation. :D</p>
<p>The important stuff has already been covered.</p>
<p>I'll give you one or two DON'Ts:</p>
<p>1) DO NOT, under any circumstances, answer with a lie. If it is discovered, you're toast. If it isn't, you're only hurting yourself.</p>
<p>2) DO NOT give the reason for wanting to attend USNA as wanting to be rich, or the free education, or as a springboard for politics, or anything else than WANTING TO SERVE IN THE NAVY AS AN OFFICER, and USNA providing the BEST program for that. Be prepared to explain WHY you think it's the best.</p>
<p>3) Dress and conduct yourself appropriately.</p>
<p>Good luck. :)</p>
<p>...and by all means, a "sir" or "ma'am" thrown in there wouldn't kill you :)</p>
<p>SMILE and RELAX.</p>
<p>Enjoy yourself. This is a big step in the admissions process. Everything else is just you on paper, but how your BGO sees you can really add another dimension to your application. He has the ability to give you a "Top 5%" ranking, or suggest to USNA that you are "not reccommended" for an appointment.</p>
<p>Marmadillo: ESPECIALLY if he is an active/reserve officer! I'm glad I grew up in the South where that is expected of youth...but it got me into trouble a few times at UW when I slipped and addressed one of our older Sgts. as "Sir", simply out of respect because he's considerably older/more experienced than me.</p>
<p>Spit shine ya shoes.</p>
<p>As a BGO, here's my advice.</p>
<p>(1) Show up on time dressed appropriately. Others may disagree, but I like to see at least a collared shirt and chinos (or equivalent), shoes and socks. Folks have showed up in less.</p>
<p>(2) Consider bringing a copy of your list of activities and/or your essay. Not mandatory but helps the BGO recall all the stuff you've done. </p>
<p>(3) Do your homework. As someone said, you should have read the catalog and watched the video, even if you attended NASS. </p>
<p>(4) Be prepared to discuss: limited majors (you don't need to have decided, just understand your options; i.e., don't say you want to major in psychology); honor system; plebe summer challenges, athletic challenges, and service selection. On the last, you do NOT need to know what you want to do. You should, however, know what your options are. People tell me they want to be a Navy lawyer. Fine, but what are you going to do when you graduate (b/c it ain't gonna be law school)? Or they want to go into Intel (OK if you're physically DQ'ed but generally not available on graduation). Know what your options are and be okay with at least one of them.</p>
<p>(5) Ask questions to which you want to know the answer. There are no "right" questions nor many stupid questions. However, having no questions suggests that you either (1) know it all -- and no one does -- or (2) don't care. You're considering spending 4 yrs of your life at USNA and at least 5 more in the USN/USMC. Is there NOTHING else you need to know??</p>
<p>(6) RELAX. Seriously. The BGO really & truly is there to assist you more than to evaluate you. If you look at the "interview" more as a meeting and an opportunity to learn more about USNA and the admissions process than as a nuisance or another hurdle to overcome, it will go a lot better, trust me.</p>
<p>(7) As Zaphod said, be honest. I've had people flat out lie to me -- and get caught. Not good. </p>
<p>Finally (and this may be controversial), if you really don't want to attend USNA --if your parents or someone else is pushing you to go and it's not what YOU want -- this is a good time to speak up. It's like a marriage -- better to figure out it's not going to work before you're legally committed to each other. Same w/USNA. If you aren't sure, tell your BGO. </p>
<p>For me, it wouldn't be fatal. If the student was undecided, I'd talk the situation over with the candidate and suggest another interview/meeting in a few months. I'd also talk to the parents. But, at the end of the day, if the student really doesn't want to be at USNA, he/she should go. It won't work.</p>
<p>So let me see if I understand what you're saying...</p>
<p>If a big, fat kid shows up barefoot in ripped jeans and a dirty Marylin Manson T-shirt, asks no questions, uses profanity, lights up a smoke during the interview, and lies to you, you'd regard that as a bad thing?</p>
<p>;)</p>
<p>
[quote]
I've had people flat out lie to me -- and get caught. Not good.
[/quote]
EXAMPLE! I demand an example! A statement like that cannot be allowed to stand without an example!</p>
<p>Foul! I cry FOUL! :D</p>
<p>Besides everything else that was said above, the only other thing I can think of is prepare a resume outlining everything you have accomplished along with all your information. The BGO has to make a report on your responses and this will have him a lot of time. Actually, my interview lasted about 5 minutes because my resume took care of everything else the BGO needed to know. The rest of the time we just talked about the Navy and where I wanted to serve; its a great opportunity to show your BGO how prepared you are and how much you want to go by taking the initiative.</p>
<p>Good Luck.</p>
<p>
[quote]
EXAMPLE! I demand an example! A statement like that cannot be allowed to stand without an example!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>A candidate told his school advisor that his application packet was complete other than the BGO interview and that I was holding everything up. This statement ultimately reached me. My records showed he'd only turned in 2/9 items. At the interview, I asked about this.</p>
<p>He first claimed the advisor had misunderstood him. I asked if, by now, he'd turned everything in. "Yes." I asked when, as my records showed no change in status (but sometimes can lag a bit). "I just did." "What day?" "Just recently." This went on. To make a long story short, he never turned it in.</p>
<p>And, should we assume, that he never got in? Sure hope that's the case.</p>
<p>Yes. That assumption is correct.</p>
<p>Thank God for small miracles.</p>
<p>What a creep.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Besides everything else that was said above, the only other thing I can think of is prepare a resume outlining everything you have accomplished along with all your information. The BGO has to make a report on your responses and this will have him a lot of time. Actually, my interview lasted about 5 minutes because my resume took care of everything else the BGO needed to know. The rest of the time we just talked about the Navy and where I wanted to serve; its a great opportunity to show your BGO how prepared you are and how much you want to go by taking the initiative.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I would like to add to tridudes suggestion/comment:</p>
<p>Having a packet ready for your BGO is a great idea- our son included his personal statement, his athletic and activity CV, and a letter he received from the Special Olympics program. </p>
<p>His guidance counselor, however, cautioned him to give the BGO the packet at the END of the interview- which he did. </p>
<p>Why, you ask?
You have limited time to sell yourself. While our son's BGO was most gracious with his time, the time was nevertheless limited. If you leave the paperwork until the end, the interview will focus not on the 2-dimensional papers, but on the 3-dimension you. Discuss your accomplishments- leave the paperwork till the end for you BGO to review either towards the end of the meeting, or after you have left- you can always call back to see if he/she has any questions or would like further clarification of information provided.</p>
<p>So yes, prepare the paperwork and provide it- but use the time with your BGO for active dialogue! You are so much more than paper- and this is your one opportunity to show yourselves aside from the paper!</p>
<p>Familiarize yourself with the Mission Statement and the Honor Concept.
DO NOT tell us that the reason you want to go to USNA is to fly.....
I don't dwell on the "paperwork," I want to hear what you have to say, how you present yourself and your reasons for wanting to serve as an officer in the USN. A student resume is a nice touch for you to provide to the BGO for note taking.
When you set up the appointment, be on time.
I also include the parents in a Q & A session, and like to see the interaction between family members, tells me quite a bit about the candidate!
Hope this helps.
I'm looking forward to the upcoming cycle for 2011. Last year I had 4 offers of Appointment, 1 foundation, and 1 NAPS.</p>
<p>My BGO came to my house. My best advice is just be yourself, and tell him/her your true motives for USNA. The person your BGO is going to be evaluating is your true self. If it is at a set location, be there 5 minutes early.</p>
<p>At my interview, after we talked about my candidacy, he talked to myself and my parents for hours about his experiences at the Academy and tried to apply them to what I'd be going through. It really helped that he is a Nuclear Power Sub Captain, and that's exactly what I want to do. Before we knew it, it was almost midnight before he left my house, a whole 4 hours had gone by.</p>
<p>Nice job GoNavyXC and oh so true! </p>
<p>I once had an appointment at a candidate's home and he kept me waiting...said something unexpected kept him from being on time.
If you are running late, etc. remember, it is best to call and reschedule than to keep your BGO waiting with anxious parents!</p>
<p>Oh, and for all the parents on here...</p>
<p>I love my parents dearly and they sat in on my BGO interview at her request, but DON'T try to answer questions until it's obvious that your child in done talking! I would pause to take a breath and my dad would pop off with something that I was getting ready to say...probably not all that important, but disturbs the candidate's train of thought and possibly detracts from the relationship a BGO is trying to build at the interview.</p>
<p>I would strongly recommend having the parents step out during the interview. If they wish to speak to the BGO either seperately or with their kid, then ask for that time, but let the kid stand on his own.</p>