Campus life and Plebe Summer

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
1

<p>Having applied and given assurance, I have been mentally prepping for what it will take to survive plebe summer and the next four years at the academy. </p>

<p>I'm curious to know what some actual academy graduates felt about their military experience at the academy, how their social life was affected and what if anything they wished they had done before they went to Annapolis. </p>

<p>What should I be preparing for? I went to summer seminar and felt that the 8hr pseudo-sea-trials and IT were more fun than they should have been. I know that summer seminar is more to let you run-around and see the academy but I am more interested in knowing what the academy will really be like. </p>

<p>Any advice on what I should do this year? How should I train to be more responsible?</p>

2

<p>not a mid, but will toss my 2 cents in-</p>

<p>the best thing you can do to "prep" for plebe summer is to get yourself in shape- run, run, run...... work on upper body strength as well- so lift some weights and be working on those push ups and pull ups. Cannot emphasize enough the need to run. Showing up not in shape seems to be the theme of "regrets" of those that don't make the effort, and being able to keep up with the physical demands certainly makes the summer go easier.</p>

<p>If you can throw in swimming that's a big plus.</p>

<p>Training to be more responsible....hmmmm.....
would hope you already have that nailed down to some degree.</p>

<p>Start with one of the 5 plebe responses.... "Sir, no excuse Sir."
So no excuses starting right now.
No excuse to not go running.
No excuse for not getting homework done.
No excuse for submitting "late" work- early is now "on time," and "on time" is "Late." So practice that discipline.
No excuse for not doing what you are asked to do, when you are asked to do it, and doing it well.</p>

<p>Basically-
no excuses.
Of any kind.
Doesn't much matter how many sports, ECAs, what other demands you have pulling you in different directions..... SIR, NO EXCUSE SIR.<br>
Make it happen- despite everything - make it happen- without complaint- with a postive attitude- being not only responsible, but way more important- being ACCOUNTABLE. NO EXCUSE. If you fail, no matter what outside influence, it is YOUR failure- you own it, it is yours to fix. Which means recognizing the weaknesses ahead of time and fixing them so failure is not an option- no excuses- </p>

<p>lastly, practice another plebe response: "Sir, yes sir."
Mom asks you to take out the garbage? "yes maam"- no complaining, no delays, do it immediately, do it without complaint, without hesitation, and with a good attitude. </p>

<p>When you get to USNA you will be told what to do 24/7..... or just about..... and no one is going to want to hear "why," "later," or anything other than a very motivated "sir, yes sir." So get used to it- you parents will love it too!</p>

<p>No doubt there will be lots of other advice offered, but that where I would suggest starting.</p>

3

<p>If USNA is anything like the Senior Military Colleges (and I assume it is, in some respects) be prepared for a tremendous mental challenge. At Norwich, the mental games are harder than the physical. At least USNA gets to use personal pronouns. Lol.</p>

<p>Also be ready to be wrong when you are actually right. If your clothes are perfectly SOP, but your roommate or someone 4 doors down has it wrong, it becomes everyone's fault. It's all about removing individuality and making a cohesive unit.</p>

<p>Once again, I cannot speak for USNA, but being a Rook 6 weeks into the Norwich freshmen system, we all come close to the breaking point at one point or another.</p>

4

<p>"Also be ready to be wrong when you are actually right."</p>

<p>LOL, so true. My D explained that she didn't know what she had done, but she was a Plebe/Candidate, so by definition she deserved whatever yelling or IT she was given. </p>

<p>Attitude goes a long way. You won't see it happening, but the process does build group identity and cohesiveness. I could see it at Parents Weekend just between D and her roommates. They worked together as a team and pulled each other along. So expect to be wrong and be corrected. Expect to be yelled at. Don't take it personally.</p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

5

<p>First things first. Be sure, absolutely sure, that USNA is what YOU want. Think long and hard about it. It is an absolutely fantastic experience in so many ways. However, it's not for everyone. The #1 reason people leave USNA in their first year is that it wasn't what they expected.</p>

<p>It's really not possible to "prepare" for much plebe summer/year, which is part of what makes it so . . . interesting.:) For most people, it is unlike anything they've ever done. However, there are things you can do to make the transition somewhat easier, and most of them have been covered above. Being in shape on day one, especially in terms of running, is critical. Don't assume that, because you're in great shape in April (and then "take off" May and June) that you'll be in great shape come end of June/early July.</p>

<p>Try to learn as much about USNA as you can. If you're given the opportunity to attend Candidate Visitation Weekend and you can at all afford to do it financially, do it! It is a different perspective than NASS because you see the real brigade.</p>

<p>In terms of what life will be like . . . I'll stick to plebe year because it's a bit hard to think beyond that right now. Here are some things I still remember over 25 years later:</p>

<p>(1) You always have more to do than you can do as well as you want to. You think you're busy now, but you can't comprehend the word until you get to USNA.</p>

<p>(2) Be prepared to "fail." Everyone is bad at something and USNA will, at some point, bring out your weaknesses as well as your strengths. You learn how to deal with those weaknesses, overcome them, work with others to get through them, etc. </p>

<p>(3) When you start to flounder in academics, GET HELP RIGHT AWAY. A lot of folks breezed through h.s. w/o studying; almost no one does that at USNA. You must get a 2.0 to graduate and starting with a 1.0 puts you in a huge hole.</p>

<p>(4) Your classmates are you allies/comrades/friends and, often, your salvation. Learn to depend on them as they will come to depend on you. </p>

<p>(5) Be prepared for your relationships with friends to change. The civilian friends with whom you currently have so much in common may not understand your current life. Things that are funny to you will seem strange to them. While some friendships endure, many don't. Romantic relationships seem hit particularly hard. However, you will definitely make new, lifelong friends at USNA.</p>

<p>(6) And, finally, the most important piece of advice I received came from one of the chaplains, who told our class the following early in plebe summer (and I paraphrase, of course, after 27 yrs): Don't worry today about graduation, or even about Herndon. Don't worry about Plebe Parents' Weekend or next week's damage control drills. Just get through today. When you're depressed or want to quit, just tell yourself that you'll get through the rest of the day and quit tomorrow. And tomorrow, get up an do it again. Before you know it, you'll have finished four years.</p>

<p>And he was right.</p>

6

<p>^^^
so, so true.</p>

<p>I recall my Mid telling me that even trying to plan on getting to the end of the day at times was hard-let alone the end of the week-or the end of the summer.</p>

<p>I recall him telling me that there were some days where his plan was just to make it to lunch- and then to dinner- and then to taps-
Make it to Friday, then make it to Sunday.
At least Sunday's brought some relief.</p>

<p>It is doable.
But going in physically and mentally prepared is a "must do."
And as difficult as Plebe summer is for some, the academic years present the greatest challenge for most, but all is geared to preparing you to work in a pressure-filled environment following your long, tedious, difficult, challenging, happy, stressful, fun, fast, packed-full 4 years by the bay!</p>

7

<p>My two cents would be simply to be in great physical shape and learn how to organize your time and study habits more efficiently than you now think possible. Beyond that, go out and enjoy your last year in high school. They are the most fun times of your life.</p>

<p>OBTW, if you start saying "Yes, sir" when your dad asks you to do something, it will be a bad habit to break. The correct terminology to respond to a command is "aye, aye, sir." "Yes, sir" is simply an affirming response. "Did you tuck in your shirt". "Yes, sir". "Go tuck it in again", "Aye, aye, sir"</p>

8

<p>Our son, at the end of I-day, half-joking, half-serious said to us: "Can we go back tot he hotel now?" Of course, he didn't return to our hotel room that night.</p>

<p>Now, as a First Class, he prepares to graduate in the top 20% or so of his class.</p>

<p>He will tell you that plebe summer was demanding, but not impossible; that plebe year was demanding, but not impossible. [He told my other son, who is considering AF ROTC that he wished he had excercised more; while he did okay on PRTs, it was a struggle that first semester to pass.]
He will tell you that, from time to time, he recognizes how much easier life at Duke, or Princeton, or Rice would have been. He will also tell you that he is extremely happy he chose to attend the USNA.
He is disappointed sometimes in some of his fellow classmates, most particularly with respect to how standards are maintained or regarded by many. On the other hand, he is sometimes amazed at how talented, smart, honorable, and incredible others of his classmates are.</p>

<p>Campus life is, more or less, non-existent in some respects. And he can't wait to get off the yard these days. [Although he acknowledge that at on PPW, he could not wait to get off campus and on FPW, he could not wait to show us everything he had been doing. There is much in which you can become involved: opportunities for research, clubs, and military experiences, extra-curricular activities, etc. that are not as available to you in a civilian college.
The rules are goofy, the situations unrealistic at times but, overall, he is extremely satisfied with how things are run.</p>

<p>No amount of commentary will make the decision for you. It is big decision for an 18-year old. In fact, I dare suggest, a bigger decision now than it was twenty or thirty years ago because the caliber of student the Academy is attracting is probably higher [no, I have no statistical data to support this other than in colleges and universities everywhere, the caliber of student has improved. It is harder now to get into the Univ. of Texas than it was 20 years ago; that is true of almost every major school in teh country.] than it was in the "good ol' days." USNA candidates, typically, have many excellent choices before them and either of those choices would lead to a satisfying life.
At the end of the day, you will just sort of dive into it. Sort of like getting married.</p>

9

<p>I'm a current Plebe and, as said above, it is difficult to really prepare yourself for things like Plebe Summer and Plebe year. Obviously the physical aspect is huge- but don't find yourself stressing about it too much. As far as mental preparation- just read as much as you can about the academy. And try talking to people that are current Mids or past Mids. All I did was talk about the Academy my senior year- it was all I could think about. When I came here I pretty much knew what to expect and there weren't too many surprises.
However, nothing can prepare you for how busy you will be during the academic year except for Plebe Summer- which I felt prepared me pretty well.
Don't worry about the social life aspect- people certainly find a way to have a social life here and, as a plebe, you simply adopt a new type of limited social life. Here you become good at making your own fun. There isn't really much I can think of as far as regretting not doing before I came, because I know that I'll have time to eventually do everything here.
As far as the day to day stuff- you just keep on trucking. Some days really suck, but I find that there's always something that turns them around. In the end it comes down to attitude- I love it here and everyday I make sure that I smile when I greet people and don't let the little things get to me.</p>

10

<p>As long as you want to be here, you'll be fine. Don't forget why you're here. (obviously, you have to be in good shape, too...but that comes from your desire to be here and work hard beforehand.)</p>

<p>And, one thing Plebe Summer does to you is make you appreciate free time so much more. When the Ac year starts, you go from having 30 mins of "free time" per day (which really isn't "free") to having hours. And, especially during Plebe Summer, 30 minutes is equivalent to roughly 2 hours in civilian time haha</p>

11

<p>
[quote]
And, one thing Plebe Summer does to you is make you appreciate free time so much more. When the Ac year starts, you go from having 30 mins of "free time" per day (which really isn't "free") to having hours. And, especially during Plebe Summer, 30 minutes is equivalent to roughly 2 hours in civilian time haha

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Very true... that is of course unless you're an in-season varsity athlete. I did one semester playing sports and another just doing intramurals. It was night and day</p>

12

<p>Advise above seems very sound and in no need of reiteration aside from one ...be in top physical condition. My Mid claims that's the most frequent radar-alert that leads to other radar alerts, i.e. When you can't run or do your push-ups, you are quickly and continuously brought to the front-and-center attention of your loving cadre. Not where you'd like to be.</p>

<p>In summary, address those things you can control. The others will depend upon your capacity to respond appropriately.</p>

<p>P.S. The swimming notion is right on ...being able to do that will pass you up the line more quickly in your course work. And you'll not be able to escape it.</p>

<p>btw, while not 100% guarantee, stats show that if you get there ...you'll get out on your general terms. So take heart, especially if you want to be there. You will be, barring one of life's curves that you can't prepare for anyway.</p>

13

<p>Well, I guess I need to start doing a little work. I joined the swim team (instead of running cross country this year) and I've been racing for the last few weeks. As far as staying in shape, wrestling is probably one of those few sports where having a well-rounded body is important so this should probably help me out. </p>

<p>I guess the rest is mental prep. I have heard that splitting up your days into a series of attainable goals such as Navy2010 actually works. Unfortunately, I have never really experienced anything as drastic as Plebe summer so I haven't been able to apply it. I'm self motivated. I'll make it. </p>

<p>Thanks again everyone for your input.</p>

14

<p>Tique90,</p>

<p>Maybe try Xc and Swim? I just joined Cross Country myself to prep me for running.. in addition to being on the swim team. Aren't they different seasons</p>

15

<p>what kind of times and distances should I have to be well prepared when it comes to running. my CFA run time was a 7 flat mile and that was before I started xc and I haven't had a chance to time my mile since.</p>

16

<p>When my D left for I-day this summer, she could run just about any mileage (3-6 mi per run), but she was only doing about 8 min/mile for the longer distances. When they split into timed running groups, she ended up in group 5 of 7 (1 was fastest, 7 was slowest).</p>

17

<p>zaner - on one of the first days of plebe summer we did a timed mile. Your time in that will determine your running group. So, theoretically, the running is relatively the same difficulty for everyone. But that's in a perfect world...realistically, I'd say the better you are, the less difficult it will be for you.</p>

<p>With regard to swimming...I'm a terrible "swimmer"...I'm more like a "mover" in the water. Plebe Summer does not have any challenging swimming demands though.</p>

18

<p>Our 08 graduate offers another couple of tips. First, over plebe year especially the summer always remember that while your present situation and cadre may be tough, time does not stop. "This too shall pass - plebe summer, then plebe year will end!" Second, through all struggles remember to keep your sense of humor and adventure by trying to look at the situation from another view. For example during plebe summer he imagined himself a contestant in one of those amazing and hilarious Japanese game shows in which the contestants face almost impossible, goofy challenges while being inscrutably yelled at from the sidelines. His motto became "don't get eliminated!" In spite of the hard work and testing, he found exciting adventures just about everyday of plebe summer - amphibious assault vehicles coming ashore right next to him while working out on a playing field, riding to the Naval Weapons station while suspended from a helicopter etc. </p>

<p>Getting in shape is important but take a little time for yourself, friends and your family too. As others have noted your future free time and contact with friends and family will be very limited. If you live in another time zone, try and arrive a couple of days prior to I-Day and get acclimated to Annapolis time and weather -usually hot and muggy. Oh and remember to take a copy of all your pertinent paperwork on I-Day - including vaccination and other medical information. You don't want the extra stress of missing materials or additional vaccinations. </p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

19

<p>Definitely second the above. Don't lose your sense of humor (hopefully, you have one)! There are people here who seemingly lost or never had their sense of humor, and they are not nearly as happy as those of us who find ways to enjoy ourselves and not stress. It's funny looking back on Plebe Summer, during uniform and rack races, my roommate and I would be in our room going as fast as we could, but talking and joking with each other at the same time....laughing at the situation. </p>

<p>If you get there, just remember you choose to be there. My philosophy: since you chose to be there, choose also to be happy.</p>