<p>Let's face it ... "easy" and "hard" are like beauty contests. In the eyes of the admirer. What's easy for one is tough for another. They're feelings, not facts. Those are 2010's contentions. </p>
<p>But instead of playing "what if" when I flunked that physics test and was bummed, "what if" when I couldn't go home from June to November I was home sick, "what if" I didn't make the tennis team when the coach recruited and I was disillusioned, "what if" ...</p>
<p>Play "what is." And we know what is. Virtually everyone of those Mid moments of question (just like Slippery Rock and Wartburg students do ...especially Wartburg. Don't you have to wonder who'd go to a place named that? And it's in Iowa!) were overcome. But it's silly to think that somehow the USNA mythical wall is any more experienced or even traumatic at USNA than any other campus. Where is it a walk in the park??? Nowhere, that's where. </p>
<p>What we know is that USNA kids get over it much more frequently and consistently than do young people at literally every other college on the planet, and the result is nearly 9 outta 10 Mids make it ... they graduate. Michigan would die for those numbers. (Notably among athletes, but that's another issue.) And the 1 of 10 who does not ... DID NOT WANT TO! They, not USNA, decided another place was better for them. </p>
<p>One is the facts, hard numbers, reported by the Mother Ship ... the other is the mythological mammography of Miss Montana in a bathing suit. "Actually I prefer Miss Mississippi ...love the way they talk, so sweet and y'all." "Not me. The prettiest girls all come from Poughkeepsie." "Those aren't pretty girls, silly. They're Vassarian transvestites, all running for homecoming queen!" :eek:</p>
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You guys in the cheap seats can not put any value on those choices - you're not here and don't get how we find ourselves hitting the wall.
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<p>currentmid-
you have at least one poster that "gets it."</p>
<p>As for the rest-
personally I have hit the "virtual wall" with whistle pig.
and the last thing I am going to do is continue on with an innane arguement about "vassarian transvestites, homecoming queens," or anything else he wants to "winnow" about.</p>
<p>And for the record, it was clearly meant to be "lose"...
but then you know that, don't you.</p>
<p>I would say "carry on" but I dare not encourage any more of this.</p>
<p>For those of you "new" to this forum and considering applying to a service academy, please do yourselves a favor and read currentmid's post above; it will be time well spent.</p>
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Although the statistics say 85% will graduate in 4 years, for each individual it is a 50 percent proposition - you either will or will not - personal choice for some, institutional choice for others.
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<p>so if the statistical odds or probability a person will get struck by lightning is around 1 in a million, my odds are 50/50 as I will either be struck or not struck? I guess I should spend more time indoors….</p>
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Yes about 85% graduate but ask many of those if they at any one time would have preferred to have been somewhere else and the numbers are going to be staggering. 85% is no slam dunk of an outcome by any means. Being here I can tell you it has been harder to stay than it was to get in.
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<p>Finding a spouse isn’t very hard in contrast to making a marriage work. Getting pregnant is a bit easier than raising a child. In both those scenarios, as a husband or wife you can stay or go. Getting to that point in your life was obviously a lot easier than what you may be facing in terms of working through the hard times and coming out on the other end. I’m also sure many men and women in marriages or as parents had days where they wished they were someplace else. </p>
<p>Dealing with the stress of a demanding professor, a difficult course load on top of your military obligations may seem like a lot, maybe more than you can or want to handle on some days, I’m sure that’s true. I’m also sure it’s part of the plan. Getting through to the end is an achievement that you can and will look back upon, something to be proud of. The challenges you face when you leave and receive your commission will not be any easier and in all likely hood considerably more difficult to overcome; combat, difficult superior officers, an incompetent peer or subordinate, ethical dilemmas, the list goes on. Within your personal life a sick child or an unfaithful spouse. As you move through life the potential will always be there for you to stay or go. The choices you make will define you then as they do now.</p>
<p>Anyone with advice - please do so.<br>
My son received an invite last week to CVW ( fall 2009) and has not been able to contact his regional contact during the day. When he calls the number on the letter, he either gets a message (no option to leave response) or someone who tells him to call back. He sent an email but has not heard back from this email. He is aware that these fill up quickly. Any other suggestions on how to rsvp? USNA is his first choice of schools. He was not selected for summer seminar, however he did attend both USMA and USAFA summer programs. This would be very helpful in his decision process.</p>