<p>As one who has been conspicuously absent after last summer's brouhaha, let me just say that I hope all will feel welcome and included and that we can think of those who don't agree as the loyal opposition. </p>
<p>And as I tell my second graders, "If you can't say something nice..."</p>
<p>I'll play nicely if anyone has questions about the experience from the perspective of a Second-Class parent. Aw, you know what I mean! ;)</p>
<p>momof1-</p>
<p>Please EDUCATE! I'd love to learn from your perspective! Plus, I'm a good student, do my homework, and had a great gpa from college! :D</p>
<p>Uh . . . Z, could you explain what you mean by the plumbing reference [I still don't know how to copy a comment]. Lost me there . . . .</p>
<p>What a goofy group . . . if you weren't here last summer, you cannot begin to appreciate this interaction. . . but, I have to agree that 09mom's comments seem [well, don't really know how to interpret them] a bit off the wall.</p>
<p>Bill-</p>
<p>Where have you been? You've been missed!</p>
<p>I wasn't officially here last summer, but I followed some of it. The smoke just finished clearing, too.</p>
<p>Everyone-</p>
<p>This thread has begun to spiral so out of control and off the original topic that I think I might as well come and say hi. </p>
<p>Helloooooo!!! I am applying to the Naval Academy. I am from Utah. Sorry to disappoint, but I only have 2 parents...): Sometimes I spell words wrong, but I don't think it has anything to do with the polygamist cousins I don't/never have had. Goodbye.</p>
<p>Oh, and mom- I like to see that you are making new friends on collegeconfidential.com. Maybe you should invite them to go on a hike sometime? Maybe even a little green jello? ...haha</p>
<p>So, Utah-represent-</p>
<p>What did you think of cvw? How did it differ, for you, from NASS?</p>
<p>Well... I will start of by calling the NASS what it is called by the Mids who don't participate in it... it is refered to 'Scamminar' during the academic year. The weekend visit is nice because you get to see what the academy is really like. There are no squad runs or anything during the year. My Midn told me that after Plebe Summer he didn't work out until December. You get the benefit of looking at some of the homework/papers the Mids turn in and compare it to your own work. You get to see the interaction between the upperclass and the plebes. You learn a lot of things that will help you get through the first summer and make life easier. It is really awesome. I highly recommend it!</p>
<p>Any logic as to why it is called "Scamminar?" I was under the impression it was to be a realistic taste of what it would be like to be a Plebe. </p>
<p>I would think cvw would be a little more relaxed. How was the interaction between the upperclass and plebes? What did you notice?</p>
<p>when you come, wear nice clothes, khakis and collared shirts. don't wear leather or a huge belt buckle. we always laugh when people come wearing cutoff tshirts or ripped jeans. look nice. and whatever you do, don't wear your letterman jacket. it just looks dorky.</p>
<p>nurseypoo, to answer your question it is not really a realistic taste. the cadre were some of the best performers out of their plebe year, and it really is designed to increase applications (as well as give an idea of what its like.) basically, disagree if you want but nass makes the academy look good. and half an hour of yelling during "indoc" doesn't give you the first idea what plebe summer/ year is like.
what don't you see at nass? the cynics, the lazy people, the conduct offenses, the academically unsat, the daily grind, what a real typical day at the academy is like, the complaints...and i'm not saying thats a bad thing. its just that the good AND the bad are a part of life here, and NASS is not designed to show you that. cvw is different because its a normal day. mids aren't concerned about drags, and they ignore them to a large degree. no one is showing off, and i would say every mid, whether they participated or not, calls it summer scaminar.</p>
<p>I'm not disagreeing about anything. I'm extremely naive when it comes to all of this academy information. I'm learning as my son does. </p>
<p>Thanks for the info. I appreciate seeing both sides.</p>
<p>To peskemom, nurseypoo,nickinest,Momofhopeful2010, Spidermom and Wheelah44 -
YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST ! I thought working inpatient psych was a dynamic environment. Seriously, your support and encouragement is heartwarming. I have learned so much from this site in just one short week, and feel I have made some good friends as well.
Another 'observation' about CVW - unlike NASS, CVW does specifically allow question and answer time for candidates and parent/parents at the check-in meeting and again the next day for parent/parents only. Also the RO's introduce themselves and are very helpful and approachable AND as an added bonus they give out free tickets (otherwise $6 each) for a guided tour of the Yard.</p>
<p>And to Zaphod - I LOVE YOU MAN ! Thanks so much for having my back - I'm honored.</p>
<p>nurseypoo...the NASS squad leaders call the particpants Skittles in honor of their colored T-Shirts</p>
<p>Welcome back, Utahmom!</p>
<p>Gosh! Thought I'd curb my newly developed addiction :) and sign off here for a few days: what fun I've missed while away!
Z, you're cray-zee, man!
I second all of the positive thoughts about this group! It's the best!</p>
<p>UtahMom - Glad to have you with us!</p>
<p>
[quote]
And to Zaphod - I LOVE YOU MAN ! Thanks so much for having my back - I'm honored.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You are most welcome, and the honor is all mine. :o</p>
<p>Welcome back. :)</p>
<p>Utahmom.....right back at you, sister! The good far outweighs the bad on this board. It's great to have company on this long, strange trip!</p>
<p>I'm going to say it again-</p>
<pre><code>I LOVE YOU GUYS !!!!!
</code></pre>
<p>You all are totally keeping me sane so THANK YOU !</p>
<p>If the 'big envelope' comes, you will all hear me screaming HOO YAH ! (along with TWO navy diver big brothers) Keep it coming sisters : )</p>
<p>Alright, so I signed up for the April 12-14 visit and I'm pretty sure I have it all planned. Just let me know if there's anything else I need to do:</p>
<p>I Need to Bring
- A sleeping bag
- Something to do while the plebe does his homework
- Decent looking clothes
- Swim suit
- PE clothes
- Toiletries
- Camera</p>
<p>Anything else? Would it be possible for me to bring my laptop with me? Is there free public Wi-Fi access at the Naval Academy? Can I also bring my homework to do? During class time, will I have to participate (as in have a pencil, notebook, calculator, etc ready) or merely observe? Also, will we have a chance to visit the gift shop? Is an escort to the gift shop even possible with their busy schedules?</p>
<p>Thanks for all your help.</p>