<p>I heard that when you go to the Academy, or any of the Academies, they take away everything that you brought with you, and you get it back at the end of the year or later. Is that true? If I wanted to bring my Calculus notes to the Academy, or broken in boots, could I do so without any “negative reinforcement”?</p>
<p>I HIGHLY recommend to just bring whatever you're told to bring. I don't think that entails much of anything for guys (any males, feel free to correct me on that). You may bring your boots, assuming they're the same kind the rest of your class is issued. Anything additional (including the civilian clothes you inprocess in and any jewelry, including your watch) will be confiscated and wil not be returned until the end of basic. As for small personal items, class notes, etc., your best bet is to box them up and tell your parents to send them to you after basic when you are allowed to have them. Do NOT bring them with you when you inprocess.</p>
<p>At USNA, on I-day, your civilian clothes, and cell phone, and anything beyond what you were told is allowed, is placed in your gym bag and stored until parents' weekend. Then the plebes get back the cell phone, and the civilian clothes and gym bag are given to the parents to take home. (I believe that watches are the only "jewelry" allowed.)</p>
<p>Calculator is allowed for validation exams as is specialty equipment for sports (soccer cleats, for example). Anything beyond this the parents can send after parents weekend for the academic year. (Those calculus notes, for example.) A Bible or other religious meditative book is allowed, but I doubt anyone has time to read or meditate.</p>
<p>Follow the instructions to the letter. It is your first step in learning to follow orders!!</p>
<p>Good Luck,
CM</p>
<p>I was thinking it would probably be a good idea just to get all my notes in order, and box them up and let my parents ship them later. That's going to be some heavy shipping costs though. :)</p>
<p>I'll let any current cadets add to this, but I'd HIGHLY suggest that if you have your HS calculus notes sent out to you from home, it's not something you advertise or proudly display. I know the Math department pretty well, too, and I REALLY don't think you'll need them. Start fresh, young jedi.</p>
<p>True. If you want your notes, have them sent, but docfrance is right about you not needing them. Just make sure you don't blow off the placement tests that are given during BCT, as they will determine your starting level in several courses (including math).</p>
<p>Candidatemom,
You're the best! Thanks for all the good advice. :)</p>
<p>usna09mom</p>
<p>OK, so the placement tests are important...but aren't the tests several weeks into the summer? How do cadets prep if they don't have their notes with them (my D would have finished BC calc a year earlier)? Or are cadets just chronically underplaced?</p>
<p>The tests occur within the first few weeks of BCT. They are designed to test what you know (or how well you guess, as the majority is multiple choice), not how much you can temporarily jam into your head during a cram session right beforehand. It's not something you should stress about, just do your best.</p>