Heading out for AIM...

<p>Anyone else heading out for AIM? My dd is going kayaking on Friday with her sister and then headed on to DIA to fly out. She's excited!</p>

<p>My son is going to AIM tomorrow. He has attended the USMA and USNA summer programs, but he is also looking forward to experiencing USCG. DId your daughter attend others?</p>

<p>She did USNA and USAFA's earlier. She also did a week at the CO State Patrol Youth Academy that she thoroughly enjoyed.</p>

<p>Hope your kids are ready for the hottest summer in a long time in CT...it's been brutal. My son just entered with the class of '09. Good luck to yours.</p>

<p>Oh dear--that will be a shock coming from 80 degrees and no humidity in the mountains. To add to it--she just stumbled over her little sister's irrigating boot and twisted her ankle...</p>

<p>the 10-day forcast for new london looks great</p>

<p><a href="http://www.weather.com/activities/other/other/weather/tenday.html?locid=USCT0136&from=search_10day%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.weather.com/activities/other/other/weather/tenday.html?locid=USCT0136&from=search_10day&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Does anyone have a link for a webcam at the academy? We really liked watching the one at Annapolis--occasionally a sailboat would zip by...</p>

<p>Heartcross: Have you heard from your daughter at AIM? Except when my son landed at the airport in CT, I have not heard from him.</p>

<p>Nope--didn't even hear from her at the airport. We know she boarded the plane and it touched down. She did this last year too--we didn't get a call from Paris for 4 days...</p>

<p>Back to hot and humid again in CT...
Don't worry too much about not hearing anything...the kids are well taken care of and very busy...my son is in swab summer with the class of '09. We got post cards the first two days then nothing since...typical from what I hear from other parents. So hang in there the week will go by fast and I'm sure you will hear from the kids soon enough.</p>

<p>No worries here! Just curious! After attending the USMA and USNA summer sessions, he was 'sold' on USMA. But, I 'encouraged' him to take a look at the USGA by attending AIM. It seems like a great fit for engineering, sports, career, etc. I am sure that he is having a great time.</p>

<p>Bossf51: What 'sold' your son on the USGA?</p>

<p>Several things(in no particular order):</p>

<ol>
<li>Close proximity to our home in CT.</li>
<li>Size-he liked the smaller school. He went to a fairly small h.s. and was comfortable with that environment.</li>
<li>Outstanding reputation in engineering, which he wants to make his major.</li>
<li>Chance to play sports on DIII level...he is not quite up to DI. </li>
<li>Humanitarian mission of CG.</li>
<li>He loves the sea.</li>
<li>They wanted him.</li>
</ol>

<p>Good luck to yours.</p>

<p>My dd called a bit ago--waiting for her plane from Bradley. She's headed to Detroit and then on to Rome for two weeks with Hillsdale College. She sounded tired, but she loved it. They didn't pick them up from Bradley 'til very late the first day, so they missed some of the intro stuff. So...they got yelled at a lot for not knowing stuff the next day, but they survived. Her recommendation to anyone that hasn't gone yet--don't forget the tall "motivated" socks and bring gray AND blue t-shirts. She only brought gray so had to borrow. Her roomie had not downloaded the packing list so was missing all sorts of things. She sprained her ankle just as she was leaving our house, but did okay with it for a few days. Then it swelled quite a bit, so is now in a brace. It will be a nuisance going through international security... They did NOT have a chance to take the PAE (or whatever it's called now)--that was a disappointment. All in all, she can see herself there, so I guess the trip was a big success!</p>

<p>My son also called this morning from Bradley. Somewhat disappointed that the physical test was not given, but he had a good time. Also, unlike USMA and USNA sessions, there were really no classes attended. We'll have to see about his desire to apply when he gets home tonight.</p>

<p>So, what's your AIMster's feeling on applying? I think, at our house, she's thinking USNA, CGA and then AFA...</p>

<p>non AIMster here and am applying to CGA only and if that doesnt bite, i will go AFROTC elsewhere.. gotta get me some wings</p>

<p>My son came away from AIM with a definite desire to apply to the USCG. It's now between USMA and USCG.</p>

<p>I would also appreciate hearing feedback from other AIM participants and/or their parents about the USCG experience.</p>

<p>I just got back from AIM. It was a really awesome experience. Mentally, it was one of the most challenging things i've done, but i also had alot of fun. I want to go to the academy now more than ever. It's going to be a challenge, if I get in, but the friendships and experiences will make the challenge worth the effort. (Plus I like challenges.) I think there is an awesome opportunity for anyone who has a thick enouph skin to make it through the first ten months at the academy. That is what I found out at AIM. I know its going to be hard, but I can handle it. Besides, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it.</p>

<p>Good for you! It is a great experience and surely a big challenge. My son is a swab this summer and I know it takes a special person to make it. Your last statement brings to mind the exchange between the manager and player in "A League of Their Own." She says, "It's hard." He says, "It's the hard that makes it special-if it was easy, everybody could do it!" Good luck and let us know if you have any questions about the admissions process or the academy itself.</p>

<p>did anybody find out what the auxillery ranked them? i found out i was "ranked high on his list".. would it be rude to ask what number of what i was?</p>