International high school/Academy question

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
1

<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>I got some great info here when my older daughter was looking at schools and I am counting on your help again. We moved to China in July for my husbands work. I have a freshman at WPI in Massachusetts and a sophomore in high school here with us in China. While I have lots to say about the 7823 mile separation of our freshman daughter and us, this question relates to our younger daughter.</p>

<p>She has always been interested in being a naval officer. Her top choice of future place is of course, Annapolis. Our situation is that we are in China for either 14 months, or if she chooses to extend, 3 years. My husband's assignment is flexible and we will return to one of the top high schools in New England if she chooses to return. So this is the complicated question:</p>

<p>Should we stay in China?</p>

<p>She has a 93 GPA and on track for an IB diploma from a top International school. She fences 2 times per week and is a delegate in her school's Model United Nations (and going to Beijing for a 5 day conference in March as a rep from her school) She is also learning Mandarin and doing incredibly well in this progress.</p>

<p>Should we return to New England?</p>

<p>Top public high school, varsity rower, more than 300 hours teaching in one year in a program which gets kids with disabilities out on the snow in adaptive equip or skis. She is also a Sea Cadet back home. Her grades are slightly lower there, but the GPA is unweighted. She could go back to all of these things the moment we return to the US -- if we go back for her Junior year.</p>

<p>Other stuff -- Not Asian heritage, non military parents, wants to be a Mandarin/liguistics major -- can speak Spanish as well.</p>

<p>She has emailed the blue and gold international rep and is waiting to hear - but any advice is appreciated.</p>

<p>Also, she knows the secret formula of high grades, strong math and science curriculum, seeking out other leadership activities and rock the SATs...</p>

<p>The problem is, where does she have the better shot of making a serious run at it?</p>

2

<p>Wow that’s a tough question. I think the Academy would like seeing someone with not only good grades and test scores, but a well rounded person. That said, here’s my question in return for you: You said she wants to be a naval officer, but does going to USNA matter more to her than being in the Navy? There are a ton of different ways to get a commission, and USNA isn’t necessarily the best way or even the right way for everyone. I’m proud of the fact that I went to the Academy, but if I could tell myself then what I know now, I wouldn’t have been so hung up about going there.</p>

<p>Personally, I think there is far more value in living abroad than getting hung up about a certain school. She should do her best academically, use those abroad years to her advantage when it comes to essays and all that, and absorb as much of the culture as possible to bring a new perspective into her future navy career. If she doesn’t get into the Academy, will she be crushed? Maybe, but life goes on. Getting a commission somewhere else will have no impact whatsoever on her career as a naval officer, and I doubt she will have any regrets when she’s in the fleet.</p>

3

<p>This is a virtual no brainer …once one realizes the place has no real impact on the issue, beyond competitive vs. non-competitive nominations. Go where she wants. Either will be fine. Trying to scoop the process with an obviously top-shelf candidate-in-waiting is futile. That will not be the determining factor. The merits of the candidate will. Sounds silly to me, trying to figure out where to place a student based upon trying to assess how an anonymous committee would view one’s environment. Just my thought. You are way overthinking this one, trying to ride a 2 humped camel through the eye of a #7 needle …</p>

<p>p.s. no linguistics major at USNA …no idea about how the Chinese lang major is specified.</p>

4

<p>The Chinese major at the academy is only about 3 years old. We are trying to ascertain whether her lack of varsity sports here will be a detriment, yet her academics are better here in China. I think it is possible to overthink this issue, but given her desire and the opportunities/decisions that lay before her, I do not think we are overthinking it. It is a big decision to stay her for high school vs. the original 14 months…mostly a sacrifice on my part since it will be good for my husband’s career as well as any college application for daughter. </p>

<p>We are not looking to scoop anyone – only to offer her the best chance of success, which I think is why most of we parents are here on this site. </p>

<p>Thank you for your thoughtful response. </p>

<p>She is looking at NROTC as well as non ROTC options such as VMI and Norwich as well – and then rounding out her list with other schools just in case some weird crazy thing happens like she blows out a knee or develops some sort of medical condition that would disqualify her from service.</p>