<p>This is my first time posting on here, but my dad is somewhat of a junkie now. I'm sure most of you are familiar with him, wvdad! You don't know how helpful you've been to him. I think he probably would've had an aneurysm if it weren't from all the great support he's gotten off here. </p>
<p>I'm just looking for any information to better prepare me for Plebe Summer and/or the Academic Year. I went to SS and attended "drag weekend", which atleast gave me a small taste of what to expect, but I'm still trying to absorb every possible bit of information I can. </p>
<p>Right now I'm planning on joining the Crew team, and am leaning towards the Oceanography program. I'm, however, definitely open to suggestions on other activities to get involved with. </p>
<p>I am a three sport athlete and a captain of all three teams. Not a huge runner but I can do 3 miles fairly easily. I lift and do pushups everyday. Just wondering just how much of the training is physical and how hard will it be? How much is mental and is that harder than the physical aspect of the training?</p>
<p>i didn't think plebe summer was demanding physically so much as mentally. its hard to be there, realizing its six weeks before you'll see your family again...its hard to get the mental stamina to keep on trucking. but if you just take one day at a time, put out as much as you can at everything you do, you should be fine. don't bilge your shipmates: your squad leader will remember that more than that you knew the right answer when your squadmate didn't.i dont think anything really could have prepared me for the yelling. girls, a note: do not try and flirt in any way with your upperclass. don't try and smile, make jokes, or anything with your cadre: its hard to learn, but they don't really see you as a female: you are a plebe, and its to your advantage in the end to be as professional as possible.</p>
<p>To be honest, I don't think there is any real way to prepare for Plebe Summer or the Academic Year. While the advice on this thread means well, the second you step into Alumni Hall on I-Day you'll have a hard enough time remembering your name let alone what Whellah44 said on an internet message board. Enjoy your last couple of months in High School, the Academy will come soon enough. The last couple of months before I-Day were some of the most fun of my life, focus on making yours the same, you're going to regret it if you don't take advantage of your last few months as a civilian.</p>
<p>USNA won't accept AP exams, but I was told they give equivalency exams during Plebe Summer. Do they act the same as AP and get you out of a course or just throw you in a more challenging version of the same course? I don't want to get myself into something I can't handle.</p>
<p>The best thing to do to prepare for plebe summer is get in shape. Beisdes knowing the stuff you are suppposed to which you can do when you get here, the most you will stand out when it comes time for fitreps is not being the one holding the squad back on physical evolutions. The worst thing you can do is act like you have an attitude, or that you deserve to be here. Detailers and upperclass during the summer and ac year will target you if you show you think you are better than everybody else. Lead but dont be cocky. There is nothing that will get you faster to the bottom of everybody's ranking sheet than being cocky.</p>
<p>wvgirl2010...welcome aboard, honey! Your dad is great. Glad to know this forum averted a 911 distress call from your home!</p>
<p>You mention joining crew....Our daughter has been in touch with Nicole Stimpson for the women's crew...met her at her Nov. CVW and had been in contact since before her Summer Seminar....Kiddo will be on the freshman team for sure now, although she was not recruited for crew.</p>
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I was told they give equivalency exams during Plebe Summer.
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<p>Correct.</p>
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Do they act the same as AP and get you out of a course or just throw you in a more challenging version of the same course?
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<p>Yes. (Don't you hate when that happens?)</p>
<p>I can give you examples of both. I validated one semester of Chemistry, so instead of taking the chemistry that actually deals with CHEMICALS, I ended up being put into a chemistry that looked more like Einsteinian theoretical physics. I still have nightmares about ISO-Psi Surfaces! AAARGH!!!!</p>
<p>I also validated one semester of Calculus, so I simply started in Calc II. No big deal.</p>
<p>I validated FOUR semesters of Spanish, so presto-chango, no more language requirements! </p>
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I don't want to get myself into something I can't handle.
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<p>I hear you. You have to balance the added stress of a harder class load up front with the fact you'll be able to skate a bit during your 2/c and 1/c years (and believe me, you'll want to). It also opens up space later in your academic track to take electives you'll actually ENJOY.</p>
<p>Frankly, I think validating anything you possibly can is worth it.</p>
<p>So you do have to take two years of a foreign language? A second year wasn't required until grad school for me. </p>
<p>Thanks peskemom! Looking forward to giving you a hug come I-Day. I'll be the one with duct tape wrapped around my head! LOL! (with the aneurysm and all!)</p>
<p>I have been involved with Navy JROTC for two years. Besides the obvious advantages of knowing basic drill and naval knowledge, are there any other benefits? Should I just try to blend in with everyone else, or should I actually act like I know what I'm doing?</p>
<p>if you are in a group 3 major, which are the humanities, you must take/or validate 4 semesters of a language. if you validate 4, you're halfway to a minor!</p>
<p>wvgirl...our kiddo is CAP...cadet commander/2LT and knows about drill,customs and courtesies, did Color Guard National Competition so she knows all that stuff too..</p>
<p>One comment her Squad Leader said at the end of summer seminar was that our daughter was different and humble and got his highest recommendations because - even though she knew alot of stuff about military discipline, etc. -she never made that an issue in her actions for the week. . In fact, they are TURNED OFF by Nrotc and CAP, etc. kinds of kids who come in thinking they know it all. Only in answering questions of her Squad Leader, who was observing her behavior and interaction with the squad...did it come out about her previous knowledge and skills. My advice? Show up on I-Day prepared to have some awareness of stuff, keep your mouth shut, do your part as a team player and know nothing you already know will ever totally prepare you for Plebe Summer.</p>
<p>Like I said before. Dont be afraid to be a leader but dont try to show up your classmates. Instead use that knowledge you have to help them. Plebe summer and plebe year is about being a team. Your first must know how to fuction as a team before you can become a successful leader, since it is the team dynamics you must rely on to get the job done.</p>
<p>wvgirl, blend. Your training in NJ will help you. They'll be able to spot you straight away the first day so no need to announce it or play it up. I don't have intimate knowledge of USNA but know some about what going into an academy was like from my NJ kid. He was very glad he was one.</p>
<p>Be in really good shape -- especially when it comes to running. Run, run, run. A lot of future plebes are in great shape right now. However, after 2 months of graduation activities, parties, June week, beach week, etc., they get out of shape and by the time late June rolls around, things aren't good. </p>
<p>Don't show up your classmates. There is a fine line between standing out in a positive way and in a negative one. Gone are the days of "Oh teacher, call on me, I know the answer" at a time when your classmate has failed to answer the question. You will learn the difference between "helping out" your classmates and "bilging" them.</p>
<p>Don't worry if you're not perfect. Most plebes are used to being at the top of their class, best in their sports, etc. Half of you will be in the bottom half at any given point in time. While you should always strive to do your best, don't get too discouraged if your initial performance isn't what you'd hoped for. After plebe summer, there are nearly 4 more years in which to excel. After plebe year, another 3. And so on.</p>
<p>Try to get along w/your roommates. It's not like regular college when you fill out those little questionnaires to get people with whom you're compatible. Unless things have changed, you won't have any choice of roomate(s) during the summer. You will have to rely on them to succeed, so make the best of it.</p>
<p>Finally, I'll pass along advice the head Chaplain gave us early in plebe summer. Don't think about making it to graduation. Think about just making it through today. And tomorrow, concentrate about making it through tomorrow. And, before you know it, 4 years have gone by. He was right.</p>