<p>My name is Ensign xxx xxxxxx and I am part of the Naval Academy admissions team. I just graduated in May and am awaiting to go to flight school in November. </p>
<p>Looking through your packet we have decided that you are of high interest to us and I would like to meet with you. </p>
<p>I'm here for you as a source of information about academy/Navy life, the admissions process and advice for admission. </p>
<p>I'll be in your area from Aug xx through Aug xx and I'm flexible within those dates. </p>
<p>If you'd like to meet feel free to email me back or call me at (xxx) xxx-xxxx. </p>
<p>I greatly encourage you to take this chance to learn all you can about the great opportunity of coming to the Naval Academy. </p>
<p>Hope to see you soon! </p>
<p>Respectfully, </p>
<p>xxxxx xxxxxx
ENS USN
US Naval Academy Admissions</p>
<p>I realize its a great thing. But my question actually is.. will it HELP me get in. Meaning, if I meet with him and he likes me will that lift-en my chances of an appointment?</p>
<p>All my questions are basically answered, I read all the books and already got all my questions answered at SS.</p>
<p>Knowledge is power, so it can only help you with the process. As to brownie points, don't go into the talk with him with that mind set. He isn't from admissions I don't think. If you truly want to pick his brain, go for it. Don't go just because you think it will help you. Bottom line, if it was me, I would have already called him.</p>
<p>Uh, yeah, all of those TAD Ensigns are definitely part of the Admissions team until they go to flight school and they know all of the tricks of the trade to what goes on in that mysterious building we call Leahy hall.</p>
<p>So yes, just because they are Ensign, don't shrug them off. They still carry weight and will more than likely record elements from your interview. Frankly, something you tell the Ensign could make or break you, so be smart about it.</p>
<p>azncreazion, my S received a call instead of a letter from the admissions office with same kind of suggestion. We were already planning on visiting Annapolis in August so he's not planning on meeting with this person. But if you're planning on applying to USNA, I don't see how this could hurt. It gives you an opportunity to ask questions and show your interest.</p>
<p>Meeting with him shows interest. Meet with him. Ask the questions that you already know the answer to. This is a no brainer, buddy...why would you NOT meet with him??</p>
<p>mom3boys is totally correct. You can never know too much about the SAs. They, along with the mandatory subsequent careers, are completely different than civilian colleges. The Ensign has just graduated. He has insight into the nuances of Academy life which you will never obtain elsewhere. Ask about his career choice and why he chose it. Also, I am betting that your parents are not as well versed as you. Make sure they are both home when you schedule the appointment. Encourage them to ask questions. Make the most of it. Good luck.</p>
<p>if you don't want to ask any questions that you already know the answer to, you could ask the Ensign about his life at the academy. ask about his major and athletic involvement. also ask about his expectations for flight school. show yourself as a people person and interested in others.</p>
<p>Most of all, ask him about being a minority student @ USNA, why he came, what his options were, would he do it again, why or why not, social life, extra curriculars, opportunities in the next 5 years that were not available in th last 5 years, roommate assignments & any diff for minorities, what are the downsides, the upsides, support systems and entities, any particular differences in the admissions process and/or assessment, exactly what was it that triggered his letter, does it mean anythng in the admissions process, etc. etc. etc. </p>
<p>There are a million questions ... and when you get done, recognize that his answers are different than the next person you ask the very same questions to ...</p>
<p>Just my two cents...When I go do Academy Days with my Blue and Gold Officer back home, I'll talk for 10 minutes, and then the Captain will talk for about 20 minutes, and then we let the candidates go around and talk with the representatives from all the Academies.</p>
<p>I'm amazed at how silent it is after the opening remarks when we ask, "Any questions?"</p>
<p>How can there not be questions? I'm two years in already, and I still have questions. There are always questions, always stuff you won't know. I wish I had all of the answers.</p>
<p>When the representatives ask for questions, they are REALLY asking afor quesitons.</p>
<p>You should ask a question. SURELY you have questions about ANYTHING. I don't think anybody--I know I am not--going to report to admissions about hte "dopey" quesiton that xyx asked.
This is one of the rare times you can ask anythin you want about admissions/life at the academy, etc. and, probably, get as true an answer as you might ever get. Without judgment.</p>
<p>The interesting thing is that if you asked a really penetrating question that everybody else is afraid to ask, you would probably be respected for it.
NO, it will not get you more point,s,b ut it would be at least acknowledged.</p>
<p>ASK QUESTIONS. Or is it that you have exhausted the extent of your abiliity to aske questions?</p>
<p>Well.... at SS I asked a LOT Of questions. It was to the point that the cadres expected me to ask questions on every single thing. Anything that popped into my head, I immediately blurred it out.</p>
<p>But I see your points and thanks, I gave him a call and we are meeting. </p>
<p>Good. At the risk of beating a dead horse, all typos aside, the perspective of a graduate is totally different than that of your NASS cadre who has just completed Plebe Year. They were experts on Plebe Year itself, probably were well versed in why they came to the Academy. Both the enthusiasm and the cynicism of having just completed their toughest year tempered their remarks. An Ensign has a much broader perspective. Again, career choices. Someone mentioned blending sports and extracurriculars with academics. He will have a much more realistic understanding of academic majors. He will understand thoroughly career choices. I would challenge you that if you don't have a vast multitude of questions that you haven't thought the situation out sufficiently. And please, please, get your parents involved. Their support is tantamount to a successful tenure at a SA. Get them on board. Again, good luck.</p>