<p>Just be a good athlete SAT scores dont apply</p>
<p>Vcm it's impossible to say how the soccer team is when the kids change each year. I'm sure it's a fine program and I know they play a lot of college teams in New England. Check out the web site for more info.</p>
<p>SAT scores count- athlete or not.<br>
While you may catch the interest of the coach because of your athletic prowess, even a coach can only go so far in twisting the arm of the admissions board- if they can do it at all, money-making sport or not.</p>
<p>Lets face it- athletes will need to maintain the same 2.0 GPA to stay in-do you really think a D-1 coach wants to babysit your grades or lose sleep over whether or not you will cut it academically for the sports season? And land on academic probation and the NCAA will have rules of its own that apply. All you need to do is look at what happened to Dingman- highest scorer for lax and key player in the lineup that went to the NCAA finals- cut after young-star year for academics! Even Richie Meade could not save him. God bless him, after spending a year at a local college working on his academics, he is back to repeat 2C year and hopefully do well enough academically to make it back on the lax field. </p>
<p>The competetion for admission is keen enough that coaches have their pick from a broad pool of applicants- they will put their energy on those that they know will pass the scrutiny of the admissions board- so if your SATs are not where you want them, DO continue to take them- do not take anything for granted if this is what you want.</p>
<p>ian is back... Sat scores dont make you a good student, its just a standardized test, In fact many students with very high GPA's do not do as well as others on the SAT, beacuse its not somthing you can study for. ( and i was only joking )</p>
<p>Yes, as I mentioned Ian is back. I am sure it has not been easy for him, and he has a lot of Lax fans rooting for him! (me included!) academically AND on the lax field!</p>
<p>I don't disagree with your view that SATs are not the measure of the student- but the admissions board will look at them, long and hard, along with the GPA and everything else that is submitted. Scores on SATs can improve to a degree with retesting- and prep (there is an entire business network built around doing just that, right/wrong or indifferent)....and yes, I agree that they are not great tests, but they are the reality right now and it doesn't look like they are going away anytime soon (although a few colleges have started to drop them, substituting instead SAT II's); they are, however, in the minority.</p>
<p>I am relieved to see you were only joking- I was starting to wonder- 'cause it would be a shame if someone reading the post took the advice seriously! While there are a lot of really gifted athletes out there, I am not so sure that alone will cut it. Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>I don't like the SAT's. It's confusing.</p>
<p>Hi, Im Alex, I just started an account here and I've been accepted to Naps for the class of 2007. Anywho, I looked this topic up (athletes at naps) and I discovered that Naps is a place where the Naval Academy sends recruits for certain sports. Aside from the application, scouts from the naval academy go out and find these athletes, some of which do not have good sat/act scores. The Naval Academy has even acknowledged that 80 napsters are recruited athletes. Is this fair, yes and no. Its not fair to those who are seeking admission into the naval academy b/c their spot at naps has been taken by an athlete. However... If the Naval Academy has a great sports program, then more people will attracted to the Naval Academy which is a great thing for admissions people and the Naval Academy. The Naval Academy has been in two consecutive bowl games for the first time in a long time. They are creating more publicity for the academy. This is so b/c of recruited athletes that didnt have the grades and attended naps. So yes the Naval Academy does recruit athletes, but you have to look at both the long term effect and the short term effect. Personally, I don't think its fair b/c great leaders are losing spots to the academy b/c of really good athletes. Now thats not to say that those athletes are not great leaders, but some great people do lose spots because of the recruiting system. so thats my view... take it as you may.</p>
<p>Naps2007: wow, where to start with this one.</p>
<p>First and formost: NAPS is intended for preparing those already in military service that have demonstrated leadership and aptitude to become officers in the US Navy; that remains the primary mission. </p>
<p>In any given admissions cycle, approximately 250 are offered positons at NAPS- 80 may be recruited athletes- representing about 30% of those attending. Fair? Nothing in life is fair.</p>
<p>I will tell you this, however. While some athlete's SATs/ACTs may not fall in the mid 50% range, they are definately on the curve- we are not talking basement level scores- and the reality is that some are even well within the 50% range, but "red shirted" for other reasons. The bottom line is that these "recruits" will still have to pass the academic rigors of NAPS along with the rest of those admitted- to the same standards- in order to gain an appointment to USNA. Nothing is guarenteed, not even for blue-chip athletes.</p>
<p>It can be argued that even those who gain direct appointments to USNA have "hooks" of their own- from tuba players needed for the band to writers who are needed to edit the Lucky Bag. Like every other selective university, the admissions board wants to achieve some level of diversity in each class- females, minorities, academic genusis...and even blue-chip athletes. They want kids interested in studying physics and engineering, and others who will fill their poly-sci classes. The list of what is needed to make a diverse class is endless. </p>
<p>What you fail to acknowledge is that 80% plus of admissions to the USNA are all athletes- most have competed in sports on some level and many have earned varsity letters- many will be recruited- by lots of teams- there are 21 varsity teams to fill- and if you think that they "didn't have the grades" then you are very much mistaken.</p>
<p>As for those "great leaders [that] are losing spots to the academy b/c of really good athletes".... one can argue that, short of those gaining leadership in the military itself, the athletic arena is a good learning/proving ground for what the academy is looking for: leaders, risk takers, people that can contribute to a team effort focused, not on individual recognition, but a common goal bigger than themselves....those that can lead and can follow, and those that can think critically and quickly in high-pressure situations. Those that can fill the physical rigors of the military experience. Classrooms teach a lot, but they don't teach that.</p>
<p>
[quote]
but some great people do lose spots because of the recruiting system
[/quote]
Who's to say who's spot is who's? A lot of great kids get turned down from a lot of great schools. What you have to keep in mind that even the best of the best blue-chip athlete will still have to succeed at the academy- and I will repeat something I posted earlier- no admissions board is going to reduce the standards at the academy no matter how stellar the athlete- Dingman's story is proof-positive of this- and no coach is going to "waste" a recruitment slot-even if at NAPS- on a candidate who will "slip in" only to find themselves inellibable to play come season time because of academic restrictions- not only applied by USNA standards, but by NCAA regulations! Coaches will not even consider you if your academics are so "borderline" that you will not have a decent chance at success at NAPS or the USNA when they can get another just-as-steller-athlete who can! And to correct one last misperception- not all those at NAPS, or the foundation programs for that matter, are academically challenged- there is a host of other reasons why candidates are offered that option- athletes in particular. </p>
<p>Our son said something to us that has been forever branded in my mind... he said he considers himself to be "one of the lucky few of the deserving many." Think about that for a minute if you would.</p>
<p>There are lots of deserving kids out there. Some of them are even athletes. Some of them are even recruited. Some get really lucky. And some really, really great kids get turned away. Even steller athletes with steller academics. There are only 1240 seats that get filled from a pool that numbers over 10,000-plus. 240 more find an offer of NAPS. Another 80 are offered foundation. And as many as 30% of the incoming class come in with a year or two of post-high school study. </p>
<p>Be glad you were lucky to get a seat at NAPS. Rejoice that you, too, were "one of the lucky few of the deserving many." Make sure you are deserving of that spot by getting through and gaining that appointment, so that it was not at the cost of some other "really deserving" candidate. There are those that will argue that their profiles were stronger than what you were able to bring to the table that find themselves without any offers....NAPS or otherwise...and they may even look at you as "occupying their seat." One can even argue that you have a duty to be successful. </p>
<p>So "that's my view, take it as you may."</p>
<p>So welcome to CC...and best of luck at NAPS!</p>
<p>yeah, welcome and congratulations!</p>
<p>you're going to naps. hoo-rah. you get good money and my roommate felt extra-prepared for the academy by it. you'll also come to plebe summer a hundred times more with it than the direct appointees. i was never so happy as on I-Day, when i walked into my room to find my roommate (and now one of my best friends) folding and writing my alfa on my clothes. without her, plebe summer would have been a hundred times worse.</p>
<p>well, i got lost after the first paragraph of navy2010's post. but my senses tell me that it was good.</p>
<p>three cheers for NAPS! hehe</p>
<p>hmmm- critical reading a challenge is it? ;)</p>
<p>nope. forensics speech <em>memorized</em> for friday is, though.</p>
<p>Good luck- never liked putting things to memory, especially now that my memory is going! Hope it's not longer than a paragraph! ;)</p>
<p>Just to respond to your reply, Sir... </p>
<p>"first and foremost:" and I quote from the Naval Academy Preparatory School Official home page, <a href="http://www.naps.edu%5B/url%5D">www.naps.edu</a>, "The mission of the Naval Academy Preparatory School is to prepare selected candidates morally, mentally, and physically, with emphasis on strengthening the academic foundation of individual candidates for officer accession through the U.S. Naval and Coast Guard Academies. The ten-month course of instruction at NAPS, lasting from August through May, emphasizes preparation in English Composition, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Information Technology."
That is the primary mission of the United State Naval Academy Preparatory School. As you read, NAPS is meant to prepare selected candidates on strengthing academic foundation. Not only do prior enlisted men and women go to Naps, but also people straight out of high school. Again, Naps helps prepare selected candidates for the academic rigors they will face at the Academy. For instance, my math is not a high as I would like it to be, by going to Naps, I know for sure, that I will be able to take calculas and rip it apart at the academy. </p>
<p>Now, concerning athletes: as I mentioned in my post earlier, some recruited athletes do not have the academic performance suited for the Naval Academy, and that is one of the reasons why they go to Naps. But who is to assume that all recruited athletes are or are not great leaders? Is there not another candidate that quite possibly will have a better potential for exceling in leadership? Someone who has been exposed to the high demands of a Leadership role, whether it be on the field or not? In fact that one candidate could be an athlete, could he/she not? My sport is sailing. I wasn't recruited for sailing at the Naval Academy, but it was noted to the admissions board that I am a sailor.
Now, I have a friend in my class that is a great football player. He was recently "recruited" (someone actually came down to Texas to speak with him about playing football at the academy) by the preparatory school. My friend, however, is not the brightest student in class, but I can assure you that he will excel at the preparatory school. The preparatory school did notice very well his football expertise, and also his grades. If you put two candidates together, one being my friend and the other being someone who has the same grades but not the football expirtise, rather, he was a tuba player in band. If there was only one spot left, which one would you pick? I say: great people do get turned down at the expense of an outstanding athlete. It happens every year, at every college. There are such occurances, whether it be 80 or 1, it happens, and it is not fair to others. That is the truth. At the same token, life is not always fair. Wouldn't you agree that is also the truth?
On one such topic, I do agree with you, all candidates must go through the same process as the person next to them. Male, female, Mexican, African American, Asian, or Caucasion, all must go through the academic, physical, and moral challenges found at every service academy.
And you know what, I am proud that I have the opportunity to attend Naps, to attend the Naval Academy, itself, and above all things, to serve this great Nation that I live in. I know that there are many others that deserve and want that opportunity as much as I and the next person. So with that realization, I will not back down from this opportunity b/c I myself am not lucky, rather I am fortunate enough to be offered attendance at Naps and the Naval Academy and have future potential in mind and character as to assume the highest responsibilities in command, citizenship, and government! </p>
<p>That is my view, take that as you may...</p>
<p>and thank you for your kudos, it is greatly appreciated as everyone else's.</p>
<p>i hope you don't take this "you took a spot from someone more deserving" suspicion with you to naps. some of your athletic classmates might find it less than endearing. i'm not saying a "tuba player" might not be a good naval officer...but i'd sure rather have the football player on the field at army-navy.</p>
<p>Well, I personally think that going to NAPS is first and foremost the greatest opportunity that a kid can have. Especially coming out of high school. Indeed there is a big world out there and we need as much prepartion as we can to prepare us for what's to come. Many students from my High School all apply to West Point and the Air Force academy. Some get in, some don't.(but most of their families are in the military anyhow). I am the first one in my region to squeeze my way through the doors of NAPS/USNA, and as a female, I am definately proud of that. Being that KY is a very big military state, most students go straight into reserves or the National Guard. I thought about that since my sophomore year, but hey, you might as well cast your rod and see what you get. As for the Athlete/recruitment thing at NAPS, just remember, the Naval Academy just like any other academy looks for the best. They want a well rounded student, Athlete or not. I highly doubt that the admissions board will let athletes slide by, if they did everyone would be applying to USNA. Even people who get appointments to USNA aren't guarenteed admissions. So getting into NAPS shows that ultimately the admissions board wants YOU, and know you have everything it takes but need an extra boost. The Navy doesn't only look for book worms, if they did they would be cambridge, but they are not. It doesn't matter how physically strong you are(although that is an important factor), how many dunks you can make, or your record breaking touch downs in one season. We all are going to be tested to our limits in some kind of way, especially in the BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND. Anyhow Great JOB on GETTING IN, it's an awsome opportunity. Just rememer everyone who gets into NAPS/USNA is deserving, and no ones spot is every taken unless they give it up. GOOOO NAVY!!!!!! BEAT ARMY!!!!!!</p>
<p><sigh>..........Congrats! :)</sigh></p>
<p>While I hesitate to revive this post, thought this deserved to be brought to the forefront. For those wanting the full story, it was posted on the USNA website today.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Navy landed another linebacker with excellent size and speed in Ian Meredith of Notre Dame High in Signal Mountain, Tenn. The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder is a three-time All-State selection who holds the Notre Dame career record with 541 tackles.
"Navy's getting a great leader, a great student and a darn good football player," Notre Dame coach Charlie Wiggins told the Chattanooga Times Free Press, which named Meredith its Defensive Player of the Year in 2004.
Meredith was a one-man wrecking crew in recording 197 tackles as a junior and 170 as a senior. He also boasts a 4.0 cumulative grade point average and scored 1,300 on the SAT.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>So much for stereotypes.</p>
<p>I agree, Navy2010: "so much for stereotyping" athletes...</p>
<p>7/1/2005 - Women's Crew
Wark Named League Scholar-Athlete of the Year</p>
<p>CENTER VALLEY, Pa. -- Ensign Shaunnah Wark (Exeter, N.H.) garnered her third major academic award of the postseason today when she was announced as the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year for Women's Crew by the league office. The 2005 graduate of the Naval Academy previously has been selected to the ESPN the Magazine's Academic All-America Women's At-Large Third Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America and as a National Scholar-Athlete by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association. She also garnered the latter award in 2004.</p>
<p>In the classroom, Wark recorded a 4.0 grade-point average during both semesters of her senior year -- the second and third 4.0 terms of her academic career -- to raise her cumulative GPA to 3.79. A systems engineering major, she was a seven-time member of Navy's Superintendent's List and graduated 45th in her class. Wark service selected surface warfare and will be assigned to the USS Shoup, a guided-missile destroyer based out of Everett, Wash.</p>
<p>On the water this spring, Wark coxed Navy's varsity boat to a 21-second victory at the inaugural Patriot League Championship and a 10th-place showing at the Eastern Sprints. The latter marked the highest placing by Navy's varsity boat in the nine years the Mids have participated at the prestigious event. Wark's boats have also won titles at the Murphy Cup, the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta and at a pair of Navy Day Regattas in her career. </p>
<p>"Shaunnah really excelled in three areas this year," said Navy head coach Mike Hughes. "First, she is a real student of the sport and could feel when the boat was going right and when it was going wrong. She could identify some of the problems with the boat only rowers feel. Shaunnah was a major reason why our boat was as successful as it was this year and throughout her career. Second, she was a great mentor to the younger members of the team and spent a lot of time working with her teammates on their academics. I know Shaunnah took a number of people under her wing and really helped them through the year. Finally, despite all of her many responsibilities she still maintained her own focus to post a 4.0 grade-point average in both semesters this year. </p>
<p>"It takes a very special person to accomplish all that Shaunnah did this year."</p>
<p>8/4/2005 - Women's Crew
Navy Places 13 Rowers on League Academic List </p>
<p>CENTER VALLEY, Pa. -- The Navy women's crew team, winners of the inaugural Patriot League Championship this past spring, placed 13 members on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll, it was announced Thursday by the league office.</p>
<p>A total of 63 rowers from the five schools league sponsoring women's crew -- Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lehigh, Navy -- were named to the team. Student-athletes needed to earn a 2005 varsity letter and attain at least a 3.2 grade-point average during the spring semester to be named to the honor roll.</p>
<p>A total of five rowers in the league attained a 4.0 GPA for the spring semester, including Navy's Shaunnah Wark who earlier this summer was selected as the league's scholar-athlete of the year for the sport. A systems engineering major from Exeter, N.H., Wark graduated from the Naval Academy this spring. </p>
<p>Additional teammates from Navy's Class of 2005 who were named to the honor roll were Danica Adams (Annapolis, Md.), Emma Hagen (Annandale, Va.), Heather Ichord (Vienna, Va.), JoEllen Rose (Whitehouse, Ohio) and Caroline Scudder (Los Alamos, N.M.), along with rising senior and 2006 team captain Kathleen Mortenson (Arlington, Va.).</p>
<p>Navy's 2005 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll Members
Name, Class, Major, GPA, Hometown/High School
Danica Adams, Sr., Systems Engineering, 3.78, Annapolis, Md./Palm Harbor University H.S.
Emma Hagen, Sr., Systems Engineering, 3.84, Annandale, Va./Annandale
Heather Ichord, Sr., Ocean Engineering, 3.86, Vienna, Va./Thomas Jefferson
JoEllen Rose, Sr., Aerospace Engineering, 3.75, Whitehouse, Ohio/Anthony Wayne
Caroline Scudder, Sr., English, 3.50, Los Alamos, N.M./Los Alamos
Shaunnah Wark, Sr., Systems Engineering, 4.00, Exeter, N.H./Phillips Exeter Academy
Kathleen Mortenson, Jr., Mechanical Engineering, 3.56, Arlington, Va./H-B Woodlawn/Wakefield
Madeline Boe, So., Oceanography, 3.85, Winchester Bay, Ore./Readiport
Diane Cote, So., Chemistry, 3.82, Worcester, Mass./Doherty Memorial
Margaret Hollyfield, So., Mechanical Engineering, 3.20, DeSoto, Texas/DeSoto
Daphne Ponce, So., Ocean Engineering, 3.73, Carbondale, Ill./Carbondale Community
Fiona McFarland, Fr., Undeclared, 3.56, New York, N.Y./The Taft School
Catherine Ortman, Fr., Undeclared, 3.78, Moline, Ill./Moline</p>