<p>Academy 2010- </p>
<p>instead of "reposting" interview tips (BGO, MOC, etc)- will refer you to a previous thread that had a lot of very good information- might want to check it out- </p>
<p>suggest reading through all the posts carefully - if you still have some questions re: interviews, come right back here and we will try and help you out with them! </p>
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..and that I love how tradition seems to be very important at USNA compared to the other academies...
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<p>:confused: The Long Gray Line may dispute that.</p>
<p>"The Long Gray Line may dispute that."</p>
<p>That's what I thought. Most of my reasons as to why USNA is where I want to be instead of air force or army are really based on feelings rather than tangible facts. I'm having problems in that area. I don't know... Just going to NASS and being at the Naval Academy and staying in Bancroft Hall... it all just felt "right." But I can't exactly put that into an essay.</p>
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being at the Naval Academy and staying in Bancroft Hall... it all just felt "right."
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<p>While it be of little help in composing your essays, my son said essentially the same thing after he came back from a CVW experience (made up his mind too late for NASS). He said "of all the places I've been this was the first place I felt at home" </p>
<p>You may not be able to directly frame your essays around your "comfort" with the USNA, but perhaps you can draw from that feeling as you express the reasons for your interest in attending the academy and serving thereafter. In my son's case he framed his desire to attend the academy as an extension of his primary goals; to serve in some capacity and have the opportunity to apply his interest in technology and engineering in a meaningful way. The Naval Academy was just the first stop on that journey.....good luck on yours</p>
<p>Do NOT ever talk down about another service academy or branch of service in an interview.
Don't talk about how tradition is more important at USNA than at other SA's the interviewer will think you don't know what you are talking about.</p>
<p>Even though there is a lot of inter-service rivalry - even here on this board - you will find out there that each service has a lot of respect for the others.</p>
<p>Do not say that one SA will give you a "better" education over another. See above.</p>
<p>So, say that you want to be in the Navy or MC or Army - remember you will be in the service longer than you will be at an academy.
Look at curriculums - what do you want to study? Civil Engineering? Don't pick USNA. Naval Architecture? Don't pick USMA.
What are your career goals? If you don't want to be on a ship then don't pick USNA.</p>
<p>If you visited USNA when you were 12 and really liked it and learned about the Navy and would aspire to do ___________ and you never considered the Army or Air Force - then say it. You don't have to justify, IMO, why you don't want to go to USAFA or USMA.</p>
<p>Concentrate on the positive - why you want to attend and not on the negative - why you won't consider another SA.</p>
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<p>You guys are blowing this all out of proportion. The subject will probably never come up unless the candidate brings up the fact that he is applying to more than one academy. If this is the case, intelligently comparing careers is probably more important than comparing academies. If one enters this arena and is compelled to compare academies, just be truthful and talk from the heart.</p>
<p>I disagree, we are offering advice/opinions about how someone should prepare for an important interview.</p>
<p>If you say you are ONLY applying to USNA it is reasonable to 'think about' what you would say if someone, somewhere in the various interviews asks you 'why?' Seems to me that is part of being prepared and good planning.</p>
<p>No one ever implied that one Academy was better than another. One may certainly be more suited to your individual interests/career goals, and that is fine. Our point is that part of preparing for any interview is to at least think about what you would say if asked.</p>
<p>I still believe that is good advice.</p>
<p>Well... then my reasoning stands firm that I want to go to USNA and no other service academy because my goal is to become an officer in the USMC. Air force and Army can't provide me with that option, which is why I'm not applying to them. ROTC programs CAN offer me this option, and that is why I AM also applying to them as a "plan B" below USNA. (Then plan C is just a civilian college... though I'm hoping it doesn't get there).</p>
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then my reasoning stands firm that I want to go to USNA and no other service academy because my goal is to become an officer in the USMC.
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<p>Excellent.
USNA69, I think, is correct - you will most likely be asked why you want to attend USNA. The above answer is perfect - just realize that there is a risk you may not get USMC and show that you understand that risk.</p>
<p>I was just making the point that you keep the conversation focused on what you want NOT on what you don't want (another SA).</p>
<p>Would agree that "keeping things positive" is a must! </p>
<p>and while poking some fun at each other is ok in some places, would second that an interview is not one of them.</p>
<p>Our son was asked what other schools he was applying to- by his BGO and the MOC interviewing committees, of which he interviewd with 2 for the same MOC (one committee interviewed him for USMA, and the other had members representing USNA and USMMA.... not sure if using the term "rep" is correct.... lets just say "members" that had more familiarity with a certain academy than another).... not sure if this is how it works outside our district....</p>
<p>anyway, as far as I know while he was asked "why" he wanted to attend a particular academy, he was able to speak specifically to what each offered for him in terms of his goals and possible career options.</p>
<p>at the end of the interview, the committee members offered some "light hearted" comments re:their personal preferences, but that would be something to keep a bit of a distance with. (As an aside, he ended up with noms for all three....2 from the MOC, and one from our senator)....</p>
<p>so the advice offered by USNA69... to "compare careers instead of academies" would be well worth following!</p>
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<p>I think what you are saying here, Time2, is that it looks better if an applicant applies to more than one academy and, if he doesn't, perhaps may be asked to defend that decision. Am I interpreting this correctly?</p>
<p>I don't think anyone is making the assumption that it "looks better if an applicant applies to more than one academy." Applicants need to be prepared to answer all different types of questions in an interview situation. The more of these possible question that are posted here, the better prepared these kids will be in having their thoughts organized. </p>
<p>Mine did not apply to any other SA or ROTC - he was asked at one MOC interview as to why "only" USNA. There is not a right or wrong answer to this question. At least he had thought about the question before hand, had his answer and articulated it to the committee. </p>
<p>I interview a lot of young people for a foundation scholarship program - we don't really "look" for any specific answers - we are looking for how the individual carries themselves, how they interact in an interview, how they articulate their answers, if they appear to be answering honestly or are they trying to "impress us" with answers they think we want, and how their answer can lead to a "conversation." One word, point blank answers that cannot lead to any type of conversation, or makes us just go down a list of prepared question typically will not impress our committee.</p>
<p>I also seem to recall that he said the MOC's interviews were very different from his BGO interview.</p>
<p>What would be useful is if some of the former applicants, current students and parents who have some idea of the format of the MOC's interview could post their observations here. I remember that there was a thread about two years ago (maybe winter of 2006) where some of the applicants were posting about their interviews - I will try to find it and bump it.</p>
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<p>The original question was about a BGO interview. Hence my observations, comments, and advice. </p>
<p>I could never imagine where the "why not another" and "which is best" line of discussion would be appropriate (not to say that it has never been done) in a BGO interview, whereas in a MOC it would be entirely appropriate and expected. Totally apples and oranges.</p>
<p>I just got home from an incredibly busy summer. I attended NASS session 2, it was AWESOME!!!! I agree that though hard the sea trials were the best part of the whole experience.</p>
<p>In speaking with different squad and platoon leaders about their MOC interviews, they mentioned that they were asked some fairly random questions. One question that I remember a 3/c mid mentioned he was asked was "If you could be any type of kitchen utensil, what type would you be?" Are these questions common/usual in MOC interviews? Other than personal info and why I want to be in the navy/ attend the USNA, what types of questions can I expect?</p>
<p>This forum is so helpful. I've been reading advice that I wish I'd seen months ago! Thanks</p>
<p>No, I think you misread my post. The individual I was responding to said they had already decided that the USNA was the ONLY place right for them (whatever their reasoning, I assumed that was true).</p>
<p>So I was saying that part of being prepared for any interview is to think about what type of questions might be asked.</p>
<p>I expressed no opinion about whether applying to more was better.</p>
<p>For 2012hopeful.....I have no experience of what might get asked during interviews for a military academy, so I can't say if that happens often. However, in the private sector, it is not unusual to ask such 'offbeat' questions if you think someone was excessively coached and is just saying the 'right' things to make a good impression.</p>
<p>Asking an offbeat question is one way to see the person's real thought process when they could not have possibly been coached on the right type of kitchen utensil to select !!!! In that case, it is not the actual utensil chosen that matters, but how well you express yourself when presented with a unique or unusual situation.</p>
<p>"Well... then my reasoning stands firm that I want to go to USNA and no other service academy because my goal is to become an officer in the USMC. Air force and Army can't provide me with that option, which is why I'm not applying to them. ROTC programs CAN offer me this option, and that is why I AM also applying to them as a "plan B" below USNA. (Then plan C is just a civilian college... though I'm hoping it doesn't get there)." - gonecokanutts</p>
<p>Gia,
I used to think the exact same thing about not being able to join the Marines from any other SA but was proven wrong when I met with the Army(WP) wrestling coach. He informed me that you can latteral transfer(cant remember exactly what it was called) from any of the academys into the Marine Corps. It has to be a one for one trade thought (1 person from Navy has to want to go Army if 1 Army wants to go Marines) I used to think Navy was the only Academy for me until I heard this but now im not so sure that is why Im visiting USMA early in September and then probably Navy again later in the fall. Want to find out which one fits me better. Armys going to have to do alot of convincing haha because NASS was so awesome!
Tyler</p>
<p>2012 hopefull what squad and company were you in for NASS? my squad leader asked us that same question.</p>
<p>I'd rather go to USNA where I know I have the marine option instead of going to USMA and having to hope that someone from Navy wants to switch with me. I have never wanted to go to USMA. It doesn't appeal to me. I don't know why, but I just don't have that feeling that I do when I think of USNA. </p>
<p>And hoping that someone wants to transfer to Army so that I can go Navy.... It's like being satisfied with an "okay" SAT score and putting your future in the hands of someone else, hoping that the other applicants have a lower score than you.</p>
<p>ysh thats why when i go visit army im going to talk to the Marine attached there and see what the stats are of people who want to do the latteral transfer and those who actually get it.</p>