Naval academy class of 2013

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
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<p>Hey everyone, </p>

<p>I thought I should start a thread for all those who have been appointed to the Naval Academy Class of 2013. Please feel free to write something about yourself and hopefully this thread will develop as the class begins to fill up. </p>

<p>My name is Taylor and I'm a senior at Miami Beach Senior High School, Miami Beach, FL. I have been interested in attending the Naval Academy since 1st grade and although I've had a few other insights into my future since I was seven, there has never been any doubt in my mind that I would one day be part of the Brigade. I received my assurance about a month ago and I was nominated by Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) today. I want to study systems engineering at the academy and branch into the submarine service. I'm a baseball player, a wrestler, and a swimmer and I hope to be a midshipmen serving the greatest country in the world. I attended Seminar last summer, and I can't wait to get back to the Academy. Congrats to all who have made it, and best of luck to all those who are still sticking it out. Keep the faith.</p>

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<p>Hey, I'm Ark. Living here in NE Philadelphia, experiencing some strange weather I might add. Just got my nomination recently (passed the medical and received LOA a while ago), so hopefully I'll get my package before 2009 he-he. </p>

<p>I'm really into tennis, swimming, skating (ice and aggressive), chess, RTS games, land and naval tactics, but also like messing around with electronics, photography, and creative writing.</p>

<p>(Hope this post makes sense, but I gotta run, he-he.)
Later!</p>

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<p>it would be great to see some stats too :]</p>

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<p>Katrina, if you took the stats of all successful applicants and compiled them--which would yield the most accurate results--you'll get something very similar to the profile of the class of 2012. </p>

<p>IMO, looking at any one appointee will give you a poor idea of everything the academy might be looking for. I'm sure this applies to any competitive university. </p>

<p>Arkadiy</p>

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<p>Hello, my name is Lizandro, and Im a Senior in Coral Gables Sr High, Miami FL. I got a call from my BG Officer and a LOA recently, and Im ectastic! I still need a nomination however, and that worries me. I was very certain I wouldnt get accepted, missed the deadlines for my two senators, and the deadline for my congresswoman just passed. I emailed her however, and theyre sending me an application. Im in an AJROTC Honor Unit w/Distinction and I think I can get a nomination from them, but my Instructor and I are not sure. Im still a bit worried, but I think I got the hardest part down.</p>

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<p>Congrats Lizandro. I'm betting they'll "find" a nomination that just fits. Go get 'em. Do your pull ups!</p>

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<p>Thanks! I called my MOC and shes still accepting applications, so i think Im set!</p>

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<p>Hey my name is Quinn. I go to Hamilton High School in Hamilton, Montana. I know this may sound odd, but all of those college fliers i got in the mail did have an impact on where im going to college. i got a little flier my junior year talking about the NASS, and i was like" huh, that sounds interesting!" so i applied and went and it was awesome. when i got back i finished the application in a few weeks and in late July, received a Presidential nomination (my mom was a naval officer for 27 years). and on October 3rd, received my offer of appointment. i keep that letter at my bed side every day. it is so awesome to look at! so, activities... pretty standard i guess, cross country, marching band, track, choir, student council, key club... yeah. plebe summer is gonna be awesome! i cant read enough about the academy. see all of you guys there and congratulations! (quite a few from florida! lol)</p>

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<p>hurry up</p>

<p>from the class of 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>

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<p>Oh stand by appointees of 2013. I was talking to my "youngstars" and they have been planning all of the fun for your plebe year since our I-day. So with those already 6-months of preparation, I know you guys will have a "fun" year if you are assigned to my company. Just get ready.</p>

<p>Keep the enthusiasm though. Looking back on it will help you to stay motivated even during the crappiest of times here. Just make sure that you realize, its not plebe summer. Any one can do the sprint; its the marathon that kills. We are still losing plebes as we speak, so don't just prepare for plebe summer.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Just make sure that you realize, its not plebe summer. Any one can do the sprint; its the marathon that kills.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Well, not really. In fact, rarely. </p>

<p>Statistics suggest that while indeed Midshipmen will separate up to beginning of 2nd class year, and a few afterwards, the largest group to depart will be during Plebe summer. Yep, it's a marathon, but most who want to be there after Plebe summer will be. In fact, as has been noted often, while it's no 4 year cake walk, truth be told it's statistically much more challenging to be appointed than it is to get separated. It's probably a fair statement to say that USNA has the highest 4 year graduation rate of any institution awarding bachelors degrees. And factoring in that 35% are in engineering type curricula, well, there is no place even close aside from perhaps USMA, USAFA.</p>

<p>So talk is cheap, and the mythology persists of how tough it is. But truth is this ...IF one receives an appointment, barring severe, probably chronic bad behavior or a monumentally bad event OR one's personal decision to separate (and this is why virtually all who leave,do so), once admitted, you'll finish in 4 with a B.S. and commission. </p>

<p>So that's a great tribute to the screening process. Those appointed sufficiently belong there.</p>

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<p>Between 30 and 40 out of 1,200 depart during Plebe summer.
Between 150 and 200 depart over the next four years.
So the statement "the largest group to depart will be during Plebe summer" is not accurate.</p>

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<p>Well, not really. In fact you've nicely illustrated both points.</p>

<p>Using your numbers (we'll take the median # of each), 35 Mids leave in 5 weeks time. Averaging about 7 Mids each week. </p>

<p>While 175 leave over the ensuing 200 weeks. So clearly the largest "group" departs in those first few weeks. The remainder straggle out at various times </p>

<p>And as you've noted well, the overall attrition rate is spectacularly low, especially when one notes the curricula and the 4 year time frame.</p>

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<p>The departures don't occur evenly per week so your assumption is fallacious at the outset.</p>

<p>Even your statement that 175 leave over the next 200 weeks is in error. Most of the remaining 150 - 200 leave in the first two years.</p>

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<p>Hey guys...does anyone know the exact date for the start of Plebe Summer, and what should we bring..will we gte a list of things?</p>

<p>I received a call from my congressman two days ago personally congratulating me..it finally seems real; plebe summer in 6 months away!!!</p>

<p>fell free to PM, i think it would be nice to meet my future classmates.</p>

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<p>Well, not really Mr. Bill. Let's take a closer look at the point... </p>

<p>First the initial premise: bluesky suggests that the experience of being at USNA is a monumental and risky challenge, fraught with trouble, pain and increasing risk of being separated, or using his word, "killed" in the longer run, illustrating such with the “marathon” metaphor. </p>

<p>My contention is not really. That’s just not the case, and stats reveal and confirm this reality....that once one makes it beyond Plebe summer, the chances of being bumped are virtually nil. The greatest likelihood of departure is those first 5 weeks, which are really 3 since all DORs must go for 10 days to 2 weeks into the company established just for them, to hopefully counsel and change their decisions. And I further contend that to the contrary, the likelihood or potential for separation trouble is drastically diminished as one goes on. As it should be. One establishes a track record, understands what is required for successful passage. And the stats illustrate such. </p>

<p>Again, using your numbers, even eliminating the median concept, put simply …35 will depart by summer’s end, and the time period will actually be closer to 3 weeks than the 5 I illustrated. Never again with there be a greater exiting of Midshipmen in such a brief period. I'll stand by that...</p>

<p>Henceforth, I suggest the remaining additional departees, which you note will be approximately 140 (175 - 35=140. ) will be separated over the ensuing 200 weeks remaining in their USNA experience... Your numbers, not mine. It is what it is. Yep, a higher number spread over years, months, many weeks. </p>

<p>But now you wish to say that those will be separated, for the most part over the ensuing 24 months (or approximately 96 weeks), i.e. from Sept, plebe year thru August of 3rd class year. You claim the remaining 140 Mids will virtually all be separated during this time frame and by that August or early Sept 2 for 7 signing. (In fact let’s look at 2 real scenarios to see how close they are to reality. The most recent Class of 2008 admitted 1227 and graduated 1040, a 4 year grad rate of 85%, precisely what USNA reports. 187 separated of which we will assume, although it was more, that only 37 separated during plebe summer. This left about 150 over the ensuing 4 years or 45 months who would depart USNA. Your contention would be that 150 over just 24 months or 96 weeks... In fact, while we don’t know how many of 2008 class had departed by the end of their 3rd class summer, we do have a glimpse using the current 3rd class. Thru mid-Jan, according to USNA records of current OOM Mids, they have lost a total of 87 to date, including 34 during Plebe summer . Using your formula, does it seem likely they’ll lose an equal or greater number by August, 2009? I’d be willing to handle any and all bets they won’t lose literally more than 100% of those who’ve gone in the first year and a half. In other words, will the class lose another 87 between now and the Sept 2 for 7 signing. I doubt it. By May, 2011? Perhaps, if historical rates persist.</p>

<p>… Well, they may be numbers, but that's not what they mean. Right? I didn't think so.</p>

<p>Be assured we are all proud of the challenges that Midshipman confront and overcome daily and over the course of 4 years. Their accomplishments are laudible. But no need to exaggerate or falsely inflate the difficulty in an attempt to magnify and distort the reality of those challenges that our Mids might be deemed even more worthy than they are...Mids in their most honorable commitments speak for themselves. </p>

<p>In summary, let me say this a bit differently..the longer one goes, especially after Plebe summer, the greater the probability that he/she will graduate and be commissioned and the time of greatest risk of "killing" is during Plebe summer. After that, with lots of work, USNA stats will confirm a Mid is a near lock to cross the finish line. The purpose of this site is to shed light on what is real for USNA candidates, interested parties, and parents, not paint this as some insurmountable mountain that only mine can scale. In fact, while there are many challenges, demands and accountabilities, those doggone “lying” stats show that virtually every one makes the climb successfully, once they arrive on I Day and make it thru the ensuing 5 weeks.</p>

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<p>The date for PS sometimes changes. Usually its in mid/late June...
Congrats!</p>

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<p>oh my oh my oh my.</p>

<p>what on earth!!!</p>

<p>for the candidates and "new appointees" to USNA trying to read through all thiis stuff, it is not rocket science. Get in. Stay in. Not all will get in, not all will stay in. You want to be in the first group, and you want to avoid- at all cost- being in the second. </p>

<p>Seperation. Does it really matter when it happens? Well, in certain aspects, the answer would be "yes," but the bottom line is that getting in is only one part of the process, and staying in, graduating, earning that commission, is the goal. Screw up, misstep, blow your academics, and you can end up exiting Gate 3, and it doesn't much matter if it is during plebe summer, plebe year, youngster year, 2c year, firstie year, and right smack up until the morning of commissioning. Even then, failing your breathalyzer the morning you walk down that aisle and you will be O-U-T.</p>

<p>And with all due respect to WP and his lengthy mathematical explanation (which I admit I skipped right over - I mean, who really cares what percent get seperated when!! Really!!!!_ This is not rocket science folks! </p>

<p>Congrats to the new members of the Class of 2013. Do yourselves a favor and go out and buy yourself a good pair of running shoes and get going! Make sure that YOU are not one of the ones that get seperated, no matter how many there are- or aren't!</p>

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<p>One person used the word "liar" but within in an old expression about statistics, as a preface to a post attempting logical deconstruction of someone else's statistics. That word morphed into a personal insult as subsequent posts referred to it. This just escalated the heat. All those posts and counterposts have been deleted as argumentative, leaving up only the factual discussion about when/why students may or may not separate. </p>

<p>The numbers debate stands in tact, for new recruits to read and think for themselves about what it might mean to them. </p>

<p>Hopefully now, discussion/guidance/support will proceed within Courtesy terms of College Confidential. To review those terms, click on FAQ above.</p>

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<p>Congrats imanspeedy10,</p>

<p>The appointment letter says July 1st and we're supposed to get an update in a few weeks about what to bring and what time to show up. </p>

<p>USNA-Net</a> The Naval Academy Parents Network has a parent handbook that gives "the list" of what to bring as well as everything you may or may not need during the summer. It's interesting and I would definitely check it out. </p>

<p>However, according to some of my friends at the academy, they apparently take all of this stuff they make you pack away from you anyway so there is really no point in bringing it. I'm sure most parents (like mine) are freaking out about their kids going to the academy anyway so they don't mind spending a few extra dollars; but, I'm not exactly sure what the rational behind this is. </p>

<p>I dont care really, I can't wait to get there!!!</p>