<p>And, uh, I doubt he'll get into the Class of 2010 at this point.</p>
<p>QL- just read your insightful post-</p>
<p>might I offer a suggestion.</p>
<p>I would urge your son to speak to his BGO, and after that, perhaps even the regional director. I would ask them outright were his record can be improved, and let that guide him this year. Without that conversation, it is all speculative- perhaps some of the points you raise as "mistakes" were not viewed so negatively, and you never know if there was an issue that you never considered that might have gone missing. Find out what areas to work on- and use this year, if your son is willing, to make any necessary adjustments.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>ps- for others out there: read the above post carefully...sadly, guidance offices are not always on top of the academy admission process, and so you need to do your homework- use your BGO- read Smallwoods book for starters- ask questions- get the USNA catalog and read it cover to cover- attend an information session- or two- or even 3 if you have to- stay focused on 1. adademics, 2. leadership and 3. physical apitiute. The USNA tells you how to do it- just have to follow their lead!</p>
<p>Back online!</p>
<p>Quigg.. Just at thought... Perhaps a personality issue? Did he come across rude, cocky or boa****l in any his interviews. How close was his relationship to his B&G Officer? </p>
<p>Every kid that goes to USNA is an overachiever in their fields of interest or most of their fields of interest whethere it be sports, leadership, academics, etc. and I would think if they took them all there would be 12,000 rather than 1200 plebes each freshman year. I guess they cant take them all.</p>
<p>why is the word "B~o~a~s~t~f~u~l" not allowed in my post above?? Odd</p>
<p>Sierra Tango Foxtrot Uniform.</p>
<p>Internet shorthand for "Shut The F*** Up".</p>
<p>I guess even abbreviations are banned here. Go to the other forum and feell free to post (almost) whatever you want. ;)</p>
<p>Depending on how you set up your censorship you can cause words that contain your censored values to be censored for that value.</p>
<p>IE</p>
<p>assume -> ***ume</p>
<p>etc.</p>
<p>If you set it up correctly it won't do this (but it can be slightly more complex).</p>
<p>haha...speaking of censorship, my dad was telling me about a 'self-evaluation' form that his company sent out to everyone. He was one of the first to get it done, but when he went to do a spelling and grammar check, some of the stuff that popped up was hilarious. IE:</p>
<p>"crackers"...the program replied with "we suggest you change this to 'white people'"</p>
<p>"projects"..."we suggest you use 'subsidized housing'"</p>
<p>those are two that stick out in my mind...there were a few more. Just shows how PC is invading even spell check. Damn it all!</p>
<p>You asked a good question, but no he wasn't. I was there for a good part of it, He was properly confident but definitely not boa****ll. At the time of his Interview with the BGO he was still weighing the AFA and was just not sure what God wanted for him.</p>
<p>Maybe that early uncertainty hurt him but his BGO said he liked to see a kid who was still thinking and did not "blow smoke up his b+tt".</p>
<p>I dunno</p>
<p>QL --</p>
<p>You're probably right on most counts, especially in your son not seeking out MOC noms. It is true that VA is extremely competitive. However, it's not true that most noms come from northern VA. The senators are very sensitive to geographic issues and noms are spread across the state. It's weird, but USNA likes to see you apply for all noms possible; seems to help even if you end up not getting any.</p>
<p>For others reading this, I don't think it matters from an admissions standpoint whether you apply to more than one academy. My view is that you should apply to all those you want to attend and no others. In the interviews, however, you should demonstrate a strong desire to attend that school. Saying you'd be thrilled to attend either/all comes across more positively than saying that you don't know which you want to attend. </p>
<p>You're right that sports are big at USNA and band isn't. Like all schools, they want well-rounded students. However, unlike most schools, there is a premium on varsity athletics, especially in the later h.s. years. It's not only athleticism but the teamwork and leadership sports teams instill.</p>
<p>Finally, not attending NASS doesn't hurt. USNA recognizes that some students can't attend NASS for various reasons. You get the same benefit for attending USAFA's or USMA's summer program that you get for attending NASS. Attending more than one academy summer program doesn't get you bonus points either, although it is worthwhile in terms of seeing/evaluating different academies.</p>
<p>Your son sounds like a great young man. I hope he finds happiness at UVA and, if it's right for him, considers reapplying to USNA next year.</p>
<p>QL-
[quote]
You asked a good question, but no he wasn't. I was there for a good part of it...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>????
We left when our son was interviewed. On that note, we stepped back whenever we got together with the BGO, et al, shortly following a handshake and polite hello-how-are-you..... and as hard as that was at times, we knew it was up to our son to do this- </p>
<p>we were supportive, yes, but in the background. I think the BGO's and anyone associated with the process look for motivation and desire- and that HAS to come from the kid and from the heart....and look for any undue influence from mom or dad.... </p>
<p>just something to consider in your search for an answer.
Best of luck!</p>
<p>I think having the parents in the background is good, but during the interview the BGO may want to meet the parents at the same time to get a feel for them as well as the candidate.</p>
<p>During my first interview, my BGO talked to us for two and a half hours. Most of it was sea stories from flying in the first Gulf War and his NA days. After that, the BGO and I went to a private room for about a half hour where he asked me all the questions he has to report on.</p>
<p>During the following two years when I was applying, my dad called the BGO once and only once to ask a question that I couldn't answer. The rest of the time, I called him ever other week through my senior and freshman year with updates and just to chat for a bit.</p>
<p>I think the parents NEED to be a part of the interview. It lets the BGO know how supportive the family is of the candidate. He can also probably determine if it really is the candidate's desire to attend and not the parent's without even asking.</p>
<p>So, like navy2010 said, background = good, but let the parents poke their heads out once in a while.</p>
<p>I would agree that the parents need to be onboard and supportive- it certainly helps- but it is imperitive that the candidate take the initiative and establish the relationship with the BGO, and others.</p>
<p>It is a fine line parents need to walk- supportive, encouraging, etc, but too many of "us" can cross the line and become too involved in the process, and that is where the concern comes into play.</p>
<p>So yes, polking a head out every now and then is a good thing- but the primary relationship, interaction, quieries, etc need to be between the candidate and the BGO, parents aside. We are still an important part of the process, but we are not the ones at the center of it, and sometimes we need a little reminder of that.</p>
<p>As for the interview, our experience was similiar- we got to spend the initial time together with our candidate and the BGO- and then he asked us to leave, which we did, to allow him to speak to our son directly and without any parental influence- as it should be.</p>
<p>We enjoy a nice relationship with our son's BGO- but their's is the primary bond. It has been a golden one.</p>
<p>The best thing I heard was initiative thats all they are looking for. If they feel your son/daughter shows geniune interest in the academy they wont think that the parents are pushing them to get in. A HUGE DEAL is making sure your canditate says he want to serve his/her country as an officer. THESE ARE GOLDEN WORDS, in all interviews for any academy that is important. This might help you with the interviews as well, make a folder containing a resume accomplishments awards etc. They will be impressed by the effort and also you will know exactly what to talk about as they will question you on things contained in your folder.</p>
<p>
[quote]
A HUGE DEAL is making sure your canditate says he want to serve his/her country as an officer. THESE ARE GOLDEN WORDS, in all interviews for any academy that is important.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Just make sure he means it when he says it.</p>
<p>^^^^ could not agree with you more.</p>
<p>But before the thorpedo even got a chance to convince the BGO, he had to convince his mother. No easy task that.</p>
<p>T-15, onboard, nervous and proud as can be.</p>
<p>Shameless bump.</p>
<p>ETA: Of course, if the provider could just keep their server up.... :rolleyes:</p>
<p>This was sorta a two-way issue. More on their side this time. I'll consider lodging a complaint, but I don't think it would be conducive to better service in the future.</p>
<p>Basically one of the late night techs ran a repair and apparently didn't check his work.</p>
<p>Once I leave and stop changing stuff/fixing little things we'll be fine. Hehe.</p>
<p>Heh! </p>
<p>It was early in the morning and I was grumpy. :D</p>