<p>I had a few questions on the admission to the naval prep school, I know that candidates are chosen from regular admissions to the naval academy but what specifically do they look for. I am in the process of applying to the naval academy, but my academics aren't that great, so I would love to attend the prep school first, but I don't have the least bit of information on it. </p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>If you are not selected for a direct appointment to the Naval Academy, the Academy’s admissions board automatically considers you for selection to the Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS) and/or considers you for recommendation for a Naval Academy Foundation preparatory school program. A separate application for either of these preparatory programs is not necessary.</p>
<p>If you are notified of your selection to either NAPS or the Naval Academy Foundation, you should continue to pursue your medical qualification and complete the steps for an official nomination.</p>
<p>Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS)</p>
<p>NAPS offers a 10-month college preparatory course to regular and reserve Navy and Marine Corps enlisted men and women who are seeking Naval Academy appointments. This program is designed to strengthen the academic background of incoming candidates. Navy and Marine Corps personnel who apply but are not appointed to the Naval Academy are automatically considered for admission to NAPS. The Admissions Board also identifies a number of promising and highly motivated civilian candidates who are not successful on their first attempt at admission and offers them the opportunity to enlist in the Naval Reserve for the express purpose of attending NAPS to prepare for admission to the Naval Academy. For more information, visit: <a href="http://www.naps.edu%5B/url%5D.%5B/i%5D">www.naps.edu.</a></p>
<p>Students attending NAPS are encouraged to seek nominations from all sources for which they are eligible, including their congressional offices. NAPS students also qualify for the Secretary of the Navy nomination, which will be granted by the Nominations and Appointments Office.</p>
<p>Nam.aurora, my son's @ NAPS, and after meeting his friends there and hearing about peers all year, I still can't identify one unifying thread that defines NAPSters, other than burning desire to be @ USNA (which I suspect virtually all applicants exhibit). </p>
<p>You probably know NAPS accepts many prior enlisted, recruited athletes, and URMs who need a boost; there are also kids like mine w/ outstanding credentials EXCEPT lower than optimal (choose one and only one): grades, SATs, or physical readiness. All the NAPSters I've met seem to have impressive leadership. My impression is that USNA needs to know you'll do anything to become a Naval/MC officer, including NROTC and NAPS. My son made a dramatic 11th hour visit to USNA (Feb of sr. yr.) when he hadn't heard anything -- flew 3,000 miles, just presented himself, somehow got face-to-face w/ his admissions officer, and essentially said, "This is where I belong." 48 hrs later, he got a phone call from his sainted BGO offering NAPS. </p>
<p>(I'm expecting cc posters to tell me this is a terrible idea, USNA can't handle unexpected visits, etc., but there was no persuading son otherwise -- he was on a mission.) </p>
<p>Reading this board faithfully for more than a year now, I've been surprised to learn that something like 30% of every plebe class does NOT come directly out of high school -- they've been @ NAPS, Foundation or private prep school, or college. If you want to make USNA happen, and you're willing to focus on it above all else, there are ways to accomplish your goal w/out turning back time on a couple less-than-stellar semesters of high school. That said, you have to offer something terrific to USNA to be in such outstanding plebe company. </p>
<p>Good luck and PM me if I can answer any specific questions you don't want to post.</p>
<p>(BTW, son had a nomination when he made his Feb sr. yr. visit -- apparently USNA knew that, though son did not. Our MOC never bothered to notify nominees, and son couldn't get his calls returned -- he learned of nom when he got the BGO call re NAPS.)</p>
<p>Thank you for all the information.</p>
<p>I want to make the Navy my career, and I'm doing everything else besides USNA, like the NROTC scholarship, NROTC programs at various other junior war colleges. I've make my decision and its not going to change. NAPS seems like the perfect thing for me. NorthernCallMother and GreatAmerican thanks for the info.</p>
<p>nam.aurora...congrats to you for your good decisions and positive determination and good luck!</p>
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My impression is that USNA needs to know you'll do anything to become a Naval/MC officer
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<p>That is probably THE most important thing they look for when trying to differentiate between a bunch of people with 4.0 GPA's, perfect SAT's, twelve varsity letters, etc.</p>
<p>
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My son made a dramatic 11th hour visit to USNA (Feb of sr. yr.) when he hadn't heard anything -- flew 3,000 miles, just presented himself, somehow got face-to-face w/ his admissions officer, and essentially said, "This is where I belong." 48 hrs later, he got a phone call from his sainted BGO offering NAPS.</p>
<p>(I'm expecting cc posters to tell me this is a terrible idea, USNA can't handle unexpected visits, etc., but there was no persuading son otherwise -- he was on a mission.)
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</p>
<p>Obviously it WASN'T a terrible idea. ;)</p>
<p>One of Murphy's Laws of Combat: If it looks stupid, but it works, then it isn't stupid! :D</p>
<p>NAPS is one of the finest and most valuable experiences I've ever had. I wouldn't trade that year up for anything. </p>
<p>Well, except maybe for having had the chance to do nuke subs, but that's a different matter altogether. ;)</p>
<p>i have to agree that desire is probably the one thing they look at the most.
physically, i'm average. academically, i'm at the top of my class. when i talked to my ro and she told me i had been rejected from usna, my first question was, "is there anything i can do to get my profile back in front of the admissions board? i want usna so bad." then she flat out asked me if i would accept an appointment to naps. when i said yes, she gave me some stats for my cfa and told me if i made those, i should get into naps.
here i am, a month and a half later, and i'm so ecxited about naps. i cannot wait!</p>
<p>If USNA is the goal, and if attaining the goal is worth doing an extra year of "prep," then make sure to let your BGO know that an offer of foundation or NAPS would be welcome, and indicate the same on your application. You would be surprised at how many turn down such an offer....what they fail to realize is that you are being offered a seat in the following year's class that is "yours to lose."</p>
<p>The extra year is so well worth it....academically, physically and mentally..... if you have the opportunity to visit the yard, or attend a CVW, try and find some Mids that have attended the NAPS or foundation programs- they will be your best guide.</p>
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The extra year is so well worth it....academically, physically and mentally.....
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<p>Amen. </p>
<p>No joke. If you get offered NAPS, GRAB IT!</p>
<p>Amen to the nuke subs Zaphod ... just 5 more years(crossed fingers) :)</p>
<p>-2012 hopeful</p>
<p>Hii. I will be attending NAPS in about...oh...7 days? And I'm really nervous...especially for the INDOC period. I was wondering if anyone could tell me what to expect during those first 3 weeks?</p>
<p>i dont know much about the INDOC part, but GOOD LUCK!!</p>
<p>Andrea, my son was NAPS 07 but says a new group runs NAPS each year, so the many changes make it difficult to predict what you'll experience. He believes new summer activities have been added that were unavailable in his year (damage control/firefighting, firearms training). </p>
<p>"Bring a level head and patience. What you experience in the summer is nothing like the academic year -- you aren't always in a training environment or being yelled at during the school year." He adds that you should be ready to run in hot, humid weather -- says that's the best prep you can do. He felt strongly that NAPS Indoc gave NAPSters a mental edge over direct admits during his plebe summer. "Just knowing it IS going to end is an advantage." </p>
<p>He just returned from summer training on a destroyer, and noted that NAPSters w/ him seemed more comfortable w/ chain of command on the ship than youngsters who had been direct admits. Says he guesses being around lots of NCOs and sr officers @ Newport gave them an early look @ how the Navy functions. </p>
<p>Like most of his NAPS friends, son says the program gave him an unbelievable leg up @ USNA, for which he is ever-grateful. Good luck to you!</p>
<p>NCAMom - you and your son are making a very huge generalization that I am not so sure can be made. Everyone thinks that "their admit route" was the right way, the only way and the best way. LOL</p>
<p>I have seen plenty or Napsters who struggled through Plebe summer, know of some who have bailed from here, and had a difficult time with chain of command in during summer training (which can be a good experience or really rotten one depending... experience would be could be good if the Navy actually had the money to execute... but that is a whole different discussion)</p>
<p>I am glad your son found the NAPS experience to be beneficial to him. But to claim it on a whole is unfounded.</p>
<p>There are basically two groups of NAPSters, those who are directly from high school and those who come from the fleet. Two distinct groups with very few similarities. To make generalizations which imply both groups as a common entity is probably stretching things a bit.</p>
<p>Sorry -- I thought I made clear that I was describing my son's experience, not necessarily the norm, in encouraging the young woman who asked about NAPS Indoc. I should also clarify that my son felt one of his most valuable NAPS rewards was his friendships w/ prior enlisted -- two of whom are among his closest USNA friends. </p>
<p>Don't think I said his admit route was "the right way." If he could have gone to the Academy right out of high school, he'd have jumped @ the chance. Jumped. Instead he got NAPS, and found lots to be grateful for about that.</p>
<p>Personally, the extra year of prep is a huge help, from many aspects. Time well, well spent. Our son did a year of foundation.... it was the best thing that could have happened..... especially as he got to sit on the "winning side" of the Notre Dame Game!!! </p>
<p>If any of you get an offer of Naps or Foundation, "JUMP" at the chance. The only thing "unfortunate" about it, IMO, is that they "all" don't get to go!</p>
<p>I attended NAPS and was thankful that I did. I grew there in many ways. I was only 17 years old when I stated NAPS and was 18 when I started USNA. But, I think the year at NAPS allowed me to be a more mature 18 year old and much more ready for USNA than I would have been a year earlier.</p>
<p>I think you will find that to be a common theme amongst those that arrive with an extra year (or even 2) under their belts.</p>
<p>you can spend 2 yeras at NAPS? i thought it was just 1.</p>