Questions about cadet life

<p>Oops, I forgot to add - pushups and sit-ups are both for 2 minutes also.</p>

<p>ouch, well thanks for the advice. Better hit the work-out harder now. Thanks again UNcynical. ;)</p>

<p>You have time to improve. You just don't want to start out here behind where you should be because it'd harder to get caught up.</p>

<p>Most definately. I know I can improve it massively. I went from half those results to what I put in about 2 months. I snoozed over the break, I'm ready to get back out and conditioning. </p>

<p>How difficult is it to adjust to the altitude. What were your experiences doing that?</p>

<p>I have a couple of questions about what you are and arent allowed to have. Im an artist (or sorts) and i do acrylic paintings..would i be allowed to have my easle and paints? Also what do they say about appliances in your room like a little fridge or an electric water heater thing for tea and coffee...im pretty much lost without it in the morning although i bet they will break me of that in no time..lol..thanks!</p>

<p>"How difficult is it to adjust to the altitude. What were your experiences doing that?"</p>

<p>That varies person to person, which also depends on the altitude you're coming from. I'm from California and I definitely noticed it but it wasn't a huge obstacle and most people (with the exception of people who come from higher altitudes) who inprocessed were going through the same thing. Once you get used to it, it's not bad. When I go home the air feels thick, haha. </p>

<p>After long breaks, during which cadets sometimes slack on working out, all the stairs around here are a hassle. You'll notice the altitude climbing the stairs here throughout your time here because you'll get winded easier; of course, there are some exceptions.</p>

<p>"would i be allowed to have my easle and paints?"</p>

<p>After BCT, I don't see why you wouldn't be able to have paints, but the only way you could have an easel would be to make sure it's out of sight during the majority of the week (in a drawer) and take it out on weekends when you have some "spare" time.</p>

<p>"Also what do they say about appliances in your room like a little fridge or an electric water heater thing for tea and coffee...""</p>

<p>After a couple years here (literally) you can have those things. You'll manage. WIth a little creativity, cadets can invent ways of doing just about anything with the limited resources they have.</p>

<p>"with a little creativity, cadets can invent ways of doing just about anything with the limited resources they have"</p>

<p>I talked with a cadet who is from my home town and is now a senior. He said he had trouble adjusting to not having a fridge around when he was hungry. He was a big cereal guy, so for milk, when he was in his 1st year/2nd year, he put milk cartons outside of his window-sill because each night during fall and winter is so cold.</p>

<p>lol thanks! but that stinks about the water heater thing..dang</p>

<p>"he put milk cartons outside of his window-sill because each night during fall and winter is so cold."</p>

<p>That sounds dangerous! lol!</p>

<p>"but that stinks about the water heater thing.."</p>

<p>You'll have an iron.</p>

<p>Not to sound stupid or something, but what's a sponser family, and also, do you know many homeschoolers? (wondering about homeschooling chances)</p>

<p>A sponsor family is assigned to all cadets (I think there's some wiggle room if you're terrible uncomfortable) and is a military family that lives near the Academy (stationed at the base). Cadets go to their sponsor's house to hang out and stuff...it's supposed to be a kind of home away from home. It is also so that cadets are exposed to how a "normal" military family functions. I think that during the four degree year a sponsor family is the main way cadets "get out" mostly because you're not allowed to have a car and you're still too intimidated by the upperclassmen to ask them to borrow theirs.</p>

<p>As for being homeschooled...I don't really know anything about the academic part, but I do know that it is extremely important to be involved with your community, and it's a good idea (if it's available) to go to a local high school to participate in clubs and such. I'm not quite sure how you could do that, or if it's even possible. Just be active in something...scouts, church, work...</p>

<p>Starting early is good :)</p>

<p>Thanks for the info, and advice. My local high school's principal has some sort of vendetta against homeschoolers, but I just joined the Civil Air Patrol, and I do alot of volunteering (American Legion and Lions Club mostly), and I'm very physically active (Farm living and construction job) and I still have a few years to work on the academics.
Any clue how I would get ahold of someone with more info on the academy in my state?</p>

<p>I don't know specifically, but you could contact the Academy and ask them/visit their web site or you might try a local recruiting station-I don't think this would help much though. Sorry I couldn't be of more help :(</p>

<p>You sound like your on your way. Keep up the good work!</p>

<p>Thanks, I think I might just do that :)</p>

<p>Dear Stuck (don't think of it as stuck, think of it as blessed to be on the farm!) my dd has been homeschooled all the way through--and she has an appointment to both AFA and USNA. It can be done! Email me if you'd like...</p>

<p>Thanks heartcross, I really needed that about now (middle of biology test). Yea, yea, I should be doing the test and not talking. Bad me... anyway... thanks, and I just wanna say this thread is awesome, I'm learning alot. :)</p>

<p>Hi Stuck, that was my advice you took on military.com ;) Aren't you glad you checked out this site? Best of luck -- your starting the process early is absolutely going to work for you. I also have a feeling heartcross can help answer your SAT and other questions. Best of luck.</p>

<p>Heartcross you may have answered this before, but do you think dd will have any trouble adjusting to school after having been home-schooled all her life? I've always wondered about that.</p>

<p>You know, we're not as sheltered (well, most of us) as most people think, ya know. Thanks for the advice AFDAD. :)</p>