<p>DD received the letter today.
The dreaded rejection letter from USNA.
I just want to thank you all for your help during the process.
No DMeix, she wont be trying again..because she will be at VMI starting July 5th and we know she will graduate May 2010.
It's good to have the closure.
DH was disappointed in the form letter, but we all know alot is the number of open slots per nomination + other %'s involved.
She never attended NASS and she was turned down again in June 2005..so we knew she was a long shot.
She asked me if we were disappointed in her...I said "No, we are so very proud of you".
MY point-How do we explain to ever critical family members as to why she didn't get in?
We have a dinner this weekend with them.
How do you tell people you didn't get your first choice?</p>
<p>Tell them they should be proud of the Naval Service that she so desires to be a part of. Think of all her accomplishments, and how proud you are of her...then realize that the Navy found 1500 applicants even more qualified (in their eyes). If a commission is her goal, ROTC is just as honorable.</p>
<p>When I got my letter, I was sorely disappointed, but I took solace in the fact that as hard as I worked to get the appointment, I was glad to know that there were so many applicants who were better than me.</p>
<p>Now that idea makes me excited about the future of our Navy.</p>
<p>Win84,</p>
<p>I know that you are feeling bad for her, and that you are disappointed for her and not in her. Probably the best way to handle to relatives is just to really play up the fact that she will be at VMI come July! It is a great school with a long tradition of excellence as well! </p>
<p>I don't know if it applies in your situation, but when our son used to worry and fret about schools, we told him to trust in the adcoms and that where he was accepted, he would belong. Be very positive and supportive and continue on smartly with the planning for VMI. Maybe you could present her with an assortment of VMI apparel at the dinner, if she hasn't already collected a bunch! Or give everyone a little VMI favor or something. Make it about the positive, where she will be going, and not the negative. </p>
<p>Good luck~remember, it is not personal, and they are not really calling your baby ugly, although it feels like it. It is a very impersonal process full of mystery and chance. Take care and I wish you and your family the best of luck!</p>
<p>As an aside, our son came home this week with a T-shirt that reads
"United States Naval Academy, 50,000 Apply, 1,200 regret it."</p>
<p>Good luck and good wishes,</p>
<p>Mom of 1</p>
<p>I want to thank you for the words.
I think you're right momof1..We will play up VMI.
We are taking vacation next week (and taking Grandma w/us) to open house at VMI. Grandma is excited about the trip, so this will help.
It will be nice to know that this is her one! The waiting is over.
All she has ever wanted was to ba a Naval Officer and now she will (NROTC scholarship recipient).
Just remember class of 2010 USNA..when you come across her on the ships out there..she may be VMI alumni but she is all Navy!
This is what you get when you cross a marine and a sailor.
I want wish you all a great four years!
--Next week DD buys a VMI hoodie!</p>
<p>win84, You should be proud of how hard your daughter's accomplishments how hard she has worked and will continue to work towards her goal. Go VMI!!!!!Go Navy!!! It's all good!!!!</p>
<p>I really need to edit better.... its the wedding that is making me go crazy.</p>
<p>It is all good.
I just wanted to let you know that the reason she's going in July is to take one class and meet her classmates...no upperclassmen.
It's going to be tough as a rat, but she "isn't coming home".
SO when you are at plebe summer and it get's tough..if the academy is anything like VMI..you wont go home till they say you're ready.</p>
<p>Im really curious what is VMI?</p>
<p>Either way I am really sorry to hear about your daughters news. I do know that where ever she goes she will do great because the type of person that goes through all the bull, red tape and heart ache of applying to a service academy must be an amazing person.</p>
<p>As a person rejected last year and soon to be again this year (AFA), i know the pain first hard what it must feel like. Please offer her my deepest condolences.</p>
<p>What's the process before getting the dreaded letter? My son applied to USNA early and has heard absolutely nothing from them. He received a letter from them today saying he didn't get a VP nomination (no surprise there). I've heard of others getting letters saying they were qualified (triple Q?), but we have had nothing - very different from the USAFA which has been communicating. So, is this the long silence before the dreaded letter?</p>
<p>nickmom you said you have had communication with the AFA the entire process? What sort of communication? you mean the little "postcards" saying your status/etc?</p>
<p>WIN 84</p>
<p>As parents we always want the best for our children. As you know in life there are always disappointments. We do not always get what we want and unfortunately the same holds true for our children. When our children see disappointment, it seems as a parent it is even more painful. Support DD and celebrate the fact that she is in at VMI. That is a great accomplishment for her and for you, as her parent. Alot of kids are more concerned with the social aspects of college, i.e. partying, then serving their country. Congratulations DD for agreeing to serve. There is nothing more admirable...</p>
<p>WIN84 ~ The relatives are easy enough. The first time they go see her in the ranks at VMI, they will be speechless. This is a wonderful opportunity for her and she'll go far as the skies. It takes an achieving kid to get into VMI (Sniper, <a href="http://www.vmi.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://www.vmi.edu/</a> its a cool place, check it out) It won't be long for your daughter to brush off the old academy let-down & she will be very very proud of herself by 7pm tonight. This is NOT a step down. This is an HONOR. Buy yourself a hoodie too & tell your daughter congrats from cyber people!! Please don't leave the site. Hopefully the CC Gods will put up the military colleges forum soon and you can sure help other kids wanting to know about VMI. Its gotta be some relief to know what your plans are now. Keep us informed! And Cheers!!</p>
<p>My son received a letter today from the Naval Academy advising that he did not receive a vice presidential nomination. The letter stated that 1100 applied for only 10 nominations. Needless to say he received an Appointment in December.</p>
<p>same here....I guess they want to cover all the bases, but geewhiz, the money they're wasting!</p>
<p>Wasting money....UMASS Amherst sent out a very expensive brochure to my son one month after the admissions deadline past! Unbelievable how much is wasted on the college admissions process in this country.</p>
<p>As for the USNA Vice Presidential letter; I actually think it was a little cold to send them like that to anyone who already had a nomination, nevermind an appointment! USNA's admissions mailing system blows my mind sometimes. You really wonder who is running things there sometimes.</p>
<p>Fate is a funny thing, sometimes. When my son interviewed for his nomination, the senator's staff member told a story about how her son was turned down for a nomination from her boss, and subsequently not accepted at USNA. He was crushed, but went to an excellent school, excelled, and found himself on an entirely different career path which is tailor-made for him. He has said since, he was glad. USNA was not the right place for him, he just didn't realize it at the time.
Good luck to your daughter at VMI. I expect we will hear she has excelled as well.</p>
<p>Win84: I remember a few years back getting the "dreaded letter" from our daughter's top choice school- this after a relentless coach recruitment process that went cold at the very last minute- and we thought it was the end of the world.</p>
<p>It is now 4 years later and she will graduate from her second choice school. I asked her just recently if she ever regretted not getting into #1, and she told us "no," that she ended up where she belonged, and that she was very happy with the way things turned out.</p>
<p>Looking back, I often think it was harder on the parents, who, uncertain of the reaction or the outcome, want the best for their kids and want to spare them the dissapointment- </p>
<p>We, too, made sure to visit her accepted school right away- bought the sweatshirts- and proudly put the sticker on the car. No regrets. But hard to see that when you are knee-deep in the process.</p>
<p>As JM said, VMI is an honor- and no doubt you are very, very proud of your daughter. There are just so many spots available at the USNA, and so many, many great kids competeting for each one of them....like our son said, "one of the lucky few of the deserving many"..... I keep reminding myself of that- </p>
<p>Your daughter made it very far in the process, and no doubt she was one of the "deserving".....I wish USNA could add on 1000 more seats for these great kids- </p>
<p>No doubt that USNA's loss will be VMI's gain- and she will flourish no matter where she is- </p>
<p>Wishing you all the best~! As for us, we continue to wait..............</p>
<p>WIN84
First off my heart goes out to you, your daughter and your family. It sounds so 'easy' for me to be giving some support and sympathy while having a child with an appointment in hand...but mom's hearts are the same the world over - so I know you understand my real feelings.</p>
<p>It seems to me almost unfair that you have to explain anything at all to your other family members about not getting into USNA....I sincerely hope once they see your daughter's enthusiasm for VMI and see her in school uniform as well as ROTC uniforms, they will get on board with pride. The whole point is for your daughter to serve her country in military service as an officer....so whether its a Service Academy, ROTC, or OCS....they all end up with commissions and committment to serve our great country. For this I thank God. </p>
<p>Our child #3 went to UCLA with a young man who grew up in Los Angeles, turned down an appointment to USNA and went ROTC to UCLA! I was stunned and recall asking him why on earth he did it that way. The bottom line .....he wanted to study the classes at UCLA that an engineering-based educational system like USNA couldn't offer....he graduated 2002/commissioned and currently serves on nuclear subs in New London CT. His ROTC experience more than prepared him for a wonderful Naval Career. Heck, the overwhelming majority of officers in the Navy do NOT come from USNA anyway. And this young man says that "ring knockers" ( as non-USNA grads call Academy folk) can be a real 'pain in the a--' once they get into their Naval billets - Many of them have spent 4 years NOT having a real college life so they don't have the skills to deal with alot of the younger sailors whose teen and young adult years more closely model the ROTC kids then the USNA kids.</p>
<p>Pop into this forum in the years ahead and tell us how things are going.</p>
<p>I salute your daughter and you and your family!</p>
<p>God's best to you all</p>
<p>I can't wait till the forum for VMI is up!
I don't really want to leave just yet, Snipper VMI is a public military college in Virginia (couple hours away from USNA). It's on the level of the citadel, which is it's football rival.
It is a highly selective school and DD will be probably one of 20-40 females entering the class of 2010.
The "Institute" is 50 % ROTC (DD will be NROTC). It is known for making leaders.
I have to say I feel relieved this morning, DD was too.
DH is getting there.
We decided that when we explain to the family (some are negative military) that we will tell them that it is settled and we are relieved.
This processs of all of the applications has been daunting.
She got in to 5 colleges so there was alot.
If you are new to the process..get yourself off the board and study for your PSATs!</p>
<p>Navy 2010,
You are absolutely right as another put it maybe this is where she belongs.
Devine intervention. I have to say looking at the others SAT scores I knew there was a 50/50 chance.
She only tool the SAT once..being the midwest we were ACTing.
I'll let you all know how the visit goes.</p>