<p>I would take full advantage of this opportunity. There can never be enough questions to ask about USNA, your life here, and everything else. Heck, I’ve been here for 7 semesters and I’m still asking questions about admissions, strategic outreach, “diversity”, the sub draft, the control of majors…there are so many to ask! I’ve been the midshipman director of 2 Congressional Academy days, and there are times when I wonder why they always tap the four-stripers to go back home and give these briefs…I still don’t know everything there is to know.</p>
<p>The question is not “will” the sub-draft affect your service selection but, rather, “how” will the sub-draft affect your service selection. [Although, perhaps, the problem will lessen by then and you will only get the standard answer: “needs of the navy.”</p>
<p>But to answer your question: It depends on how much you thinkg you know already. If you’ve seen the videos [available online], if you have contact w/ your BGO, if a mid will visit your school as part of OPINFO, if you scour this site [even if the info can be conflicting], if an “event” is closer to you. . . .then, I don’t think it is worth a six-hour drive.
Basically, the show a video [or not] and get up to explain teh admissions process. There will be an opportunity to visit w/ some mids [maybe] and talke w/ admissions reps [maybe]. </p>
<p>After a big-city event about three hours from us, local BGOs arranged for admissions to swing through our area accompanied by electric brigrade. This was a much smaller event and worthwhile for candidates to attend in our area.</p>
<p>But, I’m w/ mom, its not worth 12-hours of driving to attend. Even if you are in Alaska, there has to be sources of information at least as informative and more easily available to you. I’ve heard there is this invention, kind of old-fashioned, that you can use to talk to people; I think they call it the telephone.</p>
<p>I kinda half way agree with Bill except that a lot of candidates don’t even realize they have questions until they hear someone else ask it. There seems to be a lot of this type of give-and-take dialogue at these events. But, agreed, not worth a 12 hour trip. I assume the OP is talking about the Savannah event and lives six hours away somewhere in western NC/SC. This can only be a couple of hours from Winston-Salem. Navy plays Wake Forest next year. I can almost guarantee a forum that weekend. Unless it is in Raleigh during the East Carolina weekend.</p>
<p>And I am assuming he is a junior and should be looking at NASS this summer also. If he is a senior, he should be too far along in the process to benefit from a forum and should instead be attempting with his BGO to arrange a CVW.</p>
<p>In the case of subs being open to women, my personal view is that this will force fewer male “draftees” into a career field they don’t really want. I don’t think you’re gonna hear a lot of grumbling from guys who don’t want subs in the first place.</p>
<p>At my recent 25th reunion, we were invited to the Firstie Club for a Thursday night social. This was about three weeks prior to Service Selection. There were several male Firsties whom I spoke to who indicated that they did not want subs but were being forced to do interviews because it was one of their 6 choices for Service Selection in their dream sheet - and they fit the academic profile.</p>
<p>Apart from the obvious berthing and bathing issues that will be created from integrating women into subs, I don’t see why it’s a problem to do so. I observed a pretty heated debate on another message board where there were all kinds of objections - mostly from men who had served in subs - but I am pretty sure that it will be done by the CNO whether it makes practical sense (in the eyes of current and former submariners) or not.</p>
<p>Couldn’t agree more, '84. I’ve also talked to a half dozen or so this year who selected subs and, since it was in the news, gently brought the subject around to women on subs. Only one was violently opposed. Met his dad a few weeks later. Retired Chief. Submariner. Very, very similar views to his son. My only thought was that this was one acorn that didn’t fall too far from the tree. It reminded me of an other instance. Only knew one kid, ROTC, who washed out of FRS, and it was because he couldn’t handle a female instructor pilot. Later met his dad, a retired crusty old AB with very similar views. Don’t get me wrong, Navy senior enlisted are the salt of the Earth. However, I think, given half a chance, the current generation is a lot more ‘liberated’ than some would like to give credit. And we both know, midshipmen love to grumble, usually about something over which they have absolutely no control. Hence no accountability.</p>
<p>I think the plan is officers and senior enlisted first, so there will be experienced leadership when the junior enlisted finally arrive. Putting the CPO in a stateroom with two officers and having a head with a reversible sign is all the preparatory work that will be required for the first couple of years. Bubblerheads don’t take a lot of showers anyway.</p>
<p>You certainly have the right idea. You want to be as smart as you can about the admissions process and also about the academy, itself. The admissions process is going to necessarily involve you interacting with many different people, not the least of which is the Blue & Gold Officer interview. The worst thing you can do is to convey the image of a person who is clueless about what they are getting into. You have to know what a service academy is all about. You have to understand, somewhat, what life as a midshipman/cadet is all about. You have to understand the commitment. You don’t want to say something stupid like, “I want to major in Civil Engineering,” as the Naval Academy does not even offer that major.</p>
<p>Get yourself a copy of the admissions catalog and read it from beginning to end. Asking questions that are clearly answered in the catalog makes you look lazy. There is a lot of good information in there.</p>
<p>One of the best sources of information with regards to the admission process is to talk to somebody who has RECENTLY gone through it. They will share many of the pitfalls with you.</p>
<p>Here is an example of an admission tip that you won’t see advertised very many places:</p>
<p>Make sure you get all the teacher recommendations completed BEFORE school lets out for the summer (at the end of your junior year). Trying to get teachers to check their email and write recommendations during their summer vacation can be a drill in frustration. Also, be aware that almost ALL the academy requirements are online. Make sure your teachers are made aware of this. Make sure they have a valid email address that they frequently check. They are not going to WRITE a recommendation … they are going to INPUT it. Do not mistype the teacher’s email address when submitting it online to the academy. One little mistake could cause WEEKS (probably MONTHS) of delay. If the academy cannot contact your teacher via email - there will be no way for them to submit their evaluation of you. Without that evaluation, your application cannot be complete.</p>
<p>Part of the drill in the admissions process is getting OTHER people to do things FOR you in a TIMELY manner.</p>
<p>Son just recieved appt to usma and would like to go to consider usna, is there a good chance he will get more than one appt? dod usna still says “in process”? Thanks</p>
<p>Two totally independent functions. The success or failure of one has absolutely no direct bearing on the success or failure of the other. Way too many variables in both the selection process and the nomination process. With that said, did he get a nomination to USNA?</p>
<p>might as well add to the above post in the process…
just remember, you need the nominations to go along with those appointments!
And yes, multiples are possible there as well! [even from the same MOC!!!]</p>
<p>We’re going to a Naval Academy admissions forum today on the USS Hornet in Alameda, CA. Wondering what the appropriate dress is for the candidate and family members. Is this a meet and greet type of thing, or is it kind of like a job fair? Any input would help.</p>
<p>It’s casual; lots of people there, you won’t talk to anybody who is likely to remember you one way or the other. Unless you happen to wear a clown outfit or something like that.</p>
<p>When my Mid spoke @ a similar USS Hornet event in November, a number of BGOs were in attendance. Can’t hurt to make the right impression. I’d dress as if I were going to an interview.</p>
<p>I received my LOA for USMA two weeks ago and my LOA for USNA today. I attended SLS but was unable to attend NASS, so I would like to visit USNA before I make my decision. I was told by my regional director that the Dean of Admissions is extremely interested after reviewing my file and would gladly fund an overnight visit to USNA during CVW. Are candidate visits usually paid for by the academy? Also, it is a relatively far trek out to Annapolis and since both my parents have to work, I will probably be traveling alone. Will I have to find my own way to the academy after arriving at the airport?</p>
<p>no. you are obviously deemed to be one of the priority “needs of the Navy.” I’m sure they’ll be happy to meet you at bwi, and deliver you to the Yard.</p>