Waiting

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
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<p>Time2, okay but that is an opinion which all are welcome to. </p>

<p>As a parent answer these three questions.
What does it mean to serve in the military?
What does it mean to be a commissioned officer?
Can you really give the proper guidance to your child on the first two questions?</p>

<p>That was only three questions, it goes way deeper than that.</p>

<p>I will only speak for how it came about for our DS. When he first came up with the thought of serving he did in fact come to me. As a veteran I gave him one piece of advice. Do your research and know what your getting yourself into. !!END!! </p>

<p>Aside from my family my military experience was the best thing that ever happened to me. I could feed him all my information but it was how I felt. When I joined I did my own research, my parents had no say! I know exactly why I raised my hand.</p>

<p>That said there are many parents that have not served and respectfully they do not understand the full responsibility of what it truly means to serve. This is where it becomes very important in regard to involvement. For the past two years our DS has read some serious books on the military. He has also researched all the SA’s and their history. In the end he is going for the Naval Academy. </p>

<p>He is our child and he can speak very intelligently in regard to what it means to serve, the Academy history, honor concept, mission statement, the different communities, and a few other things that were a surprise. There is no way my wife could have helped him with that because she has not served. To be honest some of what he read would have scared her. I did serve and would refuse to have given him the information because I feel that if you’re going to be an officer Mom & Dad will not be there when you need them. He now knows things I never did. All of his intellect came out at the B&G interview. He spoke very intelligently and we were impressed. Not one answer or prompt came from us. </p>

<p>Bottom line for my ex-military opinionated mind is this. In the heat of it all Mom & Dad are not leading these men and woman. As an veteran when I served I wanted a competent strong officer that could think on his feet and know what to do and when to do it. </p>

<p>In the end how your child goes about this process is up to them. If they involve you and you get involved okay; however, the Academy, B&G’s and MOC will know it!! We heard this at the Academy admissions intro, the B&G interview and at Academy day from the MOC reps. There is no twisting what they all said and that was for parents to stay out of it. Again a parent can do as they feel with this.</p>

<p>Agree to disagree it’s nothing but one stated opinion that is working well for our DS. If he gets in great, he knows the expectations. If he gets passed by then he will have to digress and figure things out again for himself.</p>

<p>It’s all good, cheers!</p>

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<p>I am enjoying reading the back & forth about parental involvement. I can tell you, I asked my son last night if he was sure he had a clean shirt with a starched collar for this morning’s interview at the congressional office. I would like to think I have done something else in the past seventeen years to prepare him.</p>

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<p>Forums provide an opportunity for people to offer their perspective based on what they know and their experiences have been. Readers are welcome to pick and choose the advice they find most helpful. I am not here to quibble about semantics.</p>

<p>Many applying have NO one in their immediate family with ANY prior military experience. </p>

<p>Your experience may/may not be the same as someone else on here. Absorb the advice being offered and do what is right for your family.</p>

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<p>^^^^
Excellent advice Time2!</p>

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<p>DS reports interview went well. There was much discussion re his activities outside the classroom. What he might like to do in the Navy, etc. Another box checked.</p>

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<p>Eye Exam. . . . check.</p>

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<p>Excellent…</p>

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<p>@ #UnitsI love</p>

<p>I have read through all of your posts . Your son has been talking to the crew coach … is he a recruited athlete? I was under the impression that recruited athletes ( of which your son sounds like) all got LOA’s.</p>

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<p>I have no idea how the recruiting works. To be honest I really don’t know how any of the sporting works but what I have heard is that the coaches are not on the admissions board. In that regard, I have not heard or read where the LOA is used for an athlete. I’m really out to lunch with a complete understanding but I guess the coaches get like 6 chits, how they are used is not something I can find. This is not to say that there have been kids offered LOA’s. It is my understanding that the LOA is used for kids with off the chart school grades, class standing, SAT or ACT, leadership, CFA, and other involvement stats. From how how dificult this process looks I would not think that sports hold much weight. I could be really wrong about all of this, it is all more of a guess. If you know please do tell because it is hard finding info.</p>

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<p>It’s unclear to me if ‘all’ recruited athletes get an LOA but it is plausible. I saw posted elsewhere that admissions stated around 200 LOAs are given out each year. So, last year’s class had around 1,400 appointments and assuming all of the LOAs got appointments that round to 15% of the appointments via LOA. I’ve seen several posts for candidates who received LOA and were not recruited athletes (including DS).</p>

<p>In terms of who gets an LOA besides athletes, I understand that it would be based on highest Whole Candidate Score (WCS) in combination with any target needs academy has identified (diversity, geography, etc.). Here’s a link to an old article about potential target areas for academies - this is not about LOA but rather nominations but I think is still relevant.</p>

<p>[Lawmakers</a> Send Few Minorities to U.S. Military Academies 11/21/09 |Find Teaching Jobs, School Jobs, & Cultural Diversity at TeachersOfColor.com](<a href=“http://www.teachersofcolor.com/2009/11/lawmakers-send-few-minorities-to-u-s-military-academies-112109/]Lawmakers”>http://www.teachersofcolor.com/2009/11/lawmakers-send-few-minorities-to-u-s-military-academies-112109/)</p>

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<p>Yes, I agree. Every time I think I have it figured out … something surprises me. My DS has had friends that were recruited athletes at the Academy where the coach says" dont worry about anything … we will take care of it" to recently hearing “the coach wants me, but no LOA”.<br>
My DS got his LOA during the summer. He is neither a recruited athlete nor an underrepresented minority. He was grateful to have gotten the LOA but it is no guarantee.
DS continued with his other applications but certainly has his heart set on USNA.<br>
Best of luck to all !</p>

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<p>Thought I would update after my previous post. DS got his LOA in August and got an email on Wednesday of this week that he got the Senator nomination. He was medically qualified in August as well. Now , we wait!</p>

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<p>navy2018,</p>

<p>Outstanding news. If the nomination is a principle then his wait should be over. Unless the Academy contacted him the only thing you will not know is did he get his 3rd. Q. With an LOA, I would say the 3rd. Q is in the bag. To that end he should hope to see a BFE and a call from his BGO. Congratulations to your DS I wish him all the very best. I hope our DS also gets this type of news and will join your son on “I Day”.</p>

<p>This is a very honorable accomplishment for your son.</p>

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<p>All recruited athletes do NOT get LOA’s. There are some ‘blue chip’ sports where the interest of the coach can have an impact in the admissions process but the candidate still has to meet the admissions criteria. Other minor sports probably have little, if any influence in the admissions process.</p>

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<p>Thank you Time2 for bringing some actual knowledge to this thread that may be of benefit to ALL readers. I was beginning to think this thread was someone’s personal blog.</p>

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<p>Forum: an assembly, meeting place, etc., for the discussion of questions of public interest.</p>

<p>Actual knowledge - Respectfully without being recalcitrant or obstreperous. There are more opinions on a forum than facts. From the start of my OP there have been opinions and stated facts by a few not just one. It would be disrespectful to dismiss anything that has been said by anybody as part of this discussion. Thank you to all for your insightfull feedback and responses.</p>

<p>Time2 said it well. “Forums provide an opportunity for people to offer their perspective based on what they know and their experiences have been. Readers are welcome to pick and choose the advice they find most helpful. I am not here to quibble about semantics.”</p>

<p>The main purpose for internet forums.
The study of discussing the meaning/interpretation of words or groups of words within a certain context; usually in order to win some form of argument.</p>

<p>Knowledge comes from taking something apart, wisdom comes from putting it back together. I have been through this twice…wisdom!</p>

<p>Loving life, living the dream. Good luck to all and all the very best to all these kids.</p>

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<p>Helpful to ALL readers? Aglages - you assume too much.</p>

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<p>

Blog.
Helpful to ANY readers?</p>

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<p>DS got a Congressional Nomination today!</p>

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<p>Aglages - This thread is for those applicants “waiting” after applying; hence, the title. Should you have information helpful to other candidates, you are also welcome. However, don’t assume your every post will be applicable to ALL readers. Carry on.</p>