<p>Okay & that would be an opinion which should and will be respected. My DS as well as me and my wife opted to take the advise of the admissions brief at the academy, the BGO’s advise and what the book said…let the candidate do all the work.</p>
<p>To that end my DS is also one very scheduled packed kid. Over the summer he spent two weeks at the Academy, came home and worked a 40 hour a week work schedule, continued to do community involvement, and worked out for his two sports. He had both his Academy and NROTC application completed by the end of June. Took care of it on his own and the more he worked on it the more intense he became. When school started he continued to check his own material and get his applications together for his MOC interview. Same busy schedule but not a 40 hour work week. Instead he had his AP classes to focus on. </p>
<p>When everything was in and completed I finally asked him this. “”"""" what is you plan if you do not get into the Academy or get the NROTC scholarship. His reply was simple. He already submitted to a few schools as a safety (which I knew about, since I paid for the app.) He then added that because of what he learned he was ready not to be accepted because of what he learned and that it would be okay he would apply again. </p>
<p>So in the end there are different ways for kids to go into this. As a Navy veteran myself, I happy not to have been involved and thrilled to be there for support.</p>
<p>Two different thoughts and both with respectful meaning from how the approach was made. All I know is my DS currently does have his foot in the door. He is triple qualified (got the word on 3rd Q) and has a senators nomination. Will he get in? Have no clue but if not I know now that he will apply again.</p>
<p>This has been discussed previously, not sure if this thread or a simliar one. As a parent, being aware of the process and providing guidance is different from doing the work for your son/daughter. No one in USNA admissions tells parents they shouldn’t be involved or supportive. Certainly it needs to be the applicant who is motivated to apply and attend, not their parents pushing them into something they don’t want.</p>
<p>Sounds to me as though some parents that chose to “let the ship hit the iceberg just to see if it will float or sink” are now suggesting to others that they should also limit their assistance to their children. To each his own. Let’s hope this lack of parental effort is not the difference between their children receiving appointments… or not. Wondering whether you could/should have done more after the fact is often a hard thing to live with.</p>
<p>Hello, I have recently received my Appointment to The USNA and I just wanted to offer my thoughts on this subject. During the application process, my parents left me in charge of the dates and deadlines. I am very grateful for that because it made me think through the reasons why I wanted to attend the Academy. My wanting to attend the Academy was a personal choice, not one in which my parents pushed on me. They did not hassle me, and this allowed me to be accountable for myself. I don’t think this whole process is about the Naval Academy being able to “spot” applicants whose parents have done their application for them. Getting through the rigorous Plebe year at the academy will take more than a person whose parents have done their application for them, thus the person will be weeded out. Attending the Academy and making it through takes personal dedication and a strong will to serve one’s country. I have this and I hope that all my future classmates will have it as well. I am open to any questions you all may have, and I would enjoy answering them. I have a passion for the Academy, and I would love to share it with others!</p>
<p>“No one in USNA admissions tells parents they shouldn’t be involved” Oh indeed they did, sorry there were others that missed that portion at the admission brief. This was also made quite clear by the reps at Academy day and the BGO. I also found this on the other fourm and doing some research it would appear to me that the BGO moderators say the same. </p>
<p>“Let’s hope this lack of parental effort is not the difference between their children receiving appointments… or not. Wondering whether you could/should have done more after the fact is often a hard thing to live.” This is funny… it might be a good idea not to insult anothers regarding parental efforts. Be careful!! There is no suggestions to others only statements of what has been communicated again by the admissions brief, the BGO, the MOC reps… Could not agree with them more. "Lets hope that these leaders of our Naval fleet do not rely on their parental efforts to make a command when the situation is hot in the middle of the big pond. Been there…and thankfully we did not have a melting pot of a leader! </p>
<p>If my DS does not make it in, it will be because of “his own efforts” and not ours. No matter what anybody feels that failure is critical and important. There is no shame in failure it becomes your greatest accomplishmnets. Why would I let him not getting in bother me? Very simple. It’s not my journey! I can see parents that live vicarious through their kids having the “hard thing to live” issue. The only thing I will wonder about is when he will leave for his “C” plan college. He can reflect on his own thoughts and as he said he will apply again. And again we will only support not help. </p>
<p>My only thought on this forum was to “try” to be positive and “share” some thoughts on my DS journey. At no time was it forced that others “had” to follow these thought leads. Do as you please. There are always three sides to a story.</p>
<p>GoNavy95 - Thank you, your thought just sumed up everything we heard at the admissions brief, the BGO, the MOC reps and least I forget the guidance given to parents in the book I read. My DS has the passion I can assure you he has done his research and now knows things about the Academy life we don’t. He even drives us to the brink with the Academy expectations, facts, and information on the communities he hope to soon learn more about at dinner. He was also recited the honor code and mission statement one night just to make us all aware he knew it. This was also his personal choice. He is also happy that we stayed out of it. As a Navy veteran without even knowing you I’m confident you will be a strong leader and create a great command. From a veteran snipe…hit the pit, haze gray, underway!! You will do quite well!</p>
<p>3unitsllove- I did similar things that your DS has done. I drove my parents crazy by reciting things like “How’s the Cow” and going through the O and E ranks of the Navy. That’s great stuff! I can’t express how excited I am to attend the Academy and then serve my country afterwards! I hope your DS gets in, please give him my best! Thank you for your confidence in me, I greatly appreciate that especially from a Veteran! Thank you for your service!</p>
<p>Your most welcome and thank you for keeping the strength. If our DS gets in I will let you know. Currently he is 3Q’ed with a Senators nom (competative list.) Get your posts up and I will PM you on more detailed info. He has become a pro at collecting the mail! Funny the mail comes before he gets out of school, we leave it for when he pulls in the driveway. </p>
<p>He also applied to NROTC and was accepted to all 5 schools (college of engineering) but again very competative. Very intense about his goal. As he went through the process he would post index cards on his bedroom door about what he had to finish next. Between the dinner discussions and the index cards it was our small window into what he was doing. The BGO interview opened the window a little bit more. It has been interesting to watch him go through this. Grew up quick!</p>
<p>You mentioned that you recently received an appointment. Are you a Plebe?</p>
<p>I am not a Plebe, yet. I received a Letter of Assurance when I submitted my application to Navy. Dean Latta, The head of admissions, called me on my cell phone to let me know about it, which was quite an early Christmas present! I had received a Congressional Nomination the day before and my medical came in about a week later. I would also come home and the first thing I would look for is the mail! This past Thursday my official Offer of Appointment came in the mail. It was propped up on my doorstep, and was a beautiful sight to see. It comes through FedEx, and is a large package!</p>
<p>side note- How many posts do you have to have to be able to PM?</p>
<p>Nice, the Academy is such a beautiful place. After NASS, I remember not wanting to leave and I promised myself I would be back. I hope you get in, it is such a blast!</p>
<p>I don’t want to hijack the thread too much (I’ll PM you or something when you get enough posts), but how was NASS? Everyone I know who’s gone to it had a fantastic time.</p>
<p>CE527M: It is an awesome experience, but it is also challenging at the same time. They assign you to a squad, and everything you do is with them. You will do marching drills, eat together, and talk with each other each night about how the day went. NASS tests you mentally and physically. They give you a sheet at the beginning of the week and tell you to memorize it fully. Then, at the end of the week, you have what is called Sea Trials. You do physical stuff all day. It’s a lot of running, push ups, and even a beach workout. When that is over, they line you up and yell at you for over thirty minutes. They are questioning you about the sheet that you were supposed to memorize at the beginning of the week. It tests how you react under pressure. I enjoyed it so much. When you do these kinds of activities, you have to remember that most of it is mental. There are also classes each day so you can see the facilities and the teachers. Your squad leader will write an evaluation of you at the end of the week, which could be good for your application if you stand out. Hope this helps!</p>