What a summer...

Colleges & Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
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<p>So plebe summer is over, and academic year is starting. I just wanted to let all of you '12 hopefuls to know a thing or two about plebe summer. I am in 13th company, a pretty tough company, but still, this goes for everybody, don't underestimate this place. I had no idea it would be this challenging physically. They really get in your head especially during first set cadre, they break you down and build you back up as a team. You can make it if you want to be here, the days, weeks, and summer fly by like crazy. Just something to keep in mind.</p>

<p>PS- I was also wondering if I could have some academic last minute advice from alumni.</p>

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<p>I have a friend who goes to Navy but I don’t have any of his contact info…do you have a common format for e-mail addresses or anything?</p>

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<p>not an alumni- </p>

<p>but will offer one suggestion…
and that is to get EI as often as you need it- and as soon as you find something “unclear”…don’t wait until you are “totally lost”… </p>

<p>that, and “read ahead-stay ahead”…</p>

<p>best of luck!</p>

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<p>spooch – email addresses are based on alphabetical order in the class, it’s not a general firstlast@usna or anything. Your best bet is probably finding them on facebook</p>

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<p>Yea, the summer flew by. 2nd set sucked. Not for most people just for me. 6 co is awesome so far. I’m glad I’m here.</p>

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<p>Last minute academic advice: Study out of the hall. Bancroft is full of distractors. Nothings better than a quite corner in the library to plow through a report or mindnumbing chem homework.</p>

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<p>When does the “AC” year start? Or has it already?</p>

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<p>Yesterday…August 20th was first day of Class.</p>

<p>Listen to itlstallion422 best advice you will ever be given and will be reflected in your grades.</p>

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<p>Sorry, but I just couldn’t resist…</p>

<p>Yes, I’ll give you advice. What I want you to understand, though, is that it is given with a deep sadness that I didn’t follow it myself. I know of what I speak in this regard, so I BEG you to read and heed.</p>

<p>Study. HARD. Do the homework. CONCENTRATE. Don’t think whatever you did in high school or NAPS will work, because it most likely won’t. You have to HIT THE BOOKS HARD. It is next to impossible to “catch up later”, so stay paced and do each bit every night. Get EI (Extra Instruction) EARLY and OFTEN when you need it, and maybe even when you don’t. PAY ATTENTION IN CLASS! TAKE NOTES! ASK QUESTIONS! DON’T ASSUME YOU’LL PICK IT UP LATER! DON’T RELY ON JUST YOUR MEMORY!</p>

<p>I know I sound like a broken record (remember those?) on this, and that I come across as some loon standing across the Severn howeling hysterically at the top of his lungs for SOMEONE to listen, but you have got to STUDY, STUDY, STUDY! Got a free period? STUDY! Got a Youngster Afternoon? STUDY! At your sponsor’s house when you are having trouble in Calc? WHY ARE YOU THERE INSTEAD OF IN THE LIBRARY STUDYING?</p>

<p>You only get one crack at this, and the results of NOT getting it right can be heartbreaking. Yeah, I graduated, but because I spent too much time dreaming about how cool it was going to be to conn a submarine under Arctic ice rather than studying Strengths of Materials, I lost my shot at Nuclear Power School and sat out Service Selection Night watching my classmates (who HAD studied) celebrate their choices. I would spare you that anguish. STUDY! </p>

<p>Stallion recommends studying outside the Hall. Not bad advice, but not necessarily vital, either. If you can concentrate and study in the Hall, then do it. If you find yourself distracted, then study elsewhere. Just remember that it’s tougher to go ask someone for help on a problem when you are alone, and it’s a LONG walk to and from Bancroft.</p>

<p>PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE listen to what I’m saying. YOUR FUTURE HINGES ON YOUR GRADES. Forget the girlfriend. Forget the next leave. Forget the coming weekend. STUDY WHILE YOU HAVE THE CHANCE! YOU’LL REGRET IT LATER IF YOU DON’T!</p>

<p><— Takes a breath.</p>

<p>Sorry, but this is one issue that cuts me VERY deeply. Ignore what I’m saying at your own peril. I’ve already made my mistakes. Hopefully I can keep you from making your own.</p>

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<p>So how are things in Slack Six (Can’t remember what it’s called now)? You guys holding up the heritage?</p>

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<p>I fully echo what Zaphod says. My story is somewhat happier, in that I was able to get the service selection that I wanted but only by really kicking it in gear during my final two years.</p>

<p>However, first semester plebe year was a SHOCK. In high school, I could skate a bit and still get As and Bs – as I bet can most folks who get into USNA. I tried that first semester (in part b/c I was so busy doing other plebe stuff) and ended up with a GPA in the “C” range. I’d never had grades that low in my life. Face it – mids really do get Cs, Ds, and Fs with regularity and you don’t want to be one of them. </p>

<p>My suggestions (in addition to what Zaphod said):</p>

<p>Consider short term pain vs. long term gain. It’s easy to focus on things like memorizing menus, plebe rates, spirit activities because messing up gets you yelled at and may get you demerits/tours – short term pain. It’s easy to ignore that chemistry 8-weeker or the paper due for English class until it’s too late. Not doing well in class results in less liberty and, potentially, missed opportunity for service selection, which influences the rest of your life. Doing well in class = long term gain. So, if you have an extra 30 minutes, consider where that time and effort should be put.</p>

<p>Academic trouble is like home foreclosure. If you start to find yourself in trouble academically, don’t put your head in the sand and hope the problem will disappear. Do something about it immediately and don’t think you can solve the problem all by yourself. Talk to your squad leader, your Company Officer, your professors. I believe there is an academic skills group (or there was) – if so, don’t be embarrassed to use it. There are lots of resources available to help you – don’t be afraid to use every single one of them.</p>

<p>Stay awake in class, pay attention, and do your homework. You may laugh, but I think this can make the difference if things are close (you’re on the line b/t a C and D; you need a recommendation at an Ac Board, etc.). Don’t fall asleep in class. I know you’re tired, but it’s not cool and the prof doesn’t appreciate it. Stand up if you have to but stay awake. Be sure you’re prepared – every single day. Even if you don’t understand the material, make sure you read it and attempt to do homework. </p>

<p>Study where you can get the most work done. Some people need to get out of the hall; others find they can’t study in full uniform (which you must wear outside Mother B). It’s a personal choice. If you’re not being productive in your room, try the library or wherever works for you. </p>

<p>I can’t say it enough – focus on academics. If you find you can’t handle varsity athletics or demanding ECAs (please no zingers on the proposed changes; that’s for another thread) or too many WEs visiting your sponsor, or whatever else is limiting your study time, reduce those as necessary. </p>

<p>Z is right. Staying sat (satisfactory) academically is critical and doing as well as you can for service selection purposes is even more critical.</p>

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<p>Tell me about it. During my 2nd Semester, 3/C year, I almost batted for the Cycle: An A, a B, three D’s, and an F. Totalled up to a whopping 1.55 GPA. :mad:</p>

<p>How I didn’t get my ass kicked out the door by an Academic Board is beyond me, but my dreams of being a sub driver died right there, though I wouldn’t know it until over a year later. :(</p>

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<p>Be aware that that DIDN’T work for me. I got much better grades my last two years and it meant ZILCH.</p>

<p>So don’t plan on making things up later. Get them right the first time or face the consequences.</p>

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<h1>9 gets copied and pasted and sent to another recipient… and gets filed away for the “book” that we are ALL STILL WAITING FOR!!!</h1>

<p>:o</p>

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<p>Zaphod - This neophyte has been missing your posts. Good to hear from you! My d read your latest VERY carefully. She’s trying to put into practice even this year (HS sr)</p>

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<p>Zaphod-</p>

<p>Copied, pasted, mailed to boy and boy’s roomies. Also sent to UNM. Wise words.</p>

<p>Love,</p>

<p>NP</p>

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<p>I am not an alumni but will give you the advice of my son who is now in his youngster year. He said not to waste a minute. Utilize every second of the day. He always did his homework in between classes. He also made a schedule every night for the next day and made sure he kept to the schedule. His leadership teacher is the one that told him how this would enable him to get twice the amount done in a day and no time would be wasted. Without a doubt he said this was his most effective tool and enabled him to have a very successful plebe academic year. I talked to him tonight and he said with 21 credits this semester that making a schedule for each day will be the only thing that will enable him to have a chance to maintain his current GPA.</p>

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<p>My son’s friend, a Dooley (I’m not exactly sure how you spell that) did the same thing. Made a routine for EVERY day when it came to academics. Although it was boring as heck to do, he did and was in the top 10 in his Plebe class. I really hope my son takes this to heart.</p>

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<p>I’m a youngster putting off Western Civ homework right now to read this thread about academic effectiveness.</p>

<p>Whooo.</p>

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<p>Don’t know whether you’re in earnest or sarcastic.</p>

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<p>Now its more like Fox News…
On this side we have Zaphod an USNA Grad from the eighties,</p>

<p>and to be fair and balanced we have USNA69 another Grad from way back in the 60’s </p>

<p>sorta like the point counter point from SNL ;)</p>

<p>So how was vacation…???</p>

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<p>Well, “back” may be a bit of an exageration. I’m just here to address one or two issues. How long I will stay is still a bit up in the air.</p>

<p>BTW, the Point/Counterpoint thing will need another guy. I’m mostly with my fellow alumni on the subject of the changes at USNA.</p>