<p>What I mean is, can you bring like a personal laptop/computer/gaming console/mp3 player? Or is it just you bring the clothes on your back and a pair of running shoes for plebe summer and everything else is supplied?</p>
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What I mean is, can you bring like a personal laptop/computer/gaming console/mp3 player?
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<p>You're kidding, right? The answer to the above would be "no." You can bring a cell phone, but it is confiscated on I-Day and returned for your 5-minute calls home at appointed times. If you don't have a cell phone or don't bring one, one will be provided to you.</p>
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Or is it just you bring the clothes on your back and a pair of running shoes for plebe summer and everything else is supplied?
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<p>They even take the clothes off your back. :) Seriously, they give you a list of things to bring. People obsess over it. Most folks who've been plebes tell you only to bring things on the list that you absolutely must have in a certain type/way/brand. You can literally show up with nothing other than your running shoes and be fine. The less you bring, the less you have to haul around and the less they have to take away from you.</p>
<p>You will be issued a computer for schoolwork at the end of the summer. Personal emails are, I believe, at the discretion of your company. I doubt that gaming, music listening, etc. is allowed plebe year, but will defer to a more recent mid as, in my day, we didn't have PCs.</p>
<p>A Bible, Torah, Koran, Veda or other sacred book, and pictures that will fit in your wallet (they let you keep that). Any computer files that you want access later to I would put into a Google Apps account, although you probably can get away with a flash drive. I would suggest ask for an 8 or 16GB flash drive as a graduation present and fill it with anything you view as critical to have--maybe get a slim profile one and keep in in your wallet. Unless things have changed drastically, everything else NOT ON THE LIST THEY PROVIDE YOU goes in a box and goes home.</p>
<p>Are you asking about Plebe Summer or Academic year and beyond?</p>
<p>Plebe Summer - everything will be supplied. You will not have access to any computers, your cell phone will be lifted and only returned for phone calls. Your parents or others will be able to send you care packages but contents should only be useful supplies - maybe some pictures and snacks.</p>
<p>Plebe Year - you will be issued a computer and a thumb (flash) drive. No need to buy your own. Will need to buy your own or share with roommate a printer - My experience - buy your own. My company allowed us to bring our own laptops. Bottom line is you cannot connect your non-issued laptop to the internet. I used mine at my sponsors house or at one of the cafe's. If you have games and a large amount of music on the laptop you may want to consider keeping it at your sponsors, although I never did and never had a problem with having it - just don't access your ITunes! I used my laptop when off on MO over weekends to keep up.</p>
<p>Email - get yourself an online account to use for personal emails. We can receive and send personal from our usna.edu accounts but I get so many Academy related emails that I have found it easier to keep personal stuff separate.</p>
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<p>nsehres, I apologize for those of us who are perhaps a little behind times and might not be sympathetic to those just commencing the process. Don't despair. Ask away.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the information, extremely helpful, detailed responses. I meant once the academic year began when I posed the question. So, you can bring a laptop for music/games but it's uses are limited? </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>"And the beat goes on...the beat goes on...Drums keep poundin' rhythm in my noggin ..." :eek:</p>
<p>you can bring a laptop-
you cannot connect it to the academy internet-
and as a plebe, you cannot use to watch any media or listen to music-</p>
<p>however, the media and music are "company dependent"- meaning, some companies may allow a music or media "chit" as a reward for some job well done- mind you, very limited.</p>
<p>ditto for video games-
don't even bother to bring them- they are too much of a distraction for many, and will land you in academic un-sat territory faster than you can load up your game. </p>
<p>Really no need for a laptop, unless you are doing a sport or ECA that takes you away from the academy and you need it to keep up with academics. Aside from that, consider it "secondary, optional and conditional"... meaning, leave it at home until you get into the academic year and feel you need it.</p>
<p>Alright, thanks a lot everyone!</p>
<p>So, no mp3 player, unless your company is cool?</p>
<p>No. Plebes do not rate media of any sort. I have not heard of any companies allowing plebes to use media.</p>
<p>My plebe had media last saturday. It was, however, a reward. It had to be earned. He will have it another weekend because Navy beat Air Force. It was part of his bet. As a general rule: no media for plebes.</p>
<p>My son's company was allowed computer games Saturdays during plebe year. Other media privileges were earned as USNA2012 point out.</p>
<p>plebes rate video games on saturdays, they are allowed laptops during the academic part of the year and for the most part everything is supplied including shoes, but you can bring your own running shoes</p>
<p>Having a laptop can give you some additional freedom in terms of where you work and study, particularly during the day/in between classes. It can also come in handy if you are working as a group and studying outside your room. If you are disciplined with your work and always remember to have the latest copy of your assignment on your thumb drive it may not be as much as a benefit.</p>
<p>what kind of laptops are you issued? im a fan of macbooks, can i request one of those?</p>
<p>To clarify:</p>
<p>All Midshipmen are now issued desktops... the specs of the class of 11's computer can be found here USNA</a> Class of 2012 Microcomputer</p>
<p>Class of 12's computer is similar except it has Windows Vista, 4gb's of Ram, and Windows Office 2007 so a little nicer</p>
<p>You can bring your own laptop, whatever brand you want however you can not use the internet on it in the hall, the only place internet works is in one of the buildings where theres unprotected internet otherwise you won't be able to use the internet. But laptops are useful for working on papers at the library because the library's laptops go fast. </p>
<p>You can purchase a laptop from the Academy that can be hooked up to the internet but the policy is you can only have one pc hooked up to the USNA internet so you choose, Laptop or Desktop...</p>
<p>My BGO told me that I would be provided with everything, even with underwear. He also mentioned that some plebes may get away with an accessory-- a watch, if lucky-- but other than that, everything gets shipped back home. "Literally".</p>
<p>^^^^ leave the watch at home too.... you won't feel so "lucky" if- and when- you get caught with something you are not permitted. The honor concept will require you to turn it in- </p>
<p>fail to do so, and the consequences will not be pleasant. It is not a matter of "if" you get caught- it is a matter of "when."</p>
<p>I wasn't planning on brining it, my BGO just made a joke out of it when he said he brought his and it wasn't taken away.</p>