<p>^^^ glad to hear that!</p>
<p>What you CAN bring to I-Day is a good attitude, a sense of humor, and check your ego at the door! Show up in shape and ready to go and you will quickly gain the respect of your detailers! Just remind Mom and Dad to bring the watch on parents weekend- from there it is just a short few days until you are allowed the "privilage" of knowing what time it is on your own! ;)</p>
<p>A funny story from this Plebe Summer relayed to me from my Mid. One of the members of his squad asked one of the detailers in the first few days when he could have a watch. The detailer replied "why do you need a watch, we will let you know when Plebe Summer is over". I think that about summed it up.</p>
<p>hfoster: There is a single type of computer that is issued to all Plebes. Mids can put in a "chit" to request almost anything, but no, you're not going to get a macbook, unless that is the standard system next year.</p>
<p>I bought a rocking chair for my room last week.</p>
<p><em>Firstie with a chit</em> :D</p>
<p>Nice chit, "reject." Now, if you could only find time to sit in it.....</p>
<p>i know a past-mid who had a hammock in his room!</p>
<p>I have a lot of time in my rocking chair 2012mom?, only most of the time I spend it with Thermo, British Lit and Victorian Lit :/</p>
<p>So after your plebe year, are you allowed to have your own laptop, video games, mp3 players and the privilege to order whatever you would like to keep in your room (i.e. rocking chairs, amazon books, desk accessories)?</p>
<p>Yes and no....</p>
<p>laptop yes but cannot connect to internet, mp3 player, video games, books of any liking (mine had during Plebe year as he is an avid reader even with studies he makes time) desk accessories yes.... </p>
<p>coffee pot - not until 2nd class year, refrigerator - not until firstie year so there are things you will have to wait until you rate them.</p>
<p>my youngster has a video game system and guitar, an ipod, and lots of books. his company doesn't allow a coffee pot or hot water pot yet.</p>
<p>From what I understand musical instruments are generally allowed, mine had both an acoustic and electric guitar as a Plebe. </p>
<p>What is allowed obviously varies from company to company but one of his most used items (by him and other members of his company) was his electric kettle….</p>
<p>other than the stuff you get issued, everything else is "secondary, optional and conditional"- the conditional determined by each company.</p>
<p>A work to the wise-
all these things are distractions, and they have gotten more than one plebe in unsat territory- so just be aware, and proceed accordingly. Many companies will not allow music or video's until well into plebe year- and if then, some will only allow on a weekend, if at all---- not easy watching giants games on gametracker, with the little dots going to and fro!!! Do not bring anything down until the end of plebe summer, and see what the regulations are for your company. You might rate a guitar in one company, and absolutely nothing in another one just down the p'way. Hold off unitl you are sure as to what you rate, and when.</p>
<p>A kid in my company was found with a laptop in his ceiling for a health and wellness inspection. Needless to say, he's in big trouble.
Probably if he'd been up front with our Training Staff and told them the circumstances (that he's a Varsity athlete and benefits from the use of the laptop for school work) and not hidden it, he'd be good right now. </p>
<p>My suggestion is to not bring anything to I-Day and tell your parents to start saving up so they can send you packages. You may not want your laptop sent in the mail so start thinking about having parents bring it over parents' weekend or you may even have to wait until thanksgiving to get it.</p>
<p>Agree with 2K12. We took son's laptop to PPW and left it at sponsor's house for weekends. When son was given permission to have it in his room, he got it from sponsor Mom. As he needed stuff from home, we have sent them in care packages. It helps him to get things from home and helps us feel like we are doing something by sending care packages.</p>
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My suggestion is to not bring anything to I-Day
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<p>The distinction that I hope is not lost here is I-day vs. the Plebe academic year. As 2K12 said, bring no more than what is on the “approved” list for I-day, though you can get by with less. Once the academic year begins (as in after reform) you can get some sense from your company what is and isn’t allowed. Care packages are a very welcome surprise to a Mid. You can send them to your Mids PO box or to the Express office in Bancroft which allows you to use FedEx and UPS instead of just snail mail.</p>
<p>Don't even bother with the socks, shirts, and underwear they tell you you can bring. It's confiscated.Walk through the doors of Alumni with your papers in hand and a wallet. No watch, wear your running shoes, and its ok to wish plebe summer away.</p>
<p>In regards to curriculum and needless distractions (mp3 players, video games, and laptops) how hard is the curriculum? I have managed to make it through 6ap's and three varsity sports fairly easily this year and have actually used these "termed" distractions to my advantage at times to alleviate stress. </p>
<p>I understand the protocol of plebe year, and completely agree that there should be a great amount of sacrifice on all of our parts to be given the responsibility to lead. I know that we are applying to the Navy and not a civilian college but at the same time are we to expect classes any harder than what our friends will be going through at Princeton or Harvard; and will our schedule after plebe year be so stifling that these distractions take away from our Academic achievements? I'm curious to know exactly what sacrifices I should be prepared to make in terms of luxuries I take for granted now. </p>
<p>Also, care packages...what can mom and dad send, when (as in after plebe summer?) and how does the process actually work? I have an uncle who was an NCO in the Marine corps who told his parents (at 17) to not send him anything until after graduation because he did intend to "survive" his Drill instructors. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>The curriculum isnt any harder then a civilian college (from what I hear from my civilian friends). As a plebe you will be taking anywhere from 16-19 credits. The thing that makes it harder is all of the other plebe stuff that you need to worry about. The key is managing your time and not using these "distractions" too much. I actually have a higher gpa here then I did in high school, so if you manage your time well the plebe stuff wont hurt you that much.</p>
<p>As for care packages, I like getting the powdered gatorade, power bars, and of course letters, it was good to know what was going on back home.</p>
<p>From what I understand, observe ...well said AcademyFan. Being the proverbial brain surgeon may not be essential as assuming the posture of the court juggler, keeping many balls in the air. I recently overheard one plebe bemoaning "if I only had more time to study my chemistry..." </p>
<p>And like traditional campuses, some majors and subject areas can be more challenging than others.</p>
<p>
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Also, care packages...what can mom and dad send, when (as in after plebe summer?) and how does the process actually work? I have an uncle who was an NCO in the Marine corps who told his parents (at 17) to not send him anything until after graduation because he did intend to "survive" his Drill instructors. Any thoughts?
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<p>Search the threads on this subject and you will quite a bit of material; most non-perishable food stuffs can be sent, though we have sent things like brownies, we just bag sealed them and they got there fine. You can use the US mail if you are not in any rush to get things, the Academy has an Express office that parcels can be sent to via UPS and FedEx. Nice thing about the express office, they send the Mid an email upon receipt of a parcel, just wait to use them until AFTER Pleble summer. Using the mail is the only way to get things to a Mid that I'm aware of during the summer. </p>
<p>As far as your uncle goes, basic training is measured in weeks, you’re going to be at the Academy for 4 years so……if you want to “rough it” you can just tell your parents to limit their mailings to letters until parents weekend….did we? no, we sent a small first plastic shoe box right after we left our son off for I-day and then some boxes here and there during the summer. I think the first few days/weeks are the hardest for a Pleble in terms of the transisiton....the care packages are a little bit of home.....So long at the contents are limited to food, clothing and basic necessities you should be fine. Some compression shorts (for PT-all white) were really appreciated. Good luck</p>