<p>My daughter is considering Annapolis -- she plays soccer -- and is looking at the possibility of playing there (among several other schools). We're wondering what the social life is like for women there ... are they outcasts or do they/can they date? My daughter is highly has tons of friends -- lots of boy friends, not a boyfriend (if that makes sense). She always has multiple dates for the school dances -- which she likes to attend -- read that, she likes to be treated like a girl even though she's a jock. (again, if that makes sense)</p>
<p>Would love to hear from parents of female midshipmen -- what their daughter's experience has been and whether these women can still be "women" in the heavily male environment.</p>
<p>From USNA’s perspective, dating is not something high on the list of Plebe’s activities…in fact if your daughter wants this to be a component of her college experience she will be sorely disappointed and if she were my daughter, I’d encourage her to go the ROTC route which would be more suited to her personality. USNA of course has mids who date and have a social life but I guarantee you, if a young lady enters USNA thinking it’s a paradise for men-opportunities, she won’t last Plebe summer. That isn’t enough of a reason to endure the daily grind of preparing to serve your country through a Service Academy education.</p>
<p>Secondarily, YES, women at USNA are still ‘girly’ and have their little games to remain feminine. One of the things almost all of them do, right after Plebe summer, is run to mall and buy frilly girl underwear to have underneath their uniforms. It’s their little subversive way to giggle at themselves as girls.</p>
<p>When we were at I-Day this past year, we were with plebe to be son at Navy Federal Credit union getting stuff set up…in walks another plebe to be, a girl. A very pretty girly girl. I’m wondering how she will fare with plebe summer, etc. Along with her is her gorgeous, very feminine older sister. Who just graduated from West Point. This young woman looks like a magazine ad, absolutely beautiful.</p>
<p>Saw them again at swearing in ceremony, older sister looks drop dead gorgeous in her Army uniform. Saw them again at Plebe Parent Weekend. The young plebe “loved it!”</p>
<p>DD and I met a 1/C at a local candidate forum and she was indeed a “girly girl” - her words. Showed my DD her pink class ring and manicured nails. Then she laughed and said that she wasn’t at all like that in HS. She and DD spent 15 minutes talking about a women’s life at the academy from her perspective - while I got the very talkative mom’s. I don’t know if dating came up - its not high on the list for my daughter - as she didn’t say. DD was all smiles on the way home - very impressed.</p>
<p>Big Bear, question you stated that your daughter is considering the Naval Academy among other schools. Is she a senior this year or a junior?</p>
<p>As a dad to a female midshipman I have little to offer in comments about dateing. We have mutually agreed to adopt a “don’t ask don’t tell” policy on the subject. However, she has requested moms assistance, durring Christmas break, in shopping for a formal gown for this springs ring dance. Hmmm.</p>
<p>The Naval Academy is first and formost a leadership school. Women make up about 20%+ of the brigade and if you look at the leadership opportunities you will see women more than failry represented as squad leaders, 1st Sgts., Company Commanders, and Brigade positions. This is why they are here, to learn to lead. All midshipman have a social life such as it is but it is nothing like a normal college. Big Bear if your daughter is casaully looking at the Naval Academy and is concerned about dateing, then this is the wrong place for her.</p>
<p>As far as playing soccer at Navy, my mid rooms with one of the starters on the soccer team. Womens soccer is a recruited team that has allowed only 1 or 2 walk ons for the past several years. If she is not being recrited by Navy her chances of makeing the team are slim and none as a walk on.</p>