Why would you want to do that?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
1

<p>In another thread, the Negativity Thread, it was posted that applicants had been asked: Why would you want to do that? [Attend the USNA.] See, for example, #23 and 43 in that thread.
The posters interpreted these comments as reflecting a negative bias towards the Academy.</p>

<p>Granted, none of us were there to hear the intonation that may have been present:
WHY would you want to do that?
Why WOULD you want to do that?
Why would YOU want to do that?
Why would you WANT to do that?
Why would you want to do THAT?</p>

<p>In post #43, the question was phrased as:

[quote]
"Why would you do that? You're gonna die."

[/quote]
</p>

<p>In post #23, the question was phrased as:

[quote]
Why would you want to the Naval Academy when you could go do any other school?"

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Ignoring the "you're gonna die" part--a typical over-the-top youuthful exclamation point--the questions are both, on their face, reasonable. Questions that applicants should be able to answer. Succinctly. </p>

<p>In fact, with a bit more tact, applicants will be asked this question by many people: counselors, BGOs, nomination board, and others.</p>

<p>So . . . what is your answer to this question? If you can't answer this question coming from the "man in the street" with some clarity; that is, when challenged casually, how will you answer it when asked in some sort of formal setting?</p>

<p>Believe me, every person involved in the nomination process has heard about a thousand times: "Because I want to serve my country." I give extra points to the person who DOES NOT use this trite, contrived answer but, rather, can explain, in their own words, with conviction, why they want to attend a service academy.
What is your true answer? </p>

<p>If you can get past arguing whether the above comments reflected ill will on th part of the speaker, try practicing your true answers on this forum. Try responding, in an adult fashion, to the question:</p>

<p>WHY do YOU WANT to ATTEND a service academy?</p>

2

<p>this is what i said at my west point interview:</p>

<p>I want to serve my country as an officer in the Army. I like the disciplined lifestyle at West Point and the challenges presented. I originally learned about the military from my grandfather who was a marine. I loved hearing about his experiences in the military. I later learned about West Point when i visited there for many football games. However, it wasnt untill after i further researched, by going to the west point website, reading the long gray line and absolutely American, and talking to West Point graduates that i decided this is the lifestyle that i want to live.</p>

3

<p>You're right, emphasis and context would affect how that particular comment is interpreted.</p>

<p>That being said, I know that at least for me, when that comment was said to me it was said with the implication that the military and Service Academies are only good choices for the academically inferior.</p>

4

<p>To add what Bill has said - Don't be too hard on those who ask - regardless of the context.
There is a great disconnect between the military and civilian life in this country that has grown wide since the draft ended. Many many people truly don't have a clue. The don't know anyone who is or was in a military officer.
You could be the first person they have ever met who desires to attend a SA. Even though most people know there is an "Army-Navy game" - they really don't understand the academies.
When asked the question - give these folks the benefit of the doubt. Explain to these kids/adults about the academy you wish to/are attending, what you will study and your commitment.</p>

5

<p>(Note: I just read this after writing it, and it's a bit jumpy. But that's because I wrote the truth off of the top of my head... so it's basically my thought process)</p>

<p>Simply put, I don't come from a military family. People are flabbergasted when I tell them that the Naval Academy is my top choice for college.</p>

<p>For me, it started with 9/11. This day had a similar impact on me that JFK's assassination had on my parents and that Pearl Harbor had on my Grandparents. It opened my eyes to the threats we face as a nation. I was only in six grade, and, coming from a nonmilitary family, it took me until 7th grade to discover the Naval Academy. But before then, I knew that I wanted to spend my life having a job that invovled protecting our country.</p>

<p>I want to attend the Naval Academy because I want to serve my country as as an officer in the US Marine Corps. I want to eat, breathe, and live the strict military lifestyle of a service academy; I want to do something different. </p>

<p>I love to learn. I want to be challenged by the rigorous academic curriculum at USNA. I wanted to be challenged everyday to be better than the person I was the day before, including and beyond the academic world. I'm confident the Naval Academy will provide me with the challenges I seek. </p>

<p>The current high school I attend is a college-preporatory academic magnet school that sends about 1/6 students to an Ivy League. It's in center city Philadelphia, and is closely affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania. I've been on UPenn's campus for many reasons: school-related trips, a bite to eat or a trip to the movies. It's located in the city I live in. Despite the close connection it has to my life, being on that campus was NOTHING like being on the Naval Academy's campus when I went for NASS. Walking on USNA's campus was the first time that a college campus felt like home to me, a feeling that I had NEVER felt on UPenn, a campus located in my home city. </p>

<p>Out of all the logical reasons I can give for my desires to attend the Naval Academy, I can easily sum it up my feelings in one sentence that is anything but "logical": I know it's where I belong. And I won't stop until I'm there.</p>

6

<p>gonecokanutts: thats exactly how i feel, ive stayed at colleges close to my home too and when i stayed at the naval academy it was the only one that seemed like i would be able to call it home. therefore i cant wait to go back "home" on thurs for the CVW :)</p>

7

<p>Isn't it crazy how attached you became after being at the academy for a couple days? I remember thinking I was at home at summer seminar- and it was all of a week. I'm with you, zrmvrhs08- I can't wait to return "home" for CVW!!!</p>

8

<p>PlebeWannaBe, I know exactly what you mean...I didn't want to go home after Summer Seminar. I was bummed out to have to leave Annapolis, but now I'm ultra-pumped to get back out there for my CVW coming up in March!</p>

9

<p>I can't wait. Three Day weekend, almost over I might add, then two days of school and then off to the Yard Thursday! I wonder how much "free" time there will be. I have a few people I want to see from NASS and one from my high school. Oh but I have a bad feeling it will be over so fast. Then it is back to waiting to go back until July, hopefully...:(</p>

10

<p>There will be "free" time for candidates because of the plebe study hours. Bring something to do for that time.</p>

11

<p>Give me a break! You've seen exactly about 0.0001% of the Academy and all of a sudden you're gushing like a schoolboy who has just been kissed. Oh wait, maybe you are a schoolboy who has just been kissed.</p>

<p>Listen up. The Academy is [can be] a great place. Sometimes. There are many, many reasons that a person might want to go here. I have my own.
BUT, it can also be a significant, continuing pain in the ***. Everybody here, I mean 99.9% of the mids here, have given up significant opportunities to be here. Sometimes it seems to be worth it. Many times it does not.</p>

<p>Answer the question. Put yourself out there.</p>

<p>WHY do you want to attend the USNA?</p>

<p>I'm curious. I think back to my answer a few years ago and it was based on complete ignorance of the actual conditions here. Now, don't misunderstand, I think the long-term benefits will outweigh the short-term aggravation. But, do not underestimate the complete BS that you will face once you gete here.</p>

<p>SO . . . the first couple of answers don't sound too bad. Wan't to be an officer, etc., etc., etc. I mean, after all, what else would you say.</p>

<p>But I am curious as to what you answer to THE question would be.</p>

12

<p>I realize that a lot of us class of 2012 hopefulls seem gushy and are probably fantacizing a little, or quite a bit about the academy. As a future plebe myself I think that this is okay- though of course I realize that I can't speak from experience. Personally, I feel that I know as much as I can going into the academy without actually being there; I have researched a ton, read as many books as I can get my hands on, and spoken to many mids/graduates. I attended NASS and will be going to a CVW in February. While I realize that you can never be fully prepared, I do think that I have prepared myself well -and while researching I did not glamorize the academy because I wanted to get my facts straight. I know that it is not perfect and that I may not be happy all the time. I realize that there is BS and other things to deal with-but thats life at a service academy. However, now that I know that the academy is the only place I really think I belong, I feel that I have the right ( and so does every other candidate) to gush a bit about my future home.<br>
Personally I would rather not post all of my reasons for wanting to attend the academy because I feel that they can not be adequately summarized on a discussion forum. Some will be repetitive and others are simply difficult to voice.<br>
I think that I might be concerned if a candidate wasn't a little "gushy" if that is the way they express themselves online. For me it isn't gushiness but excitement and passion-isn't that what we should be feeling?</p>

<p>I hope that this didn't seem angry or rude in any way, and I'm sorry if it did come off that way. It is kind of hard to express yourself through a post online. :)</p>

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<p>Just an observation:
There are nuggets of a great response in that post. It reads as coming off maturely, well-thought out, and cognizant of the limitations that you operate under, i.e. you have limited exposure to the campus and limite understanding of the responsibilities you will be asked to assume.
You, nonetheless, seem to have obtained whatever information you could and still desire to attend.</p>

14

<p>JamTex: There was absolutely no reason to come off that abrasive. People feel how they feel not how you feel. I (and others on here) owe you no explanation of our reasons for desiring to attend USNA.</p>