Over Qualified for NAPS?

USNA2015Candidate

5-Year Member
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I posted this over in the Prep Schools Forum, but it appears that those forums are lifeless, so I apologize if this is off-topic.

I'm currently applying for the Naval Academy and I've been hoping to at least get into NAPS. However, I have been told by several people that I may be over-qualified for NAPS. My GPA and SAT scores are not the highest, but they are not bad. My leadership is very much prominent in my application and my desire to attend the Naval Academy is through the roof.

My question is can you be over qualified to attend NAPS yet not good enough to get into the Academy?

There was someone from my school a couple of years ago who received an appointment to NAPS. My BGO has told me that I am more academically qualified than he was and I know for fact that I have more leadership credentials. Also, he was not an athlete.
 
I'd say dont worry whether or not you're qualified for NAPS; your ultimate goal should be an appointment to USNA.
That being said, let the admissions office place you in NAPS or the Academy, you'll have little to no control over where you're going. To my understanding, the only thing separating those who go to NAPS and USNA is that the NAPSters have a little lower academic criterion. If you're over qualified for NAPS, then youll most likely go to the academy.
Either way, shoot for the appointment, its out of your control. =)
 
I'd say dont worry whether or not you're qualified for NAPS; your ultimate goal should be an appointment to USNA.
That being said, let the admissions office place you in NAPS or the Academy, you'll have little to no control over where you're going. To my understanding, the only thing separating those who go to NAPS and USNA is that the NAPSters have a little lower academic criterion. If you're over qualified for NAPS, then youll most likely go to the academy.
Either way, shoot for the appointment, its out of your control. =)

Thanks for the response!

I'm doing everything I can to get an appointment to the academy. I'm just trying to get a sense of where I stand.
 
The easy answer to your question is that you can be over-qualified for NAPS and not be selected for USNA. My recommendation to you would be to continue to focus on improving your SAT/ACT scores and your school grades to the best of your ability. It very well may be that should you not get a direct appointment you should go to a solid four year college and take courses approximating what a plebe would be taking. You then would be judged on your first semester college grades vice the SAT/ACT scores and HS grades. Check the 1985's sticky on re-applying for more details. In the meantime, continue working on the current task at hand of becoming the best candidate you can be - you just might surprise yourself.

Best wishes to you.
 
one cannot appy or even request NAPS ...candidates are merely assigned an opportunity to attend, usually for one reason ...need for some academic enhancements. And specifically there are most often 3 general segments provided this opportunity ...diversity candidates, athlete-recruits, and prior enlistees who might need either strenthened or extended math and/or science prepping, or some refreshment having been away from such. None requested, applied for, nor were nominated for NAPS. All were simply offered that option as they were deemed desirbable candidates for some specific reason, generally fitting high-priority "needs of the Navy" and/or more immediately, needs of the Naval Academy, since it is that specific entity that determines who are potential NAPsters.

And the outcome will be pending 2 things generally, i.e. a GPA of 1.8 or higher and appropriate good behavior as students and potential officer candidates, a virtual guaranteed appointment the following year, with occasional abberations.
 
one cannot appy or even request NAPS ...candidates are merely assigned an opportunity to attend, usually for one reason ...need for some academic enhancements. And specifically there are most often 3 general segments provided this opportunity ...diversity candidates, athlete-recruits, and prior enlistees who might need either strenthened or extended math and/or science prepping, or some refreshment having been away from such. None requested, applied for, nor were nominated for NAPS. All were simply offered that option as they were deemed desirbable candidates for some specific reason, generally fitting high-priority "needs of the Navy" and/or more immediately, needs of the Naval Academy, since it is that specific entity that determines who are potential NAPsters.

And the outcome will be pending 2 things generally, i.e. a GPA of 1.8 or higher and appropriate good behavior as students and potential officer candidates, a virtual guaranteed appointment the following year, with occasional abberations.

WARNING To those students who are in the application process:

The above post is about 90% misinformation.

WARNING

USNA2015Candidate feel free to PM.
 
How about sharing the correct information instead of WAITING for someone to PM you...or is it a "secret"?

It's no secret. I'll help kids if I can; however, don't wish to get into any of the foolishness associated with above. I don't wait to be PM'd, that time has come and gone.
 
WARNING To those students who are in the application process:

The above post is about 90% misinformation.

WARNING
..however, don't wish to get into any of the foolishness associated with above..
Interesting how you choose to avoid "getting into any of the foolishness". Couldn't you have avoided the foolishness altogether and helped a "kid" by just sending a PM to the OP instead of all the
WARNING
WARNING Will Rogers?
 
I very interested in NAPS and the whole process. I would like to hear the correct information also.
 
I very interested in NAPS and the whole process. I would like to hear the correct information also.

Don't get pulled into MakeItHappen's personal vendetta, WhistlePig's information in his post is accurate.

Look at what he's saying:

  • You don't apply for NAPS, you apply to the Academy
  • NAPS appointees are chosen because of a deficiency in either academics or physical fitness
  • NAPS grads are almost automatically awarded appointments the following year
  • D1 Athletic teams use NAPS to supply players who may be academically deficient for direct entry
  • Some NAPS appointees are chosen to fit the USNA's #1 priority, diversity.
Nothing radical or earthshaking there, certainly not enough to demand private messaging to learn "the secret info" about what is incorrect. :rolleyes:
 
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Don't get pulled into MakeItHappen's personal vendetta, WhistlePig's information in his post is accurate.

Look at what he's saying:

  • You don't apply for NAPS, you apply to the Academy
  • NAPS appointees are chosen because of a deficiency in either academics or physical fitness
  • NAPS grads are almost automatically awarded appointments the following year
  • D1 Athletic teams use NAPS to supply players who may be academically deficient for direct entry
  • Some NAPS appointees are chosen to fit the USNA's #1 priority, diversity.
Nothing radical or earthshaking there, certainly not enough to demand private messaging to learn "the secret info" about what is incorrect. :rolleyes:

Some of you folks want everything to be about "vendettas" or tinged with personal political philosophies. I don't mind a good discussion in "Off Topic" or "Academy News", but when folks post misleading info here, I'll do as I wish and the PM police can eat a pickle.

BTW, you get an 89 for your list. PM me on how to raise it into the 90s.:director:
 
Interesting how you choose to avoid "getting into any of the foolishness". Couldn't you have avoided the foolishness altogether and helped a "kid" by just sending a PM to the OP instead of all the
WARNING
WARNING Will Rogers?

The kids will come if they want (and have); no need to helicopter.
 
Does anyone have any information on those appointed to NAPS because they were deficient in physical fitness? Maybe some average stats? I asked a question similar to this in the Preparatory Schools Discussion board, and the thread sort of died out. I have strong academics and leadership, but my physical fitness isn't stellar.
 
Does anyone have any information on those appointed to NAPS because they were deficient in physical fitness? Maybe some average stats? I asked a question similar to this in the Preparatory Schools Discussion board, and the thread sort of died out. I have strong academics and leadership, but my physical fitness isn't stellar.

Why wouldn't you just work on this? Probably the easiest thing to fix. You've got until March, right?

Unless you are hauling around a 200 pound gut, you could get pullups, situps, and pushups to above average within 8 weeks, no problem. Mile time is probably the hardest thing to get from something like 9 minutes down to 6'30 . But definetly doable. Rather than worry about whether you might be selected for a NAPS/Foundation year, just focus on fitness. This is the military....
 
Why wouldn't you just work on this? Probably the easiest thing to fix. You've got until March, right?

Unless you are hauling around a 200 pound gut, you could get pullups, situps, and pushups to above average within 8 weeks, no problem. Mile time is probably the hardest thing to get from something like 9 minutes down to 6'30 . But definetly doable. Rather than worry about whether you might be selected for a NAPS/Foundation year, just focus on fitness. This is the military....

Oh I know. I am working on this. I am just thinking ahead and figuring out what to do if I don't get accepted the first time around. I know that no matter what I will reapply if needed.
 
BTW, you get an 89 for your list. PM me on how to raise it into the 90s.
The only thing I see wrong with the list is the implication that it is a dumping ground for Div I athletics. Since this policy would be in direct violation of NCAA rules, it doesn't happen. The percentages of recruited athletes attending NAPS must reflect no greater than the percentages of the Brigade as a whole.
 
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