The tide may be turning

JJ2016

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Jul 13, 2010
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DS has been intent on attending the USNA for many years now. We assume he’s 3Q but don’t know anything official (besides DoDMERB status) and currently does not have any nominations. As highly suggested, he completed the NROTC application as plan B. Last week he was awarded and accepted a 4 yr scholarship to his first choice school. Subsequently he’s been in contact with the NROTC staff and is very excited about the opportunity. I sense Plan B is becoming Plan A, but I’m just an uninformed parent (with no preference).

Just as an observation, it appears that the USNA process being so long with such little feedback may be doing them some disservice. If the smallest attention can convert the mind of a 17 year old, maybe the USNA should consider a little more correspondence. (Then again maybe the USNA has no interest in DS and this their way of encouraging him to pursue other interests.) Again I have no preference and as DS puts it, the end result is the same.
 
DS has been intent on attending the USNA for many years now. We assume he’s 3Q but don’t know anything official (besides DoDMERB status) and currently does not have any nominations. As highly suggested, he completed the NROTC application as plan B. Last week he was awarded and accepted a 4 yr scholarship to his first choice school. Subsequently he’s been in contact with the NROTC staff and is very excited about the opportunity. I sense Plan B is becoming Plan A, but I’m just an uninformed parent (with no preference).

Just as an observation, it appears that the USNA process being so long with such little feedback may be doing them some disservice. If the smallest attention can convert the mind of a 17 year old, maybe the USNA should consider a little more correspondence. (Then again maybe the USNA has no interest in DS and this their way of encouraging him to pursue other interests.) Again I have no preference and as DS puts it, the end result is the same.

I believe they intentionally neglect to engage with the applicants because they want to see who will stick with the application process to the end, for those will be the ones who are truly dedicated to graduating at the academy.
 
The problem USNA has is that, for the overwhelming majority of students, until the noms come out, there's little they can do or say. Candidates w/o a nom have a very, very small chance of being offered an appointment. And USNA has no clue who will get a nom.

So, providing encouragement could well be providing false encouragement.

At the end of the day, if your DS is excited about NROTC and that has become his Plan A, then maybe that's where he's meant to be. NROTC is a great program and the "better" program for some people, just as USNA is the "better" program for others. Be happy for him!
 
The application is the first step of the weeding process. The Academy has a great poker face when it comes to this. They were dead silent with me until one day a big packet came in the mail with my appointment.
 
I found the Naval Academy far more engaging than the Coast Guard Academy. I'm happy I held off, but I understand the appeal of a school maintaining plenty of contact.

I'm not sure if they're shooting for future midshipmen who choose to attend a school because that school waits on them hand and foot. Once they get to USNA they will get PLENTY of attention, and these a very good chance some of that attention they will REALLY not like.

That said, if "Plan B" is more attractive to him, maybe he should go there. Nothing wrong with Plans A and B switching places. Don't just get married to the image of an academy, really want to be there. If he'd really rather be somewhere else, that's fine. This is a better time for him to figure that out than later. I wouldn't close any doors just yet though.
 
I believe they intentionally neglect to engage with the applicants because they want to see who will stick with the application process to the end, for those will be the ones who are truly dedicated to graduating at the academy.

Negative ghost rider, those will be the 60% or so who are "truly dedicated to graduating at the academy". 1/3 of the classmates who show up will not cross that stage with you at the end of 4 years.
 
The big picture and rationale have been duly, adequately explained. Except for one issue and it risks sound a little harsh especially for today's students. But generally, USNA and the other academies have very modest needs to recruit and court candidates. This sounds elitist and of course it is although unlike secular institutions who work like mad to nurture that perception of their campuses, it is not intended. It is simply a tactic or lack thereof, recognizing that there is little desire or need, beyond the targeted minority priorities and athletes, to invest scarce resources in this strategy. In fact doing so would become self-compounding, requiring more volunteers and staff to process more candidates. So paradoxically, it IS a strategy to identify those with sufficient commitment and persistence to the idea and process of getting there. And there is a certain "magic" to it that can only be seen over some history and time. In essence, it "works." Could it work "better?" Perhaps but the old adage, "not broke, don't fix it" applies in part here.

The real challenge is for anxious candidates and parents to simply buy into the process, play it fully, and trust it works. It does. But it's nothing like applying to Colgate or Brown or Middlebury. Apples and oranges and mangoes, lest you've not noticed.
 
Negative ghost rider, those will be the 60% or so who are "truly dedicated to graduating at the academy". 1/3 of the classmates who show up will not cross that stage with you at the end of 4 years.

That is very true. Though, when they are evaluating candidates, I believe they look for the those which have the highest chance of graduating from the academy. Could this be just another one of those evaluated areas?
 
I don't think they actively observe it LFry. I think it just works itself out, like other colleges. If a school is hurting for applicants, sure they will sell their souls to get you in a seat, but for a school with far more applicants than dorm room beds, those who really want to be there will wait it out, and those who applied to it as an option among other options will find their place, where ever that place is. Academy admissions offices aren't nearly as complex as we give them credit for. :wink:
 
I don't think they actively observe it LFry. I think it just works itself out, like other colleges. If a school is hurting for applicants, sure they will sell their souls to get you in a seat, but for a school with far more applicants than dorm room beds, those who really want to be there will wait it out, and those who applied to it as an option among other options will find their place, where ever that place is. Academy admissions offices aren't nearly as complex as we give them credit for. :wink:

I see your point. :rolleyes: Well said.
 
There is a psychological phenomenon that occurs that causes one to be attracted to the FIRST school that shows interest in the applicant. It's flattering!

Just like a hatchling duck imprints on the first thing it sees and adopts it as its mother, even if it's a pig. A college applicant can often make the same mistake.

I'm not saying your son is not best suited for NROTC - I'm just saying that he may be grabbing the "bird in the hand" ... for no other reason than it's there.

Is it a full NROTC scholarship?

I would continue with the USNA application process. He can always turn down the appointment.

You know what I think?

I think that if he gets that large packet in the mail - that will become his Plan A ... again.
 
Haha Memphis9489. I can attest to that. One college (second choice school) showed great interest in me and for a while I was convinced that it was the place I wanted to go to. Then I attended a event with the Academy and realize that I still don't really want to go to the other college and that ideally I would go to the Academy.
 
I can agree with (or at least see the point of view) of most everything posted. Memphis you may have nailed it. The original post was only intended to relay an unexpected reaction and my observation. In no way would I be unhappy with any decision DS makes at this point (wrt school :eek:). He’s grown up a lot since this process has started; I expect there will be continued growth through May (and beyond).

I believe it is a full NROTC scholarship. Everything excluding R&B and the university provides a $4k grant to help cover that.
 
College

My daughter got excited when she got her first mass mailing her SO year after taking her ACT for the first time. It was from her Plan B NROTC schools. She finally came back to earth. She has her Outlook appointment reminder for Feb 1 to start the Plan A process.
 
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