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HB2011

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2011
Messages
35
Hey all. I am a 2015 plebe at USNA. I remember all to well being in your position last year looking for answers from mids, not parents or grads, though they can be quite useful at times as well. Because of this I am putting myself out there. If you have any question at all - ANYTHING - whether you're a candidate or a candidate's parent, feel free to ask and I'll be straight up with you and tell you exactly how things are,. Good luck on your applications.

GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY!
 
Hey all. I am a 2015 plebe at USNA. I remember all to well being in your position last year looking for answers from mids, not parents or grads, though they can be quite useful at times as well. Because of this I am putting myself out there. If you have any question at all - ANYTHING - whether you're a candidate or a candidate's parent, feel free to ask and I'll be straight up with you and tell you exactly how things are,. Good luck on your applications.

GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY!

I'm also a pleber. Feel free to ask me anything as well.
 
How tough is plebe summer physically?

types of workouts, distance ran, etc
 
How tough is plebe summer physically?

types of workouts, distance ran, etc

it's pretty tough. mornings start with pep at 0530. interval work up to 3 miles. regiment runs. idk how long they are. i think we started at 3 miles and ended with a 10k. theyre slow. then saturdays were the dreaded bravehearts. we ran 1-2 miles did sprints and then ran back. after the running portion of PEP there are pushups, situps, partner pullups, and other fun stuff.

but in addition there are the things you do throughout the day. if you are bad plebers, you get PT'd. If you are good plebers, you get motivational PT. and you do other stuff. everything is fast paced so its pretty physically tiring. there are breaks though. theyre called briefs. you go to a lot of them throughout the summer.
 
Another question: what does my DS REALLY need to bring to I-Day? I.e., socks, undies, compression shorts, toiletries, undershirts, running shoes, etc.? I see these "six pairs of socks" etc., lists but it seems many say they're stored away on I-Day.
 
Another question: what does my DS REALLY need to bring to I-Day? I.e., socks, undies, compression shorts, toiletries, undershirts, running shoes, etc.? I see these "six pairs of socks" etc., lists but it seems many say they're stored away on I-Day.

i brought extra underwear and running shoes. had my parents mail compression shorts. bring some money. bring cell phone and charger. other than that, the less you have the better.
 
I have to agree with LiveGold. underwear, compression shorts, sneakers, money, phone.
I brought extra socks and have yet to use them.

To the question on how challenging the summer is; it's do-able. I was never in great shape and have been put on a program here to lose weight. Within the first few days you'll be put into running groups based on ability so the defensive line of the football team doesn't have to keep up with the cross country runners. Outside of PEP it depends on the company. Mine never received a full extra PT session for screwing up. However, you will always be tired and sweaty from something.
 
Plebes

My daughter has a desire to attend the Academy. She starts the process in February. We'll be on the Yard next Friday through Sunday for an academic visit and to catch the game.

- Are you happy with your choice to attend the Academy?
- Would you do it again?
- What other choices did you consider?
- Once you got there, did anything catch you by surprise that made you doubt your decision?
- Can you briefly descride your classroom experience?

Thanks
 
PEP Rally

Do you know when the PEP Rally will be held for the Army-Navy game?
 
My daughter has a desire to attend the Academy. She starts the process in February. We'll be on the Yard next Friday through Sunday for an academic visit and to catch the game.

- Are you happy with your choice to attend the Academy?
- Would you do it again?
- What other choices did you consider?
- Once you got there, did anything catch you by surprise that made you doubt your decision?
- Can you briefly descride your classroom experience?

Thanks

I'm only a Mid mom, but here are answers my Mid has given me to very similar questions:
- She's not always happy to be at USNA, but she would never consider going anywhere else.
- YES, she would do it again.
- She had acceptances to several very good schools, including NROTC and other scholarships
- A few days into Plebe Summer, she woke up thinking, "How much longer does this go on????"
- Lots of things have surprised her, but nothing that made her doubt her decision. One "for instance:" She went in worried that women would be allowed on subs, and she feared being "drafted" there. This September, she chose to put subs first on her service selection list by her own choice!
- Classes are very small, so you really can have professors get to know you. She has had some outstanding professors, some average, and a very few (maybe 2 in 3.5 years) really terrible ones. There is a great support system to help Mids succeed academically.
 
My daughter has a desire to attend the Academy. She starts the process in February. We'll be on the Yard next Friday through Sunday for an academic visit and to catch the game.

- Are you happy with your choice to attend the Academy?
- Would you do it again?
- What other choices did you consider?
- Once you got there, did anything catch you by surprise that made you doubt your decision?
- Can you briefly descride your classroom experience?

Thanks

I am a grad, not from a million years ago, but not from yesterday either... Here are my answers...

- I was always happy with my choice to attend the Naval Academy when I was there and even today. No regrets what so ever.
- I would do it over again without hesitation, I would of said that everyday I was a Mid (ok so maybe there were a few days!) and I do today. My room mates used to make fun of me because I was one of those that always smiled.
- I considered one in state "safety school", was accepted at several Ivies (I was a recruited athlete), and the Naval Academy. Navy was by far my number one choice. In fact I probably would of selected my safety school over most of the Ivies... I never felt comfortable on their campuses.
- The schedule of academics and athletics as a varsity athlete I was not prepared for. I adapted over time with help from team mates, my O-rep and other mentors. I think this answer will vary from everyone and will change depending on what year of a Mid you are talking to.
- The academics were first rate. Small classrooms and amazing professors. I only had 1 or 2 professors I did not find top notch. Remember at USNA and other SAs you will not have teacher assistants... all your courses are taught by your professors day in and day out. The accessibility you have to them is unbelievable and their interest in your success and life is amazing.

It is great the current plebes are chiming in here. Their views on some of these will be great to see and then also see what they would write a year from now. Their view is still pretty narrow, but they are starting to see the light and realize they can make it. But ask them a million questions about plebe summer and how to prepare for it. They are a wealth of knowledge.
 
My daughter has a desire to attend the Academy. She starts the process in February. We'll be on the Yard next Friday through Sunday for an academic visit and to catch the game.

- Are you happy with your choice to attend the Academy?
- Would you do it again?
- What other choices did you consider?
- Once you got there, did anything catch you by surprise that made you doubt your decision?
- Can you briefly descride your classroom experience?

Thanks

-Current 1/C.

-The short answer is yes.
-In a heartbeat.
-NROTC (MO), USCGA, USMMA, VMI, Norwich. USNA wasn't my top choice when I applied (it's a little funny for me to read people's essays and stats on here: I applied late for my nominations and didn't proofread my essay or anything before sending it in), but became my first choice before I got accepted.
-Yes. The shine wears off, and that can be very discouraging. There's a lot of things, and a lot of people, that, frankly, have disappointed me here. I don't know if the current plebes here can speak to that yet, but I know from talking to 2015 in my company they've started seeing it too. I can talk specifics more if you want, but it's extremely easy to become disillusioned. You just have to keep the faith.
-I've had very good experiences here academically. Most of my classes and teachers have been great, with a couple exceptions. From talking with my friends at civilian schools and mids who went somewhere else before attending USNA, the access to professors here for extra instruction (EI) and help is unparalleled.
 
I thought I would post this for folks who are perhaps struggling with a decision of Academy vs ROTC.

A few days into Plebe Summer, she woke up thinking, "How much longer does this go on????"

My son is an NROTC MO College Programmer and he had the same thoughts during the 5 day freshman orientation at his college (let alone a Plebe Summer). When he finally got to speak to other mids he found out they all had the same thoughts at about the same time. Its part of the experience whichever way you go, and is evidently designed to be that way.
 
-Current 1/C.

-The short answer is yes.
-In a heartbeat.
-NROTC (MO), USCGA, USMMA, VMI, Norwich. USNA wasn't my top choice when I applied (it's a little funny for me to read people's essays and stats on here: I applied late for my nominations and didn't proofread my essay or anything before sending it in), but became my first choice before I got accepted.
-Yes. The shine wears off, and that can be very discouraging. There's a lot of things, and a lot of people, that, frankly, have disappointed me here. I don't know if the current plebes here can speak to that yet, but I know from talking to 2015 in my company they've started seeing it too. I can talk specifics more if you want, but it's extremely easy to become disillusioned. You just have to keep the faith.
-I've had very good experiences here academically. Most of my classes and teachers have been great, with a couple exceptions. From talking with my friends at civilian schools and mids who went somewhere else before attending USNA, the access to professors here for extra instruction (EI) and help is unparalleled.

Gotta ask: What did you get for service selection?
 
- Are you happy with your choice to attend the Academy?

There are always all kinds of crazy college polls.

Here's a very odd one I've never seen before, recently put out by the Princeton Review.

The 10 Colleges With The Least Happy Students

#1 has the least happy students.

1. New Jersey Institute of Technology
2. Marywood University (Scranton, PA)
3. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
4. U.S. Coast Guard Academy
5. Montana Tech of the University of Montana
6. Clarkson University (Potsdam, NY)
7. U.S. Naval Academy
8. Indiana University of Pennsylvania
9. Illinois Institute of Technology
10. City University of New York - Baruch College

They must be partying at USMA and USAFA.

I guess that's why grads like to say, "It's a good place to be from." :smile:
 
My DS is a Plebe, class of 2015. We live close enough to the Academy where he has been able to come home on some weekends and see some of his friends who are living it up at various other "fun" colleges. Although he does envy them their freedoms and has expressed how tough the first semester has been he has also stated several times that he couldn't see himself anywhere else. If you define happiness as having a lot of freedom to do want you want and party it up there probably aren't alot of "happy" midshipmen (especially plebes) but I would argue that there are plenty of other paths to happiness :smile: BTW congrats Hurricane12 on getting your service selection and a shout out to the IST 1/Cs on their selections.
 
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