So the USNA has beeen my dream for as long as I can remember. Everything I have ever done and worked for has revolved around the academy. This year I finally got to apply. I received my second alternate congressional nomination, senatorial nomination, and I was the only presidential nominee in Iowa. I was also triple qualified. A few weeks ago I received a TWE from USNA containing a rejection. I was absolutely devastated and so was my family. I totally broke down and felt sorry myself. I didn't know what to do because I also did not receive a NROTC scholarship. I thought my academy dreams were over. Then someone on the NASS summer '11 page on Facebook told me about Greystone Preparatory School. After much research and two calls over a hour long each to the founder/commander/director of the school and his wife, I have decided to go there. It is a prep school in Texas, the only one located on a university campus, where you take all plebe courses, have mandatory 4 hour study halls, mandatory 530 am pt, mandatory volunteer work, ec's, sports, and much more that completely prepares your for the academy lifestyle. The founder of it, Ret. Commander Bailey USNA '81 grad, created it specifically for kids who are rejected to one of the service academys but do not want to give up their dreams of going to one, I felt this fit me perfectly.They also hold your hand, for lack of better words, through all of the re applying for rotc and academys so they have truly outstanding rates of excelling. 99% of students who go there end up getting some sort of program that leads to a commissiong officer program. Of that 99%, 88% is academy appts. I have heard many former students testimonials and each one of them say it is the best decision they have ever made and it is worth every penny, only about $25,000 for the one year program. You also get to make lifelong friendships with students who are striving for the same thing as you. With all ghat being said (I could probably go on longer), is anyone else going to Greystone next year? If you are, you can also email me at mveach_74@yahoo.com or if you have any more questions about Greystone you can email me there too.