NAPS

Roxymom

5-Year Member
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Aug 19, 2012
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Is application looked at for NAPS consideration only after one has a nom?

My DS has BGO interview next week .

Thanks
 
No. NAPS requires no noms. Even after finishing. If you can't get a nom, they'll find one for you if you've the magic 2 ... 1.8gpa and a clean nose.
 
At some point in the interview, the BGO will ask whether your son would be open to accepting NAPS or a foundation scholarship if the admissions board offered that instead of a direct appointment. If you really want to attend the academy, the answer will be a "Yes".

WP: Technically it's a 2.2 GPA that's required. Capt. Cunha, the C.O. of NAPS told all the NAPSters here that with that and a clean record he would guarentee our appointments. Below a 2.2, the occasional one may squeak on by (especially if they are a recruited athlete), but there are no guarentees at that point.
 
Below a 2.2, the occasional one may squeak on by (especially if they are a recruited athlete), but there are no guarentees at that point.

So a recruited D1 athlete is held to a different admissions standard, even with a sub-par NAPS package?

I'm shocked, shocked I tell you! :rolleyes:
 
So a recruited D1 athlete is held to a different admissions standard, even with a sub-par NAPS package?

I'm shocked, shocked I tell you! :rolleyes:

I wholeheartedly agree with you Luigi. You'll find at NAPS that many who are not recruited athletes resent the recruited athletes, in general, for a couple of reasons.

1) In some (read many) cases, they do get special privileges.
2) Many of the recruited athletes come to NAPS simply because they wanted to play for a D1 school, not because they wanted to be an officer in the Navy/Marines.

There are some people who go recruited who genuinely want to be officers and playing a sport simply helped them along. I don't mind those people. The ones who come simply to play a sport make me grit my teeth though...

How many guys are in the class in naps?

I think currently we're at roughly 250. It's hard to tell because we've had people drop at various points since I-day. Sadly, quite a few people here are planning on completing the year, then transferring to civilian colleges instead of USNA. At the first football game of the year, one football player in my platoon even had his dad in the stands videotaping the game simply in the hopes of getting a scholarship at a civilian college for next year. I know others will have mixed opinions on this, but I find it simultaneously disappointing and disgusting. To my mind, those individuals who know they are going to drop out (not merely wonder) are wasting taxpayer's money.
 
The people in my company that went to NAPS loved it! They got paid A LOT as well. The thing to watch out for, however, is SOME people that come out of naps get in to this mindset that they feel superior to everyone else in the company.
 
At some point in the interview, the BGO will ask whether your son would be open to accepting NAPS or a foundation scholarship if the admissions board offered that instead of a direct appointment. If you really want to attend the academy, the answer will be a "Yes".

WP: Technically it's a 2.2 GPA that's required. Capt. Cunha, the C.O. of NAPS told all the NAPSters here that with that and a clean record he would guarentee our appointments. Below a 2.2, the occasional one may squeak on by (especially if they are a recruited athlete), but there are no guarentees at that point.

Every NAPSter is there because the academy found something in their academic record that is deficient. Nobody goes to NAPS to get military training.

If they finish NAPS with a 2.2 - all I can see for that future midshipman is trouble on the horizon. But then again, that's why they have Oceanography. :)
 
I was not a NAPSter, but my best friend was and a ton of my other friends were also. She was a recruited athlete. Didn't make the grade at NAPS and was sent to additional year of civilian prep school. She did graduate from USNA. It took her some work. She was not a stellar Midshipmen, but she ended up being a fine Naval Officer.

Pilot2B unfortunately you are seeing some people take advantage of the system. It sucks, there is no way around it. I was a recruited athlete and it does make me mad, because although I was recruited, I wanted to serve. They can go hand in hand and both be motivators for attending USNA. I think you are also hearing some young cocky kids talking a big game too. I think you will probably see a few more of those actually go to I day than are talking right now. You have to remember USNA essentially brings in two sets of recruits every... those that are direct entry and those who go to NAPS. Guess what a small percentage of those will across the field or court on senior day in uniform? I think on average you are probably talking 40-60 or more plebes a year for football come in. They all don't make it 4 years. You will see alot of guys start to fall off the teams because of grades or simply reality. They have to have a commitment to serve, even if they won't admit it, to make it through USNA. For some that will grow over time and others it is already deep in them.

Man2112, yeap that happens every year. It is still early in the academic year. This starts to disappear quickly once you hit the academic year. Come late October/November the attitude you speak of will dwindle. If it continues, they will isolate themselves from their classmates and have more difficulty. Hope Plebe Year is going well and enjoy the ride!
 
The people in my company that went to NAPS loved it! They got paid A LOT as well. The thing to watch out for, however, is SOME people that come out of naps get in to this mindset that they feel superior to everyone else in the company.

That sense of superiority usually only exists during Plebe Summer where, truly, the NAPS graduates have an initial upperhand. But that is only in things like standing at attention, saluting, marching, rifle handling and making their rack. Those are things that are easily learned by a monkey. Their advantage is short-lived.

All that ends when Plebe Summer ends and the academic year begins. That's when the most NAPS graduates discover, much to their chagrin, why they went to NAPS in the first place.

The truth of the matter is this: for the most part, NAPS is a repository for athletes. The non-recruits who attend NAPS are there, mostly, so as to mask the fact that it is primarily an athletic repository.

The pool of candidates is far too superior to justify sending a non-recruit to NAPS. They are just token, for the most part.
 
Seems there are some who have ill-feelings towards recruited athletes and NAPS in particular, wonder why? Would it be more accurate to consider them all NAPSters or Midshipmen and future officers once at the Academy, with plenty to offer our country?

The Navy and Marine Corps have many valid needs, from Nuc Sub officers to Marine Infantry to Naval Aviators to SEALs -- based upon track record they seem to have a nice success rate of sending officers to fulfill those requirements. Some may be Division I athletes, Rhodes Scholars, Eagle Scouts or Class Valedictorian. The make-up of a class is important to fulfill the future needs of the Navy AND its role as an institution that prepares future officers but also competes as part of the NCAA. Not sure how/why that is a bad thing...

Not sure what positives come from the criticism and potential tainting of future Midshipman who may or may not be athletes, but read these posts and form pre-conceived notions before they even arrive for I-day.
 
That sense of superiority usually only exists during Plebe Summer where, truly, the NAPS graduates have an initial upperhand. But that is only in things like standing at attention, saluting, marching, rifle handling and making their rack. Those are things that are easily learned by a monkey. Their advantage is short-lived.

All that ends when Plebe Summer ends and the academic year begins. That's when the most NAPS graduates discover, much to their chagrin, why they went to NAPS in the first place.

The truth of the matter is this: for the most part, NAPS is a repository for athletes. The non-recruits who attend NAPS are there, mostly, so as to mask the fact that it is primarily an athletic repository.

The pool of candidates is far too superior to justify sending a non-recruit to NAPS. They are just token, for the most part.

Yep, and that oh-so-truth pains alot of persons invested in the NAPS myth. As you've noted, the relative handful that cannot be linked to athletics or minority priority recruitment and could not be appointed directly and may not have been able to garner a nomination serve to camouflage and allow for some argument. There is good reason that the stats are not widely publicized.

And while it does not have applicability for any specific Napster, the Yard rap is that collectively they well serve to boost the curve for non-Napsters. There are few and none majoring in chem, aero, naval architecture, etc. nor graduating with distinction nor merit. Anyone thinking that an extra year in an amateurish prep school program for calc and chem is gonna dramatically enhance the learning capacities is delusional.

This is about 2 things ... stock piling jocks in a defacto red-shirting program and enabling USNA to control and appoint those who'd stand virtually and literally no chance of appointment to USNA. And #2 is control by USNA, literally circumventing the requirements, expectations, and political realities of the traditional appointment.

No offense intended. Just telling it like it is. We might all wish differently and understandably.

But for those sufficiently blessed with a NAPS offer, my counsel is ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS ACCEPT before it can be rescinded and receive it as one of the greatest, best gifts God will ever give them. For with but one year of nothing more than one year of nothing more than average among a cadre of below average performers, they will have a free ticket to one of the greatest institutions and fraternities in the world. Can't be beat!

btw, NAPS and the Foundation programs are TOTALLLY different beasts with fully different objectives and outcomes.

and btw#2 ... there are a fair number of appointments out of the Fleet who forego the NAPS thing. I know 3, all of whom were advised, AVOID NAPS as it will not serve you. All did well.

And btw #3, whatever the current "company line" is on required gpa, it is common knowledge that the 1.8 was fully sufficient for at least one star NAPSters admit to the main campus.
 
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Whistle Pig - please take a moment and read my post on the Coach Interest thread. And did you serve our country as an officer or enlisted, if so which branch? By the tone of your posts you seem real upset at admissions process for their efforts to achieve a diverse Brigrade that fulfills the mission to prepare officers for service in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps and compete in NCAA athletics. I am really not sure why you have all this hostility and frustration.:thumbdown:
 
I understand the difficulty many have in this, and the desire to portray it as something other than what it is. The real issue is the "camouflage." Just calling it the way it is.

What might you disagree with in my observation? Can we stick to the issues, please?

But it's safe to say that many athletes receive "favorable" treatment because they are fast, can jump, throw, and more, might we agree? Many Mids see it for what it is and appreciate lending new life and positivity to their own academic performances.:thumb: And they know the importance of selling stadium seats for the good of all. :cool:
 
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A number of NAPSters are recruited athletes as I noted before. I will say that there are a number of highly talented ones too. I was placed in all advanced courses, and I have to struggle to keep up with these people. One guy in my math class got a 790 on his SAT math, did very well on the rest of his SAT and high school career, and is very fit. The nukes (those who went to nuke power school) are by far above the average and tend to be math and science whizzes.

Some people I have to wonder why they are here (though for others the reasons are obvious). For advanced courses, the average SAT score is pushing 2000, while for Foundation courses (where probably 65% or so or NAPSters are placed) the average is closer to 1500-1550.
 
My son is not a recruited athlete and from the USNA website it says NAPS is either for extra academic or leadership work. Are they college classes or college prep?

I recently met someone who is an USNA grad via NAPS and proud of both.
 
My son is not a recruited athlete and from the USNA website it says NAPS is either for extra academic or leadership work. Are they college classes or college prep?

I recently met someone who is an USNA grad via NAPS and proud of both.

Graduating from USNA is certainly something to be proud of. NAPS is ... well ... just NAPS. I guess you can be proud of attending NAPS to the extent that it was the door into USNA.

I can assure you - nobody attends NAPS who is academically qualified for the Naval Academy, yet, leadership deficient.

Also, the role NAPS plays has changed over the years. It used to be (and was primarily intended for) a place for highly qualified fleet enlisted people to attend to get them up to speed on academics prior to attending the Naval Academy. Most of them have been away from it for a while. There are not many who attend NAPS who fit into that category any longer.
 
BGO interview is in a few days so I know they ask about NAPS. Is it college prep?
 
BGO interview is in a few days so I know they ask about NAPS. Is it college prep?

They're college prep because the credits won't transfer anywhere, even to USNA. If you place high enough, the academic difficulty is college level however. To give you an idea of how varied academic difficulty can be - From last year's NAPS class, 2/3s of those taking Advanced Chemistry validated the first semester of Chem at the Academy. There's no way that will happen with Foundation and only a handful from Intermediate.
 
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pilot2b you've told us 2/3 of NAPSTERS taking Advanced Chemistry validated the 1st semester chem.

2 questions:

1. How many took Advanced Chem?

2. How do you know this? Can you "validate" info, pls.
 
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