starting the process of applying to the US Naval Academy

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marjasse

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My son is a junior in high school and is starting the process of the application and seeking a nomination. We are looking for advice.
He just took his SAT for the 1st time so we do not have the score yet.
He is in football, swim team and golf. He has also done some golf and is going to do a project this spring/summer.
Any other advice?
Thank you
 
marjasse said:
My son is a junior in high school and is starting the process of the application and seeking a nomination. We are looking for advice.
He just took his SAT for the 1st time so we do not have the score yet.
He is in football, swim team and golf. He has also done some golf and is going to do a project this spring/summer.
Any other advice?
Thank you
Click to expand...

Try to land a captain slot on one or more of those teams along with other leadership positions. Take the heaviest class load he can while maintaining good grades. Take the SAT at least two or even three times. People normally max their scores on the third attempt. Try the ACT. Some folks do better on the ACT than on the SAT. Try to get the best possible application together while shooting for an early application submission date. Start the application process as soon as it opens for his class year. This should let him get teacher recommendations lined up and perhaps submitted prior to the summer break. Look into attending Boys State through the American Legion as that's a good checkbox to get and is a valuable thing to mention on any college application.
Work on plans B, C, D etc. I would assume plan B would be NROTC. Their application process should open up on or shortly after April 1. Get that going early too. The two applications are separate processes and do not share information. Start school visits for backup plans next semester. Seek out other scholarships as part of plans B, C, and D.

Good luck! :thumb:
 
The following are my suggestions primarily from my son’s experiences over the past year and from other’s input. I am sure that there will be some (many) who disagree with some (most) of the following suggestions.

CFA
One thing that you can do your junior year is begin your CFA practice. I would suggest that you approach your high school PE teacher with a print out of the CFA instructions. http://www.usna.edu/admissions/cfainstructions.htm. Explain to them that your goal is to become an officer in the military (be prepared to explain why). Ask them if they will help you. You can then run through a mock CFA --this will only be about 10-12 minutes. The days in between the mock CFA you can practice whatever you are not able to max. If your run time is too slow try to meet with the school’s track or xcountry coach for tips on your form. This way if you get into NASS/SLS you can check that off immediately and not need to worry about it next summer.

ACT/SAT
As you are aware the Service Academies super score. It is ONLY to your benefit to take the ACT/SAT as many times as possible. If you take the ACT for example, they offer it September, October, December, February, April, June. You should be signed up for all of them. Shoot for top quartile in each as your lowest acceptable personal goal. If you are not in the top quartile take it again (and again).


BOYS/GIRLS STATE
Find out when your Boys/Girls State is. Learn about the process to being chosen to represent your high school. In some states it is extremely competitive.


CONSIDER APPLYING TO S.A.M.E
The Society of American Military Engineers offers a very unique series of engineering summer camps designed for High School students who excel in math, science and technical courses and are interested in pursuing engineering in college. The camps are led by a professional staff of engineers from both private industry and the military services. The camp is only a couple hundred dollars and THEY pay your airfare!!!! (Cheaper than summer leadership programs!) There are four separate ones: Marines, Air force, Army and Navy. The Air Force program is only for someone who is applying to one of the five service academies. (For the Air Force program you must provide some proof of an expressed interest in applying to a Service Academy or ROTC Program (this does not include JROTC) and proof of being a qualified applicant.). These week–long camps take place during the summer months in a variety of settings—centered on a military base at the Air Force Academy, Camp Lejeune, N.C., Port Hueneme, Calif., Vicksburg, Mississippi. Applicants must have expressed intent to pursue a degree in architecture, engineering or a related field. This is a very competitive application process. Go for it!

APPLY TO ALL OF THE SUMMER LEADERSHIPS
Apply to all of the summer leaderships, see where you get in, chose your favorite. Getting into one of the summer leadership programs will not give you extra points and will not be reflective of what a school year will look like. In my opinion, there isn’t a NEED to go to more than one, however, if you don’t get into your preferred summer leadership program there is still value in going to another. Apply to each within a couple of days of the program application opening. However, don’t be counter productive-don’t go to too many!!! If you are gone too much over summer you wont be able to dedicate time to your application.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
I see your son is involved in sports, great. Now is the time to join an extracurricular activity. In fact try two. Should you do this to just get a check mark? Yes and no. Try out two of them even if they are something you may not think you would like. I know this may sound stupid but if it's stupid, but works, it isn't stupid. Are you a trivia buff, try out scholastic bowl. Are you into politics or international relations? What about model UN? Don’t forget the fact that the service academies are really engineering colleges so what about a science, technology, engineering or math club then? Even if you join the chemistry club or engineering club as a check mark, once you get there you may really like it. Give it a shot. If you know that this is indeed a check mark, then find a club or two that you can possibly like and bullet through.

TEAM CAPTAIN/CLUB PRESIDENT
You know that another check box is a team captain or club president but you haven’t done either and are not on track for either. That is ok. There are some options here. Run an activity within the club. Put together a suggestion to improve your club that you are already in (IE membership drive, fundraiser, community service event), offer to run it. Be able to describe leadership actions within that activity. Talk to your coach, can you run a cross training activity? Start a new club. I know of someone who started a military history club at school and was able to be the president. This isn’t just to check the box marked club president or team captain. This is to really learn leadership skills that you will need going forward on whatever path you take.

ACT LIKE THERE ARE STILL LOAs
If you are reading this than you probably have scoured this forum for information. You will know that for most applicants LOAs are a thing-of-the-past or at least a rarity. If you were before striving to have your file reviewed for a possible LOA than you were trying to complete every step perfectly AND quickly. Even if there are no LOAs it is still to your advantage to endeavor to get your entire packet completed during the summer before senior year. First, the Dodmerb process can be quick or it can be as slow as molasses. You may need a lot of time to get through it. Dodmerb isn’t triggered (the process started) until you have a certain percentage of your application completed. Additionally, medical waivers will not typically be requested unless your file is complete. The further along in the process the longer DODmerb seems to take as more applicants are in the system (it takes longer the later you wait due to increasing file volume). Second, many BGO/FFR/ALO officers will not interview you until you have a certain percentage of your application completed. Third, you're more likely to get an authorization for a CFA retest if test was failed sooner rather than later. If you wait until the end it may be too late if you do poorly on your CFA. Finally, senior year is already hard and time consuming. Between trying to keep up your grades and trying to live the “life of a senior” that doesn’t leave a lot of time to get your packet in.

Good Luck!
 
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My son received an LOA and nomination so I can tell you what we think helped with his application.

Your son should apply to Naval Academy Summer Seminar (NASS). I think the application is open in Jan. It is said that attending doesn't give you an advantage on the application, but if you clear that first hurdle of being accepted, you are further along than someone who wasn't accepted. This also acts as your preliminary application. You actually won't be able to start the full application until about July so unless your son's school is open during summer, you will have to wait until school starts again to work on counselor and teacher recommendations. That was a painful wait for my son because when school starts they were too busy to do recommendations. Over the summer your son will be able to write his essays to perfection. Even with the Candidate Activities Record (counselor) not in until Oct. 3, BGO interview Sept. 21, and DoDmerb doc submission Oct. 5 he still received an LOA dated Oct. 17. You will celebrate getting past each hurdle!

Your son should take the most challenging class schedule possible, AP and honors classes. Invest in some study program for the SAT and ACT tests. My son preferred the study books, read them cover to cover, did timed practice tests.

Boys State is good, but at my son's school the counselors recommended five students and the local post was only sponsoring one student. My son was the first alternate. Some things you just can't control. Tell him to just be the best possible at whatever he does. Sports, get a letter, be the captain. Community Service, be a leader. My son didn't have student government or Eagle Scout but he has been in a four year political science academy and earned a black belt in karate after eight years of consistent training. Play up the strengths he has!

Good luck!
 
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Yes! Totally agree about that book Whistle Pig suggested. We bought that for our son when he first became interested and it has been read cover to cover several times. :thumb:
 
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thank you for all the advice. Wow that was overwhelming. I have bought the book and can't wait to get it.
He is captain of the JV football team and captain of swim team. He is also in latin club and lit magazine.
He is applying to the summer program. The Naval Academy said the preliminary application is open in Arpil of his Junior year. After the initial application when do I find out about all the recommendations he needs. Are there certain people that would be better?
He took the SAT study review class and once we get the results he will have some one on one. He took the SAT last month and will take it again. He takes the ACT in April and then again in June.
I will look into this boys state.
What are these summer leaderships and where do I begin?
My son is going to start and manage a project collecting diapers and baby supplies for a local non-profit that helps moms with crisis pregnancies. Will that help?
What about working with habitat for humanity?
What is BGO/FFR/ALO
 
The summer leaderships Vista was referring to are the service academies summer programs (Summer Seminars).

BGO= Blue Gold Officer (USNA)
FFR= Field Force Representative (USMA)
ALO= Admissions Liaison Officer

They are pretty much the same thing, just have different names. They are the ones that help the candidates in their area apply for the academies. They can answer any questions, help out with the process, and conduct interviews too.

They will tell you about the recommendations after the preliminary application is complete. I believe only math and English recs are required. He can submit a third, if it will bring something to light that USNA should know about your DS that the other recommendations do not shed light on.
 
Yes, 97133M is correct that is what I meant with regards to summer leaderships

I am sorry for using too much jargon.

USAFA: english, math and science recs (I think-my son never finished this application)-there were the most essays for this application he said.

USMA: english, math and science recs required. there is also a form for an employer to fill out if your son works. second most essays.

USNA: english and math only-least essays.


son contacted all teachers and guidance counselor at end of Junior yr and made sure he had summer email addresses for them-some used school email addresses but one teacher goes up north for summer and used personal email over summer.


summer leaderships-If your son gets himself on the mailing lists at each service academy he should get emailed when NASS, SS and SLS open. The exact date of opening changes year to year.
 
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