NAPS and Foundation questions

WKach

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Does anyone know more about the selection process for NAPS and the Naval Academy Foundation Schools?

I know you are automatically considered based on your Academy application as long as you say yes when your BGO asks, but I was wondering if they take certain things into account. My main concern is that according to the online information, NAPS classes only go up to a certain level.

The English course is a basic Composition and Rhetoric class; the math options only go up to Calculus 2; and the physics/chemistry options are relatively basic. The only one of these classes that I think would be new material for me is the chemistry. I've already taken (through dual credit) college sophomore level English, Calculus 1 and 2, and a lower level college Physical Science course, though that's been less rigorous than my high school Physics (I probably have the best science teacher in the state). On a side note, I would like to continue rowing, but that doesn't seem to be an option at NAPS.

So if I don't get into the Academy directly (unlikely with only a third alternate nomination) I think the Foundation schools would be a better option. One of them is connected to a four-year university, and I could take proper high-level classes there, as well as either row for the school (if they have crew) or find a club in the area and maybe swim for the school itself.

By the way if it matters, the Academy does already consider me academically and physically qualified according to my BGO. I have 1460 SATs=, a 4.54/6.0 or 3.7/4.0 high school gpa, a 3.698/4.0 college (dual credit and concurrent enrollment) gpa, baseball freshman year, crew senior year, an associates degree to be awarded this may, almost a month before my actual high school graduation, two years FIRST robotics club, 3 years National Honor Society, and various other qualifications.


Thanks for any insight you can give into whether they might take this into consideration when and if they decide to offer me NAPS or Foundation.
 
You will get into NAPS or a Foundation School if you are deemed physically or academically less qualified than others, or you are a top notch candidate without a nom. NAPS (to the best of my knowledge) is usually reserved for recruited athletes and enlisted personnel.
 
There is no option for crew at NAPS. However, gym 109 on base has ergometers to use, which many NAPSters (including the 2 recruited crew guys I know here) use.

Everyone takes the same English course here. Math, physics, and chemistry all have foundation, intermediate, and advanced levels. You're placed into those levels based on SAT/ACT scores, performance in high school, and most importantly, placement tests administered during Indoc (the NAPS version of plebe summer). There are a fair number of people actually at NAPS who have attended a year of college before coming here and have 750+ SAT scores in math and still struggle with the advanced classes. There is definitely a range from foundation to advanced classes.

Best of luck.
 
Does anyone know more about the selection process for NAPS and the Naval Academy Foundation Schools?

I know you are automatically considered based on your Academy application as long as you say yes when your BGO asks, but I was wondering if they take certain things into account. My main concern is that according to the online information, NAPS classes only go up to a certain level.

The English course is a basic Composition and Rhetoric class; the math options only go up to Calculus 2; and the physics/chemistry options are relatively basic. The only one of these classes that I think would be new material for me is the chemistry. I've already taken (through dual credit) college sophomore level English, Calculus 1 and 2, and a lower level college Physical Science course, though that's been less rigorous than my high school Physics (I probably have the best science teacher in the state). On a side note, I would like to continue rowing, but that doesn't seem to be an option at NAPS.

So if I don't get into the Academy directly (unlikely with only a third alternate nomination) I think the Foundation schools would be a better option. One of them is connected to a four-year university, and I could take proper high-level classes there, as well as either row for the school (if they have crew) or find a club in the area and maybe swim for the school itself.

By the way if it matters, the Academy does already consider me academically and physically qualified according to my BGO. I have 1460 SATs=, a 4.54/6.0 or 3.7/4.0 high school gpa, a 3.698/4.0 college (dual credit and concurrent enrollment) gpa, baseball freshman year, crew senior year, an associates degree to be awarded this may, almost a month before my actual high school graduation, two years FIRST robotics club, 3 years National Honor Society, and various other qualifications.


Thanks for any insight you can give into whether they might take this into consideration when and if they decide to offer me NAPS or Foundation.
Our DS went to Greystone on Naval foundation and it was a great experience. The Foundation has set classes for you to take.
 
There is no option for crew at NAPS. However, gym 109 on base has ergometers to use, which many NAPSters (including the 2 recruited crew guys I know here) use.

Everyone takes the same English course here. Math, physics, and chemistry all have foundation, intermediate, and advanced levels. You're placed into those levels based on SAT/ACT scores, performance in high school, and most importantly, placement tests administered during Indoc (the NAPS version of plebe summer). There are a fair number of people actually at NAPS who have attended a year of college before coming here and have 750+ SAT scores in math and still struggle with the advanced classes. There is definitely a range from foundation to advanced classes.

Best of luck.

Thanks for commenting from NAPS itself, I bet you're excited for next year.


I've actually found the descriptions of all classes from foundation to advanced on the website. The English is pretty much exactly the same as the dual credit courses I took in my junior year of high school (comp and rhetoric 1-2). Of course, especially in the case of writing, practice never hurts; so it won't be totally unproductive. I'm worried about the math because the most advanced level at NAPS only goes up to about halfway through Calculus 2, which I'm in now and will finish this semester. Again, practice never hurts, but it's best to always advance in math. I think if I can go to a foundation school associated with a four-year university there might be the opportunity for Calculus 3 and 4 (or even Differential Equations or Linear Algebra instead of Calc 4), as well as an upper level literature or writing course. Advanced Physics will probably have some extra depth at least since it is supposed to brush on Calculus applications, and I'm probably fine in advanced or even intermediate chemistry (I only ever took honors chem 1, way back in Sophomore year).

I probably seem like I'm just being vain about my coursework and, but I'm not claiming to be overqualified or anything. It's just that I don't see much point in sitting through classes again, at least not classes that I excelled in (I might consider redoing Spanish, I've learned almost nothing in 3 years of it). It would kind of defeat the purpose of getting ahead in the first place.

Either way I'd still take a appointment to NAPS or Foundation because it gives me the best chance to get into the Academy, but I do kind of wonder whether I would be better off attending a civilian university on my ROTC scholarship (already guaranteed to me) and just reapplying next year, that way I would have complete control over coursework and sports options and still have really great odds of getting an appointment for the class of 2018, especially if I end up in MIT.

As far as the ergometer goes, it's a great way to stay in shape, but I'd be better off on the water honing technique. The recruited crew guys have probably been rowing for 4+ years and already have awesome form on the water, but I'm still in my novice year and am probably only a bit faster than they were as high school freshmen because: even though I'm much more powerful than a freshman, technical inexperience will really limit speed.

Thanks for the help! Best of luck to you as well, though you've probably already got it all worked out.
 
...but I do kind of wonder whether I would be better off attending a civilian university on my ROTC scholarship (already guaranteed to me) and just reapplying next year...

Uh, no. Not if your goal is to attend USNA. If you want an appointment and you're offered NAPS or foundation, take it.

I understand your concern about class levels, but it all comes down to whether or not you really want an appointment.
 
If you are academically qualified for a direct appointment to USNA, you should not be offered NAPS/Foundation. Those programs exist for candidates who need additional academic prep to succeed at USNA.
 
From this year's graduating NAPS class, people received offers to NAPS that I know of anytime between mid October to late April.
 
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