Give one piece of advice

[usna1985]

Can you clarify. Are you saying that USNA allows on 30% of its incoming class to require glasses?

This is news to me. In the "old days" (before vision correction surgery), the number of those given vision waivers was limited to 30% in order to ensure there was a sufficient number to fill pilot slots and other slots where vision might be an issue -- taking into account that some mids with perfect vision upon entering might subsequently see their vision decrease while at USNA.

It was my understanding that, today, while vision still requires a waiver, such waivers are routinely granted provided vision is within certain limits and correctable to 20/20. And there is no limit (or at least not 30%) on the number of such waivers -- because vision can be corrected surgically.

However, I may well be wrong about the above . . . .

 

[Sheaisland]

Thanks for the even more advice, it is so helpful. What so you guys think about becoming a wounded warrior student ambassador. It would result in making a WWP club in a school.

 

[NEPatriot]

Do NOT get your heart set on USNA. You can excel at everything (CFA, Leadership, GPA, SAT/ACT, etc.) and not be admitted. The USNA Admissions process is not a level playing field --recruited athletes, minorities, legacies, and military kids have a huge advantage. If you are not one of these groups, the sooner you focus on other colleges, the better off you will be.

 

[Dial the gate]

LIFE is not a level playing field!

As with everything, all you can do is your absolute best and leave nothing on the table.

 

[Blondie1]

Do NOT get your heart set on USNA. You can excel at everything (CFA, Leadership, GPA, SAT/ACT, etc.) and not be admitted. The USNA Admissions process is not a level playing field --recruited athletes, minorities, legacies, and military kids have a huge advantage. If you are not one of these groups, the sooner you focus on other colleges, the better off you will be.

I, politely, have to disagree. DS is not a recruited athlete, minority, legacy, or a military kid, and he has an appointment. From the very beginning I have heard his dream was impossible; he chose to ignore those who told him he'd never get in. It is true everyone needs to have a solid plan B and C, but pursue your dreams and ignore the naysayers.

 

[bandad]

A lot of good advice here. My Plebe DS would have benefited from attending a CVW. He did a day visit at AFA (the week after recognition) and he did NASS. He had an offer for a CVW but turned it down. A CVW would not have changed his mind about going to USNA, but it might have given him a little more realistic view of Plebe life. So if you get a CVW invite, and can swing it, my thought is go.

bandad

 

[Hopeful_midshipman]

Don't give up. Even if you're not admitted the 1st year and it's your dream, make plans to apply again! Yesterday I filled out my third preliminary application, so keep your head up and stay strong throughout the whole process!

 

[toms663]

I know this thread focuses on the top item to focus on and everyone has covered the majority of the issues in one way or another. But I want to share a piece of advice an old retired col gave my DD. "The easy part is getting in". She has taken that to heart in all her applications and to date she has gotten into two of the three academies she applied to. She has played traveling sports since six years old and she learned the hard way many times that the try outs are easy, earning your place and keeping it is a different story. Not to make light of the process to get in, but to make sure the young people who read this forum keep the real focus. We are very proud of our DD and her accomplishments, but we do not publish it on our Facebook pages, talk about it on this forum only in stealth mode, we are not having any big party or making a big announcement in the local paper. When she graduates in 50 months and gets her commission, then we will take a deep breath, a salute and a job well done.

 

[trini1066]

Do NOT get your heart set on USNA. You can excel at everything (CFA, Leadership, GPA, SAT/ACT, etc.) and not be admitted. The USNA Admissions process is not a level playing field --recruited athletes, minorities, legacies, and military kids have a huge advantage. If you are not one of these groups, the sooner you focus on other colleges, the better off you will be.

I would to have to disagree also with the statement. It is not impossible to do anything you put your mind too. A lot of candidates and maybe family members who did not get in the first time have to remember one thing. There is always next year.

 

[LJM]

Do NOT get your heart set on USNA. You can excel at everything (CFA, Leadership, GPA, SAT/ACT, etc.) and not be admitted. The USNA Admissions process is not a level playing field --recruited athletes, minorities, legacies, and military kids have a huge advantage. If you are not one of these groups, the sooner you focus on other colleges, the better off you will be.

Don't take this advice... Obviously admission may be skewed, but there's no reason not to dream about the academies---something has to motivate you to struggle through endless hours of ACT prep and the tedious application process. If you're not setting tough goals, you're doing something wrong. Obviously, have a well-thought out plan B and C, but nonetheless, my opinion stands.

 

[aglages]

... Obviously admission may be skewed, but there's no reason not to dream about the academies---

This. Very little doubt that admissions are skewed but you miss 100% of all the shots you don't take (Wayne Gretzky). Take your best shot and follow your dream.

 

[kinnem]

you miss 100% of all the shots you don't take (Wayne Gretzky)

The second greatest philosopher of our time, the first being Yogi Berra.

 

[808DAD]

Advice from a Parent

1. Don't give them a reason to bounce you. Good grades, highest level courses you can take, sports all four years(you don't have to be a star just participate), leadership roles, make your teachers love you, be in the best physical shape like wrestlers, water polo swimmers, gymnasts, and 800m runners. Basically your life in high school is to get to the academy and that's it. Friends that don't understand or try to distract you from your goal are not your friends. Lose them. Chose friends with the similar goals as you.

2. You have to want to serve in the military. Don't apply just because of the free education or because your parents told you to. The BGO will see right through you during the interview. Take a class on taking interviews. There are many services out there that will help you get ready for interviews, especially if you are not a good public speaker. This is good for your MOC interviews.

3. Stay out of trouble. Don't drink alcohol or smoke anything while in high school. Don't even experiment. Being in the academy is a lifestyle not just an education.

4. Go to your doctor and have everything checked. Check for asthma, color blindness, allergies and heart or blood conditions. Also check with your service academy liaisons what medical factors that would disqualify you from entering a academy. All the academies will bounce you for various medical reasons. You don't want your dreams crushed because of a medical disqualification. If you find out you have a disqualification factor you can find other ways to serve and would minimize the hurt when you get disqualified. Also just because you had something when you were young doesn't mean you have it now so check with your doctor and minus it out of you record in a follow up exam.

Good Luck

 

[aglages]

Basically your life in high school is to get to the academy and that's it.

I agree with most of the advice posted above from 808DAD, but IMHO this is slightly too extreme. By all means have a goal and know what it takes to get there. 808DAD and many other posters have done an excellent job of outlining what you need to focus on. However HS is more than just a means to enter a SA. Enjoy your HS years while staying focused on what the SAs and colleges want. Most of the same attributes that will make you an attractive candidate to the SAs will also help you stand out for civilian colleges.

Good Luck!

 

[time2]

^^^ I agree, while you may THINK a service academy is your dream when you start h.s., a lot of things can change and interests vary.

Do what you enjoy and contribute to the succes of you h.s. and you will grow as a person regardless of where you eventually go to college.

Being one-dimensional in h.s. does NOT make you a better candidate for a service academy. Everyone who goes there does NOT have the same resume/background/interests.

 

[Sheaisland]

Wow, thanks for the overwhelmingly helpful advice. You guys are awesome.
Thank you

 

[Capt MJ]

For the OP, you have received an excellent spread of advice on the process of applying and many other aspects of the SA journey.

My two cents is - take some time to think about the minimum 5 year commitment to active duty afterwards.

During my time as on the USNA Commandant's staff, I saw dozens of mids voluntarily leave USNA because they got caught up in the competitive thrill of the "hunt," and didn't focus on whether a military career, short or long, was a good fit for them. Too many said things like, "my school counselors were so excited I got in, I hated to disappoint them, " or, "my family was so happy they wouldn't have to pay for my college education, I couldn't tell them I didn't want to go after all," or "Grandpa Joe was in the Navy, and once he found out I was applying, I felt I couldn't let him down," or, "my aunt and grandfather were grads, and I never felt I had a choice from the first time they took me to an A-N game," or even, "I got the nom and the appointment, and everyone was just so crazy excited, I felt stuck." I realize it's hard to know as a junior/senior in high school exactly what you want to do, but the more you can find out about life AFTER the Academy (or ROTC or any commissioning program), the better a decision you will make about attending one. A SA is a 4-year launching pad to something you can't walk away from easily after you start your junior year there. The system is designed to shed plebes and cadets quite naturally along the way, for all kinds of reasons, voluntary and involuntary. Some of the saddest were those who realized that neither a SA nor a military commitment was right for them, and kicked themselves for not having the maturity to step back from the process back in high school and really, really think about what this meant for the next 9-10 years.

If you get clear on your motivation for the short and the long term, everything else falls in place. Good luck!

 

[Sheaisland]

Thanks for the advice Capt. I completely understand as many people get stuck or put themselves in that spot, but my sole reason for trying to get into USNA is to serve my country. Service is one of the most important things in my life and I am willing do to what the military needs me to do, even if sometimes it can be awful, but I want to do it for my country.
Thanks,
Sheaisland