Introduction/Need Advice

S

Samg381

5-Year Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2014
Messages
10
(Taken from my earlier introduction post which was modified)

Hello!
My name is Sam,
I joined due to my interest in attending the Naval Academy.

I also joined because I was invited to the November CVW and am interested in immersing myself in my fellow potential USNA candidates.

By joining, I hope to gather more knowledge and direction in order to make my dream a reality. Since I was very young, I always wanted to fly. As I grew older, I realized my passion lie within the Navy particularly.

My grandfather, having been a Naval Academy graduate and an aviator himself has pointed me in the right direction, and I am now seeking the advice of my fellow peers and candidates in order to hone-in my priorities Junior year.

About me:

I currently participate in my high school's sailing team. Last we won the New Jersey State Championship for High School Sailing.

I also am going to be an Eagle Scout- I recently completed my Eagle Scout Project, and am now completing a few final requirements before my board of review.

I volunteer for my local fire department as a cadet, and have been doing so for the past two years.

I also have been doing a large amount of volunteerism and leadership for as long as I can remember. Most recently I participated in the Counselor In Training program at a YMCA summer camp.

After school, I will be participating in out High school's Cyber Patriot team.

I am currently enrolled in my High School's Engineering Academy, and am taking competitive classes Junior year. As an engineer, my classes are S.T.E.M. based.

I am a very technically inclined person, and hopefully will pursue a aerospace engineering education if/when I make it to the Naval Academy.

The things I need to improve on this year include my personal fitness, and my overall GPA. I also need to begin working on my SAT preparation.

I hope that wall of text has given everyone a general idea as to who I am, and who I hope to be by the time I am ready to apply for the Naval Academy. I may have forgotten some things about me, but as previously stated I will be changing a lot this year.

If anyone has any advice or any tips/guidance, please share it with me! I am excited to meet the people I will be attending the CVW, and hopefully college with!

Thanks in advance!
 
Hey looks great man you definitely have some good things going for you so far. Keep up the hard work. I would try getting into a varsity sport if possible. Sailing definitely is good. But a varsity sport will definitely boost you up there man.

Sent using the Service Academy Forums® mobile app
 
Thanks for the reply. I really would like to do that but I'm pretty sure I'm not good enough at other sports to do do that :S

I've looked into swimming a bit, but in varsity baseball / football / soccer I would make a fool of myself.
 
Sam,

:welcome1:

It would appear that you have a nice background. +1 joelbradford525, ditto on the sports. Don't sell yourself so short with sports there is more inside of you than you think you just need to reach inside and pull it out. I speak as a HS coach, I have seen it, I have supported kids that didn't think they had it. One of the kids I coached that did not think she had it 4 years ago just went off to a D1 college for that sport. In two words: Self Confidence!

Go with the swimming, that is excellent exercise and will be a major benefit when you take your CFA. Again, as a HS coach I have seen a lot of sports, swimmers always appear to be the most physically fit.

Take the ACT as well... The SAT & ACT differ in how they are set-up and scored.

As I now understand it between the two:

SAT - Based more on an IQ type test...

SAT Scoring: How you go about your answer choice can and will have an effect on the final score. Example: If you answer a question wrong you lose points. There are some other facets of the SAT so do your "Do Diligence".

ACT - Based more on what you have been taught...

ACT Scoring: This is scored differently from the SAT. Example: If you get something wrong it "Does Not Effect" your score. As in the latter; do your "Do Diligence".

No matter, it is a "VERY" good idea to take both and find out what works best for you.

Drove me over the edge when my DS HS guidance counselor told him: "the ACT will make no difference at colleges they only want the SAT scores."

My DS would not have what he has without his ACT score. Don't get me wrong he did quite well with the SAT; however, he used his "higher" ACT score for the Academy, NROTC, and yes other college applications.

The guidance counselor was giving very poor advise...thank god I knew better! On that note. Where it is your responsibility to do your Academy & ROTC applications. It will serve you well to engage your peeps only to seek advise for current HS school activities.

In regard to your Academy & ROTC application seek the advise of your academy admissions counselor. For NROTC seek the advise of your recruiter. You're already reaching out on the forum which is also a great place for advise.

Please take my advise as only one, look for others that might have thoughts that may be as important.

Good luck on your journey...
 
Last edited:
Thank you so much for your insight.
Another question- in regards for exercise, do you have any recommendations for a daily routine I can do everyday before and after school?

This year I'm going to be changing my entire routine. I spend too much time with friends and having fun, when I should be either exercising or studying!

Thanks again.
 
The sailing team recruits athletes. Look into going that route. Get in contact with the coach and make a professional introduction via e-mail.

I was recruited for a very obscure varsity sport as well. It happens!
 
Thank you for the encouragement!
Should I email him/her introducing myself as a sailor? Can he/she affect my chances?
 
Exercise!

Sure...if you really want to get in shape, swim, learn the "correct" way to erg, and do some long pieces. I can assure you that both will get you into shape and neither is for the faint of heart.
 
Another suggestion is running - cross country and track. DS was not athletic, tried all the usual sports growing up. When he started running he was dead last, but he worked hard, pushed himself and improved every year. He never ended up as a track or cross country star, but was voted to team captain for his junior and senior years - he was a good leader and motivator, he was (and is) incredibly dependable. He ended his high school career as a decent runner, but is one of the best in his battalion. Now, two years into his NROTC experience, he has been selected as Endurance Team Commander.

Even though he had an excellent running time, he had to work on sit-ups, push-ups and pull-ups. I would recommend a routine that includes upper body and core exercises in addition to running.
 
Thanks! I will speak to my gym teacher about a routine the minute school starts. I will also call my BGO and update her on my progress since I haven't spoken with her in a while. I'll also get around to messaging the sailing instructor.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top