Questions About AIM?

One other thing...
At my school, the advanced level english classes have a writing curriculum that focuses completely on literary analysis. As such, I am pretty terrible at writing in the first person narrative... especially when it comes to highlighting my accomplishments. If anyone knows of any resource to improve this and make my personal statements better and more effective, I would love that.
 
NavyHopeful20 said:
One other thing...
At my school, the advanced level english classes have a writing curriculum that focuses completely on literary analysis. As such, I am pretty terrible at writing in the first person narrative... especially when it comes to highlighting my accomplishments. If anyone knows of any resource to improve this and make my personal statements better and more effective, I would love that.
Click to expand...


Honestly, I don't know how qualified I would be to really provide much assistance. My best advice would be to ask your English teacher at school for help.

They did speak for a few minutes on the essays at AIM, generally:
  • Check and double-check for grammatical and spelling errors
  • Make sure you submit the right essay for the school (they said they actually had someone submit a USNA essay one year)
  • Be sure that you really talk about YOU and YOUR experiences
Beyond this, I would defer to an English teacher or admissions officer...
 
NavyHopeful20 said:
One other thing...
At my school, the advanced level english classes have a writing curriculum that focuses completely on literary analysis. As such, I am pretty terrible at writing in the first person narrative... especially when it comes to highlighting my accomplishments. If anyone knows of any resource to improve this and make my personal statements better and more effective, I would love that.
Click to expand...

To add on to what jwest was saying, just be yourself.

Just don't say "I'd like to commandeer a Coast Guard vessel" (anybody remember that?) :shake::shake::shake:
 
One opinion that I would like to put out there is that AIM is not entirely similar to the other summer seminars out there. The summer seminars available at the DOD (USMA, USNA, USAFA) Academies are mainly targeted at recruiting. They do take those who apply with a 4.5, 3 letter athlete, etc., but most of the people going there are people who are from areas that do not see many applications to that particular academy. They run it more like a summer camp and he hope is that they come back and talk up the USXA and then there are more applications. While there is a day where they treat you like a Plebe/Doolie, it's a different experience going through that treatment for a week.

At AIM (all my opinion), they appoint kids who show potential to receive an appointment and graduate from the USCGA. I consider it more like a test drive for the Academy to see how you well you would do as a Swab. We were treated like Swabs all week for the most part. We did a lot of the same things they did and we always passed a company or two of the Swabs. The Cadre (2/c leading your AIM Company) write a written evaluation for each AIMster that goes to the Admissions Board if the AIMster ends up applying and it can make the difference if the Board is on the fence. The Cadre don't hold back really and it's mostly a mental game. There are people that come to AIM who are hell bent on going to a military academy, but after AIM, they discover that it's really not for them, which is totally fine. One thing that is really cool that you get really close with your company over the week. You know immediately (just by feeling something is missing) that one of your shipmates is gone, be it for medical reasons or they DOR'd. There are a few people in each company that get sent to Medical, but it's rare that you can't continue. One preventive measure is to run a lot before you show up. You run everywhere you go and our Cadre told us that we ran an average 2-3 miles a day by just running across the campus. I'll leave off with this, if you really want to know summer basic training is like for new cadets/mids then AIM is the place to go. Keep those questions coming!

BTW Thanks matty, soccerchic, and jwest182 for helping on the thread. Let's create the best prepared AIM class ever!
 
Usnavy2019 said:
One thing that is really cool that you get really close with your company over the week. You know immediately (just by feeling something is missing) that one of your shipmates is gone, be it for medical reasons or they DOR'd. There are a few people in each company that get sent to Medical, but it's rare that you can't continue.
Click to expand...

With my company, we were lucky in that no person dropped at all. Though some people were sent to medical, and it was funny when we could count off, not realize immediately that someone was gone, and there would be an awkward silence until our cadre would tell us "that's your count!" "Sir, Echo company is all present..."
 
Two things: I'm wasn't an AIMster (when I was in high school MITE was an option too, but I didn't do MITE either) and I wasn't AIM cadre as a cadet.

I've said it here before and I'll just say it again, AIM cadre will give you a decent taste of what Swab Summer and the Coast Guard Academy are about. Now, I know AIM has changed a bit since I was a cadre, and I know Swab Summer has too. It's not "camp" and it isn't always "fun." They figure out how to make you dislike something but enjoy it at the end, how to feel good about accomplishing something.

Two super short stories.

Story 1:
During my Swab Summer in 2002, I was in Yankee 1 (squad 1.... haha, I'm not sure how I still remember that, must have been the trauma). I wasn't doing to great so, one day I was sent of to EMI. EMI in the fleet is for bad boys and girls, and it stands for Extra Military Instruction. At the Coast Guard Academy, during Swab Summer, EMI had traditionally been called PEP or Performance Enhancing Platoon. I'm not sure why the name changed our year, but it changed back. I'll just call it PEP. PEP sucked. One of my fellow PEP members had tried to get a doctor's note to get out of PEP (we called it an EMI chit). Well it didn't really work.

So we marched out to the parade field, all sweaty, hating life, nearly broken, carrying a mattress on, and pushing our friend in a chair (we had to pretend he was helpless, so the chair was a wheelchair and he wasn't allowed to move). We got to the center of the parade field, made up the mattress into a "rack", had our classmate climb into the rack, and were PTed (well, in this case it was IT or incentive training.... like PT only designed to hurt you). All of this was happening as parents were dropping off their kids for AIM. HAHAHA, I can only imagine what was going through their heads.

Story 2: in 2004 I was a Swab Summer second make cadre (Yankee 3, squad 3). Before it was time for second make to take over training the swabs we caught wind of a bad little AIMster. This young man decided it was a good idea to put down the Coast Guard Academy in his Thought of the Day Journal (cadre read them). We gathered at the second deck windows of the Old Quad to watch the lone AIMster march to the middle of the quad, do some facing movements, and stand there, while, little did he know, a dozen scary cadrew decended on him from behind and "corrected" him. It was on par or worse that my PEP experience, except that it was MUCH shorter in duration.

AIM was not a camp. Their cadre did a good job teaching them, giving them a short and sweet taste of Swab Summer and academy life. If AIM ends up being repulsive to someone, they will absolutely hate Swab Summer and likely four years at the Coast Guard Academy.
 
Hahaha booooo :wiggle:

Echo all the wayyy :rockon:

I see you are up late (unless you're a west coaster) -- test tomorrow?
 
It was interesting to see the two sides of the cadre during AIM. During the day, lots of yelling and corrections. During our "thought of the day" time, I think they may have cracked a smile at one point.... I even got fist bump from one of them after correctly greeting both XOs (I'm assuming that doesn't happen during swab summer haha)
 
I don't remember any fun during Swab Summer. Maybe the waterfront, but that was a different set of cadre for us. That said, there is a time for everything. Sometimes it's yelling. Sometimes it's whispering (my favorite). Sometimes someone needs a kick in the butt, and sometimes a swab need a lifeline. You will be pushed (and will eventually push others) to your/their limits. There is a point where someone stops learning and can break.

Honestly, Swab Summer is as much of a growth and learning experience for the cadre as it is for the swabs. Without a doubt, I felt more pressure as a cadre. But yes, Swab Summer is more shocking as a swab. You cadre are humans. They like to joke and have fun. But that's not for swabs to see. That's not the relationship they're meant to have to their swabs.

And eventually, if everything works out, you and your cadre and your swabs will all be officers, out in the fleet, and everything will change. You'll be friends. You'll joke about stuff. Maybe not ALL of your cadre and swabs will do that.... but many will.
 
Usnavy2019 said:
Hi All,

I am a graduate of AIM 2014. I attended Week 2. I am happy to answer any questions about AIM! Fire away![/QUOTE
Click to expand...
Usnavy2019 said:
Hi All,

I am a graduate of AIM 2014. I attended Week 2. I am happy to answer any questions about AIM! Fire away!
Click to expand...

So right now I am working on the AIM application and everything is basically finished, and my 2 personal statements look really good. However, I was wondering is it really necessary to write the 3rd statement? I cannot think of anything I absolutely need to include that will help improve my chances, or anything obvious at least. From what I can tell, everything is basically already somewhere in the application. I'm somewhat nervous if not writing the 3rd optional personal statement will make it look like im not determined and will somehow disqualify me for the program. Here is some information if it helps: 4.0 GPA, Life Scout (working on Eagle), family history of military service (Dad went to USCGA and brother is at USNA right now), some community service (not a lot though).
 
Last edited:
Andrew,

I didn't fill out the optional essay for AIM and was selected. You should be fine; however, if you need to add anything take advantage of the essay!

Btw- If you end up applying in the fall, do fill out every space and essay provided to you!


Sent using the Service Academy Forums® mobile app
 
Andrew Segalla said:
So right now I am working on the AIM application and everything is basically finished, and my 2 personal statements look really good. However, I was wondering is it really necessary to write the 3rd statement? I cannot think of anything I absolutely need to include that will help improve my chances, or anything obvious at least. From what I can tell, everything is basically already somewhere in the application. I'm somewhat nervous if not writing the 3rd optional personal statement will make it look like im not determined and will somehow disqualify me for the program. Here is some information if it helps: 4.0 GPA, Life Scout (working on Eagle), family history of military service (Dad went to USCGA and brother is at USNA right now), some community service (not a lot though).
Click to expand...

Sounds like you aren't lacking anything, but like soccerchic said upload whatever you think is necessary (although you stated you kind find anything obvious to include).

In that case consider uploading a resume, awards, or a scouting profile. Eagle Scout here who was a Life when I was in your position. Definitely push for Eagle and if you need any help at all feel free to pm me. Good luck!
 
matty said:
Sounds like you aren't lacking anything, but like soccerchic said upload whatever you think is necessary (although you stated you kind find anything obvious to include).

In that case consider uploading a resume, awards, or a scouting profile. Eagle Scout here who was a Life when I was in your position. Definitely push for Eagle and if you need any help at all feel free to pm me. Good luck!
Click to expand...

When I applied for AIM I used that optional essay to clarify activities and positions I felt warranted a greater explanation. For the academy app, I did a similar thing-and also spoke about my AIM experience!

Sent using the Service Academy Forums® mobile app
 
I filled out the optional essay, but like soccerchic said, it is not required to be selected. As you probably know, this essay gives you a chance to explain any academic or life adversities. It also provides a chance for you to give a short statement on why you deserve to attend AIM. Good luck!
 
Just my opinion, but if you are given extra space to expound on yourself, your accomplishments, or something that really makes you stand out from the rest, USE IT! I'd say the same whether it is an AIM application, Class of 20XX or even a job application. Use whatever space or opportunity you are given to make yourself shine. Again, just my personal opinion.
 
Still wAiting for response to Aim. Should I assume no news is bad news at this late date?
 
bender2016! said:
Still wAiting for response to Aim. Should I assume no news is bad news at this late date?
Click to expand...
According to the website all notifications will be made on May 1st. Get used to waiting, especially if you decide to apply in the fall!


USCGA 2019
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top