Questions about Plebe Summer, the Academic Year, or how to prepare?
- Thread starter GC44
- Start date
) Did you get to pick what to write it on?Seprice40, there were a couple of things that got me through Plebe Summer. The first was that my father (a retired Surface Warfare Officer, Commander) gave me the most useful piece of advice: "If you feel like you're being picked on/yelled at for absolutely nothing at all, that's probably exactly what's happening. Tomorrow they'll pick on the next guy. But just remember, it's all a mind game and Plebe Parents' Weekend will come before you know it." The other was the fact that I had the other 37 people around me going through the same 'rough time' that I was
-My advice to you: Just play the game
In terms of prepping for Plebe Summer/ Year, just stay in shape, run a lot, and practice memorizing things (you'll be doing a lot of that during Plebe Summer). Plebe Year is focused a lot more on academics so it's a little more on you to make your mark on the world of Academia and set yourself up for success. Unlike Plebe Summer, the upperclass won't be jumping down your throat all the time because we have our own schedules/schoolwork to worry about.
My favorite part of the academy is that there are plenty of opportunities to do just about anything. For example, I'm in the band here and I've been able to travel to many places around the country as well as to Ireland at no cost to me. Others include study abroad programs, various clubs, etc. My least favorite part of the academy is that sometimes a feeling of cynicism sets in following Christmas Break since everyone is back at USNA for a while aka "The Dark Ages." However, USNA holds a couple of events to lighten everyone's spirits during this time.
Hope this helps!
-My advice to you: Just play the game
In terms of prepping for Plebe Summer/ Year, just stay in shape, run a lot, and practice memorizing things (you'll be doing a lot of that during Plebe Summer). Plebe Year is focused a lot more on academics so it's a little more on you to make your mark on the world of Academia and set yourself up for success. Unlike Plebe Summer, the upperclass won't be jumping down your throat all the time because we have our own schedules/schoolwork to worry about.
My favorite part of the academy is that there are plenty of opportunities to do just about anything. For example, I'm in the band here and I've been able to travel to many places around the country as well as to Ireland at no cost to me. Others include study abroad programs, various clubs, etc. My least favorite part of the academy is that sometimes a feeling of cynicism sets in following Christmas Break since everyone is back at USNA for a while aka "The Dark Ages." However, USNA holds a couple of events to lighten everyone's spirits during this time.
Hope this helps!
majortheta
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2012
- Messages
- 54
What is an overnight?
majortheta, an overnight is when you can leave school and not have to be back by midnight. For example, as a 4/C or 3/C, you guys can only go out on Saturdays if you're a 4/C and Saturdays and Sundays if you're a 3/C. However, everyone has to return to USNA before Midnight on Saturday unless they're on overnight. An overnight lets you leave on Saturday and return at end of liberty on Sunday
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2007
- Messages
- 2,412
What wasn't mentioned is that plebes generally don't get many overnights/weekends (normally they only come from the Supe/Dant granting them after football games). So don't expect to be sleeping off the yard much. 3/C get a few, 2/C get some more, and 1/C get the most. Additionally, good performance (i.e. honors listings, color company, perfect PRT) results in additional weekends for upperclass.
Dial the gate
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2013
- Messages
- 346
Band questions
GC44, my DS's band questions for you:
1. Are you in the academy concert band and/or marching band?
2. When are auditions for both, since plebe summer runs pretty close to the start of football season (as far as marching band is concerned)?
3. Do you bring your own instruments or do you use the school's?
4. Does the marching band travel "away" with the football team?
5. For the marching band practice, does it interfere with intramurals, or does it count as your intramurals?
Thank you very much for all your helpful information (Hurricane too!)!!
GC44, my DS's band questions for you:
1. Are you in the academy concert band and/or marching band?
2. When are auditions for both, since plebe summer runs pretty close to the start of football season (as far as marching band is concerned)?
3. Do you bring your own instruments or do you use the school's?
4. Does the marching band travel "away" with the football team?
5. For the marching band practice, does it interfere with intramurals, or does it count as your intramurals?
Thank you very much for all your helpful information (Hurricane too!)!!
Hello, I am a high school senior and I applied to USNA. There is nothing more I want then to get accepted into USNA. I was wondering if someone or a few individuals could tell me my chances based upon my application.
Academics: 4.0 GPA, distinguished honor roll student, top ten in my class, my senior year of classes go as follows: AP Biology, calculus honors, organic chemistry honors, economics honors, problems of democracy honors, English 12, foods and nutrition I and II, and team sports as my gym. I also have three years of Spanish.
Sports: football ((9,10,11,12) captain my senior year, four year varsity letter award winner). swimming ((9, 10, 11, 12) captain my junior and senior year, four year varsity award winner, district medalist. I am a state qualifier, state medalist, and national qualifier for both my junior and senior years) track and field ((10,11,12) three year varsity award winner, captain my senior year, district qualifier) baseball ((9) junior varsity)
Extracurricular activities:
class president (9,10)
Future business leader of America club member(9,10,11,12)
Future business leader of America secretary (11)
Future business leader of America president (12)
Junior honor society member (10)
National honor society member (11,12)
National honor society Vice President (11,12)
Student Council (9,10,11,12)
Lifetime student council member (11,12)
Principal's Student Advisory Board Member (10,11,12)
School Newspaper(9)
SATs: math- 590 verbal-590 I know these aren't that great but I took them five times.
Based on that information how strong do you feel my application is? Do I have a shot?
Academics: 4.0 GPA, distinguished honor roll student, top ten in my class, my senior year of classes go as follows: AP Biology, calculus honors, organic chemistry honors, economics honors, problems of democracy honors, English 12, foods and nutrition I and II, and team sports as my gym. I also have three years of Spanish.
Sports: football ((9,10,11,12) captain my senior year, four year varsity letter award winner). swimming ((9, 10, 11, 12) captain my junior and senior year, four year varsity award winner, district medalist. I am a state qualifier, state medalist, and national qualifier for both my junior and senior years) track and field ((10,11,12) three year varsity award winner, captain my senior year, district qualifier) baseball ((9) junior varsity)
Extracurricular activities:
class president (9,10)
Future business leader of America club member(9,10,11,12)
Future business leader of America secretary (11)
Future business leader of America president (12)
Junior honor society member (10)
National honor society member (11,12)
National honor society Vice President (11,12)
Student Council (9,10,11,12)
Lifetime student council member (11,12)
Principal's Student Advisory Board Member (10,11,12)
School Newspaper(9)
SATs: math- 590 verbal-590 I know these aren't that great but I took them five times.
Based on that information how strong do you feel my application is? Do I have a shot?
Band
Dial The Gate,
I'm in the Drum and Bugle Corps, aka the marching band. we have our own instruments here, you don't need to bring your own. Practice counts as your intramural, but you're welcome to play intramurals with your company on day's we don't practice. We DO travel with the football team to games, most of which are AWESOME times (AND you get per diem (paid)). Tryouts are during Plebe Summer.
Dial The Gate,
I'm in the Drum and Bugle Corps, aka the marching band. we have our own instruments here, you don't need to bring your own. Practice counts as your intramural, but you're welcome to play intramurals with your company on day's we don't practice. We DO travel with the football team to games, most of which are AWESOME times (AND you get per diem (paid)). Tryouts are during Plebe Summer.
Navy716,
Your resume looks pretty impressive, I'd dare say more than my own. I had a 3.6-3.8 in high school and lettered in a couple of sports. I, however, never took any AP courses. However, like I've said a couple of times before, I'd say with confidence that if I applied at any time other than I did, I probably would not have made it into USNA. The only 'flaw' I can see in yours are your SAT scores. I, too, had a 590 in Math and a 670 in writing. However, I was beyond determined to get accepted and thus, I took 7 SAT's and 6 ACT's. That, in my opinion, helped the admissions personnel see my level of determination and drive in terms of getting an appointment. You seem to be well rounded and show leadership potential, which is exactly what they want here. However, I have heard/read about kids much like yourself being denied for various reasons. In all honesty, I'd say you have a great shot at getting accepted and at the VERY least I'm confident you'd get an appointment to the prep school (NAPS), which isn't a bad deal either. However, the only people that know exactly what the admissions personnel are looking for are the admissions personnel. Just keep working your tail off, pray, and I'll be rooting for you. Best of luck!
Your resume looks pretty impressive, I'd dare say more than my own. I had a 3.6-3.8 in high school and lettered in a couple of sports. I, however, never took any AP courses. However, like I've said a couple of times before, I'd say with confidence that if I applied at any time other than I did, I probably would not have made it into USNA. The only 'flaw' I can see in yours are your SAT scores. I, too, had a 590 in Math and a 670 in writing. However, I was beyond determined to get accepted and thus, I took 7 SAT's and 6 ACT's. That, in my opinion, helped the admissions personnel see my level of determination and drive in terms of getting an appointment. You seem to be well rounded and show leadership potential, which is exactly what they want here. However, I have heard/read about kids much like yourself being denied for various reasons. In all honesty, I'd say you have a great shot at getting accepted and at the VERY least I'm confident you'd get an appointment to the prep school (NAPS), which isn't a bad deal either. However, the only people that know exactly what the admissions personnel are looking for are the admissions personnel. Just keep working your tail off, pray, and I'll be rooting for you. Best of luck!
Dial the gate
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2013
- Messages
- 346
GC, thank you, sounds very very cool!
What instrument do you play? DS plays trumpet in marching band, bassoon in concert band.
About the auditions, after (giant fingers crossed!) he receives an appointment, is the procedure to contact the band director for audition music, because we would guess there wouldn't be time for practice during plebe summer (too busy doing flutter kicks and gettin yelled at!)?
What instrument do you play? DS plays trumpet in marching band, bassoon in concert band.
About the auditions, after (giant fingers crossed!) he receives an appointment, is the procedure to contact the band director for audition music, because we would guess there wouldn't be time for practice during plebe summer (too busy doing flutter kicks and gettin yelled at!)?
I think it honestly depends on how competitive your district is. You're terrific on the leadership, athletics, and grades side -- the scores are low, though (as you know). If it was earlier in the year I'd recommend you take the ACT -- some people just do better on it than the SAT. If you don't end up getting an appointment and decide to re-apply, I'd check out the ACT. Good luck.
That's a good question -- I'm just an "ordinary" grad, not a BGO or anything, so I'd just be guessing as to the answer, though. Hang in there, I know the wait is really tough.
Dial The Gate,
I'm a snare drummer. The auditions aren't rigorous at all, so there's no need for worry. Jeff and Rich (the directors) are very friendly and welcoming to anyone who wants to join D&B. The auditions are to make sure the Plebes know the basics of playing. Even then, we have people join that haven't played an instrument before. It's amazing that they can sound outstanding by the end of the summer. Following auditions, Jeff and Rich work wonders to get the best out of each and every member of the band
I'm a snare drummer. The auditions aren't rigorous at all, so there's no need for worry. Jeff and Rich (the directors) are very friendly and welcoming to anyone who wants to join D&B. The auditions are to make sure the Plebes know the basics of playing. Even then, we have people join that haven't played an instrument before. It's amazing that they can sound outstanding by the end of the summer. Following auditions, Jeff and Rich work wonders to get the best out of each and every member of the band
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2011
- Messages
- 869
navydad17,
The band consists of a drumline, a pit (xylophones, marimbas, gong, etc.), sops (trumpets), baritones, contras (tubas), euphoniums, and mellophones. There are no trombones, saxophones, or any other woodwinds. It IS the band that plays during halftime at football games
The band consists of a drumline, a pit (xylophones, marimbas, gong, etc.), sops (trumpets), baritones, contras (tubas), euphoniums, and mellophones. There are no trombones, saxophones, or any other woodwinds. It IS the band that plays during halftime at football games