Youngest son

[Kentucky9]

He’s hooked after Navy Stem. At any rate he’s a soph, 3 sport athlete, thats ditching athletics and public school for a stem academy next year. Taking pre calc next semester as a sophomore, to take calc I as a junior. Has a path to differential equations last semester before graduation.

In the end if athletics costs him….he will be fine

 

[usna1985]

I would encourage your DS to find a way to be involved in sports. Athletics provides an outlet for tough academics and / or balance for a successful life.

It doesn't have to be either/or. I worked with one of the top 3 public STEM schools in the country -- where academics can be overwhelming. Almost every student found time for other stuff, including sports. One student from that school became an Academic All-Patriot League athlete and qualified for the national championships in her sport. She also graduated in the top 50 in her USNA class. So it can be done.

Consider having DS focus on one sport instead of 3. Look for sports that might mesh well with his academic schedule. For example, swimming and rowing are often "early morning" sports.

Most kids who are successful in applying to a SA find a way to do both high-level academics and athletics. There are lots of non-school-based athletics programs during the academic year as well as during the summer.

 

[jbm2m]

I would encourage your DS to find a way to be involved in sports. Athletics provides an outlet for tough academics and / or balance for a successful life.

It doesn't have to be either/or. I worked with one of the top 3 public STEM schools in the country -- where academics can be overwhelming. Almost every student found time for other stuff, including sports. One student from that school became an Academic All-Patriot League athlete and qualified for the national championships in her sport. She also graduated in the top 50 in her USNA class. So it can be done.

Consider having DS focus on one sport instead of 3. Look for sports that might mesh well with his academic schedule. For example, swimming and rowing are often "early morning" sports.

Most kids who are successful in applying to a SA find a way to do both high-level academics and athletics. There are lots of non-school-based athletics programs during the academic year as well as during the summer.

TJ?

 

[Boymomof3]

I would encourage your DS to find a way to be involved in sports. Athletics provides an outlet for tough academics and / or balance for a successful life.

It doesn't have to be either/or. I worked with one of the top 3 public STEM schools in the country -- where academics can be overwhelming. Almost every student found time for other stuff, including sports. One student from that school became an Academic All-Patriot League athlete and qualified for the national championships in her sport. She also graduated in the top 50 in her USNA class. So it can be done.

Consider having DS focus on one sport instead of 3. Look for sports that might mesh well with his academic schedule. For example, swimming and rowing are often "early morning" sports.

Most kids who are successful in applying to a SA find a way to do both high-level academics and athletics. There are lots of non-school-based athletics programs during the academic year as well as during the summer.

- All these applicants excel in both athletics & academics….no matter how set-up they are for an appointment nothing is guaranteed. Our DS also had a nom, a high SAT (blah, blah, blah) & it just wasn’t meant to be. It worked out for him (he loves where he is & declined when his field rep suggested he apply again). He’s had an amazing experience & being an ROTC kid hasn’t hurt his opportunities at all. This summer it was a mix of ROTC & USNA “kids” on a cruise from Oki to Brisbane. They all got to take selfies with the kangaroos - the roos (or personnel on the ship for that matter) didn’t ask who was who .

 

[StPaulDad]

If he's got an academy on his mind he should keep at least one sport alive. As mentioned above, it can be therapeutic to get out and move around rather than just grind out the book work. You can take math classes any year, but the chance to play with your buddies is a point in time that shouldn't be cast aside lightly. You obviously don't need DiffEq to get in, and there's a lot of value in being with your peers, having fun, maybe leading, maybe following. My DD stepped down from a club with a pretty intense travel schedule to a worse, more regional team where she could keep playing but not miss any school. Plus she could still make time to hang out with her friends.

 

[FlyNavy26]

- All these applicants excel in both athletics & academics….no matter how set-up they are for an appointment nothing is guaranteed. Our DS also had a nom, a high SAT (blah, blah, blah) & it just wasn’t meant to be. It worked out for him (he loves where he is & declined when his field rep suggested he apply again). He’s had an amazing experience & being an ROTC kid hasn’t hurt his opportunities at all. This summer it was a mix of ROTC & USNA “kids” on a cruise from Oki to Brisbane. They all got to take selfies with the kangaroos - the roos (or personnel on the ship for that matter) didn’t ask who was who .

Same experience for my DS - class of 2026. He appeared to have it all, but alas did not receive an appointment to USNA. He loves his college and NROTC experience....never considered reapplying. Things work out the way they should.

 

[Boymomof3]

Same experience for my DS - class of 2026. He appeared to have it all, but alas did not receive an appointment to USNA. He loves his college and NROTC experience....never considered reapplying. Things work out the way they should.

That’s awesome! It all works out . My DS didn’t get his TWE until the end of April. But it actually allowed him time to fall in love with his alternate plan. I remember when he called me when he found out he didn’t get a nom from his congressman (Nov) he was crushed (we didn’t realize the Senator nom wasn’t far behind). That was a rough phone call. Fast forward 5 months to the end of April - he saw the USNA decline email & said: “I guess it wasn’t meant to be” and just moved on. If this past summer was any indication of opportunities, it shows it doesn’t matter how you commission. No one cared who was who, not even the kangaroos ….

 

[cb7893]

He’s hooked after Navy Stem. At any rate he’s a soph, 3 sport athlete, thats ditching athletics and public school for a stem academy next year. Taking pre calc next semester as a sophomore, to take calc I as a junior. Has a path to differential equations last semester before graduation.

In the end if athletics costs him….he will be fine

What are his sports?

 

[Kentucky9]

What are his sports?

Football, wrestling, track. However he will stay active physically in what they offer, probably rotc. Told him an excellent leadership project would be to get to work on the establishment of a wrestling club.

 

[8th Wing Refugee]

He’s hooked after Navy Stem. At any rate he’s a soph, 3 sport athlete, thats ditching athletics and public school for a stem academy next year. Taking pre calc next semester as a sophomore, to take calc I as a junior. Has a path to differential equations last semester before graduation.

In the end if athletics costs him….he will be fine

It's good to keep some balance. My oldest a very STEM guy - a 2x state math champ, accelerated in science, the works. A very heavy academic load junior & senior year of HS. Loved playing 3rds soccer in the fall (a level below JV), ski racing in the winter and varsity tennis in the spring. Gave him a break from the academic grind and allowed him to interact with a broader group of classmates outside of the same 8-10 kids who were all taking the same advanced classes together. Worked out well for him.

 

[Full Steam]

The vast majority of academy cadets/midshipmen did varsity sports in high school. You can find exact numbers on the class profile sheets, but it's generally >91%.

While he might not be able to maintain three sports at the new school, is there a reason he can't continue with one?

I like the idea of trying to establish a wrestling team, but that depends on a qualified coach and a fair amount of gear. A cross country team might be more achievable if they don't yet have any sports.

 

[Kentucky9]

Ultimately youngest son will follow this path and see where it takes him. His brother has paid the price for lack of academic rigor in the public school setting. His big brother is still in the Navy game, but in the end youngest son convinced me that he will set his sights on MIT, Purdue, and the service academies. Graduating hs a college junior, and a free ticket to an aero/astro or astrophysics degree…has won out by his evaluation. I will support him and his dreams.

Another issue is he won’t be as suspect to Dodmerb Dq’s with broken legs and torn ACL’s. He has access to “fighting robots”, army rotc participation, etc.

 

[cb7893]

Football, wrestling, track. However he will stay active physically in what they offer, probably rotc. Told him an excellent leadership project would be to get to work on the establishment of a wrestling club.

Coaching is also a possibility.

DS #2 was kicked in the eye with a soccer ball during gym class during 1st semester senior year. He was unable to participate in any sport for one year. His lax coach made him an assistant coach. It kept him active and involved.

Best of luck to your DS!

 

[Kentucky9]

It's good to keep some balance. My oldest a very STEM guy - a 2x state math champ, accelerated in science, the works. A very heavy academic load junior & senior year of HS. Loved playing 3rds soccer in the fall (a level below JV), ski racing in the winter and varsity tennis in the spring. Gave him a break from the academic grind and allowed him to interact with a broader group of classmates outside of the same 8-10 kids who were all taking the same advanced classes together. Worked out well for him.