AIM 2014

soccerchic

5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2012
Messages
158
Hi all! With the application coming out in a few days, I was wondering if there are any other applicants on the forum?

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I applied and got in last year if you have any questions about the application process.
 
Take the application very seriously as I believe more weight is given towards it than applications for NASS or similar.

You must know that according to my son the AIM experience is much different than the summer camp like experience he had at USNA

Message me with any questions.
 
Grevar, I'd be very interested in your son's experience and comparison of AIM to any other SA summer experience. In my case it is for future reference for interested students. I'm sure there are others who are interested for their son or daughter.
 
Grevar, I'd be very interested in your son's experience and comparison of AIM to any other SA summer experience. In my case it is for future reference for interested students. I'm sure there are others who are interested for their son or daughter.

As I am sure you can read in other online comparisons between AIM and NASS, they are markedly differently. We did our research in advance and no matter how much I tried to prepare my DS mentally for what I knew AIM would be like, the experience for him was shall we say very different than he expected.

He attended NASS first, in mid June of last year. He love NASS and following its completion, he was 100% sure the Naval Academy was where he wanted to attend. I believe there were something like 700 or 800 kids in each NASS Session and it was really designed to show off the best parts of the Academy. In no sense was it a "taste" of what Plebe Summer is, nor is it really designed that way. In comparison, I believe it to me more of a recruiting tool as opposed to a pre-screening tool that I think AIM really is. For example, at NASS, there is a 30 minute session on the last full day where the kids are actually treated like fresh new plebes. Keep in mind that they have spent all week developing relationships with their "detailers" so the 30 minute session at the end was actually comical for most of them. Our DS described NASS as one of the best summer camps he had ever attended. He loved it.

Believe it or not, he had almost considered not attending AIM after going to NASS as he was sure he wanted to go to the Naval Academy. But, we already had the tickets booked and paid for, both for him and for us when we went to pick him up at the end.

About a month after NASS, he attended the first session of AIM last year. Unlike NASS, we had NO contact with him during the week. They were allowed to have their phones at NASS....not at AIM. When we picked him up, the transformation was remarkable, even after a week. Our DS is really a polite kid to begin with, but the "Yes Sirs" and "Yes Ma'ms" were flowing freely. It took him two days after being home just to stop "squaring his corners" He described the experience as one of the most challenging, yet rewarding experience of his 18 years. He could not get over the differences in the programs, and following AIM, he was even more sure he wanted to attend USNA as I think he was convinced Plebe Summer would not be as hard as Swab Summer, based on his comparison of the two. Of course we know that not to be true, right?

Apparently the AIM Cadre and staff saw something in him that we still wonder about because he was one of only five to receive an LOA following AIM. Now, I know he is my kid, and a great kid, but really? I asked him what did he do, how did he act during AIM that made him stand out? He really couldn't (or wouldn't) explain other than too say he tried to make it all about the team, encouraging others, working together, etc. I would have liked to see that for myself.

Things for him started to change in the Fall of last year, after another visit to the CGA and USNA for candidate visits. Then came visits to two operational Coast Guard Units and his chance to talk to recent Alumni. Not to mention, personal contact from the Lacrosse Coach at CGA. He became convinced that while maybe not the "popular" decision in this part of the country, he was choosing USCGA over USNA and NROTC because for him, it was the right thing to do. Even after receiving an LOA for USNA, and subsequently the required nomination, his decision didn't waiver.

I believe the USNA is doing candidates a disservice by not giving them a realistic taste of what plebe summer will be like. USCGA has it right. I believe that kids that have experienced it, even on a small one-week scale, will be more mentally prepared for the "wrath that is to come" with Swab Summer. It would be be interesting to know the stats about the washouts during Swab Summer. I would bet that the majority of them DID NOT attend AIM and had no idea what to expect. I believe this is why the CGA puts great emphasis on AIM candidates. While certainly many have gotten in without AIM attendance, I believe that 40 something percent of accepted candidates attended AIM.

Hope this information helps. I know that reading these forums during the past 12 months has been so incredibly helpful to both my son and his parents.

Best of luck to all of you applying to AIM. Do your absolute best on the application, essays, etc. If you make it, great! If not, don't give up!
 
Be prepared!

It is a challenging week (my stepson attended last summer). Start getting in shape now. Download the PFE booklet and start doing situps, pushups, and running into your daily routine. This way the physical part will be easy (ok, easier!) and you will be more prepared for the other challenges of the week.

There is a link at the CGA site for the PFE, search in Google for PFE Coast Guard (I can't post a link here, sorry!)

Howard
 
How long will the AIM application be open? I took the ACT today and am wondering if those scores will be available in time.

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How long will the AIM application be open? I took the ACT today and am wondering if those scores will be available in time.

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April 1st is the deadline for the AIM application. (according to the CGA Admissions Facebook page) Usually your scores are published 2 weeks after taking the exam.

Best of luck to you. AIM will be a great experience and a great taste of what live at the Coast Guard Academy can be like.
 
I'll be applying as soon as my guidance counselor and teachers reply about rec letters haha
 
How long will the AIM application be open? I took the ACT today and am wondering if those scores will be available in time.

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If I remember correctly, DS applied and initially submitted his junior year PSAT scores. As his SAT and ACT scores became available he was able to update/add them to his application.
 
It is key that you contact your guidance counselor, and teachers in advance, and let them know they will be receiving a link to complete an online reference. Let them know how important it is to you to get it done right away. Otherwise they may procrastinate or it may go into their spam folder and they never see it.

Stay on top of them if they don't respond in a reasonable time.
 
Does it matter which teachers send the recommendations?

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I don't think it does, since the extra recs are optional. I plan on using my math and science teacher, who both know me well.


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-On the application for AIM, is it best to combine both competitive and school soccer into one category or spilt it up? Wondering because I am captain in competitive and not at school.
- Also, for the ACT writing, do they prefer the combined or individual score out of 12?

Thanks!


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I was in the same situation with softball. Put down both and be sure to mark off that you are captain. There is plenty of space for activities and only take one team out if you feel it is absolutely necessary.
 
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