Student Life

blueplate99

USNA 21
Joined
Jan 6, 2015
Messages
88
Hi everyone...
USNA is definitley high on my college list, quite possibly my first choice. Before I make a decision, however, I have a few questions about the student life at the Academy. For one thing, what are the dorms like? I know Bancroft Hall is co-ed, but are floors separated into genders or what? And what is the deal with dating? Is it allowed? Throughout all four years? Also, how often will I get to go home and visit my family? Will I have time to have fun and hang out with friends or no? I would like to have some kind of social life, not necessarily parties every night but just get the chance to socialize and have fun. And what about going out into the city? I heard it was different for different midshipmen classes, but if someone could expand that would be great.
Thanks!
 
Hi everyone...
USNA is definitley high on my college list, quite possibly my first choice. Before I make a decision, however, I have a few questions about the student life at the Academy. For one thing, what are the dorms like?
http://www.jamesposey.com/images/portfolio/higher-education/bancroft-lg-03.jpg
Minus the outdated computers. They're huge, compared to other college dorm rooms that I've seen.
I know Bancroft Hall is co-ed, but are floors separated into genders or what?
Nope.
And what is the deal with dating? Is it allowed? Throughout all four years?
Yes, except for fraternization: Plebes can only date plebes, you cannot date in-company, and you cannot date officers and enlisted. Otherwise no one cares.
Also, how often will I get to go home and visit my family? Will I have time to have fun and hang out with friends or no?
Depends on where you live. You can usually catch a ride home or drive if you're close enough.
Being from California, I go home once or twice a year for Christmas and the summer. Air fare is expensive.
I would like to have some kind of social life, not necessarily parties every night but just get the chance to socialize and have fun. And what about going out into the city? I heard it was different for different midshipmen classes, but if someone could expand that would be great.
Thanks!
A handful of civilian universities around if you want parties.
I've gone to Baltimore, D.C., and NYC on various weekends both on my own and on movement orders. It's not hard to do.
You get to leave. Not much, but it happens.
 
The "student life" is immersion service academy where you are on active duty. Excellent info by previous posters.
There are roughly 4200 bright, competitive people of the same age range living together, eating together, marching in parades together, standing uniform inspections together, standing watch together, going to class and athletic activity together. Lots of fun and memories, but in a far different setting than a civilian college.
Plebes don't have cars, civilian clothes, very few Saturday nights off-Yard (campus), and can only leave the Yard on Saturdays between noon and midnight. Privileges increase each class year. "Mandatory fun" in a highly regulated environment abounds. Lots of grumbling, but that's part of the shared culture and firms the basis for lifelong bonds.

Scanning other threads on USNA and the other SAs will give you insight into the value and richness of this professional crucible. I think the mids say, "bad place to be, great place to be from."
Ask questions. Visit. Hope you are offered a Candidate Visit Weekend.

And - I assume you have answered the Big Question, you want to serve at least 5 years as a Navy or Marine officer after graduation and commissioning, and are considering USNA as one of the waypoints to that goal.







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Unclear if you're a senior or an underclass.

If a senior, you don't seem to know much about a school that is your first choice. That's ok but, before you make a decision, you should really further look into what life at USNA is like. It is very, very different from a civilian school. It's not monastic and, as CAPT MJ says, folks have fun, but it's not college life with some military thrown in. That's ROTC.

The #1 reason people leave SAs is that it wasn't what they expected. So the more you can be clear about what is in store, the more likely you are to be satified.

If you're an underclass, you're definitely starting to ask the right questions but, obviously, you have much more time to learn about USNA. You should apply for NASS if you're a rising senior or ask about a Candidate Visit WE. That will give you a lot of insight into USNA and the opportunity to interact with current mids.
 
Agree with everything above. Bancroft houses all Midshipmen. You will live with other Mids in your assigned company and class. Yes, females also live there. Yes, they resemble dorms in many ways, but remember this is the place that you will live, study, sleep, work, etc. Your room is kept in a certain condition, doors remain open, and what you can keep in your room is highly restricted. Very little of your time is yours. It increases each year, but its not like a regular college. Yes, there is down time, but things like duty and professional training can eat up that time. Mids date both within the Brigade and civilians. Only restriction as mentioned above is Plebes cannot date upperclass and within your company is a no-no. Do Mids date within companies, yes, happens all the time. At a certain point when it becomes serious enough, one Midshipmen will be asked to move to another company. This is referred to as a "love chit". No, you will not be partying every night as a Mid. Heck as a Plebe the only one you will probably see is on leave. As a plebe most of your liberty will spent either eating, sleeping, at your sponsors house, the movies and an occasional trip to DC or Baltimore. Being in clubs and other activities gives more chances to travel places and do things. USNA is steps from a great bar district and restaurants. Mids take plenty advantage of this. Are there parties, yes, but there are always risks with underage drinking, conduct rules, etc. There are always consequences to your action just like anything in life.
 
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