All Service Academies - 2023 Applicant GroupMe

Hi all,

A bunch of us threw together a GroupMe that combined the existing Army and Navy ones. It's all for fun and isn't serious at all, but if you are interested in joining (you must be a 2023 applicant) then shoot me a PM. The goal isn't really for admissions discussion but instead for fostering that early Army/Navy/Air Force & Kings Point/Coast Guard rivalry.

Beat Navy!

Stay Away. On the other hand Beat Army

Yeah, sign me up.

On the other hand, never mind.
Beat Army!

prospective2019 said:

A bunch of us threw together a GroupMe that combined the existing Army and Navy ones. It's all for fun and isn't serious at all, but if you are interested in joining (you must be a 2023 applicant) then shoot me a PM. The goal isn't really for admissions discussion but instead for fostering that early Army/Navy/Air Force & Kings Point/Coast Guard rivalry.

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I've seen a few of these posts lately inviting SA/ROTC hopefuls to social media sites. I'm old, so I don't know much about GroupMe and many of the other social media sites, and I'm not slamming any particular site, but I would caution any young person about activity on social media sites in general. Young people tend to post stupid things (thank god things like this did not exist when I was young). Some things you may not feel are a bad idea to post now could still affect you later in ways you don't yet understand. Even if you don't post outright stupid things, keep in mind that your future cadre may poke around social media to take a look into your past. Assuming you are completely anonymous is a bad idea.

I would add that this is also true of anyone, including those who are not military bound. Many employers google the names and search for social media activity for potential hires. That photo of you with a beer in one hand, a joint in the other and a lampshade on your head will probably not help you land that dream job. Just my .02...

Dadof2 said:

I've seen a few of these posts lately inviting SA/ROTC hopefuls to social media sites. I'm old, so I don't know much about GroupMe and many of the other social media sites, and I'm not slamming any particular site, but I would caution any young person about activity on social media sites in general. Young people tend to post stupid things (thank god things like this did not exist when I was young). Some things you may not feel are a bad idea to post now could still affect you later in ways you don't yet understand. Even if you don't post outright stupid things, keep in mind that your future cadre may poke around social media to take a look into your past. Assuming you are completely anonymous is a bad idea.

I would add that this is also true of anyone, including those who are not military bound. Many employers google the names and search for social media activity for potential hires. That photo of you with a beer in one hand, a joint in the other and a lampshade on your head will probably not help you land that dream job. Just my .02...

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Thanks for your concern, it’s extremely important to maintain a positive digital footprint wherever you go, especially at this time in our lives as we apply to college.

GroupMe is a messaging app where the messages are only visible to those who are in the group. It’s essentially a group text that allows people to join from all platforms. There isn’t anything searchable or public about it, and everyone who is in it carries themselves in a responsible and courteous way.

Regardless, some of the things my peers post publicly are questionable...

GroupMe is commonly used in the corporate world. Over the last 10 years, I have used GroupMe regularly at large events where I have scattered event locations/event team members. Rather than trying 1:1 calls or texts, it’s a way to pop up as a known group member with a text, reporting status, requesting people or resources, setting a time for a meeting, letting a location know the CEO and exec team just left one location and are enroute another, etc. All Group members see it, so all are updated at the same time.
We create GroupMe groups specific to an event or a team. It’s a free app.

It’s also great for families/friends scattered about at an Academy event, such as Army-Navy or Induction Day at USNA. “Let’s meet at Drydock at noon for lunch.” “I’m taking the bags from the MidStore back to the car at the Stadium, meet you in front of the Herndon monument.””Had trouble finding parking, be there in 10.””Who has the towel John Jr. is going to sit on to protect his whites?”

As with any communication net, in this case a mobile device-based invite-only group texting app, the hope is that people use their words nicely.

prospective2019 said:

Thanks for your concern, it’s extremely important to maintain a positive digital footprint wherever you go, especially at this time in our lives as we apply to college.

Regardless, some of the things my peers post publicly are questionable...

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Very true.
When my son was in Indoc week, or whatever they call it, at TBS a few years ago, the large group of new LTs were in a lecture hall and a captain started clicking on a PowerPoint of photos. One click after the other had photos of the new officers about to start their six months of training. The pics showed them with copious amounts of alcohol, doing illegal activities, hanging off balconies, flashing gang signs, and other such things. They were not so kindly told to have that stuff off their social media by COB.

Dadof2 said:

I've seen a few of these posts lately inviting SA/ROTC hopefuls to social media sites. I'm old, so I don't know much about GroupMe and many of the other social media sites, and I'm not slamming any particular site, but I would caution any young person about activity on social media sites in general. Young people tend to post stupid things (thank god things like this did not exist when I was young). Some things you may not feel are a bad idea to post now could still affect you later in ways you don't yet understand. Even if you don't post outright stupid things, keep in mind that your future cadre may poke around social media to take a look into your past. Assuming you are completely anonymous is a bad idea.

I would add that this is also true of anyone, including those who are not military bound. Many employers google the names and search for social media activity for potential hires. That photo of you with a beer in one hand, a joint in the other and a lampshade on your head will probably not help you land that dream job. Just my .02...

Click to expand...

I'll add my name to list of "old people" who think a GroupMe for applicants is a bad idea. The pitfalls of unwise or inappropriate postings aside, GroupMe used in this sense is like a lot of social media - people only want you to see or hear the things that "they" want you to see about them. I don't want to read about everyone's 45 mile ruck carrying 100 lbs while listening to ACT prep podcasts on their headphones. It's just going to make me nuts.

Rant On:

I just read that teenagers spend about 9 hours on social media per day. That's insane. If I were your parent, I would recommend that rather than look for another outlook to contribute to an insane amount of social media activity already, do something "real" instead of "virtual." Workout, study, talk to people in person, look people in the eye, participate in a hobby, get some sleep, work on your application, listen to the silence - its a beautiful thing.... you get the picture. Just put the phone down and participate in the now.

OK. Rant Off.

Gen "Z's" are just wired differently.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/01/61-....html?__source=sharebar|linkedin&par=sharebar

Thanks for all of your input. I get how from the outside perspective the GroupMe might be odd and discouraged. I know none of you will change your minds about social media or the constant communication my generation—and that is completely okay.

What I didn’t mention about the GroupMe is how much of a support network for candidates. The forums offer this, however it isn’t the easy, impromptu communication that GroupMe offers. I’ve bonded with a lot of other applicants across the country and it’s helped a lot in knowing that everyone else is going through the same problems in this long application process. For those of us who have very few other applicants (if any at all) in our school, town, or even district, and guidance counselors who are clueless, sometimes it’s the most reassuring to confide in those who know how it feels. Parents, teachers, and adults often offer extremely valuable advice, however the most valuable advice can come from those who are applying right now.

It’s on us to be responsible with our technology usage, and to face the consequences of anything stupid we do. The vast majority of us are intelligent and like-minded, with the shared goal of serving as officers.

I am also in the 'buyer beware' camp. Honestly, how many different apps/websites/forums/FB groups.....etc. do candidates applying to a future SA class need and how often will applicants urgently need to interact as a group? Based on much of what you see posted on this forum, you will likely get a lot of dubious/misleading advice from your peers who are now only in the application process themselves. Most likely the SAME topics will get discussed in each of products, eating up a lot of valuable time that could be more productively used elsewhere. Those in h.s. now applying to an SA constantly talk about how busy they are and joining several new websites isn't going to allow you to make any better use of your time.

Current mids/cadets in the past have been known to find a way to join these groups to see what exactly is being discussed. Yes, it has happened regardless of the supposedly 'foolproof' way someone hopes to host these sites. Even with your best intentions, you really have no idea who else you are actually chatting with on those sites.