swimdude76

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I attended a Marine Corps leadership program in Camp Pendleton last summer which was a life changing experience for me which initially interested me in serving and the Naval Academy. The program is not well known at all which worries me because I am afraid the admissions board will just write it off as nothing. This program was led by active duty Marines and we were taught the basic principles of being a Marine. This year I am going back as an Eagle, which is a role model for the Devil Pups. Will the admissions board look up what Devil Pups is if they don't know or am I going to have to rely on my other experiences for leadership on the application?
 
I attended a Marine Corps leadership program in Camp Pendleton last summer which was a life changing experience for me which initially interested me in serving and the Naval Academy. The program is not well known at all which worries me because I am afraid the admissions board will just write it off as nothing. This program was led by active duty Marines and we were taught the basic principles of being a Marine. This year I am going back as an Eagle, which is a role model for the Devil Pups. Will the admissions board look up what Devil Pups is if they don't know or am I going to have to rely on my other experiences for leadership on the application?
Use the essay portion of the application to tell about your experience (in 500 words though!). Best of luck to you!
 
I am confident that the Admissions Board knows about the Devil Pups program.
It is a 501(c)(3) organization with a long history.
 
I am confident that the Admissions Board knows about the Devil Pups program.

Actually, the first I've heard of it..but recall hearing about a similar program at Quantico. Unless acceptance is competitive, I wouldn't think that merely attending is the "golden ticket" to USNA (actually, I don't think that anything is a golden ticket into USNA, although there are clearly some tickets that help alot). Being selected to return as a leader carries a bit more weight. I agree with CrewMom, if this was a significant program in your life, work it into the personal statement, and if Admissions isn't familiar with the program, someone will look into it.
 
It’s your chance to tell about in essays, your interviews, etc. Don’t let it be your lone selling point, but tell about what your learned, pivotal moments, etc. I am pretty sure USNA has heard of this program. They have seen a lot.
 
I think there is a comments section on the activity form that you submit, where you could explain it (make sure that your summary is concise...maybe 2-3 sentences about what it is, tops). Others have also gave you good ideas on how you can include it.

I wouldn’t make any assumptions that this program is known about...you don’t want to leave any doubts.
 
Old Navy BGO said:
Actually, the first I've heard of it...
Why would you? You've never eaten a single crayon in your entire life! ;)

Seriously for the OP: @Old Navy BGO is spot on about the "golden ticket" thing. Your participation in this thing is just one of your ECAs.
It's not going to carry as much weight as say - a decade as a Scout - culminating with the rank of Eagle Scout. It certainly won't hurt to mention it, though.
 
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Why would you? You've never eaten a single crayon in your entire life! ;)

I was pretty gungy at USNA, and probably would have gone USMC if I was a pilot. Eyes went bad at USNA (before LASIK), and I couldn't be a pilot. I recognized opportunities were pretty limited for NFO's (A-6 was on its way out), so went Navy NFO instead.

I loved the USMC week during PROTRAMID (Second class summer). My favorite USMC moment was navigating the night patrol /ambush on PROTRAMID Second Class Summer -- I was navigator, and we exited the woods about 50 yards from where we entered after a couple hour patrol in the dark. I will admit it was a bit of luck, but I had a lot of experience with Map & Compass through Scouts and Orienteering.
 
Why would you? You've never eaten a single crayon in your entire life! ;)

I was pretty gungy at USNA, and probably would have gone USMC if I was a pilot. Eyes went bad at USNA (before LASIK), and I couldn't be a pilot. I recognized opportunities were pretty limited for NFO's (A-6 was on its way out), so went Navy NFO instead.

I loved the USMC week during PROTRAMID (Second class summer). My favorite USMC moment was navigating the night patrol /ambush on PROTRAMID Second Class Summer -- I was navigator, and we exited the woods about 50 yards from where we entered after a couple hour patrol in the dark. I will admit it was a bit of luck, but I had a lot of experience with Map & Compass through Scouts and Orienteering.
If memory serves correct you were a MPRA type right?
 
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