Visit to The USNA

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I am traveling to the Baltimore area for a few days this weekend and next week with DW, DS1 and DS2. DS2 is a rising sophomore who is interested in applying to USNA in two years.

We plan to visit USNA. None of us have ever been there before. We are planning to go on a public tour, to attend an admissions briefing and visit the museum. Any suggested “do’s” or “dont’s”?

P.S. - I will ask the admissions briefer whether selection to NASS is purely random. LOL
 
It’s not purely random. There are tons of factors. Geography being a big item... how many kids have come from that school in the last 1,3,5,10 years? School profile? Types of students that attend? What about that area? What about the district? State? SS is an outreach program. It doesn’t mean a highly qualified kid from Northern VA won’t get in either. It’s means your stats are not the only item looked at. The items above also play a huge factor. A kid might not have big stats, but it might spark an interest. Then guess what? The following year maybe two apply. Maybe one gets prep. The snowball effect. Source... admissions (I was in there last week and stopped by and had a chat with a few folks).
 
It’s not purely random. There are tons of factors. Geography being a big item... how many kids have come from that school in the last 1,3,5,10 years? School profile? Types of students that attend? What about that area? What about the district? State? SS is an outreach program. It doesn’t mean a highly qualified kid from Northern VA won’t get in either. It’s means your stats are not the only item looked at. The items above also play a huge factor. A kid might not have big stats, but it might spark an interest. Then guess what? The following year maybe two apply. Maybe one gets prep. The snowball effect. Source... admissions (I was in there last week and stopped by and had a chat with a few folks).

I believe you. All that makes sense. I was taking a jab at some of the comments in another post recently that said that selection to NASS was completely random. That is ludicrous. A lot of information is required in the application. If selection were random, why would they request all that info. For example, I am sure they ask for SAT scores to weed out applicants that have a score of 900, from the many who have "in the ballpark" scores. Of course, I realize that three or four times as many prospective applicants attend NASS than there are slots for each class.
 
You've pretty much covered what to do at USNA, that's open to visitors. I also suggest you spend a bit of time in DTA (downtown Annapolis). It's a neat little town, with lots of great cafes, shops, etc.

You could go look at the stadium from the outside. It costs to park but not to walk in. Or you could drive by. Not a lot to see from the outside but it's only 5-10 minutes out of your life.
 
If either of your DSs is interested in playing a sport and may be recruited, I would suggest that you reach out to the specific coach. My DS visited the NA as a sophomore and had a substantive meeting with the coach. He spent a lot of time with us and took us on a tour of the Yard. That meeting was the start of an on-going relationship over the next two years and was very additive to the admissions process.
 
If either of your DSs is interested in playing a sport and may be recruited, I would suggest that you reach out to the specific coach. My DS visited the NA as a sophomore and had a substantive meeting with the coach. He spent a lot of time with us and took us on a tour of the Yard. That meeting was the start of an on-going relationship over the next two years and was very additive to the admissions process.

DS only recently went out for high school cross-country. At this point, he is not a competive runner. He does it for fun and to stay fit. I seriously doubt he will reach the point where he would be recruited for cross country or track. I wouldn’t mind saying hello to the cross country coach at USNA but i feel awkward about it given that DS is not that fast and probably will not be a Division I recruited athlete
 
There could be some on the lower range. Lower than you would think. It doesn’t mean those are final scores. It might spark an interest to take a prep course. A 900 can turn into an 1100. Doesn’t mean an 1100 is going to get them into USNA, it might mean a shot at NAPS. You would be surprised by the spectrum of Summer Seminar attendees.
 
If either of your DSs is interested in playing a sport and may be recruited, I would suggest that you reach out to the specific coach. My DS visited the NA as a sophomore and had a substantive meeting with the coach. He spent a lot of time with us and took us on a tour of the Yard. That meeting was the start of an on-going relationship over the next two years and was very additive to the admissions process.

DS only recently went out for high school cross-country. At this point, he is not a competive runner. He does it for fun and to stay fit. I seriously doubt he will reach the point where he would be recruited for cross country or track. I wouldn’t mind saying hello to the cross country coach at USNA but i feel awkward about it given that DS is not that fast and probably will not be a Division I recruited athlete
If your kid isn't competitive there, don't waste the coaches time. Take the public tour. It's excellent.
 
When we visited there was an option before/after the public tour to go to an info session about USNA application process and other school info. It was informative and worth scheduling your tour around if possible.
 
Go to Chick-N-Ruth's Delly and order the Senator “Nathaniel J.McFadden” Homemade Corned Beef Hash & 2 Eggs.
You're welcome.
 
There is a short video in the Visitor’s Center theater (<15 minutes, continuous showings) that provides an overview of USNA - definitely watch it.

I recommend reserving and paying for your public tour early as they may fill up this time of year. Tours depart from the Visitor’s Center and the Admissions briefings are held right upstairs. Gift shop is also right there and is very nice and well-stocked.

The museum is excellent! Definitely take a stroll through both floors.

We ate at Iron Rooster on our recent spring visit and the food was excellent.
 
I recommend reserving and paying for your public tour early as they may fill up this time of year

Thanks for the advice. I just called. They do not take reservations for the public walking tour. It is first come, first serve. (I think maybe they do take reservations for the riding tour.) But we will go early in case it is crowded. Probably going this Monday.
 
Iron Rooster, Cantler's for seafood, and the naval museum on the Yard for history buffs. We spent 2 hours in the museum and still didn't see all the exhibits on the history of the Navy. There is a charming little coffee shop in DTA (hope it is still there) that allows Annapolis residents to bring their dogs while the humans buy breakfast and coffee.

Oh, August weather is sauna-like all the time. Very hot , extremely humid, take 4 steps and the sweat is pouring down your back.
 
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Oh, August weather is sauna-like all the time. Very hot , extremely humid, take 4 steps and the sweat is pouring down your back.

We are from Tampa. The first thing we noticed when we landed this a.m. was the relatively cooler and less humid it felt. If DS ever gets in, he will be well prepared for Plebe Summer because he trains in what is practically a sauna with never a cold front or any break from May to October
 
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