How old should a student be for these events?

CuriousDad

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My son just started 9th grade. Is he too young for these congressional service academy events? Also he doesn't know yet which school he would want to apply to. Does that matter for these?
 
9th grade is not too early to attend these events. There is a lot of information available that would help through the process. There are many attendees at ours who are still in elementary school.

Stealth_81
 
Knowing or not knowing which academy(ies) one wants to apply to doesn't matter when attending these events. There are usually folks there from each academy who speak about that particular academy so it would be a good overview. There are usually tables manned about the room for questions and "brochures" after the speakers have finished. I say usually. I've actually only been to one but that's how I would run them if it were me and it was the way the one I attended went.
 
Absolutely doesn’t matter. If it did they would include the age requirements in their announcements. It’s a great idea to start thinking about the what’s/how to’s of the process!
 
My DS started attending in fourth grade along with his siblings. It was very exciting for them to attend every year until two of them received offers of admission. We learned something new every year. When they were young, they loved collecting brochures, stickers, and pencils from each academy. The best part was when they got to hear the Midshipmen and Cadets speak about their experiences. As they got older, it gave them great role models to look up to. Once they were Midshipmen, the two who were in academies came back to be one of those students talking about their academy experience. I have carried on the mantle by manning one of the tables to answer questions. My favorite part now is getting to interact with all the outstanding young men and women willing to serve. Kind of restores my faith in the future.
 
I think it is a great idea to start sooner than later. Knowing what H.S. curriculum to select, along with how to best prepare your resume from a leadership, extracurricular standpoint, etc. to be put in the best position for an academy selection is a leg-up in the process.
 
Thanks for the advice. So, there are cadets and midshipmen at these too? That sounds like a great benefit being able to talk with them.
 
Thanks for the advice. So, there are cadets and midshipmen at these too? That sounds like a great benefit being able to talk with them.
I don't know if they are always there but there were some present at the one I attended.
 
9th grade is an awesome time!

9th - Another MOC's service academy day - convenient location/date for us, and got her even more interested!
10th - USAFA local presentation and resume workshop - got her resume looked over by her current regional admissions counselor!
11th - Her own MOC service academy day - now comes the serious questions, plus face-to-face with her own MOC staff and their application process. Stayed until the very end and visited every SA/rep.

Reps will be any combination of parents/admissions people, current mids/cadets, former mids/cadets, FFR/BGO/ALO, from ROTC office.

Parent's perspective: IMO only. When it's Q&A, head to the bathroom, concessions, or gift table. Anywhere except with the representatives. Let your child go, and don't take another child's chance for Q&A and one on one. Then come back around, towards the end, and if you have any burning questions, ask then. It's a good time at the back of the lines/room to make nice-nice and maybe meet parents with OLDER DD/DS you can get some good advice/info/exchange numbers as well, especially if you find someone from your own school and they are willing to give advice on navigating specific teachers/GC, etc. Sometimes they combine the SA day with current year appointees from that congressional district if it's a one-MOC SA day. Don't limit yourself to only your own MOC or joint SA days - remember to keep an open mind, and you may find yourself applying for a nom from any state MOC for USMMA!! There are also college nights for your high school or community hosted college nights. Investigate those as well to see if any SA is setting up a booth.
 
USAFA local event: this is interesting, never heard and seen one in our area. When I go to academy website, I don’t see any event listed for our area.

Any suggestions how to find out.
 
Best thing we ever did was hanging around until the end at a local SA event. Our MOC SA rep had a dead battery, and our DS jump started her car. Best impression ever!
 
Thanks for the advice. So, there are cadets and midshipmen at these too? That sounds like a great benefit being able to talk with them.

Sometimes yes and sometimes no. 1 yes for us, and two no’s. A good way to gauge is if it’s around times they would be home.
 
USAFA local event: this is interesting, never heard and seen one in our area. When I go to academy website, I don’t see any event listed for our area.

Any suggestions how to find out.

Check with the local AOG chapter or the local parent’s group. They usually know when and where these are happening even if they’re not directly involved, although they usually are. You can find both of them through a search engine. Watch your MOC’s website as well since they are usually the sponsor of such events. You can keep an eye on this thread as well since we try and post any upcoming events. Look through the thread for your state and see when the last one was since they are usually the same time each year.

Stealth_81
 
My son just started 9th grade. Is he too young for these congressional service academy events?
> Absolutely not; I've often suggested that we should make more effort getting the word out to 9th graders , when we can help them shape their qualification and applications. By the the time I meet them as juniors and seniors, their record is already set.
 
Our son started in 8th grade. I really think it was perfect timing. He spoke to all branches represented, introduced himself and spoke with mids. He then scheduled an appointment with his counselor at the high school he would attend and built a schedule for all 4 years of high school (knowing the master schedule could change/flex). Being able to schedule his courses to meet SA needs/requirements was huge.
He continued to attend all forums available to him. He is a candidate CPR now. Good luck to your kiddo.
 
Another potential resource for connecting is contacting your high school counselor. USNA has an outreach program where MIDN extend their Thanksgiving break to recruit at high schools. They give a nice presentation, and do a Q & A. Counselors wouldn’t know they at coming until November.

Completely agree the earlier the better, so there is time to plan. Verses react.
 
At my MOC's event, my MOC had mids/cadets from every service academy who were also from our town do presentations about their personal experience. The earlier you can get your DS/DD exposed and, perhaps, interested in what the academies have to offer - - not to mention what it takes to get an appointment - - the better. They really need to be working on grades and EC's as early as possible, but certainly by 9th grade. Many "wake up" and realize that they want to go to a SA after it is almost too late to build a resume of grades and EC's. So the earlier, the better. I have only been to one so far, with my sophomore. I didn't really see anyone younger than my DS, but certainly everyone was and is welcome.
 
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