Overqualified for NAPS?

Huursoldaat said:

Are you suggesting the Academies / ROTC don't use race and gender based admissions?

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There is nothing wrong with race & gender-based admissions .... nothing at all.

I'm a white male ... and I'm broken too ... most people would label me as being disabled ... the Navy would label me defective ... but I don't complain ... why should I ... I can still kick some a$$ with my bad legs ... and I built several houses with these bad legs too ....

Move forward .... stop complaining about something that isn't broken .... I know, because I know what "Being Broken" feels like.

This really pi$$es me off.
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MidCakePa said:

Huh? OP, are you saying that he’d be a better SA candidate if he was a minority who doesn’t work hard at school and job? After two candidates and multiple SA and ROTC applications, I’m not aware of any WCS/WPS points for this.

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The academies do reserve a certain number of spots for recruited athletes and minorities. The NWL fills ~359 appts, and ~200 of these are typically composed of these applicants. These are called Additional Appointees (AAs) and they're selected without regard to their WCS. And, no, I'm not saying you'd be a better candidate if you're a minority. I'm just saying my son wouldn't qualify for these slots.

Yes, I

Dr. Strange Love said:

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It really is the "whole package" ... and the SAT is the "Great Equalizer" ....

Our daughter went to NAPS on a ~730/740 Verbal, 690 Math SAT ... taken one time in May 2018 .... Her BGO told her to take it more times .... I said her score is perfect .... my wife, a Loudoun Teacher, said her score is perfect too .... Done .... move on .... The SAT is not a "Sport" and Don't guild the Lilly.

NoVA District 10 (Fairfax/Loudoun) Nominations board wrote a letter to the Academy in late 2018 recommending NAPS because of daughter's low/average grades in Calc/Chem/Physics .... She got all Middle-to-Low C grades, and her GPA at an extremely competitive NoVA HS was 3.4

She said the board asked her about grades .... She told them what we tell her .... If you are happy with your grades, then we (the Parents) are happy with your grades ... and I am a PhD EE ...

She's competitive in sports, she is Piano Classical pianist, piano guild member .... Music is Everything to me .... She was offered a music scholarship at the University of Virginia .... She chose NAVY and the extra year at NAPS .... she got tired of music .... and I probably pushed pretty hard there

My wife is the Boss ... she is also a Pianist ... and she said GO NAVY.
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She seems like she was a perfect candidate for NAPS because of the Cs. My son gets As, so seems like his chances of going there are low ... but the more I read, the more I understand that there's some element of *magic* in the whole process that can't be explained I'm going to go with the advice that many more knowledgeable people than myself have left on this forum. Just do your best, show your best, and let the admission gods do their thing.

justdoit19 said:

Or….whatever admissions says.

Clear as mud.

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Clear as mud!

wnsham96 said:

Yes, I

She seems like she was a perfect candidate for NAPS because of the Cs. My son gets As, so seems like his chances of going there are low ... but the more I read, the more I understand that there's some element of *magic* in the whole process that can't be explained I'm going to go with the advice that many more knowledgeable people than myself have left on this forum. Just do your best, show your best, and let the admission gods do their thing.

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At CVW, admissions told me directly that my son would not be given a naps slot based on his academic record. I was hoping that some magic could happen if he didn’t get his colorblind waiver.

Dr. Strange Love said:

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There is nothing wrong with race & gender-based admissions .... nothing at all.

I'm a white male ... and I'm broken too ... most people would label me as being disabled ... the Navy would label me defective ... but I don't complain ... why should I ... I can still kick some a$$ with my bad legs ... and I built several houses with these bad legs too ....

Move forward .... stop complaining about something that isn't broken .... I know, because I know what "Being Broken" feels like.

This really pi$$es me off.
.

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I don't know what you are talking about exactly. You straw-manned the whole thing. I was merely asking MidCakePA if he/she believes there are not raced based admissions. There clearly are. And the OP was stating a fact - his kid will not be open to one of those positions and is competing in the general pool with everybody else.

Huursoldaat said:

I don't know what you are talking about exactly. You straw-manned the whole thing. I was merely asking MidCakePA if he/she believes there are not raced based admissions. There clearly are. And the OP was stating a fact - his kid will not be open to one of those positions and is competing in the general pool with everybody else.

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Saying my son is “just” a white, hard working kid implies, intentionally or not, that his son is disadvantaged in the admissions process, where lazy minorities and women have some advantage.

The predominantly white and male academies might disprove that.

Huursoldaat said:

I don't know what you are talking about exactly. You straw-manned the whole thing. I was merely asking MidCakePA if he/she believes there are not raced based admissions. There clearly are. And the OP was stating a fact - his kid will not be open to one of those positions and is competing in the general pool with everybody else.

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... I felt like I had to shake my harness bells
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Huursoldaat said:

Are you suggesting the Academies / ROTC don't use race and gender based admissions?

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It is quite obvious that this is a factor, I don't understand how any college even considering race or gender to aid in making an admissions determination is not blatantly against the civil rights act. There are literally diversity admissions officers at the academies and it would be silly to think that the academies, especially under the current administration would not prefer minorities over middle class white males for admission.

Dr. Strange Love said:

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What is it that you can confirm? .... just say'n ... him-haw'n ... and such
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No! I cannot confirm and if it's fact-checked to be false, then so be it, my apologies for misleading anyone, again, just stuff I've read around this forum and heard from a few SA friends/graduates.

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Moderators ... can you remove the punch bowl? I'm not supposed to drink.
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wnsham96 said:

The academies do reserve a certain number of spots for recruited athletes and minorities. The NWL fills ~359 appts, and ~200 of these are typically composed of these applicants. These are called Additional Appointees (AAs) and they're selected without regard to their WCS. And, no, I'm not saying you'd be a better candidate if you're a minority. I'm just saying my son wouldn't qualify for these slots.

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What is your source for the information you provide about the "NWL," "AAs," and numbers filled? Where did you obtain information that WCS is not considered with respect to AAs?

dddad said:

What is your source for the information you provide about the "NWL," "AAs," and numbers filled? Where did you obtain information that WCS is not considered with respect to AAs?

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A podcast called Gain Service Academy Admission, with Lt Colonel Robert Kirkland. He's very knowledgeable on the numbers / stats for the academies - but I'm fully aware his reports are not set in stone - however they are based on recent data reports. However, the more I research / listen, the more I realize that there are optimal candidates that don't get in, and others that do. So I don't get stuck on the numbers.

First, I'm not sure anyone other than Admissions knows why some kids are recommended for NAPS or Foundation and others aren't. Factors that seem to count are high SAT / low grades (with comments from teachers saying kid is really trying in school) or the converse. Some are recruited athletes, with football, basketball and lacrosse recruits often going to NAPSs and others often going to Foundation.

Second, Admissions has made clear that the directive from the CNO (and not just the current one) is to produce officers more in line with the demographics of the enlisted ranks. How that is effectuated is less clear. Of note, there was discussion of the use of "affirmative action" in military in the two cases that were argued in the US Supreme Court earlier this week. The article below has some details and an internet search will turn up quite a few more.


The article quotes from an amicus brief filed with the Court that states SA prep schools are used as a "pipeline to increase the enrollment of racial and ethnic minorities." Nonetheless, as others have stated above, there are many folks at NAPS and Foundation who are not minorities or recruited athletes.

For the OP . . . no one here can give you an answer. Be sure your DS tells his BGO of his interest in NAPS / Foundation. Beyond that, there's nothing you or DS can do. Every year, kids with (on paper) much stronger credentials than your DS are turned down and some with a "weaker" package receive appointments. Not unlike almost every competitive college / university in this country.

I had never heard of Naval Foundation School until basically my daughter received a phone call from USNA admissions saying she had received the Naval Foundation Scholarship . I had some familiarity with NAPs based on this forum . DD is a “good” swimmer, she is not a superstar. She was recruited by some Div 2 schools and by a SMC after she reached out to the coach, she was very proactive in pursuing her goals . She was a leader in her school (orchestra president , student council , captain), universally respected by her teachers and classmates , 2 sport varsity athlete, volunteered in a soup kitchen pre and post covid, had a job and was able to articulate with her blue and gold officer and the nomination committee why she wanted to serve in the military , not just go to a service academy , but why she would serve in the military regardless of where she went to school . I know I am biased , but she would be successful wherever she landed because she is disciplined , passionate about her goals, responsible and empathetic. A lot of folks seem to get stuck on the SAT score, stellar GPA or incredible three sport varsity athlete , I think it’s a lot more than that . I also know students who were all gung ho about attending a service academy , weren’t appointed and are now in superior universities where they are not in ROTC and have decided that the military is not for them , it was the “prestige” of going to a service academy that they were interested in. I tend to believe that the military should be somewhat representative of the population they are charged to protect. After last year I learned there is no way to predict in the large number of cases , who will receive an appointment or who won’t .

wnsham96 said:

Yes, I

She seems like she was a perfect candidate for NAPS because of the Cs. My son gets As, so seems like his chances of going there are low ... but the more I read, the more I understand that there's some element of *magic* in the whole process that can't be explained I'm going to go with the advice that many more knowledgeable people than myself have left on this forum. Just do your best, show your best, and let the admission gods do their thing.

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As versus Cs… without context, means nothing. As in Algebra are one thing. As in AB Calc are another. USNA is STEM heavy so they look heavily at Chem, Calc and Physics. They want to see someone push themselves and take the hardest classes possible. Also, rigor of school is looked at. NOVA has some top notch schools, some of the best in the nation. I have seen a 3.4 from these schools with a 1580 SAT and an LOA from USNA. I have seen 4.3s not be academically qualified. The bottom line is none of us know the admissions formula for USNA. Even the long time BGOs do not know. The only thing someone can control is putting the best package possible forward.

wnsham96 said:

A podcast called Gain Service Academy Admission, with Lt Colonel Robert Kirkland. He's very knowledgeable on the numbers / stats for the academies - but I'm fully aware his reports are not set in stone - however they are based on recent data reports. However, the more I research / listen, the more I realize that there are optimal candidates that don't get in, and others that do. So I don't get stuck on the numbers.

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Is he a consultant for hire? Did he work for Admissions at a SA?

Edit: HOLY COW I just looked him up. Consulting full services are $8k

justdoit19 said:

Is he a consultant for hire? Did he work for Admissions at a SA?

Edit: HOLY COW I just looked him up. Consulting full services are $8k

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Wow ! Seriously , I did a google search for service academy application when DD was first applying and found this forum and told DD about it . CFA , nomination interview prep , DODMERb info and pretty much any other questions she and I had were answered just lurking here . Plus I met a lot of nice folks who were also going through the process with their kids .

We need a membership fee!

I think $8 a month is the current rage.

A1Janitor said:

We need a membership fee!

I think $8 a month is the current rage.

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I think bacon rashers are the currency here.
$/month.