Amount of Credits/Year at USNA

Good to know! Since DD is doing NROTC at a SMC, she is used to PT tests, etc and has been crushing all of that this year! She'll be coming in from altitude into Annapolis as well, so that might give her a tiny advantage, at least for the first few days!
 
hopefulhockeymom said:
Good to know! Since DD is doing NROTC at a SMC, she is used to PT tests, etc and has been crushing all of that this year! She'll be coming in from altitude into Annapolis as well, so that might give her a tiny advantage, at least for the first few days!
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Altitude is an advantage, but lack of humidity could also be a humbling factor. *Based on personal experience from my now 3/C.
 
And now is a good time to coach incoming plebes-to-be to not be “That Plebe” during PS. The know it all, PT stud, look at how I’m beating everyone else and standing out and cruising through this. There is plenty of time for that during the regular academic year. See someone struggling? Help them out, whisper an encouraging word, earn respect for being a strong, willing team player first. There are years ahead to step up into leadership roles, and demonstrating cheerful followership is a foundation. Detailers will notice who bonds with others and works hard as a good shipmate and classmate. Every midshipman has their highs and lows at USNA, and from what I have observed, it’s your circle of friends from your company or sport or ECA who you will lean on to get through 4 years in the pressure cooker, as they will rely on you.
 
Capt MJ said:
And now is a good time to coach incoming plebes-to-be to not be “That Plebe” during PS. The know it all, PT stud, look at how I’m beating everyone else and standing out and cruising through this. There is plenty of time for that during the regular academic year. See someone struggling? Help them out, whisper an encouraging word, earn respect for being a strong, willing team player first. There are years ahead to step up into leadership roles, and demonstrating cheerful followership is a foundation. Detailers will notice who bonds with others and works hard as a good shipmate and classmate. Every midshipman has their highs and lows at USNA, and from what I have observed, it’s your circle of friends from your company or sport or ECA who you will lean on to get through 4 years in the pressure cooker, as they will rely on you.
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I can’t foot stomp this enough. USNA is the beginning of a lifelong journey in leading people…successes of the team will far outweigh individual successes, specifically while wearing the uniform. Not only will MIDN see through selfish leaders, so will the Sailors or Marines awaiting after graduation, who are counting on having good leadership. Don't mistake that good leaders must keep their affairs in order, but if that is all they do then they aren’t building and developing winning teams that our nation is counting on. USNA is the place to start understanding and applying this so that when you graduate and are sent out to the Fleet/FMF, you are the good leader that our nation expects.
 
Lot so great advice so far....4.0 at USNA is a worthy goal.

Just remember goal is to graduate and commission. C's get Commissioned!
 
IronmanDaremo said:
My suggestion there? Slow your roll. Take each step at a time. Adjust to life as a midshipmen and focus on getting through Plebe summer first.

It is not purely about academics at the Academy. You will have so many other things being thrown at you at the same time. It will force you to prioritize and other aspects will suffer.

Having aspirations about maintaining a perfect GPA are great. But, not always realistic.

(And I can guarantee you that anything you would do preparing yourself for will be thrown out of your brain the minute you walk into Alumni Hall for I-Day activities).
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Capt MJ said:
It is a good goal to aspire to academic success, but you will want to broaden that goal to include optimizing across all graded areas - military aptitude/performance, conduct, physical fitness, etc. The person who performs well in all those areas plus is respected as a good plebe who helps others and pulls their share of the team load, is the person who rises high in the overall order of merit (OOM). The OOM is multi-dimensional and determines who graduates at the top of the class and with distinction. Sure, if you went to MIT or an Ivy, the 4.0 academic goal is the only one in play. That well-rounded application you strove to submit and were clearly successful in doing? You have to be a well-rounded mid, as well.

You will also never have enough time to get everything done. Expert time management, efficient study skills, task prioritization and self-discipline will emerge as far more important as tools in your toolkit than arriving at I-Day brushed up on academics.

It would be absolutely okay for you to enjoy the rest of your college year with friends and family, focus on your physical fitness, and arrive at I-Day ready to execute Plebe Summer. The start of the academic year is a plunge in the cold deep end of a pool for everyone. If you have the skills mentioned above, you will be as well prepared as anyone.

If you are bound and determined to scale the heights of performance, there is of course recognition for those who stand highest in academic performance. But again - truly - it’s neither expected nor required to do academic work before you go. The start of the academic year is months away.
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justdoit19 said:
Part of you job will also to be a good shipmate/roommate and friend. My DS had a roommate that (at the time) had the record for the number of validated classes. His nose was always in a book. Wasn’t a good company mate. And got graded/ranked accordingly. Believe it or not, he was coached through this and it all turned out fine. But he was an awful plebe roommate.

This is SOOOOO *NOT COLLEGE* it’s hard to imagine. Think about it. Military obligations. Academics. And your ‘social’ part of you actually being important. It’s more than GPA.

Echo @IronmanDaremo. Allow your journey to unfold organically. And be present in these last precious moments with friends and family.

Congrats on your appointment!!
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Thank you all for the advice! I've read everything you three have said and I will certainly take it to heart this summer.
 
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