After Plebe Year

balloonattack911 said:

usna1985-

In regards to your questions about the negativity, it's hard to explain where exactly it breeds from, but it is certainly prevalent. For my English class, we all had to write a paper on how the academy has changed in our eyes compared to how we pictured it before coming here. After turning in the paper, someone asked the teacher (a Marine Corps Captain) if he had ever had a paper where the author said their opinions had improved... and he responded with a no.

From what I've seen, the 3 major reasons people are disappointed with the academy are because 1) not everybody is as smart as they expected 2) not everybody is as physically fit/tough as they expected or 3) they find the rules rather excessive, and find it hard to think of good reasons why they should go through all this crap when they could do ROTC or OCS.

From what I've seen though, us Plebes generally admit that we are biased because we are currently in the crappy part of the process, and tell the kids here for the CVW that it's really not that bad -- you just have to focus on what the future has in store.

And to subvet-- yes we still climb Herndon, with grease.

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My DD is currently a drag at the CVW. Am hoping that she gets the straight-up report from her Plebe and company contacts, complete with all the negatives you share above, the positives that she has long held dear since NASS, and your tempered views of how to try to put things into perspective. The point of the visit, as we understood it, was to help her make an informed decision, but that is obviously a lot to pack into a 40-hour stay under what are obviously somewhat-contrived circumstances.

Thanks so much for stating what you did in such a forthright fashion. It certainly does sound like you are writing from the "dark ages." Hang in there!

CVW

My son did NASS, got an LOA, knew he wanted USNA and received an appointment by Nov. of his senior year. He did not take his CVW until Feb, during the dark ages. He said that he wanted to experience the academy and see what life was really like even though he was already committed to attending. When he first went to CVW the plebes explained how bad things were, told him to go elsewhere etc. When he told them that he had already accepted his appointment and was going to attend the discourse changed significantly according to him. They began to treat him as someone that was going to be in the same boat as they were in and began to provide him with much more useful information concerning how to deal with plebe life. They didn't change their story to how it was a Disneyworld type place but rather were much more realistic in their impressions of the academy.
Four years later I can tell you he is very happy with his decision to attend. The places he has been already and things he has experienced in four years to me are amazing. He will tell you that it is tough at times even now, but he will also tell you he would not change his decision . One thing I will tell you about his decision, is that every step of the way , it was his decision and I think the one thing I have seen is that if its a parents dream or decision chances of success are reduced significantly. Good luck to all, in making your decisions.

Vista123 said:

I have a question:

DS had two interviews for USNA. One with his BGO and one with a field admissions officer who came to our house. Both went to USNA. One forever ago and one recently. The BOTH warned (!!!!) DS that he would not like plebe year but this is a four year program and would like it in the end by graduation. They both extracted a promise from him that he would try to find the humor in plebe year and not quit plebe year.

My question is, (not counting physical shape) is there anything that current plebes would recommend to incoming plebes that would make it so they aren't so "disappointed with the academy"? or is that inherently part of the process and in a way beneficial as well?

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I've put your question to my plebe--we'll see if he has the time to respond and I'll forward it if he does. From my perspective, how a plebe will react to plebe year is hard to predict because there are many, many variables that will influence the reaction. Which company he/she is in, the expectations and conduct of the training staff, who's in the squad, his/her academic background, expectations of what USNA will be like, his/her personality, ability to time manage, fatigue, illness, the other plebe personalities in the company, whether they are an athlete or not, ability to handle change and stress, etc. DS's disappointments are not the same as his roommates or his peers from his state as it really depends on the individual, what they anticipated, and what the actual experience has been. The latter actually varies quite a bit.

I think Balloonattack did a good job of getting it into a nutshell though.

The "drama" of this thread is making me ill. Like junior HS.

Let's get a grip here folks. Again, look at the stats. the retention/attrition rates are the best on the planet! If the kid goes to Ouachita Baptist, Ohio State, or Slippery Rock, her likelihood of being home before the end of her frosh year is far greater.

Yea, this is going to be more work and way more structure than the vast majority of these young people are accustomed to. But one thing they're not is fragile. They'll be fine. Jan and Feb are always a drag in college and it has nothing to do with USNA. Life, even at the Naval Academy, isn't always a party. Welcome to life.

But remember the numbers.