From Waitlist to this??

Quick question..If he takes the foundation scholarship, does he have to go through the application process again next year as he would if he chose to attend a four year college?

He would have to reapply either way. The difference is, if he takes the foundation scholarship, he is basically guaranteed an appointment, as long as he doesn’t get in trouble or fail his classes. Also the prep school will help him with his applications and essays for academies and nominations and a four year college would not typically do that. Prep school isn’t near as fun as a 4 year college :) but it’s worth it. You should also check with the foundation. They may allow him to attend a four year college. Not sure what the rules are on that but I know kids that did attend a 4 year college with a foundation scholarship.
Thank you
 
Quick question..If he takes the foundation scholarship, does he have to go through the application process again next year as he would if he chose to attend a four year college?
Actually no re-application is needed if you go through Foundation. No SAT, no medical, no CFA. The only thing you must do is apply for noms again. But we were just told that if you don’t get one you get slotted to “other source for nomination.” Oh...and they want you to update your portal with accomplishments that are new.
 
Quick question..If he takes the foundation scholarship, does he have to go through the application process again next year as he would if he chose to attend a four year college?
Actually no re-application is needed if you go through Foundation. No SAT, no medical, no CFA. The only thing you must do is apply for noms again. But we were just told that if you don’t get one you get slotted to “other source for nomination.” Oh...and they want you to update your portal with accomplishments that are new.

Actually, you do go through the process again but most things carry over. Admissions will want things like your final high school transcript, two additional SOEs, your first semester transcript from prep school. You do start all over for nominations.
 
Quote from email from the Foundation his morning:

3. You will NOT need to reapply to the Academy. You will choose the school you want to attend. I will be your new Blue & Gold Officer, and will personally monitor your progress throughout the year.

4. You will not be competing against the new applicants or other Foundation students. This offer of sponsorship is a privileged opportunity that has a very high success rate, provided you complete the following:
a. Reapply for nominations from the Presidential (if applicable), the Vice President, BOTH Senators, and your Congressman
b. Take the Navy PRT Test (no need to re-take the CFA again)
c. Maintain your Medical Qualification
d. Take Math (preferably Calculus), Physics, Chemistry and English, and whatever is needed to make a full schedule
e. Strive for A’s and B’s in the above courses.
 
As the parent of a child who gambled and self prepped their way through NWP and made it into SA on the second try, I would say that the extra year was a blessing - maturity, organization, new friendships at prep school. The extra year is a blip on the radar and will go so fast. Don't make a decision based on what you perceive is a lack of one year progress on an previously anticipated life path. You have to see the forest through the trees.

Secondly, and I say this with all due respect. I sense a tinge of "he's better than this and doesn't need this." If I am wrong in that sense I apologize. But, if there is any sentiment like that, I would check that going forward. This is an amazing group he will hopefully join someday. In fact, the most amazing are usually the prior service who may be the least heralded coming out of high school but are the most impressive and humble at the academies.

Good luck!!
 
mommydoc, you have had some great advice provided regarding the opportunities of the USNA Foundation program. I would just add that I can understand your questioning (and maybe frustration) since those considered for NAPS/Foundation are normally NOT found qualified by the Admissions Board. The fact that your DS was on the USNA waitlist means that he was fully qualified. This is an atypical situation...not sure what caused the change...but I surmise it could have been someone recently declined Foundation and instead of sending a TWE, admissions provided this as an option. A few years ago, there was a similar situation (Congressional redistricting) where fully qualified candidates were offered NAPS.
 
DS was waitlisted in early April but did not get the TWE last week that most other waitlisters got.

Still no TWE but got a Foundation offer today. Got what looks like a form email with this offer.

The email says the purpose of Foundation is to “enhance candidates qualifications.”

I did a little research and it looks like Foundation is used to enhance academic and/or athletic prowess for USNA success.

This is such a mystery to me bc DS stats academic and athletic stats are:

GPA UW 4.0/W 4.5
SATs 1450
All 5s AP chem, AP physics, AP calc BC
Maxed mile, push ups, sit ups, near maxed others
3 season varsity athlete/captain

What exactly do they want him to use a Foundation scholarship to improve upon academic or athletic-wise.

Looked at curriculum at Northwestern prep and they review pre-calc, high school physics and high school chem.

Genuinely perplexed. Any thoughts?
Congratulations on the Foundation offer.

Some young people (and their families on this very forum) saw stats like these (plus some) and received TWE's...so I stand on the side of celebrating that they were showing your son that they would like him to join them next year.
 
mommydoc, you have had some great advice provided regarding the opportunities of the USNA Foundation program. I would just add that I can understand your questioning (and maybe frustration) since those considered for NAPS/Foundation are normally NOT found qualified by the Admissions Board. The fact that your DS was on the USNA waitlist means that he was fully qualified. This is an atypical situation...not sure what caused the change...but I surmise it could have been someone recently declined Foundation and instead of sending a TWE, admissions provided this as an option. A few years ago, there was a similar situation (Congressional redistricting) where fully qualified candidates were offered NAPS.

You are very correct! Great advice and perpspective on this thread.

I was very confused (less so now) as I hadn’t seen a Foundation offer in months, had never seen a WL to Foundation offer and had been under the assumption that prep was not for fully qualified candidates (which I assume DS is as he made the WL).

DS has been exchanging emails with Capt. Wallace and will speak with him at 8 tonight.

Thanks to all for the support.
 
mommydoc; I'm a self prep student who has been accepted to the class of 2022. There is so much more to the Foundation Scholarship Program than you appreciate right now. This is an amazing opportunity for your son. I attended a military college which had three foundation scholars this year. They were all extremely hardworking and humble; something I would encourage that you and your son strive for.
It does not matter that he had great SAT scores and captained a team. They see THOUSANDS of that exact same application every year. This is one of the most prestigious institutions in the nation and you should not be surprised that your son may need that something extra to get him in. What they are looking for from your son is dedication; they need to see that he is serious about the academy and that he is willing to work for it. The fact that they offered him a Foundation spot should be a HUGE compliment. That means they see enough potential in him that they are willing to reserve him a spot in the class of 2023.
I hope that your son has a good attitude about this opportunity. This next year can be whatever he chooses to make of it. A military prep school can be an extremely beneficial experience. If I had gone to the Naval Academy straight out of high school (it wasn't even on my radar at the time) I would have struggled. However, with my time at a military prep college, I had the opportunity to mature. I improved my grades, my physical fitness, but most importantly my character. Now I feel much better prepared for the Academy experience and will be able to make the most of my time there.
Perhaps this is what Admissions is looking for with your son. Again, I believe they may be looking for that commitment so that your son can prove that he deserves the spot more than the other applicants with better-than-average SAT scores and some leadership experience on some team. Please get over this idea that your son is "fully qualified." One of the qualifications is that "X" factor, which they have given him a full, free year to develop.
 
Dear Mommy Doc: Congratulations to your son! Please do not think he is going into 13th grade just because he did not get a direct entry. I just completed NAPS and there were positive aspects to this extra year that no one could have predicted. Focus on the goal, what is his end game? And if others question your son's choice to go to a different type of school, remember that their opinions don't matter.
 
As the parent of a child who gambled and self prepped their way through NWP and made it into SA on the second try, I would say that the extra year was a blessing - maturity, organization, new friendships at prep school. The extra year is a blip on the radar and will go so fast. Don't make a decision based on what you perceive is a lack of one year progress on an previously anticipated life path. You have to see the forest through the trees.

Secondly, and I say this with all due respect. I sense a tinge of "he's better than this and doesn't need this." If I am wrong in that sense I apologize. But, if there is any sentiment like that, I would check that going forward. This is an amazing group he will hopefully join someday. In fact, the most amazing are usually the prior service who may be the least heralded coming out of high school but are the most impressive and humble at the academies.

Good luck!!

Please post a link to the research concluding, " the most amazing are usually the prior service...but are the most impressive and humble at the academies."
 
I have no research or data, but I will say that my personal experiences support the conclusion that prior enlisted are often the ones "looked up to" for their leadership abilities within a flight of basics or a squad of 4*'s. I saw it happen as a cadre and experienced it firsthand when I was a 4*. The '19er prior in my basic flight is still a great friend and someone I admire a great deal.
 
DS has been exchanging emails with Capt. Wallace and will speak with him at 8 tonight.

My DS was very impressed with Capt. Wallace

I have never met CAPT Wallace personally, but everyone I know who has encountered him speaks very highly of him. He's been running the Foundation program for as long as I can remember, and is the fountain of great wisdom. Talk to him --if OP son really wants to attend USNA, then the decision will be easy. (As an aside, CAPT Wallace was the skipper of my VP squadron shortly before I checked in; people were still talking about him when I left , 3 + years and 3 skippers later....he must have been pretty good !)
 
Back
Top