- Joined
- Feb 5, 2009
- Messages
- 1,480
Thanks everyone! He's always wanted AF and always been interested in flying. Did a couple flight camps and has several hours of flight time in a Cessna. Went to the sports camp at AF and for an Army/AF game out there and for a visit this year.
However, this summer he did the summer seminars at all three academies and although he still wants AF, I think it really opened his eyes to what Navy had to offer, both in flying and in engineering and academics. As I said too, everyone he's come into contact with from Navy has just been super helpful, motivated, and enthusiastic, which has to rub off. Incidentally, I spent a semester at Navy as an exchange cadet so could tell him a little about it.
He's just never been as impressed with WP. He would still take it over a civilian school because I think he really wants the academy experience and wants to be in the military. I am confident the Army would be his last choice of the three, and he certainly believes the aeronautical engineering programs and opportunities to fly would be way better at one of the other two academies. He also didn't have a great experience at summer seminar there - it was okay, but he met a lot of people that didn't seem to want to be there and had some negative attitudes overall (cadets, not other high-schoolers). Not much that he did there appealed that much to him. He wasn't even that sure he wanted to go to the summer seminar there - think dad and I convinced him WP was worth another look (he'd also gone to soccer camp there).
So as sad as we as parents/grads are about it, it's all about what's best for him. Honestly, the biggest reason I'd love for him to go to WP would be just to go back for football games and to hear how much "the corps has"! Probably not a really good justification for him! Far better for him to have the academic and career options he wants.
Incidentally, he has a good friend that he met through these boards that he went to all 3 summer seminars with. He desperately, 100 percent wants Navy and today was given an LOA from West Point! So they're both rejoicing on one hand and stressing out on the other!
However, this summer he did the summer seminars at all three academies and although he still wants AF, I think it really opened his eyes to what Navy had to offer, both in flying and in engineering and academics. As I said too, everyone he's come into contact with from Navy has just been super helpful, motivated, and enthusiastic, which has to rub off. Incidentally, I spent a semester at Navy as an exchange cadet so could tell him a little about it.
He's just never been as impressed with WP. He would still take it over a civilian school because I think he really wants the academy experience and wants to be in the military. I am confident the Army would be his last choice of the three, and he certainly believes the aeronautical engineering programs and opportunities to fly would be way better at one of the other two academies. He also didn't have a great experience at summer seminar there - it was okay, but he met a lot of people that didn't seem to want to be there and had some negative attitudes overall (cadets, not other high-schoolers). Not much that he did there appealed that much to him. He wasn't even that sure he wanted to go to the summer seminar there - think dad and I convinced him WP was worth another look (he'd also gone to soccer camp there).
So as sad as we as parents/grads are about it, it's all about what's best for him. Honestly, the biggest reason I'd love for him to go to WP would be just to go back for football games and to hear how much "the corps has"! Probably not a really good justification for him! Far better for him to have the academic and career options he wants.
Incidentally, he has a good friend that he met through these boards that he went to all 3 summer seminars with. He desperately, 100 percent wants Navy and today was given an LOA from West Point! So they're both rejoicing on one hand and stressing out on the other!