Academy success at the Naval Academy
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usna1985
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To add to the above, I tell all my candidates: Look to the right (no need to look to the left as well). At the end of each semester, one of you (statistically) WILL be in the bottom half of your class. Everyone thinks it won't be them, until it is.
From what I can tell, the biggest difference between our day and today is that a lot fewer mids are "living on the edge." I was talking to a mid who (if memory serves) had a 3.4/3.5 and stood in the top 1/3 of his class. The mid said lots of folks had a 4.0 I don't think ANYONE in our class had a 4.0 throughout (some did it for 1 or more semesters).
In my day, if you had a 3.5, you were in the top 30 people in your class. Not joking. A 3.0 would put you top 25%. It was brutal and many, many mids had GPAs from 2.0 - 2.2. Roughly 5-10 mids in each company every semester went to an Ac Board (meaning they were <2.0) and getting sent home for academics your first couple of years was common. We lost 4 in our company plebe year and, trust me, they studied. So, either we were a lot dumber or grading has eased. Just sayin' . . .
That said, academics are still hard. Lots of mids got through h.s. without having to do much studying. That's not the case at USNA. Unless you're one of the VERY, VERY RARE birds, you have to put in the work. And you have sports and professional activities and admin responsibilities and parade practice and marchover practice and watch and . . .
One of the most important things you learn is prioritization and also the recognition that you won't be able to do your best at everything. You do your best given the time constraints and your other commitments, but not the best you could do. It can be rough b/c the "pain" for the short-term items (chow calls, room inspections) can seem worse -- and is certainly more immediate -- than not doing well academically. So, it's a balance. Some mids figure it out in a hurry; some not so fast.
Even so, half are still in the bottom half.
From what I can tell, the biggest difference between our day and today is that a lot fewer mids are "living on the edge." I was talking to a mid who (if memory serves) had a 3.4/3.5 and stood in the top 1/3 of his class. The mid said lots of folks had a 4.0 I don't think ANYONE in our class had a 4.0 throughout (some did it for 1 or more semesters).
In my day, if you had a 3.5, you were in the top 30 people in your class. Not joking. A 3.0 would put you top 25%. It was brutal and many, many mids had GPAs from 2.0 - 2.2. Roughly 5-10 mids in each company every semester went to an Ac Board (meaning they were <2.0) and getting sent home for academics your first couple of years was common. We lost 4 in our company plebe year and, trust me, they studied. So, either we were a lot dumber or grading has eased. Just sayin' . . .
That said, academics are still hard. Lots of mids got through h.s. without having to do much studying. That's not the case at USNA. Unless you're one of the VERY, VERY RARE birds, you have to put in the work. And you have sports and professional activities and admin responsibilities and parade practice and marchover practice and watch and . . .
One of the most important things you learn is prioritization and also the recognition that you won't be able to do your best at everything. You do your best given the time constraints and your other commitments, but not the best you could do. It can be rough b/c the "pain" for the short-term items (chow calls, room inspections) can seem worse -- and is certainly more immediate -- than not doing well academically. So, it's a balance. Some mids figure it out in a hurry; some not so fast.
Even so, half are still in the bottom half.
Old Navy BGO
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This was long ago..but I don't remember even thinking about Class Rank back in the day. Most of us were satisfied to get by! I ended up doing fairly well (top 10%), but not because I was gunning for Class Rank. Midshipman worked together...everyone had their strengths and weaknesses, and some had to work harder than others. Perhaps times have changed - there are more graduate programs and other activities where selection is driven by Class Rank, but I hope the mutual support hasn't changed.
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I used to hear about the kind of grade/class rank competition from kids doing Pre-Med at some of the top schools. I never saw it at USNA.
Kings Point has a higher attrition rate than USNA, and the admission stats aren't meaningfully far apart. my class graduated less than 200 out of about 260 that started, about 30% attrition. So I would re-think that.
Speed reading may be good for passing a surface level test or getting a job done fast, but it isn't for anything else. I remember a quote I recently heard from one of Jamie Dimon's talks, "I have 3 reading speeds: very fast, fast, and very slow. Very slow is for complex things, and very fast is for something like a magazine." I think I'll follow the CEO of JPMorgan Chase's advice on this one and not yours.
usna1985
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One of the things that is ingrained in you during PS is the concept of "helping out your shipmate." Showing up your classmates/shipmates is highly discouraged -- it's (FIGURATIVELY) -- beaten out of you. That's not to say you aren't encouraged to do your best . . . you definitely are. However, you also need to help out those who need it for the greater good of the unit.
For example, some people have an easier time with uniform inspections. Hard to explain, but it's true. If you always look great and your roommate always looks terrible, you're going to get grief for not having helped him/her look better. Ditto with rates/memorizing -- take a few minutes from your studying to help a classmate who's struggling. It's a hard concept to explain but, once you're at USNA, you understand it quickly.
As an aside, there was internal competition (within yourself) to improve your class rank, as it was THE criteria (at the time) that you could control WRT service selection. So you were always looking to do better. That doesn't mean you were specifically trying to outdo your classmates. And helping out your classmate typically didn't change your own performance.
Attrition rates don't necessarily correlate to time management. Prioritization is the #1 thing I learned at USNA that I still use every day. IMHO, every mid/cadet has to learn to prioritize to succeed (but prioritization is not the only element of success). There are different approaches, and you have to figure out what works for you.
For example, some people have an easier time with uniform inspections. Hard to explain, but it's true. If you always look great and your roommate always looks terrible, you're going to get grief for not having helped him/her look better. Ditto with rates/memorizing -- take a few minutes from your studying to help a classmate who's struggling. It's a hard concept to explain but, once you're at USNA, you understand it quickly.
As an aside, there was internal competition (within yourself) to improve your class rank, as it was THE criteria (at the time) that you could control WRT service selection. So you were always looking to do better. That doesn't mean you were specifically trying to outdo your classmates. And helping out your classmate typically didn't change your own performance.
Attrition rates don't necessarily correlate to time management. Prioritization is the #1 thing I learned at USNA that I still use every day. IMHO, every mid/cadet has to learn to prioritize to succeed (but prioritization is not the only element of success). There are different approaches, and you have to figure out what works for you.
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I would go so far as to say that helping your shipmates enhances your performance, more often than not.
It's also worth noting that really smart mids can do really bone-headed non-academic things that can impact their OOM (but make them very well-practiced at mustering for uniform inspection and marching in a circle for an hour every day). It's not all about academics (or it wouldn't be "N*t College").
They can also figure out what it takes to land in the top 100 without marching in circles. Every year there are Mids that will pull a 4.0 Not easy but you can rest assured that most of the Top 100 have stellar grades.
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Each Plebe Summer, there are a few plebes who don’t immediately understand this concept. That true leadership is not about an individual being the best at everything, but instead about helping the whole team succeed and leaving no shipmate behind.
When I was applying,* I figured I had a 50/50 shot at getting in, but I knew I would thrive if I made the cut. I think that attitude came from setting a high standard for myself, determination, and a growth mindset (and the luck of having decent or above average professors). In terms of doing well academically, I agree with most of the tips described above, especially getting help when you're struggling BEFORE you fall behind in classwork and learning for mastery instead of a grade.
I truly believe that thriving at the academy is about much more than a QPR (which counts for ~65% of your OOM). I've written some of my thoughts on how to become an outstanding, well-rounded midshipmen below, several of which also apply to doing well academically.
1. Bond with your company. Or your sports team, or whatever. But choose to become part of a close community. I personally think that being close to your company is incredibly important because that's who you live with. That bond starts during plebe summer (don't chit surf. it's obvious and there are people who won't be able to look past it), but your actions and effort during the ac year matter more. Show up to company events. Swing by people's rooms and check in on them. Be in your room every once in awhile. And if you're a lot closer with your sports team or club, I think that's fine as long as you have a community of people to go through the journey with. The general vibe from training staff was that we needed to work to succeed as a class, not as individuals; no one makes it through alone.
2. Take note of and utilize the resources available. I agree with OP's observation that finding information about how to thrive at USNA on the internet website is difficult, but that site isn't designed for current midshipmen. The intranet has much more helpful and readily available information about those resources. Additionally, over plebe summer, we received numerous briefs about the resources offered to help us succeed, notably the Ac Center, Writing Center, professors, MGSP, the library, MDC, SAPR/SHAPE, chaplains (multiple briefs from them, actually), and medical. During fireside chats with the detailers, they also made it clear that we could come to them for help if we were struggling. I remember being distinctly surprised by how many resources there were, but the academy is committed to helping you succeed once you're there.
3. Choose to make required evolutions useful. There are many opportunities for personal growth disguised as tasks that you just have to get through. A lot of midshipmen grumble about Forestall Lectures, but they can be really interesting if you decide to engage your own brain and make it interesting. Another example is the Purpose to Influence Plan assignment that is part of the plebe leadership class. You can choose to treat is a joke and just get it done for the grade, or actually care and use that assignment to help you become a better midshipmen/leader/future officer. One aspect of support that I didn't realize I had until later during the ac year was my MIDN chain of command. Plebes are required to do a "come around" with their youngster, 2/C, and squad leader each week to discuss the pro-know chapter before the quiz on Friday. And those come arounds also serve as a great time for the upper-class to check in and make sure the plebes are doing all right. It's a bit hit-or-miss because you might end up with a very uninvolved squad leader, but you have to talk with them anyways, so you might as well learn from them. My first semester squad leader made sure I always set a goal for the week and then followed up on it.
4. Find a role model/mentor. As stated earlier, 50% of midshipmen are in the bottom half of their class, and no one expects it will be them. But there are also midshipmen that really stand out as excellent leaders. Take the time to notice what they do that stands out to you that you want to emulate. If you have the opportunity to talk to them, do so. Pick their brain and figure out how they see the world. Additionally, your CO and SEL are there to help you, and a lot of the military professors teaching across the yard would love to discuss professional development unrelated to academics with you. I had the privilege of playing cribbage with a phenomenal sub officer in December, and I think I learned more about life/relationships/leadership in those forty-five minutes than the rest of the semester.
5. Figure out how USNA works. There's a huge learning curve to understand how the different billets work together, professional email courtesies, expectations, negative-form 1s, honor congresses, chits, screeners, summer training, rankings, etc. Company training staff works to train the plebes with regard to these things, but there are a lot of things that just take time to learn about. If you spend time learning how the system works, asking questions, you will be more able to maneuver through it and stand out as a midshipmen.
6. Seek excellence. Make high goals for yourself and choose to do hard things, to get better everyday. Some midshipmen are satisfied with a B or C when they could be earning As or Bs if they put in more work (though there is a line where more effort stops equaling more gain). This sort of thinking also applies to the physical and moral missions of USNA, and to events within your company. Also, don't be afraid of standing out for having initiative. Maybe this point about "if you want to thrive, you have to choose to want to thrive" is obvious, but maybe it also gets hidden. It's not hard to lower your standards because you recognize that some big fish from small ponds have to be average in the ocean, and it may as well be you. I realized that though I set high standards for myself, I wanted nothing more than to blend in, be an average plebe, make friends, and be "normal" which is something I definitely wasn't in high school. This mentality was at odds with my desire to succeed, and it was stopping me from taking action during times when I should have.
Thanks for reading; my apologies that this post turned into a novel, but I have a lot of time on my hands.
*Quick note about my background: I went to a very rigorous high school and took as many APs/honors courses as I could. So the academics were much less of a shock for me than many of my peers. I also have no military background in my immediate family. Right now I'm at the end of my plebe year (plebe forever?).
I truly believe that thriving at the academy is about much more than a QPR (which counts for ~65% of your OOM). I've written some of my thoughts on how to become an outstanding, well-rounded midshipmen below, several of which also apply to doing well academically.
1. Bond with your company. Or your sports team, or whatever. But choose to become part of a close community. I personally think that being close to your company is incredibly important because that's who you live with. That bond starts during plebe summer (don't chit surf. it's obvious and there are people who won't be able to look past it), but your actions and effort during the ac year matter more. Show up to company events. Swing by people's rooms and check in on them. Be in your room every once in awhile. And if you're a lot closer with your sports team or club, I think that's fine as long as you have a community of people to go through the journey with. The general vibe from training staff was that we needed to work to succeed as a class, not as individuals; no one makes it through alone.
2. Take note of and utilize the resources available. I agree with OP's observation that finding information about how to thrive at USNA on the internet website is difficult, but that site isn't designed for current midshipmen. The intranet has much more helpful and readily available information about those resources. Additionally, over plebe summer, we received numerous briefs about the resources offered to help us succeed, notably the Ac Center, Writing Center, professors, MGSP, the library, MDC, SAPR/SHAPE, chaplains (multiple briefs from them, actually), and medical. During fireside chats with the detailers, they also made it clear that we could come to them for help if we were struggling. I remember being distinctly surprised by how many resources there were, but the academy is committed to helping you succeed once you're there.
3. Choose to make required evolutions useful. There are many opportunities for personal growth disguised as tasks that you just have to get through. A lot of midshipmen grumble about Forestall Lectures, but they can be really interesting if you decide to engage your own brain and make it interesting. Another example is the Purpose to Influence Plan assignment that is part of the plebe leadership class. You can choose to treat is a joke and just get it done for the grade, or actually care and use that assignment to help you become a better midshipmen/leader/future officer. One aspect of support that I didn't realize I had until later during the ac year was my MIDN chain of command. Plebes are required to do a "come around" with their youngster, 2/C, and squad leader each week to discuss the pro-know chapter before the quiz on Friday. And those come arounds also serve as a great time for the upper-class to check in and make sure the plebes are doing all right. It's a bit hit-or-miss because you might end up with a very uninvolved squad leader, but you have to talk with them anyways, so you might as well learn from them. My first semester squad leader made sure I always set a goal for the week and then followed up on it.
4. Find a role model/mentor. As stated earlier, 50% of midshipmen are in the bottom half of their class, and no one expects it will be them. But there are also midshipmen that really stand out as excellent leaders. Take the time to notice what they do that stands out to you that you want to emulate. If you have the opportunity to talk to them, do so. Pick their brain and figure out how they see the world. Additionally, your CO and SEL are there to help you, and a lot of the military professors teaching across the yard would love to discuss professional development unrelated to academics with you. I had the privilege of playing cribbage with a phenomenal sub officer in December, and I think I learned more about life/relationships/leadership in those forty-five minutes than the rest of the semester.
5. Figure out how USNA works. There's a huge learning curve to understand how the different billets work together, professional email courtesies, expectations, negative-form 1s, honor congresses, chits, screeners, summer training, rankings, etc. Company training staff works to train the plebes with regard to these things, but there are a lot of things that just take time to learn about. If you spend time learning how the system works, asking questions, you will be more able to maneuver through it and stand out as a midshipmen.
6. Seek excellence. Make high goals for yourself and choose to do hard things, to get better everyday. Some midshipmen are satisfied with a B or C when they could be earning As or Bs if they put in more work (though there is a line where more effort stops equaling more gain). This sort of thinking also applies to the physical and moral missions of USNA, and to events within your company. Also, don't be afraid of standing out for having initiative. Maybe this point about "if you want to thrive, you have to choose to want to thrive" is obvious, but maybe it also gets hidden. It's not hard to lower your standards because you recognize that some big fish from small ponds have to be average in the ocean, and it may as well be you. I realized that though I set high standards for myself, I wanted nothing more than to blend in, be an average plebe, make friends, and be "normal" which is something I definitely wasn't in high school. This mentality was at odds with my desire to succeed, and it was stopping me from taking action during times when I should have.
Thanks for reading; my apologies that this post turned into a novel, but I have a lot of time on my hands.
*Quick note about my background: I went to a very rigorous high school and took as many APs/honors courses as I could. So the academics were much less of a shock for me than many of my peers. I also have no military background in my immediate family. Right now I'm at the end of my plebe year (plebe forever?).
LongAgoPlebe
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Out. Standing @oceanstar. The gouge about bonding with your company is one huge advantage that USNA (and SAs generally) have over selective, rigorous colleges and unis, as is the attitude of "we all swim together and we are only as strong as the weakest swimmer."
usna1985
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To piggyback on the above post, one thing that didn't sink in until after I'd left USNA is how unusual it is for college folks to bond with their class (vs. their school) or the reason it happens at the SAs.
At most colleges, you start with a group of people in your class. Some are on the 4-year plan and some on the 5- or 6- or 7+ year plan, so many graduate well after 4 years. Some take a year or more off to find themselves or to work. People join the class at the end of the first semester, transfer in after the first year, etc. So, many of the folks who graduate with you are not the same as those with whom you started.
At USNA (and other SAs), you start with a group. You lose some along the way but you don't gain any (with the very rare exception of a turn back). Everyone must graduate in 4 years (again, with very rare exceptions). So everyone in your graduating class was there on I-Day and you all have experienced the exact same things. That shared experience is what makes the class bond so tight. At the company level, it's even more personal. It's very special and something that distinguishes SAs (and, I believe VMI and Citadel) from all other colleges and universities.
At most colleges, you start with a group of people in your class. Some are on the 4-year plan and some on the 5- or 6- or 7+ year plan, so many graduate well after 4 years. Some take a year or more off to find themselves or to work. People join the class at the end of the first semester, transfer in after the first year, etc. So, many of the folks who graduate with you are not the same as those with whom you started.
At USNA (and other SAs), you start with a group. You lose some along the way but you don't gain any (with the very rare exception of a turn back). Everyone must graduate in 4 years (again, with very rare exceptions). So everyone in your graduating class was there on I-Day and you all have experienced the exact same things. That shared experience is what makes the class bond so tight. At the company level, it's even more personal. It's very special and something that distinguishes SAs (and, I believe VMI and Citadel) from all other colleges and universities.
BrightSide
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Excuse my ignorance but what does this phrase mean?
alisonamsb
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I figured most appointments would have a high school transcript with lots of honors/APs. Is that not the case? From reading who is accepted/rejected, it appears you have to have a pretty stellar transcript to be considered for both nomination and appointment.
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There are plenty of schools that don't have a lot of AP or honors classes but might still have talented candidates.
WT Door
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Gouge-relates to answers and pertinent information. Known in other circles as the skinny, the low-down, the 411, the poop, the answers, the facts, intel.
Gouge can be good. It can also be bad or misleading
Ex. The SA Forum moderators provide a lot of good gouge on the SA application process.
Ex. There is some bad gouge floating around out there…
Ex. Do you have any gouge on places to eat in Annapolis? Any gouge on where to live in Norfolk?
Ex. That’s the worst gouge I’ve ever gotten! Don’t believe it! or That was some really sweet gouge...
Ex. What’s the gouge on the new boss? The gouge is he’s a Captain Queeg….
Ex. I’ve got the gouge on our next port visit. Don’t tell the spouses yet.
The deck plate is a reference to the ship’s deck where the Chiefs would give training and information to their sailors on the topic of the day.
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I paid @oceanstar the compliment of a Navy-speak, you’re-a-shipmate, comment.
Deckplate.
Literally, the steel plates under your feet in a ship. So, grounded, strong, knows what he/she is talking about from experience, understanding of the most junior levels of the crew, the heart and soul of the ship, currently in a position to know exactly what is going on. As in, “Ensign Flotilla is a real deckplate leader.” “LT Squidward hit the deckplates running as soon as she arrived.” “That info is right from the deckplates.”
Gouge.
The skinny, the intel, the inside info, the shortcuts, the passdown from those who have experience with it. “Hey, thanks for the gouge on where to stay for Plebe Parents Weekend.”
BZ.
Short for Bravo Zulu, the short-hand commonly accepted in Navy messages for “well-done.”
Putting it all together, I acknowledged @oceanstar was currently in the perfect position to know what he or she was talking about, offered excellent information, insight and advice, and was deserving of a classic Navy compliment.
Does that help?
Cross posted with @WT Door !