Balance Between Student and Aspiring Midshipman

HaroStudious

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Apr 6, 2018
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Hello everyone! I am new to this forum because I wanted to read advice and ask questions about being competitive for the academy. I'm currently a freshman in High School being apart of a program that selects the best students in our county and puts them into one student body among the entirety of the school. Being apart of this program, sometimes I forget about balancing my social life (spending time with friends and doing things that aren't entirely school related) and my student life. My questions are...

1. Is it better to bite your tongue and accept the difficult goal of becoming a USNA Midshipman and not have that much of a life beyond school (in the mindset of making a competitive application)?

and...

2. How did you as an aspiring (to previous) Midshipman find a balance between this?

3. Overall (general question), what does the Naval Academy view as a student that they want on their campus?

Thank you very much
 
Successful candidates to USNA do have a life beyond school. They are active in sports in and/or out of school. They participate in school and community activities and organizations, usually in a leadership role. They excel academically. And, they have friends. The challenge is doing it all.
 
There is also the NROTC program where you may receive a scholarship and go through naval training while being at a "normal" university. DS thought about USNA and even started his application but he decided it wasn't for him. He enrolled in NROTC, won a scholarship and is deployed as a Marine Officer today. Not everyone need thrive in the same environment. There are options.

Yo have lots of time. Focus on academics, leadership, and athletics and many different options will fall in place for you - including USNA or NROTC.
 
My son had a quite active social life before USNA. Originally in Marching Band but then three season athlete and multiple time team captain, Captain of Debate Team, Captain of Academic Decathlon Team, Eagle Scout and part time job yet he also managed to play some video games and do things with his friends.
 
Finding balance in life is always hard...and is something you have to do yourself. Aspiring to attend USNA does not mean you have to give up being a normal high school kid. Don't be fooled by all these "what are my chances?" posts, where the poster creates some outstanding resume (sometimes beyond belief) , and then asks for reassurance they will get in. My answer is always the same, it depends upon what the guy/gal you are competing against has on their resume. All you can do is challenge yourself, and do the best you can, and see how the chips fall.

What is USNA looking for ? A combination of academics, athletics, leadership, community service, and desire to serve as an Officer in the Navy /Marine Corps. The more of the those buttons you push, the better your chances....but please don't take that to mean that you have to go out for every sport, volunteer for every community event, etc. Pick a few things that interest you, and excel in them...You are more likely to succeed in something if you are truly engaged rather than going through the motions to create a resume. Finally, take time for yourself and your family -- High School is a great time and before long you will be out of the nest, looking back and wondering where that time went.
 
One addition to the advice above .....Make good choices... There are a handful of things that will destroy any chances of attending USNA ...drug abuse, alcohol incidents, police involvement, and children. It's been often said that it takes a whole lot of "attaboys" to make up for one "aw sh!t", and anyone of those issues will torpedo your chances.
 
Doing the right thing, and making the right choices - especially when nobody is looking - is what Honor means to me.

You cannot have a a civilized society without Honor. Add a little Courage and Commitment, and you will be well on your way.
After that, it won't matter if you get into USNA or not. You will be successful at anything you set your mind to.

It sounds corny, but it's true.
 
I agree that balance is key. Yes, to be accepted to USNA you need to be strong in academics, athletics, and leadership. However, if you're doing it right, these things will be sources of fulfilment in your life, and not chores that you simply check off every day. You can also have time for leisure activities, so long as you are prioritizing the most important things first. In doing so you develop time management skills which become even more important as you get older.
 
"Make good choices"...probably the very best advice ever given on this forum.
LOL, I have always whispered this in my kids' ear as I am hugging them goodbye when they are going out for the evening. I want them to always hear my voice in their head chanting "Make Good Choices"!
 
"Make good choices"...probably the very best advice ever given on this forum.
LOL, I have always whispered this in my kids' ear as I am hugging them goodbye when they are going out for the evening. I want them to always hear my voice in their head chanting "Make Good Choices"!
Whispered? Your kids were lucky! I SCREAMED IT OUT THE WINDOW....and when little brother went to school and big sisters drove him, they SCREAMED IT OUT (for me!)
 
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