Focus on Sea cadets or just academics

[usna2019AR]

Hello! I'm entering my junior year in high school. I'm taking 4 AP classes. Which are AP chemistry, AP language, AP computer science, AP chemistry. My school starts at 7:45 but my bus comes at 6:30. School ends at 3:30 and I have soccer directly after and it ends at 6:00. AP Chemistry and AP world history have a huge work load, for example world history would be 3 regular courses. To give you an idea of chemistry, we have a 90 page packet on spring break. I have a total of 8 classes. I have to get in good studying on top of sleep everyday. I decided last year I want to join the USNA. This would be my first time on the sea cadets. My question is do you guys think I have enough time to dedicate to the sea cadets or should I just focus on academics and not do sea cadets. Thanks for your help.

 

[MichaelW22]

I view it like this: one of those things has the power to get you into USNA, make you a smarter and more productive member of society, prepare you for rigorous academic life at USNA, and prepare you for other civilian plan B colleges. The other has the power to prepare you for a small portion of leadership and military structure. Not to knock sea cadets or the necessity of ECAs, but for me the choice is obvious. You might have time for it, but it will take away from other things.

Focus completely on having stellar academics.

 

[kinnem]

Why are you (planning) on joining Sea Cadets. If you're doing it to get a check mark in a box, then I wouldn't bother at this point. Do you think you would fool somebody? Look for leadership elsewhere if your heart is not in Sea Cadets, and it sounds like it's not.

 

[usna2019AR]

I want to join sea cadets because I thought it would be a good experience, not to check a box. I'm just being realistic because no matter what I want to do academics is very important in doing anything after high school.

 

[usna2019AR]

I view it like this: one of those things has the power to get you into USNA, make you a smarter and more productive member of society, prepare you for rigorous academic life at USNA, and prepare you for other civilian plan B colleges. The other has the power to prepare you for a small portion of leadership and military structure. Not to knock sea cadets or the necessity of ECAs, but for me the choice is obvious. You might have time for it, but it will take away from other things.

Focus completely on having stellar academics.

Alright thanks for your input, appreciate it

 

[usna2019AR]

Actually maybe I should consider doing it next year. I can focus on my hard classes this year and do it next year in my senior year where I have less hard classes and be able to enjoy the experience instead of cramming and getting stress this year for academics. What do you think? Thanks guys for your help.

 

[MichaelW22]

I just wouldn't do anything that makes you perform at an academic level less than your best. I was in the same situation this year; I would really enjoy being a sea cadet. However, it just wouldn't fit in my schedule (as it sounds the same for you) - my two things are 1)meet full academic potential and 2)balance. In the end, it's your choice to decide if you'll be able to balance it and enjoy senior year. Feel free to PM me about anything.

 

[5Day]

Why not just try doing it all, and if your EAs start to interfere with your academics, scale back on your commitment to sea cadets. You have your priorities straight. Academics need to be first on the list. Manage your time, don't waste it unproductively, and you will be surprised how much you can do.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

My first inclination was to say do and excel at both... the candidate that has straight A's in AP classes, and is a proven leader in Sea Cadets (or other ECA's like Boy Scouts, CAP) etc. will have an advantage over the person who does either /or.

However, realistically you recognize the dilemma, and know that you are stretching your capacity ---so the answer is clearly focus on academic success. I really don't know much about the Sea Cadet program, but was in CAP - and suspect that you don't do anything in the first year that provides a big boost to your application. On the other hand, a bad grade in AP Chemistry could raise a red flag. There's an old Navy saying that it takes a whole lot of "atta boys" to make up for one "aw sh!t" -- I think that applies here. Good luck.

 

[usna2019AR]

My first inclination was to say do and excel at both... the candidate that has straight A's in AP classes, and is a proven leader in Sea Cadets (or other ECA's like Boy Scouts, CAP) etc. will have an advantage over the person who does either /or.

However, realistically you recognize the dilemma, and know that you are stretching your capacity ---so the answer is clearly focus on academic success. I really don't know much about the Sea Cadet program, but was in CAP - and suspect that you don't do anything in the first year that provides a big boost to your application. On the other hand, a bad grade in AP Chemistry could raise a red flag. There's an old Navy saying that it takes a whole lot of "atta boys" to make up for one "aw sh!t" -- I think that applies here. Good luck.

Thanks for your answer. I want to see if my classes will load me with work and see if I can fit sea cadets in, but the open house is on Sept 16 so I don't know what I should do.

 

[AROTC-dad]

It cannot hurt to attend the Open House. You don't have to join up on the spot.
Check out the program at the open house, wait for your academic classes to begin and see if you can squeeze it in without killing yourself (Or even if you like the program or not!)

Totally agree with Old Navy BGO, though.

Good luck!

 

[kinnem]

There are two primary schools of thought on making decisions (I'm making that up but I know of 2).
1. Make your decision immediately, based on the information at hand, and don't look back. Move forward.
2. Keep all your options open. Keep the irons in the fire. Don't make a decision until you have to, but when you do, execute option 1 immediately.
The first avoids misplaced effort. The second let's a "problem ripen" so you can make a better and more informed decision. I've used both.
Good luck wrestling with this.

 

[seacadetmum]

Sea Cadets will just give you military experience, going in as a junior it would take some time before you are able to work in a leadership role. If your school has an JROTC program that would give you the same experience but with the added bonus of a possible nomination.
My dd didn't join Sea Cadets because she wanted to go to USNA, she joined because she thought Girl Scouts was boring and wanted adventure. Through her experiences with the organization she found USNA, her visit there this summer sealed the deal for her. (Though she spent some time with the Army ROTC at TCU this past weekend at a football game...those kids smell their own...and now she talks about that being her Plan B).

 

[LongRange99]

Most sea cadets and civil air patrol cadets obtain leadership positions in these programs to get the academy's attention. Most extracurricular activities the Academy's have interest in involve your positions of leadership... If you have some leadership in sports or other activity I would not bother with Sea Cadets... It's time to start adding up your whole picture

 

[JohnJr1601]

maybe I should consider doing it next year. I can focus on my hard classes this year and do it next year in my senior year where I have less hard levels and be able to enjoy the experience instead of cramming and getting stress this year for academics. What do you think? Thanks guys for your help.

I was thinking of doing the same thing but with the "Young Marines" but after thinking about it I thought that the Academy would notice I only joined for a year!

 

[usna2019AR]

Sea Cadets will just give you military experience, going in as a junior it would take some time before you are able to work in a leadership role. If your school has an JROTC program that would give you the same experience but with the added bonus of a possible nomination.
My dd didn't join Sea Cadets because she wanted to go to USNA, she joined because she thought Girl Scouts was boring and wanted adventure. Through her experiences with the organization she found USNA, her visit there this summer sealed the deal for her. (Though she spent some time with the Army ROTC at TCU this past weekend at a football game...those kids smell their own...and now she talks about that being her Plan B).

I'm not doing it for a leadership role because I know I won't be able to get there at this point, but I want it for the experience. I think I would enjoy it. The dilemma is AP world and AP chem have a butt load of work.