Giving Back: 2021 Plebe Q&A

So as a previous plebe I know you had a lot of responsibilities along with academics and even athletics. How did you handle those responsibilities along with all the other parts of your plebe year?
 
your I-Day was on June 29, right? when did you arrive at USNA? did you have your family/friends with you?
 
gala10 said:
your I-Day was on June 29, right? when did you arrive at USNA? did you have your family/friends with you?
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Yes my I day was on June 29. I arrived at USNA the morning of and had both my family and a midshipman friend.
 
hova said:
So as a previous plebe I know you had a lot of responsibilities along with academics and even athletics. How did you handle those responsibilities along with all the other parts of your plebe year?
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I am still a plebe, however I will answer your question to the best of my ability. Time management as well as efficiency are the keys to success at the Academy. Don't worry because Plebe Summer will help you get ready for the Academic Year.
 
Dear Laxer98,
Are Plebes allowed to go off the base on Sunday mornings to attend church in Annapolis, if they so desire? Thank you.
 
John316 said:
Dear Laxer98,
Are Plebes allowed to go off the base on Sunday mornings to attend church in Annapolis, if they so desire? Thank you.
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As a Plebe we do not rate leaving the yard unless on Saturdays from 1200 to 2359. The one exception to this rule is with Special Request Chits to attend services off the base. The chit is something you write up and will need to be approved all the way up to a Battalion Officer. I have a Chit, and it was not that challenging to obtain one.
 
Hi Laxer98,

We all appreciate your time so much here on SAF! I have some questions for you. I am a strong student (junior) with leadership roles in varsity and club sports, attended Summer STEM, hold leadership in ECA's, and I have a 4.4 GPA with a challenging course load (4 APs). However, my SAT scores need work. How important are SAT scores to USNA? Can you please give me some of your friend's SAT scores? Thanks so much in advance!
 
USNAismyplace, take a look at the USNA profile from the last few years for an idea of SAT and ACT scores for each class. You can find dozens and dozens of candidate and appointment profiles on this site on various threads. The appointment threads usually have the most. Test scores are important to USNA, but it is only one of many factors. I have seen kids on he 35 range get TWEs and others with 28s get LOAs. Focus on taking some test prep courses. I recently had a candidate who I am the BGO for jump 6 points on his ACT after spending 3 months doing an online prep and also working with a tutor.
 
USNAMyPlace...How important SAT's are really depends on your total package..ie.. if everything else is good, but you have weak SAT's, you could get in or maybe get offer to NAPS. Looking at the online profiles here may give you some idea, and probably more valid sample than asking a few plebes what they had. However, bottom line is SAT/ACT are important ..if all other things are equal, the candidate with the higher SAT will get appointed.
 
NavyHoops said:
USNAismyplace, take a look at the USNA profile from the last few years for an idea of SAT and ACT scores for each class. You can find dozens and dozens of candidate and appointment profiles on this site on various threads. The appointment threads usually have the most. Test scores are important to USNA, but it is only one of many factors. I have seen kids on he 35 range get TWEs and others with 28s get LOAs. Focus on taking some test prep courses. I recently had a candidate who I am the BGO for jump 6 points on his ACT after spending 3 months doing an online prep and also working with a tutor.
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Old Navy BGO said:
USNAMyPlace...How important SAT's are really depends on your total package..ie.. if everything else is good, but you have weak SAT's, you could get in or maybe get offer to NAPS. Looking at the online profiles here may give you some idea, and probably more valid sample than asking a few plebes what they had. However, bottom line is SAT/ACT are important ..if all other things are equal, the candidate with the higher SAT will get appointed.
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Navy Hoops, I have bought three SAT test prep books and I have a SAT math tutor. I practice every day for 20 minutes and take one practice test a week, and have tutoring every two weeks, so I am hoping my efforts will pay off on test day!

Old Navy BGO, I feel pretty confident about the rest of my total package, and I am constantly adding to it. Thanks so much for the insight! I always get excited when a plebe hops on here and asks for questions, as well as when you and Navy Hoops reply. I would be honored to accept a NAPS appointment, and obviously a USNA appointment.
 
USNAismyplace said:
NavyHoops said:
USNAismyplace, take a look at the USNA profile from the last few years for an idea of SAT and ACT scores for each class. You can find dozens and dozens of candidate and appointment profiles on this site on various threads. The appointment threads usually have the most. Test scores are important to USNA, but it is only one of many factors. I have seen kids on he 35 range get TWEs and others with 28s get LOAs. Focus on taking some test prep courses. I recently had a candidate who I am the BGO for jump 6 points on his ACT after spending 3 months doing an online prep and also working with a tutor.
Click to expand...
Old Navy BGO said:
USNAMyPlace...How important SAT's are really depends on your total package..ie.. if everything else is good, but you have weak SAT's, you could get in or maybe get offer to NAPS. Looking at the online profiles here may give you some idea, and probably more valid sample than asking a few plebes what they had. However, bottom line is SAT/ACT are important ..if all other things are equal, the candidate with the higher SAT will get appointed.
Click to expand...

Navy Hoops, I have bought three SAT test prep books and I have a SAT math tutor. I practice every day for 20 minutes and take one practice test a week, and have tutoring every two weeks, so I am hoping my efforts will pay off on test day!

Old Navy BGO, I feel pretty confident about the rest of my total package, and I am constantly adding to it. Thanks so much for the insight! I always get excited when a plebe hops on here and asks for questions, as well as when you and Navy Hoops reply. I would be honored to accept a NAPS appointment, and obviously a USNA appointment.
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Everything that has been said is accurate. The test scores as well as your Transcript will be the Academy's primary ways of determining your academic strength and ability. Try to do your best to get the highest score possible and leave nothing up to chance. Good luck!
 
During your application process and the days leading up to Plebe Summer, did you have any moments of doubt, fear, second thoughts? What turned those around for you?
 
How did you fare on the CFA? How important is it to submit your application quickly? Thank you for your time.
 
How important were sports coming to the academy, do you think just physically training will help? Like a bunch of running, stuff like this? Or do I have to do a sport?
 
DesertCaliMom said:
During your application process and the days leading up to Plebe Summer, did you have any moments of doubt, fear, second thoughts? What turned those around for you?
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Great question.

During the application process, I really did not have any doubts and instead devoted all of my efforts in the hopes of receiving an appointment. However after receiving my appointment I had second thoughts regarding my decision, and this is something almost every appointee will experience before attending the academy. My advice for those who experience this doubt is to write down the reasons that they decided to apply to the Academy and cherish them throughout the days counting down to I Day (also know that you are not alone in this doubt).
 
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