Already getting the "Chance Me" inquiries with responses re: GPA, needed AP courses, team leadership, community service hours Etc.
In about 6 months some great DD/DS ,or a Dad, or a Mom is going to post here to ask about what kinds of questions will be asked in a Nom-board interview. These will be followed with similar questions about B&G interviews. What I don't get, is the absence of guidance/direction re preparation for on the face to face, verbal side of this process.
Note: forgive the "chest-thumping" about my DD in this post. Every parent should be proud of their children; especially so for kid who braves this SA selection process. I use DD's example because I have become invested in the USNA through her, and my experience with the application process comes through her. This part of her application experience made an impression on me and I thought might be useful to others.
3yrs ago DD walked into her Nom Board meetings (USNA and USAFA) while I waited outside in the car, (we had an errand to run after). I watched applicant after applicant, all suited up and looking like they were going tosentencing on a felony conviction walk in/out. DD bounced out happy/relaxed and said "I think that went well. A guy on the Navy Board said The USNA would be lucky to have me". "I had a cranky guy in the USAFA interview, but I think he came around". Later in the non-SA college application & review process I got a chance to hear my DD doing a Skype interview with a Yale grad. I was surprised at how well she handled herself. I knew she was a little gifted verbally (a pain in the ass to raise actually), but in that moment I was impressed.
Fast forward to June, I am standing in a reception line behind my DD. The ranking officer present and Chair of her Nom-Board (Rear Admiral) turned toward her to shake her hand. His face lights up and he says "I am so glad to see you here! You never know how applications will go and you were our top choice!" I am thinking something like ..."bet you say that to all the Plebes-to-be". Then the the Admiral turns to his wife and says "Honey this is the young woman I told you about!" The Admirals wife looks at my DD and says "Oh I have heard all about you"------- Kinda wowed me.
In light of DD's experience I have wondered:
The competition among USNA Applicants seems so tight. Everyone seems to have a 3.7-4.0 and a top 5% ACT/SAT score, and every Applicant has multiple extracurricular medals to his/her credit. Wouldn't communication with Nom-Boards, B&Gs and written statement become an important differentiator at the margin?
Back to DD: She did some things her Junior Year that vastly improved her as an interview subject. She built a skill.
In her Sophomore year it looked like she was going to be recruited in her sport. In her junior year we hired a guy to help us navigate that process. The very first thing the guy did was require my DD to write an introduction letter, and a statement of interest for to the coach for the 20 or so schools she, and he, were interested in). "This is who I am, this is why I am interested in XYZ university and this is what I think I can add to your team". Next, he required her to make an introduction call to each Coach/Asst Coach and follow up with a 2nd call, (maintaining a log of her contacts for his review). Interviews with coaches followed, some by phone some by official (or our nickel) in person visits.
Mean while DD is being called out to explain her interest in the USNA-USAFA in our Supra-Liberal suburb, ( to the point that I was being asked why I'd let her apply to an SA). At that point she had her own doubts about USNA, but she responded to each question/challenge from teachers classmates----------- and her own mother.
20 odd interviews, and challenges to her thinking latter, she walked into her SA Nom-Board and B&G meetings looking forward to the conversations. Obviously, I wasn't in the room, but if what I overheard in the Yale interview carried over: 1) She was comfortable taking questions from adults in authority; 2) she was respectful, but not in awe; 3) She knew what she wanted the board/B&G to know about her (she knew "HER BRAND") she had experience getting that info out in conversation and 4) She'd be kinda fun to interview.
When it came time to write her statement on her application, her ideas and method of presentation had been vetted in conversation and had evolved in the process. Her written statement was just a more concise version of stuff she'd learned about herself and her ideas in conversations with a parade of "Adults-in-Authority".
So, here's the advise that (I think?) is relevant: Maybe you are a would-be applicant, who isn't going to be talking to a bunch of coaches. Maybe you are a Super Hero STEM girl/guy who is so smart that you can let the right the equations do the talking. Maybe you just haven't talked to adults much, Maybe you just don't like to kick around ideas around, or aggressive discussions, especally with old folks. START HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT YOUR S/A CHOICE NOW! Take your idea of attending an SA to your teachers, family, friends, Clergy, your HS coach. Anybody, people who will like the idea and people who will think you are stupid, nuts, or evil. If your a dad or mom reading this, challenge DD DS on their plans, (whether you agree with them or not). Do a common App to a bunch of schools, (high-end ones that are going to interview you). Common Applications are "one to many" and aren't that expensive.
Every conversation you have; every challenge to your ideas, every illustration you come up with that describes yourself and your goals, every illustrative story or observation; all that stuff will be golden in your SA interviews, (and in confirming your own conviction re: SA attendance).
Do this---and for the love of God!--- don't come back here in 4-6 months asking "what the questions will be?". Know your own story, and what you want them to know about You (ie: if I asked you about the saddest day you can remember, can you get me to something you want me to about you in your answer ) .
After that Admiral thing, on a visit to DD at USNA I asked DD what she'd tell someone doing a Nom-Board or a B&G interview.
She said:
"1) You get to interpret the question; interpret it in a way that gets your best answers out, or presents questions you wish they'd ask."
2) "With each answer include stories about your life, that discover how you arrived at your answer (the stories are more important than the answers---I think)"
3) "Laugh! -----at yourself, at life, at your parents, at your own nerves in that moment.
4) Nom- Boards: Listen to, and be part of , their conversation if they let you; don't just answer questions. Don't make your B&G Office pull info from you. Ask him/her questions; compair experiences.
5) When they, (Board/B&G), laugh and start telling their own stories------------------ You've Won!"
Note: Paraphrase: but I think I'm close.
Thats it. I'm sure this is all obvious to many, but trust me, somebody is gonna ask how to prepare for their Nom-Board or B&G meeting in a couple of months time. Too late to build the skills then. I will be curious to hear from people who know better than I do.
Hope this has value for some great kid who is gonna give USNA a shot.
In about 6 months some great DD/DS ,or a Dad, or a Mom is going to post here to ask about what kinds of questions will be asked in a Nom-board interview. These will be followed with similar questions about B&G interviews. What I don't get, is the absence of guidance/direction re preparation for on the face to face, verbal side of this process.
Note: forgive the "chest-thumping" about my DD in this post. Every parent should be proud of their children; especially so for kid who braves this SA selection process. I use DD's example because I have become invested in the USNA through her, and my experience with the application process comes through her. This part of her application experience made an impression on me and I thought might be useful to others.
3yrs ago DD walked into her Nom Board meetings (USNA and USAFA) while I waited outside in the car, (we had an errand to run after). I watched applicant after applicant, all suited up and looking like they were going tosentencing on a felony conviction walk in/out. DD bounced out happy/relaxed and said "I think that went well. A guy on the Navy Board said The USNA would be lucky to have me". "I had a cranky guy in the USAFA interview, but I think he came around". Later in the non-SA college application & review process I got a chance to hear my DD doing a Skype interview with a Yale grad. I was surprised at how well she handled herself. I knew she was a little gifted verbally (a pain in the ass to raise actually), but in that moment I was impressed.
Fast forward to June, I am standing in a reception line behind my DD. The ranking officer present and Chair of her Nom-Board (Rear Admiral) turned toward her to shake her hand. His face lights up and he says "I am so glad to see you here! You never know how applications will go and you were our top choice!" I am thinking something like ..."bet you say that to all the Plebes-to-be". Then the the Admiral turns to his wife and says "Honey this is the young woman I told you about!" The Admirals wife looks at my DD and says "Oh I have heard all about you"------- Kinda wowed me.
In light of DD's experience I have wondered:
The competition among USNA Applicants seems so tight. Everyone seems to have a 3.7-4.0 and a top 5% ACT/SAT score, and every Applicant has multiple extracurricular medals to his/her credit. Wouldn't communication with Nom-Boards, B&Gs and written statement become an important differentiator at the margin?
Back to DD: She did some things her Junior Year that vastly improved her as an interview subject. She built a skill.
In her Sophomore year it looked like she was going to be recruited in her sport. In her junior year we hired a guy to help us navigate that process. The very first thing the guy did was require my DD to write an introduction letter, and a statement of interest for to the coach for the 20 or so schools she, and he, were interested in). "This is who I am, this is why I am interested in XYZ university and this is what I think I can add to your team". Next, he required her to make an introduction call to each Coach/Asst Coach and follow up with a 2nd call, (maintaining a log of her contacts for his review). Interviews with coaches followed, some by phone some by official (or our nickel) in person visits.
Mean while DD is being called out to explain her interest in the USNA-USAFA in our Supra-Liberal suburb, ( to the point that I was being asked why I'd let her apply to an SA). At that point she had her own doubts about USNA, but she responded to each question/challenge from teachers classmates----------- and her own mother.
20 odd interviews, and challenges to her thinking latter, she walked into her SA Nom-Board and B&G meetings looking forward to the conversations. Obviously, I wasn't in the room, but if what I overheard in the Yale interview carried over: 1) She was comfortable taking questions from adults in authority; 2) she was respectful, but not in awe; 3) She knew what she wanted the board/B&G to know about her (she knew "HER BRAND") she had experience getting that info out in conversation and 4) She'd be kinda fun to interview.
When it came time to write her statement on her application, her ideas and method of presentation had been vetted in conversation and had evolved in the process. Her written statement was just a more concise version of stuff she'd learned about herself and her ideas in conversations with a parade of "Adults-in-Authority".
So, here's the advise that (I think?) is relevant: Maybe you are a would-be applicant, who isn't going to be talking to a bunch of coaches. Maybe you are a Super Hero STEM girl/guy who is so smart that you can let the right the equations do the talking. Maybe you just haven't talked to adults much, Maybe you just don't like to kick around ideas around, or aggressive discussions, especally with old folks. START HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT YOUR S/A CHOICE NOW! Take your idea of attending an SA to your teachers, family, friends, Clergy, your HS coach. Anybody, people who will like the idea and people who will think you are stupid, nuts, or evil. If your a dad or mom reading this, challenge DD DS on their plans, (whether you agree with them or not). Do a common App to a bunch of schools, (high-end ones that are going to interview you). Common Applications are "one to many" and aren't that expensive.
Every conversation you have; every challenge to your ideas, every illustration you come up with that describes yourself and your goals, every illustrative story or observation; all that stuff will be golden in your SA interviews, (and in confirming your own conviction re: SA attendance).
Do this---and for the love of God!--- don't come back here in 4-6 months asking "what the questions will be?". Know your own story, and what you want them to know about You (ie: if I asked you about the saddest day you can remember, can you get me to something you want me to about you in your answer ) .
After that Admiral thing, on a visit to DD at USNA I asked DD what she'd tell someone doing a Nom-Board or a B&G interview.
She said:
"1) You get to interpret the question; interpret it in a way that gets your best answers out, or presents questions you wish they'd ask."
2) "With each answer include stories about your life, that discover how you arrived at your answer (the stories are more important than the answers---I think)"
3) "Laugh! -----at yourself, at life, at your parents, at your own nerves in that moment.
4) Nom- Boards: Listen to, and be part of , their conversation if they let you; don't just answer questions. Don't make your B&G Office pull info from you. Ask him/her questions; compair experiences.
5) When they, (Board/B&G), laugh and start telling their own stories------------------ You've Won!"
Note: Paraphrase: but I think I'm close.
Thats it. I'm sure this is all obvious to many, but trust me, somebody is gonna ask how to prepare for their Nom-Board or B&G meeting in a couple of months time. Too late to build the skills then. I will be curious to hear from people who know better than I do.
Hope this has value for some great kid who is gonna give USNA a shot.
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