Plebe at USNA--give me your questions!

23usna23

23usna23

MIDN, USN
Joined
Oct 27, 2019
Messages
20
I am a Plebe at USNA and would love to help anyone who needs their questions answered!

I recently went through the admissions process and Plebe Summer and I am willing to spill all of the information I know about the Academy and how I got in!
 
Current junior. What tips and advice do you have for me for this year, and the coming year when I apply. Don't be afraid to say a lot if you have a lot to say :). The more the merrier.
 
seb.g.b said:
Current junior. What tips and advice do you have for me for this year, and the coming year when I apply. Don't be afraid to say a lot if you have a lot to say :). The more the merrier.
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Take the hardest classes you can manage and excel in them. Be comfortable interviewing. Contact your BGO sooner rather than later. Don't do anything stupid to get in trouble. If you haven't already, join a team/sport/ECA you can take an active leadership role in. Get in shape. Be able to pass the PRT. Be able to run long distance as well as the 1.5 mile test.

--fellow '23
 
3 things you wished you knew back when you were going through the application process and/or wished you did differently?
 
Hopeful Plebe Mom said:
3 things you wished you knew back when you were going through the application process and/or wished you did differently?
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Don't stress about the application process. Just about the only thing you can control is putting forward your best package. Get that done and then focus on grades and enjoying your senior year.

Take time to reflect before you write your essays. My first drafts were trash because I was writing what I "thought" the board would want to read. Everyone here is different. Write a personal essay.

See my first point again but replace "application" with "medical."

Sorry for hijacking the thread.
 
Skipper07 said:
Don't stress about the application process. Just about the only thing you can control is putting forward your best package. Get that done and then focus on grades and enjoying your senior year.

Take time to reflect before you write your essays. My first drafts were trash because I was writing what I "thought" the board would want to read. Everyone here is different. Write a personal essay.

See my first point again but replace "application" with "medical."

Sorry for hijacking the thread.
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Glad you chimed in....I would be happy to hear any Mid's experience & advice!
 
A1Janitor said:
What company/platoon are you in?
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seb.g.b said:
Current junior. What tips and advice do you have for me for this year, and the coming year when I apply. Don't be afraid to say a lot if you have a lot to say :). The more the merrier.
Hey!

Best tip I could give is to start as early as possible! If I started earlier, I would have received an LOA earlier, which definitely helps with the stress when applying to Service Academies and other Universities.

Besides that, retake your SAT/ACT as many times as you can--a higher score always makes you more competitive. The Academy super-duper-scores the SAT and ACT, meaning they take your highest ACT and transfer it to an SAT and then superscore your highest SAT scores from that. I only got a 29 on the ACT and a 1290 on the SAT, but with the super-duper-score, I was put at a competitive 1450. Remember to have the recommended pre-requisite classes. It is not a MUST, but it helps.

Also, the nomination is one of the most important parts that is often overlooked. Once you get a nomination, your chances of getting in increase drastically. For the nomination process, the MOST important part is the interview. BE YOURSELF! I was the Principal Nominee for my district because I walked in confidently, showed professionalism, and most importantly, I was myself! I recommend preparing for some of the tougher questions like "What's a weakness you have?" to which I responded, "People are afraid to approach me because I seem intimidating to them". I was completely honest--but I also did not divert the question, nor did I say the cliche response of "I care TOO much" or "I work TOO hard". Know how to work the questions to your advantage. If they ask you why you did not choose West Point or USAFA for your top choice, simply say, "I don't want to go there". I was nervous about this question, it IS a trick. Just tell them: I only want to go to USNA! I want to be a Naval Aviator, I want to be a SWO, I want to be on the ocean, I don't want to be the Army. Know what you want and make sure they know it too!

That's about all I have right now off the top of my head! If you have any other specific questions, ask away!
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Hopeful Plebe Mom said:
3 things you wished you knew back when you were going through the application process and/or wished you did differently?
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That's tough! I wish I turned it in earlier. I waited a long time to turn in my personal statement, because I was having trouble perfecting it... and the prompt is HUGE! Somehow I got it all in there, but it took some time. I waited a while for my DoDMERB exam too, because I was a few pounds over for the height requirement. Fortunately, they just requested a body fat form and I was good to go! Other than that, my application process went by smoothly. I recommend getting involved with your Congressman as well... anything helps to get your name out there and to have it as a talking point for the interview!
 
txfwindian said:
What a potential candidate should do to prepare for USNA life ( studies, fitness etc)
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Studies: Definitely begin to work on time management! I had a bad case of Senioritis--I think I missed 20 days of school in total just because I was lazy! Once you get here, there is no more missing school because you didn't study for a test, or because you already went 4 days out of 5 and that seems like enough. There is always work to be done, tests to study for, and Plebe duties to be involved in. I had to learn the hard way during the first couple of weeks of the academic year!

Fitness: be able to run! I can't run for the life of me, so I struggled during Plebe Summer and sustained multiple injuries that have carried through to the academic year. Practice your push ups, but honestly, once you get through the first week of PS, push ups are second nature. I wish I had practiced the "front leaning rest". Be able to do this for 3 minute intervals... at least 20 times a day. Again, it gets easier throughout the summer.

Moral: STAY HYPED! Have a fun time. I wish I knew that the detailers were putting on a show, because now that I look back, the stuff they said/did was ridiculous! Once I found my sense of humor, the days went by faster, and I was able to make friends easier.

Company-Mates: Do not expect everyone to be like you. I went in expecting we would all have the same mentality, motivations, etc. NOPE! Instead, we all have the same A-type personality, but with different beliefs, values, and motivations. This causes a lot of tension! Just realize that the way people act over the summer is way different than the academic year. The stress makes our ugly side come out, so don't take anything to heart or keep a grudge.
 
Skipper07 said:
Take the hardest classes you can manage and excel in them. Be comfortable interviewing. Contact your BGO sooner rather than later. Don't do anything stupid to get in trouble. If you haven't already, join a team/sport/ECA you can take an active leadership role in. Get in shape. Be able to pass the PRT. Be able to run long distance as well as the 1.5 mile test.

--fellow '23
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I agree!!! A very important part that was mentioned: "Don't do anything stupid to get in trouble". I had my fun in high school, but I was smart about everything that I did (for all four years). It is possible to go out and have fun, go to parties and clubs (if that is what you like), while still being smart, maintaining situational awareness, and staying out of trouble. Know the limits and do not push them!
 
Besides that, retake your SAT/ACT as many times as you can--a higher score always makes you more competitive. The Academy super-duper-scores the SAT and ACT, meaning they take your highest ACT and transfer it to an SAT and then superscore your highest SAT scores from that. I only got a 29 on the ACT and a 1290 on the SAT, but with the super-duper-score, I was put at a competitive 1450.

^^^^
Could this be correct? Is 29 the ACT composite score? I believe USNA only considers Math and English ACT scores. Would they convert the ACT to SAT if that was beneficial to the candidate?
 
I'm also a current plebe and feel that I can chime in.

Maybe.bluestar.mom said:
How often are you allowed to leave the yard on weekends? Is Thanksgiving the first time you’ll be able to visit home?
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Plebes have town liberty on Saturdays from 1200 to 2359, and starting this year we can take one weekend per semester (meaning we can spend the night off of the yard and not return until 1800 on Sunday). So, if you live decently close to the academy, you can go home on liberty or a weekend. But if you're from halfway across the country like I am, Thanksgiving is likely the first time you can go home.
 
Has the Brigade gotten a weekend for any football wins this year? Including Plebes?
 
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