Questions about NAPS

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Austynx

10-Year Member
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Jan 23, 2011
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About this time last year (2011), I was accepted to the Naval Academy Preparatory School. Although I can't say I never saw it coming, I never pictured myself attending the preparatory school. My questions began to mount and thanks to this site and a few Midshipmen (prior NAPSters) who I still talk to today, my thoughts and concerns were adressed.
I just want to open this thread for any High-schoolers out there, prior enlisted sailors or marines who have general questions about NAPS. I attend NAPS right now and I can help you out on many of the concerns you might have. I know it was really helpful for me when I had my questions answered so I am paying it forward.
 
Could you give me a rundown of what the year has been like so far? I am being considered for MAPS, so I would assume it would be almost the same thing. What are the high points of the year? What was the first day like? What was the summer like? I am very curious to know, so please provide alot of detail if you could thanks.
 
TheUnderdog said:
Could you give me a rundown of what the year has been like so far? I am being considered for MAPS, so I would assume it would be almost the same thing. What are the high points of the year? What was the first day like? What was the summer like? I am very curious to know, so please provide alot of detail if you could thanks.
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Your assumption is close, but not entirely accurate. Although both MAPS and NAPS are preparation instutions, the curriculum and obviously service branches are quite different.
The Naval Academy is very science and math oriented while the Military Academy is well known for its liberal art majors.That being said, the curriculum at NAPS alone is hugely different from that of MAPS. I take Physics and Chemistry every day while MAPS does not have to take such classes.
If you want to hear about NAPS I can detail my experiences but just know they apply to NAPS and the Naval Academy and not necessarily the Military Academy :cool:
 
Yes please, I will know that they apply to NAPS. Just curious to know what a year at an SA prep school is like thanks.
 
Hello,

What is the average day like at NAPS? Is it as structured and intense as Naval Academy? How competitive is it to gain an offer of appointment to Naval Academy towards the end of the year?


Thank you so much! :)
 
An average day at NAPS consists of revile which is at 6:00, followed by four classes, E.I (Extra instruction), Sports Period, and study time. The daily meals are also between those times but that is the general run down.
NAPS is quite different from the Naval Academy as the main point is to strengthen candidates who need help in certain areas to gain an appointment to the USNA.
As long as you meet the requirements, 2.2 GPA, Body fat standards, pass the PRT, Positive slope in your SATS, no major misconduct and as well as a nomination, you will receive an appoint to the USNA.
I can go into detail about any topic, just ask.
Sorry for the prolonged reply, I got caught up in a lot of school work but i can guarantee as time is winding down I will answer questions more promptly.
You can also reach me at my email for further or personal questions.
Austynx@gmail.com
 
I'm sure I could come up with a number of questions (I just signed the paperwork today accepting NAPS), but for now I'll keep it to two. How intense are the classes/homework load, and how well do you feel it has prepared you for the Naval Academy next year?
 
First, thanks to Austynx for answering questions about NAPS. I would like to know your thoughts regarding the first 3 weeks at NAPS--for lack of a better term the NAPSters "mini-plebe summer." How tough was it? Just your general observations. Second, I would like to know how you like Newport, RI. Thanks again for your responses.
 
JJBsDad, my son was in the NAPS class of '07. He felt as if USNA plebe summer wasn't all that rough because he'd experienced the NAPS summer. I don't know what that means, just that he did fine @ USNA plebe summer, and he credited NAPS w/ that.

RE: his academic experience, he felt as if NAPS was what you made of it. Work harder, get more. He did extremely well academically there, and waived the dreaded plebe Chem @ Navy. He'd done well in h.s. Chem, but credited NAPS Chemistry w/ his strong performance in the placement test @ USNA. Waiving Chem allowed him to take other classes, which led to his invitation to beta-test a USNA summer class, which meant he was so far ahead in credits, he could apply for VGEP -- Voluntary Graduate Education Program.

So he graduated from USNA in the top 15% of his class, and the Navy sent him to Johns Hopkins for a master's degree before he started his "real" military career. And the Navy helped pay for it. Great deal? Or greatest deal ever?

As a h.s. senior, our son was disappointed to get NAPS instead of direct admission to USNA. In retrospect, he's the first one to say NAPS was the best thing that ever happened to him. I also think his NAPS friends are among the best friends he'll have in his life, especially his roommate and a former enlisted Marine he became close to. (And in case the resident ranter is reading this, son is not a minority, was technically a recruited athlete but for an orphan sport no one seems to care about, and which he'd never played -- just said he'd like to try it.)
 
Couldn't of said it any better. ^^

NAPS indoc is alot different than the academys plebe summer because the detailers are not monitored as much by the staff. They can get away with things they can't do at the academy which makes INDOC physically rough but shorter in time frame.

Once at NAPS, you will take placement tests for CHemistry, Physics and Math and based on those tests, your high-school grades and SAT scores, you will be placed in either Foundation, Intermediate or Advanced course for each subject. Some people have all foundation courses while others have mix of each or likewise. The courses themselves can advance your learning at the academy but also the main purpose is to teach you the learning techniques and introduce you to the rigors of the academy. Advanced and Intermediate students many times as mentioned above, validate courses alotting room for other classes once they get to the academy.

If the academy wants you at NAPS, it's for a reason. Take it, try it out, and see it for what its worth. Alot of the people here are awesome people.
My roomate is also a prior and I have learned so much about the Navy and Marine corps from him.

NAPSTERS also get a small taste of enlisted life because of the base environment they are around for a full year and also the amount of prior enlisted and enlisted Navy personel they encounter on a day to day base. Instead of being a direct entry to the Academy and not having as many encounters with prior sailors and marines, NAPSTERS get to hear the good and the bads of being an officer from the very people who had to follow their orders. It has been very enlightening to hear from priors on how to be a good officer and things they would do change and such.

My I ask what the orphan sport was *NorthernCalMOther*?
 
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Newport Rhode Island is a very large tourist city. During the summer, thousands of tourist come in for the yacht races and to view the famous mansions the city has. Newport itself is kind of like a small town with enough things to keep you busy off base for about the first month. Luckily, Providence is only a 45 minute drive and Boston isnt quite far either.

Newport is an island, so it has that isolation feel if you dont ever get off of it. A nice town but if your from a big city, its going to be quite a change.
 
^^ Pretty funny, Austynx. I visited Newport a couple times and just loved it, while son had something very much like your experience. "I liked it, too. For about a month."

I call crew an "orphan sport," though others might disagree, and I don't mean to insult to an extremely demanding sport. It's not a big spectator sport, and doesn't have much budget or many slots for recruits. When son visited USNA as a high school student, he sought out the heavyweight crew coach, saying he'd like to try rowing, if admitted (he was team capt. in h.s. football, felt he wasn't a DI player, but has the build and disposition for crew). The coach was ... far less than encouraging, or welcoming.

Then son was accepted @ NAPS, and one night there was a meeting for recruited athletes. Son was in his room ironing his pants when the Co. officer came in and screamed, "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be @ the mtg w/ other recruited athletes!"

That was how he learned he was recruited for crew. He was quite successful as an oarsman until a back injury threatened his chances of serving, so he hung up the blade.
 
Do they encourage many NAPSters to participate in sports there as walk-ons?
 
Amazingly this happens alot at NAPS, apparently they don't see the need to inform people they are recruited when they still have to apply and go through the entire process. Some recruits dont even have to go through the entire application process which makes them know for sure they are recruited.

NAPS encourages all M/C's (Midshipman Candidates) to get involved in sports but there is a difference in going out for a team with the intentions to be recruited or to have fun. If you are good enough to walk onto a team, you possibly are also good enough to get recruited for that sport.
Did you want to walk on to a team to play at the academy?

Every team at NAPS takes walk ons, that being said unless you are amazingly better than the recruits, you wont see much playing time.
 
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Austynx said:
Amazingly this happens alot at NAPS, apparently they don't see the need to inform people they are recruited when they still have to apply and go through the entire process. Some recruits dont even have to go through the entire application process which makes them know for sure they are recruited.

NAPS encourages all M/C's (Midshipman Candidates) to get involved in sports but there is a difference in going out for a team with the intentions to be recruited or to have fun. If you are good enough to walk onto a team, you possibly are also good enough to get recruited for that sport.
Did you want to walk on to a team to play at the academy?

Every team at NAPS takes walk ons, that being said unless you are amazingly better than the recruits, you wont see much playing time.
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I wouldn't mind either way. I don't have any particular aspirations to play any intercollegiate sport.
 
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