Summer Stem ~ Class of 2027

Tom Nicholas

Tom Nicholas

Cogito Ergo Sum
5-Year Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2018
Messages
88
Reading the forums is a pleasant way to spend an evening or three and I want to thank you all for building them into the helpful things they've become. Tonight my son submitted his USNA 2020 Summer STEM application and my wife and I couldn't be more happy. The process was straight forward and with the exception of form fields mysteriously clearing when he tabbed to the next one (he learned to click to the next field) it was a breeze.

Presuming information in the threads is accurate- we've accepted that given his desire to serve his country he should work hard and apply to all the service academies and ROTC options available and just see how it plays out. And if needed, attend college for a year and reapply to them all or enlist and apply after a year or complete the enlistment and use the current GI bill. Any of these options is a viable path to earn the opportunity to serve as an officer.

We could happily go on about our son's academic and extracurricular awesomeness as any proud parent would. However, as a computer science guy, I was really unprepared for the systems engineering direction he has taken and am finding myself holding back on giving too much unsolicited advice so he can become the fine young man he is meant to be.

Last year we one-day visited both USNA and USMA; both beautiful campuses with fine traditions. At West Point he asked about the 10th Mountain Division and I told him, "You better watch it or I'll tell mom you used the "A" word. His response was, "At least it wasn't Air Force." Ugh! Gooooo Navy!
 
My DD is a freshman in HS and my friends can’t believe “she’s already talking about this stuff.” She’s doing more than talking though...she’s visited the Coast Guard Academy twice and just submitted her application to USNA Summer Stem. Still a looooonnnnng way to go, but It’s nice to be reminded that she’s not the only one with her eye on the prize this early. Good luck to your DS!
 
Incognito said:
Still a looooonnnnng way to go, but It’s nice to be reminded that she’s not the only one with her eye on the prize this early.
Click to expand...

It's great to see kids looking that far ahead with their sights on a Service Academy. I often ask my OPINFO Midshipmen (USNA allows a handful of Midshipman to come home a few days early for Thanksgiving to visit schools) to visit their Middle School, as that visit may plant the seed of desire. The application process for all competitive colleges starts Freshman year ...grades count, and you are starting the path to leadership positions in extracurriculars in later years. I often get a call from Candidates who start thinking about applying the end of Junior/beginning of Senior year, asking what they can do "to get into USNA", and all I can tell the to do is complete their application...their record is already established.

Here's a tip to all young prospects... Your Junior year Math and English teacher evaluations are critical ... and many people don't realize that until after the year is done. Your reputation in school is important....teachers talk, particularly in smaller schools, and if you start out Freshman year as an immature cut up, that reputation carries over from class to class , and as is oft said, it takes a whole lot of "attaboys" to overcome one "aw sh!t" !
 
1. You ought to change your name.

2. You need to be more forceful as a parent not to let him utter either A words. He sounds like a great future midshipmen.
 
It is awesome they are starting this early, our son got bit by the SA bug in 6th grade, hasn't quit itching since then. Have them sit down with the guidance counselor, let them know the path they are on and hopefully they can plot out a schedule that is rigourous and meets the academy requirements. Prep for SAT/ACT and stay healthy and physical. Also, look into boys and girls state.

Also, keep an eye out for service academy forums in your area, go, listen and let your kiddo do the talking.

Our son gained a lot of confidence from competing in public speaking. He was comfortable before but now loves it and has won awards and money competing. The confidence and ability to communicate and convey thought and ideas translates to interviews so that might be a good thing to look into. The American Legion holds an oratorical contest annually, applications are open and due any day now. Good luck to you, and try to avoid the 'A' words! Go NAVY beat Army!!!⚓
 
@Incognito Wishing great luck to your daughter as well. When she gives her all, doors will open she never knew existed.

@Old Navy BGO One of our best friends, a retired Army SFC, sponsored two Midshipmen the day before Army-Navy in Philadelphia; showing them the city and giving them a great day. The pics were fantastic.

As you suggested, we’ve coached our son his grades and the challenge of the classes he selects these six semesters represent a big part of the impression he’ll make. Funny thing is, he’s smiling in his honors engineering, math, english, and MCJROTC classes and doing well. I can’t tell if he “gets it” or is just smiling because he’s having fun.

We were at NMCM stadium year before last when Navy drove the length of the field with a minute left to beat Air Force and witnessed the reverence of singing second. That day we also visited the main chapel, crypt of John Paul Jones, and Memorial Hall. It was one of the best father-son days we’ve ever shared.

@A1 Janitor Why change my user name?

@Heatherg21 We appreciate your insights on planning and agree. Our son is keeping an Excel sheet with charitable activities and important academic dates. He has served a member of the Sons Of The American Legion (Penndel, Pa.) for the past two years. This week he is submitting his entry into the essay contest. Thank you for letting us know about the oratory one. There are so many activities he’s getting into- robotics team, MCJROTC, prepping for the air rifle team- but the house rule is “grades come first.”

It’s our Legion post Army and Air Force brothers who are bending his ear. He couldn’t ask for a better set of favorite-uncle role models but some days I wish they’d zip-it about the Air Force having better dining or the Army being the tip of the spear.

The last thing we talked about with him was as he explores service opportunities and asks those questions in the forums, his interests will change; likely many times. And this is perfectly normal for a 15 year old with limited life experience. Logically the best tact he can take is to study hard and continue to strengthen the moral, intrepid, patriotic foundation upon which everything else is built. Then apply everywhere and see what happens.

It’s going to be exciting over the next few years to watch him explore and grow.
 
Are the offers sent out on a rolling basis or after application deadline? My son is excited about the possibility of attending. His second camp would be a 2 week math camp at TAMU. He's much, much rather attend summer stem,lol.
 
Anyone receive any offers yet for Summer STEM? My son applied in early January. We've heard they do rolling admissions but haven't heard anything as of yet.
 
My daughter also applied in early Jan. Haven't heard anything yet. I wish we could get some info on that because summer will be here before we know it!
 
We appreciate the excitement of not knowing lol. Last year we received a nice letter back saying they had made all their selections, however, our son was only an 8th grader. Our son recently received a text with a link to a video describing the week. He watched it and then we all watched it together. It looks to be a great opportunity to become more familiar with USNA and he's hoping the opportunity presents itself.

Separately, our high school has an MCJROTC unit and the commander (a Marine USNA graduate) let our son know about AFA CyberPatriot https://www.uscyberpatriot.org/ - I think they want to put together a team. Check it out ~ that looks pretty interesting too.
 
Both times our son applied he received an email in mid to late April detailing their decision. 1st was turn down, 2nd time was acceptance. He loved the experience.
 
I just received my acceptance email this morning around 8 am! I am a rising HS sophomore next year and am really looking forward to my experience. I heard it was rolling admissions so I was pleased to get a response so quickly. Best of luck to you and your son.
 
Tom Nicholas said:
Reading the forums is a pleasant way to spend an evening or three and I want to thank you all for building them into the helpful things they've become. Tonight my son submitted his USNA 2020 Summer STEM application and my wife and I couldn't be more happy. The process was straight forward and with the exception of form fields mysteriously clearing when he tabbed to the next one (he learned to click to the next field) it was a breeze.

Presuming information in the threads is accurate- we've accepted that given his desire to serve his country he should work hard and apply to all the service academies and ROTC options available and just see how it plays out. And if needed, attend college for a year and reapply to them all or enlist and apply after a year or complete the enlistment and use the current GI bill. Any of these options is a viable path to earn the opportunity to serve as an officer.

We could happily go on about our son's academic and extracurricular awesomeness as any proud parent would. However, as a computer science guy, I was really unprepared for the systems engineering direction he has taken and am finding myself holding back on giving too much unsolicited advice so he can become the fine young man he is meant to be.

Last year we one-day visited both USNA and USMA; both beautiful campuses with fine traditions. At West Point he asked about the 10th Mountain Division and I told him, "You better watch it or I'll tell mom you used the "A" word. His response was, "At least it wasn't Air Force." Ugh! Gooooo Navy!
Click to expand...
Under the Systems Engineering umbrella, USNA now has a robotic engineering major. The professor that heads that up is amazing. Truly the engineering professors are top notch. My daughter graduated in 09 and we were just back at the academy with my youngest and had lunch with a few of the professors. They are still using my daughter's robotic design (microscopic) in the program and the amount of research work she got to do as an undergrad was incredible. I wouldn't put off systems engineering at all. Big open field. My son went to the summer STEM and had a great time. He went going into his freshman year. I kind of wish he had waited. We thought he would have been able to go each year, but it was sort of a 1 and done type thing and I wish he had been a little older. Good luck to your son.
 
It's rolling admissions. The email could arrive in mid-April for all that I know. Not sure if it goes randomly or by qualification level or by any other criteria. Don't worry about it. Best of luck to you.
 
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