Swim or Be Separated

[Memphis9489]

Actually, she just might go to NAPS and lead a new swim program to help others pass all those future swim tests that "Swim or be Separated" was talking about.
Also we found out that if there is a specific sport that is unique to a few, the athletic director finds that sport in the area for the student to participate in. Thingas are looking up!!

NAPS is not simply a holding pen for future admission. They will not send a candidate to NAPS unless two things are true:
1) The academy thinks they would make a good midshipman/officer, and
2) The candidate is lacking in some academic area.

If a student is fully qualified academically and the academy is convinced they are currently ready to handle the rigors of the Naval Academy course load - they will not send them to NAPS. They will either appoint or reject the candidate.

 

[osdad]

NAPS is not simply a holding pen for future admission. They will not send a candidate to NAPS unless two things are true:
1) The academy thinks they would make a good midshipman/officer, and
2) The candidate is lacking in some academic area.

If a student is fully qualified academically and the academy is convinced they are currently ready to handle the rigors of the Naval Academy course load - they will not send them to NAPS. They will either appoint or reject the candidate.

Off the subject of the OP but I doubt the principals of the many private prep schools who send young men to NAPS who just happen to play lacrosse might disagree.

rosetapper, glad your DD is reconsidering her choice. My Youngster had a NAPS'ter roommate who had done very well at Canoe U. The leadership your DD will gain helping others with their swimming will serve her well.

 

[Memphis9489]

Off the subject of the OP but I doubt the principals of the many private prep schools who send young men to NAPS who just happen to play lacrosse might disagree.

Prep schools don't send their students to NAPS, the Naval Academy sends them to NAPS. And, there is a reason they do not directly appoint them.

NAPS is a prep school. It prepares desirable candidates (oftentimes, athletes) to attend the Naval Academy. If they didn't need "prep", they wouldn't go to a prep school.

 

[Luigi59]

Off the subject of the OP but I doubt the principals of the many private prep schools who send young men to NAPS who just happen to play lacrosse might disagree.

Prep schools don't send their students to NAPS, the Naval Academy sends them to NAPS. And, there is a reason they do not directly appoint them.

NAPS is a prep school. It prepares desirable candidates (oftentimes, athletes) to attend the Naval Academy. If they didn't need "prep", they wouldn't go to a prep school.

What "osdad" is referring to is the obvious stockpiling of redshirt lacrosse players at NAPS. Lacrosse players who are coming out of the most prestigious $25k+ private college prep schools in the MIAA (Mt St Joes, Gilman, Boys Latin, etc - schools that routinely produce more Ivy League appointments as any system in the nation) and after completing their rigorous academic graduation requirements, suddenly are "not qualified" for direct admission. Happens in other sports as well.

 

[Memphis9489]

What "osdad" is referring to is the obvious stockpiling of redshirt lacrosse players at NAPS. Lacrosse players who are coming out of the most prestigious $25k+ private college prep schools in the MIAA (Mt St Joes, Gilman, Boys Latin, etc - schools that routinely produce more Ivy League appointments as any system in the nation) and after completing their rigorous academic graduation requirements, suddenly are "not qualified" for direct admission. Happens in other sports as well.

If they are so highly academically qualified then why does the Naval Academy send them to NAPS? Why not just appoint them? What does going to NAPS accomplish?

Just because they went to a prestigious private school and paid a lot of money, does not necessarily mean they scored well on their SATs, had a high GPA, or took the courses they needed to be properly prepared for Plebe academics.

In fact, it could very well be the case that the reason they went to that private school was to play Lacrosse. Do you think the players on the Stanford football team, as a whole, are as academically gifted as the average student who attends that school? No! Schools make concessions all the time when balancing their academic standards and their desire to have a competitive sports program.

 

[AikiBudo]

What "osdad" is referring to is the obvious stockpiling of redshirt lacrosse players at NAPS. Lacrosse players who are coming out of the most prestigious $25k+ private college prep schools in the MIAA (Mt St Joes, Gilman, Boys Latin, etc - schools that routinely produce more Ivy League appointments as any system in the nation) and after completing their rigorous academic graduation requirements, suddenly are "not qualified" for direct admission. Happens in other sports as well.

Living in the Baltimore/Washington metro area and having a son who played Lacrosse I can guarantee you that there are many recruited athletes at these fine schools (including Georgetown Prep and Landon) that are there because of their sports abilities and would not make it to any Ivy league school if they weren't recruited to play a sport. The Lacrosse players I've seem go to NAPS instead of directly to the Academy typically need help with their math skills although there is probably some "redshirting" going on also.

 

[Luigi59]

If they are so highly academically qualified then why does the Naval Academy send them to NAPS? Why not just appoint them? What does going to NAPS accomplish?

It's another year of athletic preperation, learning the system, learning the offense, another year of practice.

The advantages of redshirting are well known throughout "non-academy" college sports

Just because they went to a prestigious private school and paid a lot of money, does not necessarily mean they scored well on their SATs, had a high GPA, or took the courses they needed to be properly prepared for Plebe academics.

As the previous poster alluded to, the principals of those prestigious prep schools would disagree that any of their graduates could possibly leave their school without meeting the minimum academic entrance requirements for USNA. These aren't your "run of the mill" diploma factories, these are some of the most academically prestigious prep schools in the country.

In fact, it could very well be the case that the reason they went to that private school was to play Lacrosse. Do you think the players on the Stanford football team, as a whole, are as academically gifted as the average student who attends that school? No! Schools make concessions all the time when balancing their academic standards and their desire to have a competitive sports program.

Perhaps you are unfamiliar with Gilman, Boys Latin, McDonough, Loyola-Blakefield, and the other members of the MIAA. You may want to do a little research on their academic reputations, talk to alumni, or call the schools themselves to see their academic profiles. Every student must meet their academic standards for admission, they do not give athletic scholarships. A graduate of these school could get into any college int he nation.

It is what it is, the data is available, seek and you will find (but you might not like the results).

Might have been the reason the lacrosse coach was fired last year.


PS - back to topic, sorry to go astray, just answering other off-topic posts.

 

[AF6872]

If they can graduate from "St. Grottlesex" or any of the others they certainly don't qualify for NAPS.

 

[AF6872]

Naval Station Newport:

http://www.swimmersguide.com/query/Detail.cfm?PoolID=10534

 

[Team Mom]

As far as lacrosse is concerned, I see no more massive redshirting.
According to laxpower,
For incoming 2011 (class of Naps 2012 and Class of 2015), 14 were recruited for Naps and 2 were direct.
For incoming 2012 (class of Naps 2013 and Class of 2016), only 3 have been recruited for Naps and 13 are direct entries. I know a player who is a direct and he is academically super qualified and attended the public school.

For swimming, the quickest way to learn is take a private lesson. Don't need to take an expensive lesson from club coahes, but your friend on HS swim team can give you a good lesson by buying him lunch.

 

[Memphis9489]

Living in the Baltimore/Washington metro area and having a son who played Lacrosse I can guarantee you that there are many recruited athletes at these fine schools (including Georgetown Prep and Landon) that are there because of their sports abilities and would not make it to any Ivy league school if they weren't recruited to play a sport. The Lacrosse players I've seem go to NAPS instead of directly to the Academy typically need help with their math skills although there is probably some "redshirting" going on also.

I agree!

Any candidate, who is not a recruited athlete, and is considered academically qualified for direct admission to the Naval Academy, is not going to be sent to NAPS. They are going to be appointed or rejected on some other basis.

And, to a HUGE extent, the recruited athletes at NAPS do need some beefing up of their academics.

Ritzy, expensive, private schools with elite sports programs are all over this country! Although those schools are usually selective, just like the academically elite universities, they also make concessions for these bluechip athletes.

I'm guessing the kids that graduate in the bottom 25% of these "prestigious" private schools are no smarter than the kids who graduate in the top 25% of a reputable public school.

 

[MGK]

NAPS is not simply a holding pen for future admission. They will not send a candidate to NAPS unless two things are true:
1) The academy thinks they would make a good midshipman/officer, and
2) The candidate is lacking in some academic area.

If a student is fully qualified academically and the academy is convinced they are currently ready to handle the rigors of the Naval Academy course load - they will not send them to NAPS. They will either appoint or reject the candidate.

Off the subject of the OP but I doubt the principals of the many private prep schools who send young men to NAPS who just happen to play lacrosse might disagree.

rosetapper, glad your DD is reconsidering her choice. My Youngster had a NAPS'ter roommate who had done very well at Canoe U. The leadership your DD will gain helping others with their swimming will serve her well.

DD is a great student. Second in her class. Great GPA/SATs. She has several offers to exclusive programs at other universities. Finished HS in 3 years and is now a few days to young for Naval Academy. They have offered her NAPS. Any way this decision can be revisited by enrollment? It is literally about a 4 days we are talking about. Anyone else know of students with a similar background at NAPS? Thank you.

 

[Nemo567]

DD is a great student. Second in her class. Great GPA/SATs. She has several offers to exclusive programs at other universities. Finished HS in 3 years and is now a few days to young for Naval Academy. They have offered her NAPS. Any way this decision can be revisited by enrollment? It is literally about a 4 days we are talking about. Anyone else know of students with a similar background at NAPS? Thank you.

While technically there are age waivers, in practice those only go to prior enlisted who are slightly above the maximum age. The Naval Academy is not going to give an age waiver so that someone can enter the academy while they are still 16.

NAPS is still a golden ticket. She should use the year to mature and get ahead in academics. It will also make the social aspects of the academy easier as those mids that enter just having just turned 17 tend to have a harder time socially.

 

[MGK]

DD is a great student. Second in her class. Great GPA/SATs. She has several offers to exclusive programs at other universities. Finished HS in 3 years and is now a few days to young for Naval Academy. They have offered her NAPS. Any way this decision can be revisited by enrollment? It is literally about a 4 days we are talking about. Anyone else know of students with a similar background at NAPS? Thank you.

While technically there are age waivers, in practice those only go to prior enlisted who are slightly above the maximum age. The Naval Academy is not going to give an age waiver so that someone can enter the academy while they are still 16.

NAPS is still a golden ticket. She should use the year to mature and get ahead in academics. It will also make the social aspects of the academy easier as those mids that enter just having just turned 17 tend to have a harder time socially.

Thank you.

 

[Humey]

What "osdad" is referring to is the obvious stockpiling of redshirt lacrosse players at NAPS. Lacrosse players who are coming out of the most prestigious $25k+ private college prep schools in the MIAA (Mt St Joes, Gilman, Boys Latin, etc - schools that routinely produce more Ivy League appointments as any system in the nation) and after completing their rigorous academic graduation requirements, suddenly are "not qualified" for direct admission. Happens in other sports as well.

If they are so highly academically qualified then why does the Naval Academy send them to NAPS? Why not just appoint them? What does going to NAPS accomplish?

Just because they went to a prestigious private school and paid a lot of money, does not necessarily mean they scored well on their SATs, had a high GPA, or took the courses they needed to be properly prepared for Plebe academics.

In fact, it could very well be the case that the reason they went to that private school was to play Lacrosse. Do you think the players on the Stanford football team, as a whole, are as academically gifted as the average student who attends that school? No! Schools make concessions all the time when balancing their academic standards and their desire to have a competitive sports program.

While I assume that Stanford’s football players get some help getting in , most of their players are top students

 

[NavyHoops]

Wow, this is an old thread. From my understanding she cannot be waived, either too young or old. For a few years USNA was allowed age waivers for a very small group, prior enlisted, deployed for a certain amount of time, etc. The 17 year old requirement is not waiverable and is a requirement even beyond USNA if I remember correctly. To be honest, the year at NAPS in this case would be great for her. There are a variety of students at NAPS with diverse backgrounds. I think a few years ago they had a young woman who went to NAPS who was waiting on her citizenship and was doing amazing things. Bottom this isn’t about starting at 16, it’s about finishing and hitting the fleet prepared to lead Sailors or Marines. As a SWO a new Ensign hits the fleet 30 days after graduation. I am sure your DD is very mature, but an extra year in this case is probably a great thing.

 

[THParent]

Yeah, but can she swim?

 

[usna1985]

This question was also posed in the Admissions FAQ. A mod may want to combine the posts.

As I posted elsewhere, age is a statutory requirement and thus, to the best of my knowledge, not waiverable.

 

[Maplerock]

Practice what you Preach?

My daughter just got her appointment to NAPS 2013. She has one big problem-she is a USA swimmer with sectional time cuts and doesn't want to accept because there are athletics at NAPS but no swim team!! That's right, the Navy Prep School has no swim team!!! Take a really good swimmer out of the pool for 10 months and you will get a swimmer who will no longer have any competitive times, and when they get to the Academy next year they will be unable to make the team. All this after working hard in their sport for 12 years!
Come on , the Navy really should have swimming at NAPS if they expect to help cadets with their swim tests later on. It is ironic that swimming well will keep my daughter out of the Naval Academy. They don't ask football players or wrestlers to give up the sport they love, why swimmers?

A world class education with a springboard to lifetime success, or hang on to a lackluster swimming career.

Seems like a no brainer. If you're not a shoe in for a serice academy swim teamyou probably won't be a division one swimmer.

 

[Memphis9489]

Bottom this isn’t about starting at 16, it’s about finishing and hitting the fleet prepared to lead Sailors or Marines. As a SWO a new Ensign hits the fleet 30 days after graduation. I am sure your DD is very mature, but an extra year in this case is probably a great thing.

The reason for going to NAPS is never to mature. It's always because the candidate needs additional academic help.

I have heard people say, "My son/daughter was fully qualified for direct admission but there was no room for him/her - so they sent him/her to NAPS." That never happens! They do not send "fully qualified" candidates to NAPS. It's a preparatory school! If there is nothing to prepare for - why go to a preparatory school? If a candidate is "fully qualified" they will be either accepted or rejected. Fully qualified candidates are rejected all the time! If the academy takes a particularly liking to a fully qualified candidate, yet, there is "no room" for them - the candidate will be encouraged to reapply. And, in that case, such candidates are often successful in their second attempt. But, they're not sent to NAPS.

Here's the truth, as politically incorrect as it may seem - there are three primary reasons that candidates go to NAPS.
1) They are a highly desired athlete who is not academically ready for the rigors of academy. (this is the majority)
2) They are coming from the fleet and have been out of academics for a period of time and probably need some brushing up.
3) They are a "diversity" candidate who is not yet ready academically.