Waiting 2020

[THParent]

I just thought that I would mention a few things about WAITING, based on what I have seen on the forum.
This is a list of my opinions and observations, and I am trying my best to inject a little dry humor as I go.

Unless you're an astronaut, you're not getting off this planet alive, so you should have fun and laugh about as many things as you can whilst you're here.

1. Be patient.

2. If you're planning on doing anything in the military, you are going to have to get used to waiting.

3. If you joined this forum because you wanted to post about the fact that you have checked the Candidate Information Portal - and the status hasn't changed - let's just say that you're not a special snowflake. There are (conservatively) thousands of people in that line in front of you. If it were an actual line of people, you may very well find yourself standing in a different zip code.

4. DoDMERB manages a LOT of data on a LOT of people. Just be patient and wait. I know you answered that remedial question with the allergy form you downloaded, filled out, scanned, and emailed back within 6 minutes, but it may take a week before you hear from them. When you see an update, you may only see that they acknowledged receiving it. Look, there are months until April. Be patient. They really do know what they're doing. Go outside and enjoy the fresh air. You're going to stroke out. Do something relaxing that decreases your blood pressure.

5. Blue & Gold Officers have a lot on their plate and they are volunteers. Some of them have a LOT of candidates to visit, and even more emails to slog through. Don't get too excited if you don't hear from them for a week or two. They may be on a family vacation. I know, they didn't clear that vacation with YOU, but they went anyway! Many of them are retired, but being retired doesn't mean that they're waiting by the computer for your email to come through. See item 1.

6. If you're a parent and joined the forum due to "going crazy" because you like to be in control and you've been hounding your DS or DD to check the status of their application and they haven't gotten an LOA yet (because you actually expect an LOA and oh my gosh they are the perfect candidate, how come they aren't in already?) then I can almost guarantee that your DS or DD is getting stressed because YOU are stressed. Is that what you want to do? Do you want to add to their stress? See items 1 and 2.

7. Wait to post. Since you aren't a special snowflake after all, there are probably a LOT of threads already written that describe exactly what you're going through (Especially the ones about your "CFA scores" and "am I competitive"?). Take some time to read them and the responses. If you've never been in a "forum" setting before, you may want to give more weight to the responses from actual Midshipmen, Admins or Moderators, or members with thousands of posts. More than likely, they know what they're talking about (or have talked to people who do) and their input will be more consistent and accurate. Reading is helpful, and it keeps you from checking the Candidate Information Portal every 2 minutes.

8. Don't listen to scuttlebutt. If someone says "Hey, I heard that if so-and-so happens, then you have a much better chance at an appointment" then take that with several grains of salt. If it isn't spelled out officially on the USNA.EDU website, then it very well may have absolutely no basis in fact whatsoever. The website is what you want to pay attention to. Read every link and every drop-down part of the various menus on those pages. All of the information you need is on that website and it is very well managed and presented.

9. Read the rules and read the "sticky" posts at the top of each forum. Most of your questions may be answered there, as well. Those posts are usually written by 10-year members of this forum. They know what they're talking about and they won't lead you astray.

10. Getting an appontment to USNA is not the beat-all, end-all of existence. If you want to be an officer in The Navy or Marine Corps, there are other paths to accession. Always have a readily executable plan "B" and plan "C" to get yourself to Ensign or 2nd Lt. at the end of the next four years. Whether or not you graduate from USNA or a civilian college, your rank will be the same as you begin your military career as a junior officer. This forum can help you decide which path is right for you, as well.

That's my ten cents.

Feel free to post more for the list, smile, and laugh at yourself once in a while.
You woke up today. It's going to be a good day!

 

[justdoit19]

Oh THIS is awesome. I’d actually pay $2.56 for this, instead of 10 cents. Thanks for the laugh.

Especially special snowflakes [emoji300]️[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

 

[Old Navy BGO]

Outstanding....

A few more (at the risk of repeating things I've posted here before...many times !):

1) One data point doesn't make a rule, or even a trend... Just because WT Door did X,Y, &Z and is now a First Class at USNA, doesn't mean that X, Y, Z is the ticket to Appointment. Every candidate is different. Sure, if you watch enough Candidates (and I've seen hundreds over the years), you will pick up trends, but they aren't rules. USNA.edu posts the rules , and frankly even they may be subject to exceptions.

2) Worry about what you can control .... Every year, around February and March, there is a flurry of posts trying to analyze every minute detail about how the Admissions process works; a wringing of hands and flow of sweat when candidates/parents see others posting their appointments.
Once you have submitted your application,...sit back, work on Plan B, and wait .....there is absolutely nothing to be gained from trying to understand every detail of what happens within the Admissions office (and frankly, once you think you have it figured out, there are always exceptions).

I'm sure I'll think of more as this thread progresses.

Oh, and if in doubt ...go back to THP's #1 -- Be Patient !

 

[Dr. Strange Love]

This makes TOO much cents ....

 

[tryingmybest]

I think that you have written some very wise advice. It is great to be reminded about the power of patience. It is also a great reminder about the search function. I imagine I should stop here and only offer praise or scroll on.

However, I would like to add a new member perspective of the post. Perhaps just a poor attempt of humor on your part, but I think that the special snowflakes phrasing as well as many of the characterizations of parents and candidates is counterproductive and unnecessary. A casual reference or one mention - perhaps funny. As a new member, I did not find it funny but rather judging and self-righteous and distracts from your important messages. I imagine at one point you were a new parent to the forum who arrived here and made some missteps in the eyes of the regulars. I imagine that you arrived here looking for advice, support, and a glimpse into the confusing parts of the process. Were you a controlling parent who felt like your child was special perfect candidate that deserved to be at the head of the line? It would be interesting to go back into your posting history and view your first months of posts.

What is the purpose of the forums if not to engage in discussions and asking questions of all of the members, novice as well as experienced? I was directed to the forums by the FFR as a "wonderfully supporting place to get information and support from people who have been in your shoes". As someone who is new, late to the game since I am not a helicopter to a special snowflake, and trying to make sense of a very foreign process that assumes that parents will be informed and involved, this post is anything but a supporting place from people who have been in our shoes. Perhaps it is just not the place for newcomers. Slinking back into lurker status lest I be called a snowflake for actually assuming that a forum that is set up to ask and answer questions for new candidates would encourage the questions and not ridicule those that are not as far along on the path...

 

[justdoit19]

I think that you have written some very wise advice. It is great to be reminded about the power of patience. It is also a great reminder about the search function. I imagine I should stop here and only offer praise or scroll on.

However, I would like to add a new member perspective of the post. Perhaps just a poor attempt of humor on your part, but I think that the special snowflakes phrasing as well as many of the characterizations of parents and candidates is counterproductive and unnecessary. A casual reference or one mention - perhaps funny. As a new member, I did not find it funny but rather judging and self-righteous and distracts from your important messages. I imagine at one point you were a new parent to the forum who arrived here and made some missteps in the eyes of the regulars. I imagine that you arrived here looking for advice, support, and a glimpse into the confusing parts of the process. Were you a controlling parent who felt like your child was special perfect candidate that deserved to be at the head of the line? It would be interesting to go back into your posting history and view your first months of posts.

What is the purpose of the forums if not to engage in discussions and asking questions of all of the members, novice as well as experienced? I was directed to the forums by the FFR as a "wonderfully supporting place to get information and support from people who have been in your shoes". As someone who is new, late to the game since I am not a helicopter to a special snowflake, and trying to make sense of a very foreign process that assumes that parents will be informed and involved, this post is anything but a supporting place from people who have been in our shoes. Perhaps it is just not the place for newcomers. Slinking back into lurker status lest I be called a snowflake for actually assuming that a forum that is set up to ask and answer questions for new candidates would encourage the questions and not ridicule those that are not as far along on the path...

I didn’t take the snowflake comment to mean, nor did I intend it to mean, anything towards newcomers inquiring. I think of you look around, you will seen gentle support ESPECIALLY to new members as to how to find answers (searching, posting links), advise and flat out lengthy answers to questions. Posters who are aggressive and obnoxious are actually banned. When I started I didn’t even know HOW to search forums.

So what you are describing is not what I believe is the intent of the statement of a special snowflake. For me, its the poster who believes their child (or self) is better then all. Deserves beyond others. LESS than humble. A braggart. They have been here before. Are here presently. And the point of the comment is that their special, precious child (or self) is just as deserving as any others. It comes form a realization that ALL of these candidates are amazing. Just look at stats. And also from a place where sometimes these amazing special snowflakes are used to being the BIGGEST fish in the pond. And super special. Now they aren’t anymore. They are an AVERAGE fish in a HUGE pond.

It’s what gets yanked out of them plebe summer....

Look around and you can find evidence of parents (candidates) thinking they are better and more deserving. The comment is meant to express the fact that they aren’t anymore. They and their stats are a dime a dozen. Average.

No offense is meant to any new poster. At all. Not the intent. At all.

 

[Holden100]

I think that you have written some very wise advice. It is great to be reminded about the power of patience. It is also a great reminder about the search function. I imagine I should stop here and only offer praise or scroll on.

However, I would like to add a new member perspective of the post. Perhaps just a poor attempt of humor on your part, but I think that the special snowflakes phrasing as well as many of the characterizations of parents and candidates is counterproductive and unnecessary. A casual reference or one mention - perhaps funny. As a new member, I did not find it funny but rather judging and self-righteous and distracts from your important messages. I imagine at one point you were a new parent to the forum who arrived here and made some missteps in the eyes of the regulars. I imagine that you arrived here looking for advice, support, and a glimpse into the confusing parts of the process. Were you a controlling parent who felt like your child was special perfect candidate that deserved to be at the head of the line? It would be interesting to go back into your posting history and view your first months of posts.

What is the purpose of the forums if not to engage in discussions and asking questions of all of the members, novice as well as experienced? I was directed to the forums by the FFR as a "wonderfully supporting place to get information and support from people who have been in your shoes". As someone who is new, late to the game since I am not a helicopter to a special snowflake, and trying to make sense of a very foreign process that assumes that parents will be informed and involved, this post is anything but a supporting place from people who have been in our shoes. Perhaps it is just not the place for newcomers. Slinking back into lurker status lest I be called a snowflake for actually assuming that a forum that is set up to ask and answer questions for new candidates would encourage the questions and not ridicule those that are not as far along on the path...

I think the whole college process is stressful in general and not exclusive to SA's; that's pretty clear in the thousands of college confidential threads and endless college reveal videos on Youtube. There are just so many moving parts in this process, some of which aren't at all transparent. I find it sometimes easier to google whatever questions I have, which pulls up the many old forum threads, rather than using the search option directly on the forum. And good luck to your DD or DS (and to you)!

 

[THParent]

Nope. Didn't mean anything to make fun of anyone. It's just important to know that every candidate may be a standout in high school, but they are pretty average when it comes to applying to the academy.

 

[A1Janitor]

I took no offense ... I understand both sides - I am so very proud of my son and would do anything for him - but I understand the point.

Yes - they realize they are the same size fish in an ocean when they are inducted.

My son has an outstanding GPA at USNA midterm in his plebe year. My son reminds me everyone does!

Walk away from comments you don’t like. Or you will miss the wisdom of those who have a lot to contribute.

 

[Dr. Strange Love]

Once when I was lost I asked a policeman to help me find my parents. I said to him, 'Do you think we'll ever find them?' He answered, 'I don't know, kid. There are so many places they can hide.

 

[Kierkegaard]

Once when I was lost I asked a policeman to help me find my parents. I said to him, 'Do you think we'll ever find them?' He answered, 'I don't know, kid. There are so many places they can hide.

View attachment 3835

“No respect at all”. Classic.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

. I imagine at one point you were a new parent to the forum who arrived here and made some missteps in the eyes of the regulars. I imagine that you arrived here looking for advice, support, and a glimpse into the confusing parts of the process. Were you a controlling parent who felt like your child was special perfect candidate that deserved to be at the head of the line? It would be interesting to go back into your posting history and view your first months of posts.

> While THP doesn't need defending (the TH stands for TeufelHund), I will save readers the effort of researching his history-- and simply say that he never appeared to think his kid was the perfect candidate who appeared to be at the head of the line, and certainly not a helicopter parent. I've never heard a Marine mince words, and that's the case here.

Yes, there are parents , and candidates here, that think they are special. I get it, every parent thinks their kid is the best thing in the world, and frankly I want to see my candidates with some degree of bravado and confidence, but there is a point when they go to far. The point is, that everyone who is competitive for appointment to a Service Academy is special, and when everyone is special...then nobody is !

Frankly, I find THP's bluntness refreshing. Since I use the "BGO" moniker here, I sometimes feel the need to filter my thoughts and comments. I know that I sometimes get a little pointed here, but I have left a lot of comments on the cutting room floor after re-reading them.

 

[Holden100]

You can only be as offended as you allow yourself to be. My awesome, brilliant candidate son learned that quickly working in a restaurant. Actually wrote about it for one of his college essays. Customers and kitchen staff can be brutal.

 

[HCopter]

Excellent thread!
Agree 110% with all the above!

A special shout out to the 200+ lurkers at any one time on these forums - don't misinterpret #7. There are two main types of posters - the long standing stalwarts and the bumblers (like me and you!) who haven't "earned" our spot - either for not being on here long enough, or not having a kid get into an SA/prep/ROTC/etc yet....but both groups are essential to these forums!

Without the bumblers, there would be no annual cycle, and at that point we'd all be discussing bacon & coffee and might as well move to allrecipes(dot)com. Us bumbers are by accident, asking a lot of very relevant questions with insightful answers given. In this cycle alone, we've learned how USMA is now requiring GPA, how USAFA - you have an evaluator, not your ALO do interviews once everything is complete, how failing and retaking the CFA is likely to be black mark (see instructions! mentions it twice!) on your record....LOI vs. LOA (from yours truly!), USMMA has a great new website! Anyone want to know the 3 categories of recruited athletes at USCGA? Ask me - got that straight from admissions at Genesis! The current cycle parents and candidates stumble upon things that always need to be reaffirmed and repeated each cycle, as well as uncovering nuances year over year. So ask away, but also do some due diligence before posting the stuff that isn't helpful (ex: what's the min, ave, max CFA?).

PS - I love to hear the chance me posts and CFA score posts. It is inspiring to me all the things the candidates do, and any candidate with guts to post among us adults has my admiration!

 

[justdoit19]

So what are the 3 categories of recruited athletes? I’m standing in the LONGEST line EVER at sams club, waiting to save my yearly 180$ on the tires of one of the 5 vehicles I own....a yearly indication of the upcoming Holiday season.

 

[HCopter]

Hi @justdoit19 !
I don't want to hijack this thread so will post a fuller Genesis review in USCGA.

My condolences on the wait at Sams. Maybe go inside and shop for things you never know you needed but now need in bulk sizes. But you'll save so much on the pizza or hot dog meal combo.

 

[Holden100]

Excellent thread!
Agree 110% with all the above!

A special shout out to the 200+ lurkers at any one time on these forums - don't misinterpret #7. There are two main types of posters - the long standing stalwarts and the bumblers (like me and you!) who haven't "earned" our spot - either for not being on here long enough, or not having a kid get into an SA/prep/ROTC/etc yet....but both groups are essential to these forums!

Without the bumblers, there would be no annual cycle, and at that point we'd all be discussing bacon & coffee and might as well move to allrecipes(dot)com. Us bumbers are by accident, asking a lot of very relevant questions with insightful answers given. In this cycle alone, we've learned how USMA is now requiring GPA, how USAFA - you have an evaluator, not your ALO do interviews once everything is complete, how failing and retaking the CFA is likely to be black mark (see instructions! mentions it twice!) on your record....LOI vs. LOA (from yours truly!), USMMA has a great new website! Anyone want to know the 3 categories of recruited athletes at USCGA? Ask me - got that straight from admissions at Genesis! The current cycle parents and candidates stumble upon things that always need to be reaffirmed and repeated each cycle, as well as uncovering nuances year over year. So ask away, but also do some due diligence before posting the stuff that isn't helpful (ex: what's the min, ave, max CFA?).

PS - I love to hear the chance me posts and CFA score posts. It is inspiring to me all the things the candidates do, and any candidate with guts to post among us adults has my admiration!

You are most certainly one of my favorite and well reasoned of us newbie bumblers. I sincerely appreciate your posts.

 

[Hopeful Plebe Mom]

I think that you have written some very wise advice. It is great to be reminded about the power of patience. It is also a great reminder about the search function. I imagine I should stop here and only offer praise or scroll on.

However, I would like to add a new member perspective of the post. Perhaps just a poor attempt of humor on your part, but I think that the special snowflakes phrasing as well as many of the characterizations of parents and candidates is counterproductive and unnecessary. A casual reference or one mention - perhaps funny. As a new member, I did not find it funny but rather judging and self-righteous and distracts from your important messages. I imagine at one point you were a new parent to the forum who arrived here and made some missteps in the eyes of the regulars. I imagine that you arrived here looking for advice, support, and a glimpse into the confusing parts of the process. Were you a controlling parent who felt like your child was special perfect candidate that deserved to be at the head of the line? It would be interesting to go back into your posting history and view your first months of posts.

What is the purpose of the forums if not to engage in discussions and asking questions of all of the members, novice as well as experienced? I was directed to the forums by the FFR as a "wonderfully supporting place to get information and support from people who have been in your shoes". As someone who is new, late to the game since I am not a helicopter to a special snowflake, and trying to make sense of a very foreign process that assumes that parents will be informed and involved, this post is anything but a supporting place from people who have been in our shoes. Perhaps it is just not the place for newcomers. Slinking back into lurker status lest I be called a snowflake for actually assuming that a forum that is set up to ask and answer questions for new candidates would encourage the questions and not ridicule those that are not as far along on the path...

Exactly my thoughts!! While I have found this site to be helpful, I too have been “chided” for my posts.

Maybe a person can be on this forum a little tooooo long and it just becomes a place to bash new people who do not have to time to sit and read a 10 year old “sticky “ post or 8-year old threads.

The way technology works today is to be able to access up-to-date information relevant to your particular situation. NO ONE is required to respond to a post, especially if they feel annoyed by a question being asked for the 10th time or feel the need to “tell off” someone by saying “just SEARCH IT already and enjoy reading the 1000 results!” Just keep scrolling by and enjoy the ad revenue coming in.... or find another website moderating job that is more suited to your current interests ! I am understanding why only 10% of applicants post here now, geeze

 

[PT Doc]

With all due respect, your post is a perfect example of what the original poster was talking about. You "don't have time" to be bothered reading past threads that more times than not, will answer your question. Yet, you expect the Moderators or senior members to give THEIR time giving the same answer they gave earlier in the week, last week, the week before and so on. They are incredibly gracious with their time and knowledge. The technology is working just fine. You are able to access up to date information. You just feel entitled to have it spoon fed to you. Maybe the reason the majority don't post is they take the time to read and find the answers to their questions already answered multiple times.

 

[kinnem]

A couple more words about special snowflakes.

I've no doubt THParent meant this as a piece of humor. Hell, he said so in the first paragraph.

Another way to look at snowflakes is that they are unique. So not being a special snowflake might simply be a way of saying that your question/issue is almost certainly not unique, the thing you're waiting on is not unique, your one bad grade in Senior year is not unique. If you do a search and can't find an answer to your question, by all means ask it. BTW, doing your homework and researching something first is a great life skill in the military or corporate world. As a junior officer you at least want your CO to know you looked into something before asking him your special unique question. Hell, you want to start doing that as a cadet or midshipman, so why not start getting in the habit now?