Why Does Admissions Decide on NAPS?

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F14Weeds83

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Given that there are so many qualified candidates that are turned away, I was wondering what would make the admissions folks offer a candidate NAPS rather than reject outright. I'm sure that there are some candidate recruit-level athletes that are behind in academics, but would an otherwise very qualified candidate with only weak SATs be a target for NAPS?
 
This is not an answer as much as it is an observation over the past number of years.

The Prep Schools are primarily there to prepare students that fall a little short for a direct admit. These are people the SA or the military wants because of what they bring to the SA and the military.

Sports recruits, under represented minorities, females , prior enlisted, are among those wanted. Others as well but IMO those four take up most but clearly not all slots.

Again that’s an observation not an official answer.

Good Luck
 
CurtSouth83 said:
Given that there are so many qualified candidates that are turned away, I was wondering what would make the admissions folks offer a candidate NAPS rather than reject outright. I'm sure that there are some candidate recruit-level athletes that are behind in academics, but would an otherwise very qualified candidate with only weak SATs be a target for NAPS?
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As the parent of a current NAPSter, I agree with @Small Team Bacsi ’s observation.
 
Small Team Bacsi said:
This is not an answer as much as it is an observation over the past number of years.

The Prep Schools are primarily there to prepare students that fall a little short for a direct admit. These are people the SA or the military wants because of what they bring to the SA and the military.

Sports recruits, under represented minorities, females , prior enlisted, are among those wanted. Others as well but IMO those four take up most but clearly not all slots.

Again that’s an observation not an official answer.

Good Luck
Click to expand...

I agree with this. There are about 250 Midshipmen Candidates per NAPS class. There are a few dozen prior enlisted that need to brush up on academics each year. There are plenty of athletes who could use a prep year to be able to balance the academic rigors and their sport in each class. Then there are other candidates that have great packages, but are just missing something academically from making the cut. For example, I had a candidate one year who was #1 in their class, 3 sport athlete, class president, rescued puppies, etc. But, he went to a small rural high school. His high school only had up to Trig. His math ACT was low. A year at prep school did him wonders. It took him a bit to hit his stride, but he did and says it was the best thing to happen to him. We had a candidate a few years ago I interviewed on a MOC panel. His parents were diplomats, so he had spent most of his youth overseas jumping around a variety schools to include alot of international schools. Admissions thought it would be best to get a year at NAPS to get used to being away from home, refresh his academics, and honestly just get acquainted with the US. One year there was a candidate who had immigrated to the US and had amazing stats, but her citizenship was still pending. So USNA sent her to NAPS to allow that process to finalize and get used to a SA lifestyle. So you can see there are plenty of candidates who go to NAPS for all kinds of reasons. Every candidate is unique in their own way.
 
Small Team Bacsi said:
This is not an answer as much as it is an observation over the past number of years.

The Prep Schools are primarily there to prepare students that fall a little short for a direct admit. These are people the SA or the military wants because of what they bring to the SA and the military.

Sports recruits, under represented minorities, females , prior enlisted, are among those wanted. Others as well but IMO those four take up most but clearly not all slots.

Again that’s an observation not an official answer.

Good Luck
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Concur on “fall a little short.” Admissions saw my DS’s academics and SAT were not aligned. He went to Foundation Prep and making A+.
 
Sometimes USNA thinks the student is very bright (often due to strong test scores and maybe even great grades) but had poor h.s. prep, usually due to the fact that the high school doesn't offer advanced STEM course or AP courses or is just terrible overall. Under that theory, giving the person a year at a very good school will bring them in line with their peers.

Other times, the person has very strong characteristics but may be from a "disadvantaged" background in terms of academics. For example, maybe English isn't spoken at home so SAT and grades in writing courses are lower than average. Or the candidate has to work to support the family / care for siblings and doesn't have sufficient time to focus on school. There are lots of stories out there. The theory is the candidate has all of the qualities USNA wants but hasn't had the same opportunities WRT academics, which a year of prep can change.

And, being honest, the programs are also used for athletes (for any number of reasons).
 
WAProudMom said:
My DS will be at NAPs this coming school year - any advice or tips?
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My DS is currently at NAPs. My advice for you. Make sure and get connected via Facebook pages and groups, you will find out more info there than from your DS. Get used to finding things out last minute, and plans being changed last minute. And last but not least get used to being on a roller coaster ride of ups and downs as your DS grows, matures and adjusts to military life and challenges. Saying you may hear a lot “a great place to be from, not at”.
 
The prep schools are typically used for applicants that show potential in someway that are not qualified academically. I think it is important to also remember why the prep school was started and how it has evolved. Initially, each academy established a prep school to take enlisted soldiers who showed leadership potential and get them ready for advanced college academics. As competition in sports grew, it was also a place that the academy could use to help prepare recruited athletes that did not have a sufficient academic background for success. In more recent times, it is also a place where the academy can take diversity candidates to do also prepare then for the rigor of the academy.
 
CurtSouth83 said:
Given that there are so many qualified candidates that are turned away, I was wondering what would make the admissions folks offer a candidate NAPS rather than reject outright. I'm sure that there are some candidate recruit-level athletes that are behind in academics, but would an otherwise very qualified candidate with only weak SATs be a target for NAPS?
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Not all decisions are purely academic. In my DS case, academics were very much on par, but he was 17 still and had no previous military experience. Thus the decision for a year to mature is what was provided. DS very grateful for the opportunity and it has helped him grow and mature immensely and set him up for success next year.
 
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