Appointments - Class of 2012 - Page 5

GreatAmerican · 10-23-2007, 06:34 AM

^^^^^
The Admissions Board meets every Thursday.

itlstallion422 · 10-23-2007, 07:46 AM

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I agree with momof1 and Whistle Pig - you shouldn't stay just because there are no more options/back-ups, you should stay because you want to. In the end, if you really want to stay, having back-ups shouldn't make a difference.

Had I had four years of plebe summer I would not have stayed. For most mids, plebe summer and plebe year to a lesser extent will be there only experience on the recieving end of a hazing environment. Therefore, it doesn't make sense to decide during that environment that the Naval Academy or the military in general is not for them. Leaving the Naval Academy before you sign yout 2-7 commitment is perfectly all right because there are definitely people who don't need to be there. However, in the suckiness of plebe summer, when you know you could be down the shore partying with your friends, taking away that back-up plan gives you and added incentive for making it through the summer.

If you make it to I-Day, and you fully plan on making it through the summer no matter what, then there is absolutely no need for a back up plan.

NativeTexan · 10-23-2007, 09:43 AM

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then there is absolutely no need for a back up plan.

I can see from a students perspective that you have a valid point. However from a parental point of view and knowing a young lady (class of 09) who was sent home with a serious injury during Plebe Summer (was given option of returning for the class of 2010.) The back up plan allowed her to continue her studies at a major university, whereas if she had had no back up she would have had to sit out fall semester as didn't live anywhere near a community college.

I too have to agree with both momof1 and WP. You should not stay just because you have no back yo plan. If you want it, backups will not make a difference, if it does then I question why the student is really there anyway.

USNA69 · 10-23-2007, 10:27 AM

In addition to the "hazing", homesickness can be a totally unpredictable issue. If the parents feel a need for a backup, is it still possible in today's electronic age to do it without the mid knowing about it?

Anyone not living within driving distance of a community college is a rare exception these days.

navy2010 · 10-23-2007, 10:36 AM

just as an aside, also know of a case where a serious illness went undetected through the Dodberb process and well into plebe summer before it delcared itself.... and once diagnosed, resulted in DQ- and seperation. A similiar case was reported from USMA not too long ago. Life can certainly throw you some crazy twists and turns along the way! Some will take it as it comes, while others will sleep better at night having a little insurance in terms of a "plan b"....everyone has their own tolerance for risk.

Lots of things to consider-

good points made on both sides.
back up plan or not, Mids will decide for themselves if this is something they want or not..... and as USNA69 pointed out, they will weigh that, no doubt, throughout their 4 years on the Bay.

MM: "How's things?"
Mid: "Sucks."
MM: "progressing as normal I see."

just the way it is folks!

Profmom2 · 10-23-2007, 11:30 AM

I would imagine that doing it without the Mid knowing is probably on a case by case basis depending on the policies at Plan B school. A good plan to start with but may not work out that way...

Many admissions offices will not talk with the parents if the admit is over 18. Even though the parents are probably paying, the admissions contract is with the student. That is how it went down in our case. The college admissions counselor took my husbands call, listened to the questions but then requested that our son call and discuss this with her, all agreements were between our son and the college. When we tried to let them know that he would not be enrolling (early July my husband called) they would not accept that information. They required our son to call at the end of Plebe summer relinquishing the admissions spot.

USNA69 · 10-23-2007, 08:08 PM

Having, like itlstallion, experienced plebe summer, and more recently experienced some really unreal examples of homesickness, I would not recommend that the midshipman know that he has a backup plan. I didn't find out about mine for 30 years. Hopefully, you parents who feel it is necessary, can figure out a way to do the same.

Academy2012 · 10-23-2007, 09:03 PM

When the Admissions board meets do they review every application that was completed the week prior? What happens after applications #100-150 are reviewed, for example?

NativeTexan · 10-23-2007, 09:41 PM

Times have changed. Unlike 20 to 30 years ago most parents that I know do not keep secrets from their children. It is a much more communicative generation. I guess I don't see where it makes it any easier to leave if you have plan b or not. You either want it or you don't plain and simple. I was very homesick my freshman year in college. I wanted desperately to come home and just go to the local 2 year college. I stayed because I knew it was the right thing and was taught not to quit. I believe most Mids are raised the same way. No one is suggesting that the backup plan be "used" for just wanting to "not be at USNA." Most do it for the unforeseen injury or illness.

LOL

Quote:

Anyone not living within driving distance of a community college is a rare exception these days.

Love it when people on the east coast assume that there is nothing between them and the west coast. Not every burg in the Midwest, Southwest, Mountain States or PNWest have community colleges in their backyard unless you think it is acceptable to have to drive 2 to 3 hours each way to go to class. I guess if it isn't drivable in a day it is a rare exception.

USNA69 · 10-23-2007, 09:53 PM

Native Texan, Your argument starts down hill rapidly when you try to compare your freshman year of college to plebe summer. Iltstallion, as he stated, has been there. His words are wisdom. As I have stated before, the reason the parent uses the backup and the avenue of escape that the midn sees it can be two entirely opposing views. I honestly think your views are not relevant in this matter.

NativeTexan · 10-23-2007, 10:30 PM

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more recently experienced some really unreal examples of homesickness

Homesickness is just that "homesickness" you brought it up not me - here again no one's personal experience means anything....

No one is advocating using the backup plan as a way out. Heck if a plebe, or 3/c wants out they will do it, back up plan or not. What is being advocated is have a plan if injury or sickness gets the best of your "MID TO BE" You certainly do fail to give the plebes credit for actually wanting to succeed even if they have a back up plan.

When we attended CVW in Jan '06 the head of candidate guidance spoke to the parents after the candidates had met their Mids. She even was a proponent of having a back up plan prior to IDay. Go figure the CDR would actually recommend that!

Please tell me why USNA also highly recommends parents maintaining private insurance on their Mids?

Thought the Moderator had asked that the personal attacks stop.

USNA69 · 10-23-2007, 10:41 PM

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Originally Posted by NativeTexan

Thought the Moderator had asked that the personal attacks stop.

??????? Disagreeing with you is a personal attack?

NAPS05mom · 10-23-2007, 11:34 PM

First of all, congratulations on the appointments starting to roll in. It's an awesome feeling for sure for the whole family.

To answer the question of paying deposits to colleges in case plebe summer doesn't work out, you better believe I did. Actually I already had since my mid decided to appeal a rejection and ended up with a very late NAPS appointment. Then I took it a step further. I deferred her acceptance a semester and then again for the school she was set to go to. They were wonderful about all of it and wished her luck in her endeavors (and granted the deferrals).

USNA69 · 10-24-2007, 06:37 AM

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Originally Posted by NativeTexan

You certainly do fail to give the plebes credit for actually wanting to succeed even if they have a back up plan.

My statement about your views not being relevant was not a personal attack. It was simply a statement that, perhaps, itlstallion having been through plebe summer and you haven't, his opinions bear more credence than yours. Sure, you know your kid, but you have no clue as to what his challenges were/will be plebe summer. The mental difficulty of plebe summer seems to become more and more challenging while the physical becomes less so. Mental fatigue combined with homesickness seems to be the one unpredictable element. The strong falter and the weak rally. A backup plan can, for all the wrong reasons, become extremely attractive.

NativeTexan · 10-24-2007, 07:54 AM

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your views are not relevant

Maybe try phrasing it so you actually take the person out of the comment. How about just "I disgree with your views...."

Just a suggestion

Please explain the strong falter and the weak rally, my intrepetation is that you beleive if there is some hesitation i.e the weak person, they will have the "easier" time while those who come in with goals, strong personalities, strong leadership will some how be broken?

I value itlstallions views however it is only one view. Certainly not the view of my mid or other mids that I know that had back up plans. Many of the mm on this site had mids with Plan B in place at least up to IDay. These young men and women seemed to handle the Back up plan in a mature way...not using it as an excuse to leave. It is probably all in the way it is "presented to" or reason "obtained by" the candidate to be. In this highly competitive college admissions times, not having a back up plan if IDAY or the Summer do not work out leave the mid in a much better place than having to go through admissions to major universities again with either sitting out a year or going to community college. Many colleges only take transfers after Soph year and many of the LAC never take transfers. How much risk you are willing to take when it comes to your education or your child's? Like many have said I would and hopefully will do it again in a year.