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<p>First that is why more offers are made than available “seats” just like at civilian colleges. The next in line is as fully qualified as the one who decided to turn down the offer. USNA may not be the first choice for all appointees - nothing wrong with attending your second choice school should you happen to not get the nod from first choice.</p>
<p>When you say that for his sake you hope it does not come to this…</p>
<p>I would disagree and say if it did HE is doing the right thing for Him and not for doing something that he thinks will please others. </p>
<p>This is a huge decision and just because one has wanted it since say 7th grade (a long time for an teen) It may have just become an expectation rather than a true desire and thus not really the right match for a child. That is why reflection and waiting on other offers is a good thing for an 18 year old. Mine decided on USNA at 9th grade but once he did the other college visits it was not that clear and another school spoke to his heart too. In the end, through much self reflection he came back to USNA as his first choice but it easily could have gone the other way. We certainly would have been very proud parents that he had the maturity to see what he wanted at 9th grade was not the right fit at the end of 12th. They will truly succeed at USNA if it is 100% their decision. We said nothing and offered no opinion - he had to take 100% ownership of his decision.</p>