Dear Kathy,
I’m very familiar with the process, so I hope this helps
I just graduated high school this year, and in the Fall I am attending UC Berkeley on the Navy ROTC scholarship. I’m not sure how familiar you are with this sort of thing, but essentially it’s a full tuition scholarship with the same obligations as the USNA afterward. Basically the Naval Academy at a four-year university, though obviously much less “militant” college experience.
However, I entertained the idea of attending the USNA for much of my junior year. Let me tell you right now,
this is the most important year for him if he wants to attend the Academy. At the end of their junior year, high school students have a chance to attend the Naval Academy Summer Seminar, or USNASS. Basically you go to the academy for a week in the summer and live like a midshipman. If he’s interested in attending the academy, it’s vital that he apply for this program, if I remember right applications start sometime in February or April. Here’s the program website:
usna.edu/Admissions/nass.htm
If he can get into that, there’s a relatively good chance that he will get into the Academy if he goes through with it. I actually attended the Summer Seminar in summer following my junior year, and let me tell you- it’s a BLAST. It will definitely tell you if you’re cut out for military life. You either love the physical and mental challenge or you don’t.
Now, as far as grades go. I was an A and B student in high school, and I got into the USNASS. Now, my classes were all AP and IB, so if possible get him to enroll in the challenging courses, especially math and science. The Academy is fine with a B so long as it’s in a difficult class. The admissions board really looks at how much each candidate challenges himself both in and out of school.
DEFINITELY keep him in sports. The USNASS is extremely physically strenuous, and they administer several physical tests which DO affect the admissions decision, so you’ll want him to be in excellent shape.
The “real” application process begins the summer before your senior year, if you’re smart. Procrastinating is not a good idea if he really wants to get in. It’s a very long and difficult process, because not only do you have to get into the Academy, you have to convince a Congressman to select you as one of his 5 academy nominees. And that’s 5 at a TIME, not 5 per year. Additionally, you’ll have to get a DoDMERB physical and go through all sorts of military paperwork.
Also, encourage him to apply to other schools and NROTC. Even if he doesn’t plan to do NROTC if he doesn’t get into the academy, the USNA likes to see that he has backup plans and is determined to get a commission one way or another.
Also, get in touch with your blue and gold officer as soon as possible. These guys have quite a bit of weight in an admissions decision.
I personally didn’t end up applying for the academy, because that summer I began discerning a vocation to the priesthood, and NROTC gives me far more room to explore that possibility in college. But your son will be in my prayers! God bless you for helping him so!
And feel free to PM me with any questions.
PS- and the Naval Academy chapel is BEAUTIFUL! At the Summer Seminar I had the opportunity to attend Mass there, and it was a stunning experience. Stained glass, real pipe organ… probably the most beautiful building on an already beautiful campus.
Having it rebuilt in Navy fashion?? Is this what I want to support as a Catholic parent? The NA website talked about how important faith is to a military career, so I presume they won’t be training him to go against what we have tried to teach him. Am I right on this?