4 year colleges - really??

How long will it take you to make it through college? Most people will quickly think to themselves "4 years" because most WKHS students are looking at 4-year colleges.

Unfortunately, that is not always the reality. While a college is a 4-year school, for many students it is not always realistic that their students will, in fact, graduate in 4-years. You may wonder why this matters now, but it is very important for you to look at the 4-year graduation rates when you are considering colleges for your future because the longer it takes you to graduate from high school, the more you will be taking on in costs for college as well as the longer it will take you to graduate and get out into the working world or to move on to grad school.

You can usually find the 4-year graduation rates on college websites, but it isn't always easily accessible. This is a link to a US Department of Education website called College Navigator where you can search for schools and then by looking at the retention/ graduation rate area you will be able to see the statistics for each school in an easily accessible way.

Each school's 4-year graduation rates should not be your sole factor in making a decision, but it is another piece of the puzzle to help you. You should use the information to help you ask more questions about why their graduation rates are so low. Is it because it is too difficult to schedule classes when you need, is it because the costs are too expensive, is it because students change majors too many times so they end up with a lot of classes that do not help them toward their major, etc.

Happy Searching as you look for the school that is the best fit for you and your future.

Staying Organized

It has been said that your head is a good place to have ideas, but not the place to hold ideas and I believe that makes sense. I have been talking with a lot of students lately about the fact that I need to write everything down.  It would be impossible to remember everything that I need to keep track of if I didn't write it all down.

What works for me is making lists.  It doesn't have to be making a lists (although I would argue that there is great joy in being able to cross something off once you have accomplished it), but everyone needs some sort of a system to help keep your thoughts organized. It is much more difficult and demanding to try to hold something in your head than it is to refer back to it on paper.  It doesn't require a lot of time, but the payoffs are large as long as you stick with it. 

As you start thinking about the end of the semester, please work on staying focused and organized. What do you need to do to make sure that you end this quarter successfully? What about preparing for exams? There is still time left to make improvements, but you need to start now. If lists are not your way to stay organized, that is OK, but find a system that works and use it.

Figure out what you need to do, gather your materials from the semester and organize them, prepare now so that as you are studying you already have your resources at your fingertips and don't have to waste time searching through everything and above all, organize yourself so that you can apply yourself completely to the end of the semester.

Cram and Cocoa

Over the next 3 days all freshman students will be invited to participate in "Cram and Cocoa" sessions during your lunch periods.  This study strategy session is being provided by the Link Leaders and will be a great opportunity for students to get a jump start on effectively preparing for exams. 

As I mentioned yesterday, you (now) have just 11 days of classes to not only learn and master everything you are currently covering in class, but also to go back and study to refresh the material you have covered since August when we returned to school.

The feedback I have heard about these "Cram and Cocoa" sessions in past years is that they are incredibly helpful.  I sincerely hope you will take advantage of their willingness to help you prepare!

Countdown to Exams

The countdown is on... we have just 12 days of school left before semester exams. I *know* some (or maybe all) of you don't want to hear this, but it is REALLY important that you start studying now for exams. 

With exams taking place before winter break, it is important that you take a critical look at where you stand in each of your classes and what you need to do to fully prepare for exams.  If your grades are not where they should be at this point in time, please make use of the resources available to you - the academic assistants in room 209 and, most importantly, your teachers. I am also here to help you with studying strategies and tips if needed. For many students, your final grade for the semester will come down to how you finish out this quarter and how well you do on semester exams. Please don't neglect this opportunity to make the most of the remaining time as a chance to start reviewing for exams!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!  I have so much to be grateful for  - good health, wonderful family and friends, an incredible dog, and YOU!  Lexi and I both are thankful to have you in our lives.

One of the highlights of my job is the fact that I will, at times, have students reach out after graduation to check in and share updates about their lives.  In the past few weeks I have heard from a student from the Class of 2008 who got engaged, a student from the Class of 2011 who told me he is finishing up college majoring in the field that had been his lifelong dream, and a student from the Class of 2013 who just found out she was selected to her first choice military field.  I cannot even begin to tell you how thankful I am for each of these former students, but even more so for the fact that ALL of you allow me the chance to walk alongside you throughout high school.  It truly is an honor for me and it is not something that I take for granted.

I hope you have enjoyed your Thanksgiving day with your family and friends in whatever ways are most meaningful to you and that your hearts are filled with reminders of all that there is to be grateful for today!

Have a great break!

I know that the holidays can bring many mixed emotions with them, but I hope you have a wonderful 5 days off and that wherever your travels take you that you will have fun and be safe!

Pictures on Campus

I don't know about you, but I am so happy this is only a 2 day school week!

In talking with many of you recently, I know that some of you will be combining the Thanksgiving break with formal visits or informal stops on college campuses. Please remember that I would like to have a picture of you on EVERY campus that you step foot on - regardless of your intention to apply to that school or not.  I hope you enjoy exploring the campuses you get to see over the holiday!

College Admissions Decisions

College admissions decisions are already starting to come in for some students. Every senior looks forward to receiving their college acceptance letters. It is an exciting time and reassures you that there is more ahead. Depending upon the schools where you are applying, it is possible that you will hear back quickly or you may be waiting to hear about your status on if you have been accepted or not until sometime in March. I do ask that as you begin receiving your acceptance or, sadly, even rejection letters, to please keep me informed about the decisions. For the vast majority of the colleges, the only way I know about your admissions decision is if you share the information with me.

Remember, the only way to receive an acceptance letter is to actually APPLY to the college! (Just a friendly little reminder for those of you who are struggling to get your applications finished.)

Delaware Area Career Center

Yesterday was the annual field trip to the Delaware Area Career Center. As a reminder, don't forget that even if attending the career center, WKHS students are always WKHS students. With most programs you will have the option of attending the career center for full days (where you would take your lab coursework which counts as elective credits and your academic courses all at the career center) or for half days (where you only take the lab coursework at the career center and then return to WKHS for the other half of the day for your academic classes). You will graduate from Worthington Kilbourne and continue to participate on our athletic teams - even if you decide that you want to attend the career center for the full day. I strongly encourage you to check out the programs because the hands on opportunities to learn something new while also gaining your required elective credits can be a very appealing option! If you didn't have the chance to participate in yesterday's field trip, you still have time to visit.  There are second look days in future months.  (For the record, there is a 2nd look day in December, but it is on an exam day so WKHS students can't go on that visit day.) Any students interested in making this visit should stop by the WKHS Counseling & Career Center to pick up a permission slip from the secretaries. Permission slips must be submitted 3 days in advance in order to make arrangements for your visit.  Also, for those of you who made a visit yesterday, don't forget that you can apply online now!

Try to be Patient

I know that it can be frustrating when you have to be patient when waiting for something to happen. Waiting to hear news.  Waiting to hear if you have been accepted to college. Waiting for the next phase of your life. Waiting... waiting... and still more waiting.

But the reality is you need to be patient.

Right now colleges are overwhelmed and frequently back-logged with all of the applications they have been receiving. When colleges are receiving materials it often takes them two weeks to get everything processed and updated in the computer. They often send out notices to students that are automatically generated letters that they send just to remind you that you need to send your transcript and test scores and a recommendation letter. Students tend to panic when they receive that letter and want to send the materials again. Colleges typically do not want that happening as it will simply back up their system even more. 

Try to be patient. If you get one of these letters (from any college) take a moment and double check - did you send your transcript? Are they missing everything or some particular item? If you applied via Common App you can log in and check to see if everything was submitted and downloaded by the college.  If your materials were mailed within a 2-3 week time-frame, then take a deep breath and relax knowing that it is likely just because their system is backed up. Continue double checking on the college website (most will give you access to see your application status) and see if they have everything. If you are nearing the end of the 3rd week and they still don't have all of your items you can give them a call to double check. Chances are they just haven't made it there yet, but there are times where things get lost in the mail or filed in the wrong area. If items need to be sent again then we will work on taking care of that, but first make sure that they really are missing it.

As always, swing by my office to see me if you have any questions.

College Application Step Review

Since getting back the most common question I have heard was, "Did I miss anything?"  The reality is a lot of seniors have been worried that they are missing steps related to their college applications. The most accurate and most important response that I can give to you is to look at exactly what the college is asking for and make sure that they have each item requested by the deadline date. (And remember, that means that they actually have the materials in their office - not the date that you bring it to WKHS to have us mail or even the postmark deadline - it is the date that they need to have your entire completed application packet.)

1. Complete your application - this will be online.

2. Write your essay. I have mixed emotions if I should list this as #2 because you can't actually complete your application without your essay if one is required, but you probably don't know what the essay questions are unless you have started the application. Some schools will not require an essay while others will require multiple essays. Please plan accordingly because they take a long time to perfect.

3. Fill out the blue Transcript Release card for each school that you are applying. You can find this card in Mrs. McDaniel's office (you do not need to wait to try to see me). There is a $1.00 transcript fee unless you are applying to a school that utilizes Common App or SendEDU as we can submit transcripts to those two systems for free.

Another side note related to the transcript release cards- if you are applying to schools with deadlines of December 15th - January 10th we ask that you complete your transcript release card no later than December 9th.

4. Send your test scores - You need to make sure that you have submitted your ACT or SAT test results directly from the testing agency to each college where you are applying. You complete this step directly with the testing companies. If you are not sure if your test was sent, please log on to their site and double check.

5. If your college requires a teacher or counselor recommendation I really hope you have already arranged for someone to write them. Again, you should be giving your recommender at least 30 days notice to write a letter.

6. Double check your entire application, pay your application fee and submit the application.

7.  Sometimes people ask what are the other papers that might need to be mailed. This is one of those pieces that goes back to what the colleges require. Some colleges will have other requests such as a resume, an extra essay, teacher recommendation letters, a picture, etc. If it cannot be uploaded and needs to be mailed to the college, then you should combine it all into the same packet and mail it to the college.

It truly is not meant to be overly difficult, but it does require a great deal of organization and follow through on your part. With 293 seniors in this year's graduating class it is important to remember that you have to stay on top of things because deadlines are real and you do not want to lose the opportunity to apply to a school or to earn a scholarship just because you had not taken care of all of the details required.

If you have questions, stop by and see me and I will try to help make sure that we are all on the same page regarding what you need to do before your deadlines to complete all of your college applications.

Good luck on Pre-ACT

Tomorrow many of my students will be taking the Pre-ACT test (practice test for the ACT) and I wanted to wish you all good luck!  I hope it will be a meaningful practice opportunity for you in preparation for when you take the actual ACT in the future.

If you are taking the Pre-ACT, you will report directly to the gymnasium when you arrive to school on Wednesday morning. You will need to bring your student id with you in order to check in. You will also need a number 2 pencil (no mechanical pencils allowed), a calculator, and I would recommend a watch. The test will begin promptly by 7:45 and you will finish testing at the start of 5th period.  (If you have lunch 4th period we will be sure you have time to eat and give you pass to go to 5th period.)

Good luck on the test!

Holiday Help

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Except that for many people, it is not really the most wonderful time of year and can, in fact, be one of the most difficult times of year.  The holiday season often presents a challenging combination of high expectations, family drama, and school pressure with semester exams - all of which can result in unbelievably high levels of stress.  This is even more prevalent if you and your family are struggling to make ends meet this holiday season.

My top recommendation for everyone is to try to keep a sense of perspective on what is reality.  It becomes very easy to get caught in the mindset that the holiday is supposed to be this picture-perfect celebration.  Yet, that is seldom the reality.  When watching TV it is nearly impossible to escape seeing commercials and holiday movies that depict images of snow gently falling, families coming together with smiles and excitement, food overflowing on the tables, loved ones unwrapping the perfect gifts, sleigh rides through parks decorated with holiday lights, and communities gathered together singing carols.  I enjoy the sentiments that the movies are trying to depict, but if we begin thinking that this is what life is really like then we are bound to be disappointed.  For example, in my family we have wonderful holidays, but we have never gone on sleigh rides or participated in community caroling and, if I am being completely honest, the wonderful moments are also mixed with stressful times of trying to get everything ready or missing those who are unable to be there for the holiday.  If I were to compare my real holidays with that perfect image seen on TV I would inevitably be disappointed.

So, what can you do to help with the holidays?

Don't expect the holidays to be perfect. They NEVER are.

Focus on what you have, not what you don't. Ignore the commercials where the husband surprises his wife with a brand new luxury car or a diamond ring. This only leaves you wondering, "What about me?" Remind yourself that it's not the stuff that makes the holidays important.

The holidays can bring back memories of loved ones that have passed away. Give yourself permission to grieve, and deal with the loss in your own way. If you want to cry, go ahead. If you want to remember your loved one in a special way, do it - light a candle, put together a scrapbook, decorate the grave stone with flowers, or whatever else you find comforting.

Feel whatever you are feeling.  Sometimes people talk about “holiday blues” or feeling depressed by the holiday stress and others might feel excited, generous or disappointed.  Try not to over-analyze how you are feeling and just experience it – acknowledge it and try to live in the moment no matter the feeling.

Holidays can bring a great deal of joy and holiday spirit and I hope you will embrace that when possible.  This is most evident each year as I watch our school come together to help families in need with the “Adopt a Child” campaign.  It is heart-warming to see our student body unite together to help other students and families.  Knowing that you are helping to brighten the holiday for families experiencing financial and emotional stress is one of the greatest gifts you can give and helping others is often the best way to help make you feel better too.

However, for some students it is hard to focus on trying to brighten the holiday for other families when you are worrying about what you will have for Thanksgiving dinner or how you will eat during winter break.  I hope I can suggest some resources that you (or maybe a friend of yours) could use.  Below is a short list of places where you may be able to get help.

- One of the local churches, Worthington Presbyterian Church, is providing WKHS with all of the food for Thanksgiving meals so that we can distribute them to families in need.  If you need help with a Thanksgiving meal, please contact me ASAP so that I can try to arrange for a meal for you.

-  Community Cares Backpack Program:

     A group of dedicated, compassionate and incredibly thoughtful Worthington mom's do a variety of things to help our school community through the Activity Club.  One of those programs is to provide backpacks of food that students can take home with them over the weekend to add a little extra to their family's food supplies.  Every other week, we receive several backpacks that we can distribute.  If this resource is something that would be helpful for you, please let me know so that I can add you onto the list for future backpacks.  Please note that while this is provided by WKHS mom's, it is still confidential - they provide the backpacks to us and we distribute the bags to our students in need.

- Worthington Resource Pantry: www.worthingtonresourcepantry.org   614-985-1766

     Located at 6700 Huntley Rd., Columbus, OH 43229, the Worthington Resource Pantry provides families in our community with food and other resources of support.  Their hours are Mondays 10 - 2, Wednesdays 3 - 7, and the 3rd & 4th Saturdays of the month from 10 - 12.  

-  Dublin Food Pantry: www.dublinfoodpantry.org

     If you live in the 43016 zip code you could also utilize the Dublin Food Pantry.

-  Faith Mission: 

     If you are in need of a free meal, please join Faith Mission at the Community Kitchen (245 N. Grant Ave.) during the following times. Breakfast: Men – 6:30 – 7:15 (8:30 – 9:30 on weekends and holidays) Women and families – 7:30 – 8:15   Lunch: Women and families – 11:30 – 12:15 Men – 12:30 – 1:30   Dinner: Women and families – 5:30 – 6:15 Men – 6:45 – 7:45  See more at: http://faithmissionofohio.org/do-you-need-help/#sthash.hXbIieez.dpuf

-  Kroger Community Pantry:

     The Kroger Community Pantry is run in partnership with Mid-Ohio Food Bank.  The Kroger Community Pantry is located at 3960 Brookham Dr., Grove City.  Current hours are on Tuesdays from 12 – 5pm, Wednesdays from 4 – 7pm, Fridays from 9 – 2pm, and Saturdays from 9 – 1pm.  Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to posted closing time.  Also, because the pantry relies on volunteers to remain open, the pantry may close earlier than posted times.  Please call 614-317-9487 before you arrive to hear any changes to the schedule.  http://www.midohiofoodbank.org/get-help/kroger-pantry/

-  Hands On Central Ohio: https://handsoncentralohio.org/locate-services/  By phone: 211

     Hands on Central Ohio is an organization dedicated to connecting those in need with resources.  They provide a wide range of resources - Thanksgiving meals, Christmas food and gifts, Winter assistance, etc.  Check out their website for all of the ways they can try to connect you with assistance.

-  Regular Monthly Meals:

     You may already know this because we have this resource is available year-round and is featured on the WKHS Counselor website, but several local churches provide meals to anyone in the community needing assistance.  This page highlights where and when these meals are available to families in need. 

I am fully aware that all needs are not just related to food.  Here are a few resources if you have additional needs.

-  Charity Newsies   http://www.charitynewsies.com/getting-help/

     Charity Newsies is an organization that provides clothing to students in need.  A parent/ legal guardian needs to arrange for the clothing to be provided, but they can provide a complete set of clothing needs for each student that qualifies and needs it.

-  Salvation Army:  Food and Toys

     Perhaps you have seen the red kettles that appear each year - these donations are used to help provide food and gifts for families in need.  Information about their Christmas assistance program is available here: http://co.salvationarmy.org/CentralOhio/christmas-assistance

     Registration for assistance will take place this week (Week of November 14th) and the week after Thanksgiving (Week of November 28th).  Specific details about times and locations as well as required documentation are available on the Salvation Army's website.  Once families have registered for food and toy assistance, you will then go to the Ohio State Fairgrounds on December 19, 20 or 21st to receive your toys and holiday goodies.  If you have questions, you can contact them at 614-221-6561 ext. 600.

-  2 Hands:  Specific Needs

     This online resource helps connect Ohio families in need with those who are willing and able to help.  Families indicate their specific needs on the website and then others volunteer to help meet those needs.  Information about this resource is available at: http://www.2hands.org/online-christmas-help/in-ohio.php

-  Single Parents Alliance of America

     I heard that this organization also had resources to help support individuals who qualify, but I will be honest, I am not sure what those resources include.  It is worth looking into though if you are a single parent to see if it might be of help.  http://www.spaoa.org/splash/?gclid=CPTnge_tg8kCFQktaQodF9sNpA

As always, please stop by and talk if you are having problems this holiday season. If you need food, clothing or just want to talk about some struggles you are having, my door is open for you. I hope you are able to relax and enjoy this holiday season.

United States Naval Academy - Part 3

As I mentioned yesterday, attending the Naval Academy is a huge opportunity, but it comes with great responsibility.

It is incredibly competitive to be accepted to the USNA, but it is not impossible.  For example, last year there were 17,000 applications initiated, but only 3300 of them ended up fulfilling all the steps (including receiving a nomination) and then of that number just 1,350 students were offered an appointment (the chance to attend).  They consider applicants holistically.  In applicants, they are seeking those with excellent moral character who are mentally and physically fit, are interested in becoming a Professional Officer in the Naval Service and who demonstrate the potential for leadership.  Essentially, they are looking for students who excel in the classroom, are leaders, are driven and competitive, are involved, and who have a desire to serve.  Students interested in applying should start the process during their junior year so that you can complete the process as early as possible during your senior year.  Applications are looked at every week on a rolling basis.  Prep School is an option that some students will be offered for a year prior to being accepted to the USNA.  The Naval Academy Prep School (also known as NAPS) is in Rhode Island.

Nominations are a unique aspect of the admissions process to the USNA.  In addition to submitting the actual application to the Naval Academy, students must simultaneously apply to senators and congressmen for a nomination.  This process typically includes an application and an interview to have the chance to be nominated.  All students who attend the Naval Academy MUST receive a nomination.

There are opportunities for high school students to check out the USNA to see if it would be a potential fit.  Summer Seminar is for students in the summer between their junior and senior years.  It is a competitive process that opens for application in January of the junior year.  It will give attendees a chance to spend a week living the life of a typical Midshipman.  For younger students, there are other summer experiences including participating in USNA sports camps or STEM academic camps.

The Midshipmen are from all 50 states and so it can be a challenge to be in such a demanding circumstance while being so far away from home.  As a result, one cool thing that the Naval Academy does to help the students is that they have Host Families that “adopt” the Midshipmen.  These families are from the greater Annapolis area and they provide a place of normalcy and comfort for the students on the limited times when they are able to leave the campus.  Additionally, another unique aspect of the Naval Academy in comparison to the other academies is the fact that there is a town just outside of the gates of the campus. 

Athletics is an essential component of life for all Midshipmen.  All of the students are expected to participate in sports in some capacity.  The Naval Academy is an NCAA Division 1 school featuring 32 varisty sports – 18 men’s, 11 women’s and 3 co-ed.  They also have 16 club sports and 10 intramural sports.  In addition to participating in sports, the students are all still required to take PE classes each year.  (So, unlike in high school where you might be able to be exempted from PE if you are an athlete, they do not allow that at the Naval Academy.)  27% of the men and 35% of the women who attend the USNA are varsity athletes competing in Division 1 sports.

I really enjoyed learning about how they approach teaching leadership and character development.  In part, all athletics, activities and classes help toward this, but there are also specific classes focused on teaching leadership and character.  For example, we learned that they typically think of the first 2 years as being when they teach students immediate obedience and then the next two years are spent teaching the students to think and make decisions on their own.  The ultimate goal is for the students to be servant leaders and they have classes and a capstone project that students complete to help develop their leadership.  The honor code is also very important at the USNA, but if students struggle they are focused on remediation rather than just kicking the students out.  While the Midshipmen have barely any free time (at all) in their week, I was also impressed by the fact that many of the students are still committed to clubs and community service opportunities which is a reflection of their character.

In addition to talking with Hannah and Micah, I had the chance to meet several other Midshipmen during the week. 

Julia is a freshman who showed me the sample dorm room.  Bancroft Hall is the largest dorm on any college campus – in fact all 4400 students at the USNA all live in that 1 dorm.  It is gigantic!  We didn’t get to see any of the actual student dorm rooms, but they did allow us to see this mock-up sample dorm room.  It was interesting that all student rooms and closets must be EXACTLY like this!  No papers, pencils, or other materials are allowed to be left out on the desk at ANY point in time.  And, in their closet, clothes must be together and go from light to dark.  Additionally, socks must be folded in a very particular manner so that they were “smiling.”  It was explained to us that this is all because of the importance of attention to details.  

At dinner I was able to pepper one of the juniors, Jackie (pictured here on left with her friend and fellow Midshipman Miriam) with tons of questions.  She was amazing and I really enjoyed being able to talk 

with her as well as all of the other students that I met randomly throughout the week.  Whether it was talking to someone like Jackie at length or the students we were able to meet in the engineering labs, everyone was polite, respectful, kind and ready to answer any questions and I appreciated it very much not only for what they shared, but also for the hope that they gave me for the future because they are outstanding (like all of you) and they are dedicating their lives to service which strikes me as amazing!

When we had the opportunity to ask a panel of students what they would recommend for high schoolers to do if they are interested in attending the Naval Academy the number one answer that we heard and was reiterated by all of the students (and applies not only for attending an Academy) is that students should not be afraid of working hard and going after anything you want.  They encouraged students to picture where they want to be in the future and work for that rather than just working for tomorrow.  I loved that sentiment!  Remember, what you are learning and doing is not just to check off a box or to earn a grade in your class – it is to help develop yourself, push your own development and excel in every area because it is for your own good and not because of some outside goal or objective.

The chapel is a central point on the college campus.  There is a ship that hangs from the top of the back of the church – it looks small from the ground, but is actually quite large.  An interesting feature of the chapel is that there is a pew completely blocked off that features a candle which is lit in memory of POW’s and those missing in action.  Beneath the chapel is a crypt of John Paul Jones.

There were other neat traditions that we heard about/ saw… The noon formation prior to lunch was very impressive.  The statue of Tecumseh was typically covered by a tarp, but the bottom portion is painted at particular times in honor of major events on campus – in this case for the Marine Corps birthday and the Navy vs. Tulsa football game.  And we learned that this statue is used as a ritual to mark the end of the freshman (plebe) year when the freshmen students must try to work together to get the Naval hat perched at the top… and, to make it more difficult the seniors coat the entire statue with a great deal of oil, lard, and other slippery material.  Plus, the views out the windows were amazing... like this classroom ship that the Midshipmen learn on.

And yesterday, I neglected to include pictures of the concrete canoe or the human-powered submarine... how amazing?!?

It was a great trip and I learned so much.  I wish time and space would allow me to share more, but the reality is that nothing I write here can fully capture the experience of being there.  So, if attending the United States Naval Academy is at all of interest to you, I hope you will stop to see me so we can discuss it more in depth!

United States Naval Academy - Part 2

As you know, last week I was out of town for a visit to the United States Naval Academy (USNA).  Do you know what the Naval Academy is?  Is it a college?  Yes.  Is it the military?  Yes.  It is both, but, quite honestly, it is more than just the sum of it’s parts!

I was so impressed by the Naval Academy and all of the students (referred to as Midshipmen) who are attending school there.  Of course, the two that I was happiest to see were Kilbourne graduates, Hannah Vincent who is a senior at the Naval Academy and Micah Vincent who is a freshman at the Naval Academy. 

I was able to join Hannah and Micah for lunch in Kings Hall –  their single dining hall and it is unbelievable to see how quickly they are able to feed all 4400 Midshipmen at once and get them moving on their way.  I wish I had grabbed a better picture than this, but the tables and people were packed into the dining hall in every direction imaginable – it was unreal.  Believe me... this picture doesn't even come close to doing it justice!

Without a doubt attending the USNA is a major commitment!  Students carry 18 to 20 hours each semester and they are pushed physically, mentally and morally so that they will excel as leaders today and in the future to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.

While at the USNA we received presentations from impressive leaders who oversee the school.  I am going to try to focus on some of the highlights from the presentations, but if you are interested in learning more about the Naval Academy, I hope you will please stop to see me so that we can talk more in depth about the details involved.

Attending the Naval Academy means that students complete their 4 years of college and earn their bachelor’s degrees free of charge.  (Well, free in that they don’t have to pay to attend school, but there is a service requirement after graduation.)  Additionally, 100% of the students are assured of a job following their graduation – something that other colleges certainly can’t claim.  The national average of students entering a college and then graduating from that college 4 years later is just 29%.  At the USNA the 4 year graduation rate is 89%.  This is obviously very impressive!  Of those who don’t graduate, only 2% were due to academic reasons.  The rest of the reasons were medical, personal such as deciding that they don’t want to be in the Navy or have other family reasons that they need to leave or because of conduct/ honor issues in which case the USNA may have asked them to leave.

The core curriculum that all students must take includes 140 hours.  Examples of classes that are included in the core curriculum are: Math, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Cyber, English, History, Government, Leadership, Ethics, Law, Seamanship/ Navigation, and PE.  (In case you were curious, this is more than what most students at other colleges are required to complete.)  Then, on top of that, the students must pick a major which can be from the 25 various major choices – most of which are STEM in nature, but there are 5 majors in the humanities.  What they do not have are majors related to healthcare and so attending the USNA would not be a good fit if this is your future plan.

 

Most of the majors at the USNA are STEM related.  Cyber warfare is a new area of emphasis that they are focusing on as well.  68% of their graduates are from STEM majors.  The other 32% of graduates majored in Liberal Arts fields.  We had a chance to see some of the Engineering facilities where they are very focused on project based learning.  They have students who participated in unique events such as building and competing with a concrete canoe (yes, it really was made of concrete and it actually floated with 4 students in it), building an autonomous sailboat, designing a Formula 1 racing car, and a 2-man human powered submarine.

The major doesn’t necessarily determine what field the Midshipmen’s future Naval Career job will be in – they have the option to select what they feel is a good fit for them and also based on what the Navy needs.  So, for example, I talked with a Political Science major who hopes to be a Naval Pilot and another student is an Aerospace Engineering major who would like to be on Submarines in the future.  When the students select their desired areas for a career, they rank their top 3 preferences.  About 86% of the students are given their 1^st choice, nearly 96 receive their 1^st or 2^nd choice and the remaining students end up with their 3^rd choice.  The seniors that we met are very focused on the fact that they will receive their commissions (their Naval jobs) this coming Thursday and it is an exciting day for them so they are anxiously awaiting finding out what they will be doing in the future.  In order to help the Midshipmen to determine what fields would be the best fit, their summers are split into 3 segments – they can participate in different learning opportunities and trainings such as being on a ship or submarine, taking summer classes, traveling abroad, or developing their leadership through various opportunities such as assisting with the Summer Seminar.

The faculty at the Naval Academy is comprised of half military officers (who typically rotate back to the fleet every 3 years) and half civilians who all have PhD’s and provide consistency as they typically are there for long periods of time.  Considering how difficult the academics are at the Naval Academy I really appreciated the commitment that they have to support students who want and need additional help.  Students can sign up for “Supplemental” assistance if they are having a tough time.  If that is not enough then they also offer “EI” which stands for “Extra Instruction” which is a chance for the student to meet 1:1 with their professor for more help in the classes.

Students attending the Naval Academy do still have opportunities for International Engagement during their 4 years.  For some this may be a traditional study abroad where they spend a semester overseas, but for others it is a week or a month-long process traveling to learn in other countries.

At the library we met an incredibly kind and thoughtful woman at the circulation desk who was generous with her time and knowledge to help us understand more about what life is like on the “Navy Yard” and for the Midshipmen as well as for the families of people who work at the Academy.  One of the coolest things she told us was that there are tunnels which connect the Library and runs under/ through three of the buildings before coming to an end.  I also appreciated the fact that the library was so similar to the libraries that you would find on any other college campus.

One of the big aspects that many of the speakers emphasized was their desire to put students in situations where they fail and learn how to overcome their failures.  They want them to realize that the key is to keep moving forward so that in the future, when it really matters they will be able to be in tough situations and continue toward their goals.  This was a concept that resonated well with me since that is a belief that we try to focus on at Kilbourne.

More updates about the Naval Academy and photos to come tomorrow!