I was a professor there for three years before returning to the fleet. Of all the advice you will receive, the most important thing I have to offer is this:
NOTHING is more important than your ACADEMIC grade in the first semester of your plebe year. Focus exclusively on studying, turning in homework and projects on time and all the other academic requirements. Your plebe rates, Bancroft Hall silliness, pro-knowledge, etc. are not important in the long run.
I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you on this one. I struggled academically my first year at the Academy, but not because I was not studying, turning in homework, projects, etc. I was removed from high school/studying (did a year at a less than challenging school, where I really didn't have to study) for 3 years before I went to USNA, and rocked a 1.65 cum at the end of plebe year. I went to an academic board, and what kept me there? My military performance. I got an A in proficiency and conduct every semester I was there. And I graduated.
Also, what Bancroft Hall silliness are you referring to? The ones where you bond with your classmates? The same classmates who may/may not reach out a hand to help when you need it? The same classmates that may be geniuses, and because of the "Bancroft Hall silliness" realize that you're someone they want to serve with in the future and help get you through the academics?
Your first semester grades will establish your graduating GPA +/- .5 In the long run your graduating GPA will influcence much more than how great you are at chow calls. Your GPA will determine service selection, grad school opportunites, and much much more.
This is complete and utter bullshit. Period. Again, we'll look at me as an example. So, based on your logic - the best I could have possibly hoped for was a 1.64-1.74 (WELL below the 2.0 threshold to graduate) based on my first semester QPR (a 1.69). I was pretty damn good at chow calls.
I graduated with a degree in Computer Science and a 2.65 QPR. And got my first choice in service selection. Oh, and I'm halfway through my master's that I'm not paying a dime for. Your point is?
My father (USNA '63) had a better QPR than I did, and he didn't get his first choice in service selection. Pre-commissioning physicals can be a bitch. He had less than a 3.0, yet he managed to get a MS and a PhD at Monterey - and retired as a Captain. He doesn't ever tell me stories about how hard he studied in Nimitz Library, but he does tell me stories about chow calls, uniform races, you know - the unimportant shit. I guess he's a failure in your eyes because he didn't get the best possible QPR he could.
Remember, the requirement for a commission is an undergraduate degree. Keep that in mind so you don't loose sight of the fact that the most important thing to get at the Academy is a degree.
If I wasn't clear enough... YOUR GRADES ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING ELSE. SACRIFICE EVERYTHING FOR THE BEST POSSIBLE ACADEMIC GRADES.
You are correct, the requirement is an undergraduate degree. HOWEVER, the most important thing (especially if you are struggling) is not necessarily your grades. Sacrifice what, your honor? Yup - saw guys get booted on honor offenses. Sacrifice what, your military performance? Yup - saw guys get booted that had 3.5+ GPAs because of a 6000/Major level offense.
2.0 and go. If the minimum wasn't good enough, it wouldn't be the minimum. Not to sound flippant, but there are PLENTY of people that struggled academically and still got commissioned. And they didn't think about sacrificing everything for the best possible GPA. Oh, and let's not forget - it's a QPR there, not a GPA. Which also includes your military performance. Can't make 'dants list without good military grades.
Nope - plenty of people have been very successful with only two out of three if one of them is academics, and if you are good enough at academics you can suck at the other two and be fine.
This is the best possible statement coming out of this thread so far. For the average midshipman, you really have to pick two... I'll give you a hint as to what I picked - I was an intramural warrior...
For the OP, what advice do I have for you?
In the short run:
1. No matter how bad it gets - remember this, your detailers don't have a magical ability to turn back the clock. Time is on your side.
2. During plebe summer - work harder. If you think you're working hard enough, then help your classmate.
3. Your classmates are the single most important people in your life. You may disagree early on, but at the end of the day - they will be your friends for life. My father recently took a trip to South Bend to see the Navy/Notre Dame game. He (and his classmates) traveled together, and left the wives at home. It's been almost 50 years since he graduated from USNA, and yet he still wanted to undertake such a long trip with the guys he spent "four years together by the bay" with.
In the long run:
1. Remember, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
2. No matter how bad it gets, in the end - it's worth it.
3. Your classmates are the single most important people in your life. Thank god for Bob. He taught me physics in the days leading up to the exam.
4. PM me - and I'll give you my cell if you want it. Mine was not a normal USNA experience (prior enlisted, with a horrible GPA from high school, struggled academically, spent time on restriction (even though I had an A in performance/conduct the whole time I was there), sweated whether I would graduate the whole time), but yet shortly after I graduated - I ended up on Plebe Summer detail as a 2ndLt. And did a favor for a now (former) CJCS. And talked his son into staying. I also helped one of my former crewchiefs get an appointment, and checked up on him the entire time he was there - unfortunately they found a non-commisionable condition during his pre-coms. I believe very strongly in that school, what it stands for, and what it produces - and will defend it to the day I die.
No, there's more to that school than just academics. Although academics have the biggest ability to bite you in the ass.
