leaving academy to do NROTC

bayou mid

5-Year Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2011
Messages
1
I am currently a midshipmen at USNA, and I have come to conclude that my heart is no longer in the academy. I have always wanted to be an officer in the Navy and I would like to continue that dream in an NROTC unit at a civilian school. I don't really expect to get offered a scholarship, but I know you have to be offered advanced standing to get commissioned upon graduation. My question is: realistically how hard is it to get advanced standing at a large public state school? I already have 30 credit hours and a good GPA from the civilian school I attended before USNA. Thanks for the help.
 
I am currently a midshipmen at USNA, and I have come to conclude that my heart is no longer in the academy. I have always wanted to be an officer in the Navy and I would like to continue that dream in an NROTC unit at a civilian school. I don't really expect to get offered a scholarship, but I know you have to be offered advanced standing to get commissioned upon graduation. My question is: realistically how hard is it to get advanced standing at a large public state school? I already have 30 credit hours and a good GPA from the civilian school I attended before USNA. Thanks for the help.
I think you should ask to PNS at the school you want to attend. The school should have an NROTC website where you can find the PNS.
 
With the downsizing of the DOD budget while simultaneously having high retention rates it is going to be harder even if you don't ask for a scholarship.

If you read another poster (vira) http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=22306

He too has left USNA and is learning it is going to be an issue for a scholarship.

There will always be the way to get in, but it may take you on a non-traditional path.
8
Just out of curiosity, but what is going on at the USNA this yr? Maybe it is just this site is becoming more commonly known by mids, and it isn't anything, just the site getting bigger. However, you are the 3rd poster that I know of on this site to call it a day this soon.

Understand, every yr mids leave for a multitude of reasons, and some will question your motives. Take the time and really ask yourself why? Is it because life there stinks right now? If that is the case try to stick it out, because believe it or not next yr it will be a memory and the majority of the mids feel exactly the same as you do.

We had a friend's DS at an SA who felt the same way as you do now. He made a deal with his folks, that if at the end of his C4C yr he wanted to leave they would 1000% support his decision. He came home for winter break and swore to them come next fall he was gone. Came home spring break and swore he was pretty sure come next fall he was gone Came home for summer break and he was sure he was going back. He was commissioned last May from that SA.

Things will change. The only I am saying this is because you are saying it is the academy you don't care for, which means to me you are running from something in your decision process, and that is not what you should do; you should always be running towards something.

I suggest you look at this thread. http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=22490

The poster is like you considering leaving, another poster has already left and is brutally honest with his emotional roller coaster ride after leaving.

neugs said:
I left at the end ofI-Day. It was an impulse and rash decision and I just wanted to get out of there. I know at the moment it probably feels terrible. Of course it will though. You know the saying 20,000 people apply but 1,000 regret it? I hate that saying because in reality, those 1,000 will be 1,000 light years ahead of everyone other college graduate. I didn't think of the future when I wated to leave. I only thought to myself that I wanteto get out and that I was the only one who felt scared and lost, when in reality, everyone else was in the same position as me. If you are still there and are thinking about leaving, wait until the end of the year. Sure civilian college would be so much more fun. But is that what you really want? Going to the academy you have a pride instilled in you. Nowhere else can you wake up and be proud of where you are going and what you are you are doing for this country. At civilian college, I wake up, look at the clock, and then say, looks like I can still sleep some more. Whereas at the academy, you wake up, perform your duties to set you up for the real life. I should have never left. It was such an immature decision. Not a day goes by that I don't think about it. To be honest, the feeling was terrible when I went back to my hometown. I didn't even make it pas the first day! And to go back to a town where they were so proud of my achievement (very few people have been accepted over the years from my town). And for my parents, I felt like a failure to them. There is no greater feeling than saying "My son/daughter attends an Academy.". I'm just putting it in reality that for te first couple weeks you will keep questioning yourself. Hell, I'm still questioning myself. I want to know what I really want to do with my life. It sucks. I feel like a I have a load of guilt on me all the time. In class, in my form, talking with my friends; all of those somehow relate back to Annapolis and haunt me. I feel like each and very way I turn, something relates to the Navy. But that's just the way it is. I remember my Dad saying to me prior to me leaving to Annaplis that, "Think about it, all the stories you will have for your kids, grand kids, friends. There will be no greater feeling than going to this place." He was right. Now I'm at a private catholic school and yea, the life is fun. But it will never beat the pride and feeling of being at the Naval Academy.

However, if you still do decide to leave. I believe that eventually, you will overcome the feeling of leaving. At least that's what I hope. Hope you
got somethin out of this

I know you are asking about chances, but I think it is just important to see why you are leaving before anyone starts giving you anecdotal chances advice.
 
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