Need some advice

AZMOM

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5-Year Member
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I have gone through these message boards over and over again, trying to find someone that has the same situation as my son. And there have been a lot that are very similar, but not quite the same. His application was completely done at the end of October. He received an email regarding the percentage of my race, and another asking if he has looked up information on NAPS/Foundation. We have had long discussions with him regarding the prep schools and he would take it in a heartbeat if offered. His grades have always been strong until his Sophomore year. He slipped in his Sophomore and Junior year. There are reasons, but no excuses for letting his grades slip. It's not my place to share his personal information (grades, scores, etc.), but he has the sports, leadership, community service all there. I think the weakest part of his application is the grades and scores. His seventh semester grades, gpa, and last ACT scores were great. The academy will receive his semester grades at the end of next week. He is medically and physically qualified.

Something else to mention. He only received an interview from Sen. Jon Kyle, but not from Sen. John McCain. Our Representative Jeff Flake did not have any spots available for the Naval Academy this year. Needless to say, he did not receive a nomination. He received that letter the middle of last month. I realize that no news is good news, but it's difficult to sit and wait to see if he is going to get the denial letter or prep school letter, when you know you didn't receive a nomination. If he doesn't get prep this year, he will reapply in April, go to Texas with us in June (attend Univ. of Texas), and hopefully get that appointment next year. If anyone has thoughts or comments I would appreciate them.
 
Just a thought. I would contact CGA and make sure they know he would gladly take NAPS.
 
If he has no nom, than the scenario becomes much more difficult, can still happen (i.e. Veep, Sup, etc).

Basically, you are in the same boat as everybody else...waiting. It is hard, but that's what you have to do.

I am not sure about USNA, but I recall somebody stating last yr, that if you get no appt this yr, you need to wait until July to re-apply (they are known to even give appts up to I-day) . They need to clear out your current app and create a new file, which is the reason for a later app date. The good news from the threads that I have read, it seems as if those not offered appts for the yr before get their appts early for the upcoming yr. I don't know why, it may be something as simple as experience and knowledge of knowing how to navigate the process and correcting their shortcomings.

Good luck
 
He slipped in his Sophomore and Junior year. There are reasons, but no excuses for letting his grades slip. It's not my place to share his personal information (grades, scores, etc.), but he has the sports, leadership, community service all there. I think the weakest part of his application is the grades and scores. His seventh semester grades, gpa, and last ACT scores were great.

Not to get too specific but, slipped how bad and how great were the 7th semester grades out of curiosity?
 
cudos to AZMOM for not posting your sons stats. Agree that it is not our place as parents to post scores that do not belong to us - they are private information that belong solely to our children for them to disseminate how they choose. So out of respect for AZMOM and her son, lets not ask no matter how curious we are.

I believe that CGA was supposed to be the CGO at USNA.

One thing to keep in mind if he is found 3Q'd NAPS is then off the table but the foundation could still be an option. Have your son ask about both when he calls his CGO.
 
cudos to AZMOM for not posting your sons stats. Agree that it is not our place as parents to post scores that do not belong to us - they are private information that belong solely to our children for them to disseminate how they choose. So out of respect for AZMOM and her son, lets not ask no matter how curious we are.

I believe that CGA was supposed to be the CGO at USNA.

One thing to keep in mind if he is found 3Q'd NAPS is then off the table but the foundation could still be an option. Have your son ask about both when he calls his CGO.

She's asking a specific question and some stats are needed to gauge the potential answer. I didn't ask for SAT's or GPA but only how much of an increase on 7th semester.
 
Yes, I meant CGO (USNA Candidate Guidance Office), not Coast Guard Academy! :eek:
 
I appreciate all the advice and comments. He wants to attend USNA, not CGA. I won't give his exact GPA, but it's above a 4.0. He is away at a swim meet this weekend, and doesn't know that I'm asking advice. That's why I won't give his stats out.

One person might find them great scores, and someone else might criticize them. Either way, they are his to share, not mine. He has taken the SAT/ACT several times and improved every time. He told us that he was confident while taking the test, he was just slow. The last ACT test he did, met the minimums for USNA. I say great scores, compared to the previous scores he received. I hope this makes sense.

Also, the very nice lady at Sen. Jon Kyl's office advised our son to send his updated scores and transcript, even though they didn't give him a nomination, can someone enlighten me on that?
 
Did you mean that they advised your son to send his scores and updated transcript to the academy? Or to the Senator's office?
 
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I appreciate all the advice and comments. He wants to attend USNA, not CGA. I won't give his exact GPA, but it's above a 4.0. He is away at a swim meet this weekend, and doesn't know that I'm asking advice. That's why I won't give his stats out.

One person might find them great scores, and someone else might criticize them. Either way, they are his to share, not mine. He has taken the SAT/ACT several times and improved every time. He told us that he was confident while taking the test, he was just slow. The last ACT test he did, met the minimums for USNA. I say great scores, compared to the previous scores he received. I hope this makes sense.

Also, the very nice lady at Sen. Jon Kyl's office advised our son to send his updated scores and transcript, even though they didn't give him a nomination, can someone enlighten me on that?

above 4.0?

thats a very good GPA even weighted....
 
Send the info. It is a great sign.
Some offices make 10 Nominations and maintain 10 backups (I hesitate to use the word alternates).
Some nominees can take themselves out of the running (accept another SA, ED another school, Trouble, Medical). I believe the final date for Nominations to the Academy is 31 JAN.
Send the info!
 
As mentioned above, he must now wait.

Certainly he should send updates to his Senator as requested. He has everything to gain.

In the event it does not work out, if it is your son's dream to attend USNA, then applying another year is called for. Those candidates with rocky academics can overcome those by doing college work. In preparation for that, enrolling in and doing well in Calculus, Physics and Chemistry, and having those grades for next years application is a way to go. Attendance and success during the summer and fall semesters at even community college will overshadow previous academic performance.

True story: I worked with a candidate for USMMA. She was turned down. She attended a Community college for a year, applied again. She was then offered NM Military Institute by USMMA, which she completed successfully. She is now on one of her cruises for USMMA. It took her two extra years, but she is now where she wants to be.

Good luck to your son,

BGO, USNA 2007 Dad, CDR USN, (ret)
 
Thanks again. Everyone has been very kind and helpful. His scores were automatically sent to the Senator's office. His school will be sending out his transcript tomorrow, which it will be going to the Senator, as well as, the academy. It has been his dream for a very long time to attend USNA, and become a Marine Officer. He will reapply if he doesn't get his appointment this time. Like the rest of candidates, he has to wait. We told him that if they were going to turn him down, I think he would have already heard. His application has been there since the end of October. I will keep you posted.
 
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