Interview Help and Suggestions

tsparks21

USNA Class of 2020
Joined
Nov 9, 2015
Messages
22
I have received a Senator's Nomination to the USAFA and did not get the one for USNA (my top choice). I am a sophomore in college applying for the first time so I know my case is a little rare. The interviewers for USNA seemed to be stuck on that and asked why I didn't want to finish out school and go NROTC (there is not one at my current college), or OCS/ODS. I explained that OCS/ODS was my original plan but in a year at a traditional university I felt I wasn't being pushed to reach my full potential. They kept asking the the same kind of question. I also think I may have seemed a little too relaxed for the Navy.

Any suggestions on how to improve? I want to attend an academy in the worst way, any of the three, they all have things I like and don't like. I don't want me being older to hurt my chances. I understand that about 1/3 first years are older but feel like it hindered my chances with the USNA people. I have my Congressional Nomination interview this weekend. I am not worried about it really as I interview well but I want to be the best I possibly can.

I saw a lot of kids had portfolios or their resume's with them. I did not take mine because I know my resume forward and backward and I was under the assumption that they would already have the information I had submitted. Is is still good to take someting with me? I am not sure what I would do with that as it may be a distraction.
 
I saw a lot of kids had portfolios or their resume's with them. I did not take mine because I know my resume forward and backward and I was under the assumption that they would already have the information I had submitted. Is is still good to take someting with me? I am not sure what I would do with that as it may be a distraction.

It was recommended to my DS to bring a note pad and a copy of his MOC application portfolio into the interview. He brought in a small portfolio binder / folder with that stuff inside. I guess it looks a little more professional. Although either way it will not be a deal breaker.

Be confident, and the best of luck.
 
I went to 2 years of college before going to USNA so I empathize. My suggestion is to drop the "I wasn't pushed to reach my full potential" line. The interview committee did not like your answer if they kept coming back to the same question again and again. It sounds lazy, as if you are not a self starter, and if your college grades were less than eyewateringly good, it really sounds bad. If you thought you were a "little too relaxed" for Navy, you were a "little too relaxed" period.

The answer for any college student as to why after X years at Civilian University you want to go to a service academy is simple. It offers what no civilian school can do and that is finest leadership education that the military can develop. You can get a good education at USC, Princeton, Yale, and Slippery Rock Teacher's College but you cannot get the leadership education and that is all the difference in the world. ROTC is a wonderful program but even if it were available to you, it is not the 24-7 stress and challenge that an academy is and never can be. It just is not designed to be that. Your goal and path to be the best (AF, Navy, Army) Officer possible leads straight to the Academy. While it may increase your years in school, it is worth it as you consider it a Masters Degree in applied leadership. Having said all that, if an academy is not in the cards and ROTC is not available, then your back up plan is always OCS, as your ultimate goal is to be a military officer leading soldiers, sailors, airmen, or Marines.
 
I went to 2 years of college before going to USNA so I empathize. My suggestion is to drop the "I wasn't pushed to reach my full potential" line. The interview committee did not like your answer if they kept coming back to the same question again and again. It sounds lazy, as if you are not a self starter, and if your college grades were less than eyewateringly good, it really sounds bad. If you thought you were a "little too relaxed" for Navy, you were a "little too relaxed" period.

The answer for any college student as to why after X years at Civilian University you want to go to a service academy is simple. It offers what no civilian school can do and that is finest leadership education that the military can develop. You can get a good education at USC, Princeton, Yale, and Slippery Rock Teacher's College but you cannot get the leadership education and that is all the difference in the world. ROTC is a wonderful program but even if it were available to you, it is not the 24-7 stress and challenge that an academy is and never can be. It just is not designed to be that. Your goal and path to be the best (AF, Navy, Army) Officer possible leads straight to the Academy. While it may increase your years in school, it is worth it as you consider it a Masters Degree in applied leadership. Having said all that, if an academy is not in the cards and ROTC is not available, then your back up plan is always OCS, as your ultimate goal is to be a military officer leading soldiers, sailors, airmen, or Marines.
Thank you so much for your input! I have a 3.7 (deans list) from GVSU as a student athlete (academic all american) and double major (political science with a focus in international relations and biomedical science) as well on the e-board for 3 clubs and work 5-23 hours on the weekends at a youth center so I do try to push myself. Your answer was incredibly helpful! Thank you so much again. It's is good to know that someone has done it and it is possible. I really appreciate you response!
 
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