Tell me what you guys think.

dvnkmmy

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Mar 7, 2015
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32
Hello,

I applied to the Academy my senior year of high school and my freshman year of college. I did not get in both years. I decided to take a year off to decide if I wanted to reapply. I got to focus on improving my GPA (brought it up from a 3.2 to a 3.5) and my physical ability.

After the class of 2020 applications closed, I deeply regretted not reapplying. This assured me that the USNA was where I needed to be.

My question for anyone who wants to answer is the following:
Will that year gap from my applications look weird to the Admissions Board?

Thanks ahead to anyone who answers! I'll also be happy to answer any questions that rise up
 
I understand that people can't give me an exact answer! I'm just looking for thoughts and opinions :)
 
Hello,

Will that year gap from my applications look weird to the Admissions Board?

Thanks ahead to anyone who answers! I'll also be happy to answer any questions that rise up

I think they'll wonder why you didn't apply for the 2020 class, but they'll admire the fact that your reapplying this year.

Idk tho
 
It Depends!

Only you know what classes you took after high school.

I can only throw out an opinion and that's not worth much, but here it is :

If the classes where the GPA improved to 3.5 are for a degree in 'Pottery Studies' at the Community College, I'd say not a good chance.
 
If I remember correctly, there is a comment section. I would write a quick thin explaining myself like I did above or somehow throw it into my essay.

But that was my thought. I wasn't sure how people, especially the board, would see that gap. If it wasn't that I improved academically, physically, and in experience then I wouldn't feel as confident as I do now to even reapply.
 
These are all classes for an engineering degree at my Community College.

And before anyone says "oh you're at a community college!" I have a full paid scholarship with the naval base in my area to take engineering at my community college then to the closest University (UMD - College Park) for mechanical engineering.

I am fully prepared to pay back all the funds that have been paid
 
Don't ever apologize or feel the need to justify yourself on this board for going to school and getting an education. If community college is what you could afford, good on you for pursuing it and pushing yourself in engineering courses. I think you will need to spend some time on your essays, application and interviews explaining the why a gap year, what you did, what you learned, why it would benefit you. Enroll is school take a demanding schedule. USNA will want to see that semester back and see you crushing it. Good luck.
 
Don't ever apologize or feel the need to justify yourself on this board for going to school and getting an education. If community college is what you could afford, good on you for pursuing it and pushing yourself in engineering courses. I think you will need to spend some time on your essays, application and interviews explaining the why a gap year, what you did, what you learned, why it would benefit you. Enroll is school take a demanding schedule. USNA will want to see that semester back and see you crushing it. Good luck.

Thank you! I will definitely plan to do that
 
These are all classes for an engineering degree at my Community College.

It is not as important as you think on WHERE you take it, it is more important on What you took and how you did it!

Obviously, you have 'grown' and have matured enough to recognize that what you do matters, especially on how it relates to the 'where you want to go' part.

I'd say 'fire up' a USNA 2021 preliminary..........and start cycling thru CFA workouts
 
It is not as important as you think on WHERE you take it, it is more important on What you took and how you did it!

Obviously, you have 'grown' and have matured enough to recognize that what you do matters, especially on how it relates to the 'where you want to go' part.

I'd say 'fire up' a USNA 2021 preliminary..........and start cycling thru CFA workouts

Thank you! I already fired a preliminary out and I'm working on improving my CFA
 
Thank you! I will definitely plan to do that

Hey, what do I know?----- Very little about what works with an USNA Admission Board.

I do, However, review applications for employment with my company, and I have spent time on the admissions board for a law school up here in the PNW. You can turn the gap totally to your advantage IMO. Contrasting a the "standard track resolve of a highschooler" with the considered resolve of a guy who stepped away after being turned down twice, only to realize that you can't stop trying to be where you know you belong. So you got knocked down twice and took a "Mandatory Eight Count", but you've been "back at the bag" and you want a rematch"; I like your case, but I'm just babbling.

Here's the real guidance an "outsider" can offer; GET HELP with whatever you write on this subject. Figure out what you want to say, then test that message with a BG, or others you know who might know what the USNA is looking for, (I bet you could test it with some people here via PM). When the idea passes muster, write it up and then-- GET HELP-- with the writing of it! An English teacher at the CC for form/structure comments on your draft. Does your girl friend tear up when she reads it? Does the navy vet down the street chuckle at the right spot. Lastly PAY A Professional writing coach to do a "final review" before submission; there are lots of sources for this. None of this changes the fact that its your "voice" (you are just practicing how to sing and making sure you have the lyrics down cold). You will also find that clarifying your written message re: no application in 2016 will strengthen your verbal discussion of the subject....... maybe turn it to a strength in your interviews.

I don't know what a USN board review looks like, but in my Exp. it goes 1)test scores (LSAT); 2)GPA; 3)Extra Circular..... ad-nauseaume and they are all pretty similar. For me, its the written portion of an application that gives me a glimpse of something..anything. special that differentiates among otherwise "same-same" applicants.

I do understand that explaining 2016 will likely be just a portion of your written submissions along the way, the point is GET HELP on all your written submissions; make them a strength.

Good Luck. ------ based on some moderately painful personal experience, I'd always bet on the 22yr old over the 18 year old.

Sheesh! another Awesome Kid........... (still swinging)
 
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My sons roommate got in on his 3rd try. He was 3 1/2 years through college, just under the wire age wise. The other Plebes called him Grandad during Plebe summer, Think about what a good example he was to the other Plebes. How can you gripe and ask "is this worth it" when this guy in your company threw away 3 years worth of college to be here.

BTW I don't mean to imply that by throwing away three years he was wasting all that time (I was really referring to the fact that he was giving up all those college credits). It is hard for young people to back up. Three years can seem like forever. I don't think he was able to test out of many, so all those classes might have been just what he needed to be ready for the academy.
 
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Just Dad has nailed it, you absolutely need to have all written paragraphs and/or narratives *perfect*; they cannot be like my posts; full of grammatical errors, bad spelling and repetitive use of adjectives embedded/immured within run-on sentences.

Seriously, your writings will be your 'one-on-one' with Admissions; other than the after-interview report filed by the BGO, this will be one of the most important 250-500 words you may ever write this year as these blurbs (as a post HS Applicant) , will carry great weight as well.

Will Admissions match up your new Application with the old one to compare?? Good Question for the old timers here who are much more knowledgeable on the sausage making of Admissions, than I.
 
Thank you so much everyone! It's really bringing a hope that I can do it. I will totally use it to my advantage!
 
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