Advice please

[USNA15hopeful]

I have a always wanted to be in the Marine Corps.
My first 2 1/2 years of high school I did terrible...I regret it so much. I failed some classes and had to make them up during the summer. My junior year my close friend was appointed to NAPS and that motivated me to try harder in school and strive for my best in everything. So I applied for summer seminar and I was honest in my application. To my surprise I Was accepted. I live in Los Angeles and am the son of immigrants who earn very little money so I had to work so I can pay for the summer seminar. I ended up going and I loved it so much. I turned myself around the end of my junior year and got straight A's.
I have a 2.6 GPA
I am the CO in Navy JROTC
I am in the schools Drumline
And I'm CO for our JROTC's drill team.
I have a NJROTC Nom
I did really good on the SAT and ACT.

Should I just stop the application process or keep going? I'm really scared of what people will say when they see my application and see this guy failed classes. And had to make them up. "Why does he want to come here?"
I don't think I'll receive a congressional nom.
I screwed around way to much.
I would go to college and Apply every year.
Maybe I'll Enlist.
Should I Enlist or go to college? Why?
I would really like to know how it feels to be Enlisted as well as being an Officer. I believe I can learn a lot from being Enliated and then going to USNA.

Thanks

 

[mom3boys]

You sound like you might be part of an "under-represented minority" at the academy. You should continue the process, as if you quit you have zero chance of admission. At most schools (including academies), under-represented minority groups are highly sought after. Because you turned yourself around, they will see this. I am not saying you will get in because of a quota, but you have certain things going for you...so play the hand you've been dealt. Reminds me of my Chinese friend who married a white American...always told her sons they were American...until time to apply for college: then she said to them, "You are Chinese!" Check all boxes that apply and see what happens.

 

[2014-scada]

“Do or do not... there is no try.” (Yoda to Luke...)

Don't sell yourself short. You realized what was wrong and you rectified the problem! Listen to mom3boys and go for it.

You know what the worst form of regret is? It is the regret that you did not try and so you will never know what could have happened if you did.

You have a nomination, SAT/ACTs are good, but I am sure you can do better...since you are in JROTC, I am sure you are physically active. Get more active in your community and volunteer. You have turned yourself around, so keep going!

As a BGO once said to my DD, don't decide for the USNA whether you are good enough or not. Send your application and let THEM decide.

She is now a Plebe of the Class of 2014!

GO NAVY!

 

[singaporemom]

Do not give up. USNA does not like quitters. Look at what you have done to turn your grades around. I am sure that you could have continued on the path you were on, but you chose differently. Apply for college, ROTC scholarships, congressional nominations, and USNA if that is what you want.
You will never know how far you can go if you do not apply. We have faith in you, find that faith in yourself and take the leap.

 

[usna1985]

First, you should absolutely continue your application. If you don't complete it, you definitely won't have a shot at getting in.

I would contact your BGO. If you don't know who he/she is, read my stickies above for info on how to find out. Discuss your situation with your BGO.

USNA understands that, for various reasons, not every candidate got straight As for 4 yrs and did all of the other things the "typical" candidate has done. So, don't despair.

It sounds as if NAPS/Foundation could be a possibility for you, if you have good SAT/ACT scores but haven't had the best h.s. preparation in academics. However, neither I nor anyone else here can predict anything about your particular situation.

As for officer vs. enlisted . . . if your goal is to be an officer, I would pursue what you're doing here. While there are opportunities to move from enlisted to officer, they are relatively rare. I would wait to see what happens this year. If USNA doesn't work out for you, then you can consider whether you want to go to civilian college and apply again (either to USNA or wait 4 yrs and apply directly to the USMC) or whether it makes more sense to serve your country in the enlisted ranks.

 

[USNA15hopeful]

THANK YOU!!!

I want to thank everyone who gave me advice and told me to keep going!
I still have to do the Personal Statement. I needs some help. Is it alright if i send my outline to one of you so you can give me some advice on that?
I want to see if i am setting it up in a good way.

Thanks again,

 

[NYxJon93]

If you don't mind, can you send in your personal statement to me and I'll see if I can help you too.