Application dilemma...

navyhopeful1935

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Sep 15, 2016
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Hey everyone. Recently (about a month ago), I suffered a terrible cystic acne outbreak. Ive always had, "bad" acne, but not like this. Its gotten to the point where Im in so much pain that I have trouble sleeping and can barely concentrate on anything. This led me to transition into being homeschooled right at the start of my senior year. I started my application months before but at this point, I know I definitely won't pass the DoDMERB and I know that my appearance will not make too good of an impression on the interviewers (for the nominations and the BGO). My doctor put me on a strong dose of Accutane and claims that I should be back to normal in 3 months but then it'll be too late for everything. Plus, this transition into homeschooling after 3 years of public schooling seems like it'll flip my applications up side down. I don't know what I should do...Should I just go to a civilian college for 1 year and then try and go to the Academy. Or, should I take a gap year next year while starting the application process. What will look better, what will the USNA think of this whole fiasco? Thanks for reading.
 
I think the best thing to do, for me, would be to just go to a civilian college next year (probably Purdue or some other engineering school) and then try and get into the Academy.
 
Apply for USNA this year. If you get waived, you waived. Don't worry about what you can't control. You are learning an important life lesson right now... Life happens! Sometimes the best plans don't work out. Go get the experience of applying this year and it will only make you better for next year. It will also
Make the application process that much shorter for next year.
 
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First thing you need to do is take care of yourself. Continue with your medical care and get healthy. You are doing the right thing and although the Accutane may cause a medical DQ it is much more important to get healthy.

For those interviews, impress them with your accomplishments and achievements. The interviewers know what makes a good officer and a leader, and it is not your physical appearance. They are not the ones that determine your medical eligibility.

IMHO a gap year would not be the way to go. The only way a gap year could work is if you made it a productive year and IMHO a year of college would be the most productive. Your best gap year would be in college. Purdue would be an excellent choice.

This may be one of the only cases where you may want to submit your USNA application in January and NOT complete too much of it so you do not trigger a DoDMERB exam until late. It could give you enough time for the Accutane to do its job and clear up the acne.

Another option would be NROTC. DoDMerb exams are triggered by NROTC when the scholarship is awarded. This could push your exam date into the spring. If you want to push off the DodMERB exam even further, Go the college program rout. You would need to pay for college out of pocket or find another scholarship source, but this could push DoDMerb into the spring of 2018. The ROTC experience would enhance your USNA application if you decide to go that route. NROTC produces fine Navy officers.

I believe you should apply this year and roll the dice with the waiver process. You do need to decide very soon. You need to make sure you complete your nomination applications NOW, since most nomination deadlines will be this fall.
 
Hey, thank you for the very lengthy response. I really appreciate it. Ill apply for the NROTC scholarship and if I don't get it, I'll join anyways through the college program. I feel like 1 year of college will be a good idea as my application needs strengthening. Thanks again.
 
Hey, thank you for the very lengthy response. I really appreciate it. Ill apply for the NROTC scholarship and if I don't get it, I'll join anyways through the college program. I feel like 1 year of college will be a good idea as my application needs strengthening. Thanks again.

And some say USNA likes to see repeat applicants - shows perseverance and how much the applicant wants the academy. One of my son's summer roommates got in after four applications!
 
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