End of the Line for USNA

5Day said:
Plan B's are now our plan A's. My DS was also part of the mass TWE mailing yesterday. He got the email and his portal was updated. RPI and a 4 year NROTC scholarship are the current plan A. That could change over the next few weeks as additional schools make their decisions.

He is still coping with the rejection, and he is questioning his desire to serve. He feels like "If the Navy doesn't want me, why should I want them." He will get over it. Being in a battalion with like minded kids and a sense of purpose will be the best thing for him. It will just take some time to get over the disappointment.

As for stats, I will only brag, and only give the the good stuff.
Class Rank 1 out of 400
GPA: 4.0/4.0 6.0/6.0. Never had a B and has taken 12 AP courses
Math SAT: 800
Eagle Scout
Track Varsity and Captain

Yes the competition is steep.
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Wow, that's unbelievable. You can't get better than that. He did the best he could and it was better than the rest in his class. He will be successful in whatever he decides to do. Congrats to you and the other parents that raised such fine people.
 
There are an amazing amount of candidates with impressive stats that will get TWEs -- unfortunately, that is the dark side of this process. It is another reason why BGOs tend to avoid commenting on "chance me" threads because even those with the best stats might not end up getting appointments (and vice versa). For those who received TWEs, this is an arduous process...nothing to be shamed about...as long as you can go to sleep knowing you gave it your 100% effort and then some; if you plan to re-apply, make it your goal to prove to admissions why they were wrong this year...turn the negative emotions into positive energy. Best of luck to everyone.
 
Seeing all of these TWE's is really discouraging especially after some really strong candidates received them. It definitely serves as a reality check.
 
Sledge, I think there is a change in correspondence methods...now that candidates can see their status (before they could not, so the only way to notify candidates was mail...everything is now somewhat automated). I believe that only appointment letters/certificates are mailed...everything else is via email/CIS. Welcome to today's world :).
Amazing that when I applied, in 2002 and 2003...it was scantron and letters! I'm sure some of the older grads probably had the same method.
 
usnabgo08 said:
Sledge, I think there is a change in correspondence methods...now that candidates can see their status (before they could not, so the only way to notify candidates was mail...everything is now somewhat automated). I believe that only appointment letters/certificates are mailed...everything else is via email/CIS. Welcome to today's world :).
Amazing that when I applied, in 2002 and 2003...it was scantron and letters! I'm sure some of the older grads probably had the same method.
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But you know what I'm talking about the last few years? The agonizing stories of Mid-March mailbox stalking from the "Still in the Game" thread, etc.
 
5Day said:
Plan B's are now our plan A's. My DS was also part of the mass TWE mailing yesterday. He got the email and his portal was updated. RPI and a 4 year NROTC scholarship are the current plan A. That could change over the next few weeks as additional schools make their decisions.

He is still coping with the rejection, and he is questioning his desire to serve. He feels like "If the Navy doesn't want me, why should I want them." He will get over it. Being in a battalion with like minded kids and a sense of purpose will be the best thing for him. It will just take some time to get over the disappointment.

As for stats, I will only brag, and only give the the good stuff.
Class Rank 1 out of 400
GPA: 4.0/4.0 6.0/6.0. Never had a B and has taken 12 AP courses
Math SAT: 800
Eagle Scout
Track Varsity and Captain

Yes the competition is steep.
Click to expand...

Holy cow. Those stats are incredible. I know you're very proud. It is a shame that such a successful kid didn't gain an appointment. Perhaps an athlete in your district was deemed more important, or that diversity or gender quotas filled the spot. The academy admissions have a difficult job, and stellar candidates are passed over every year.

You'll hear about how everything works out, and he'll be fine etc. It's all true, but it's hard to understand.

Many of the kids that get in don't realize just how lucky they are. Sure, they earned it, but as one can see from your story, it takes a perfect storm for the academy's needs and a student's desire and achievements to line up for a coveted appointment.

Good luck
 
I never shed a tear for a stellar candidate who does not get in. I never shed a tear for a not-so-stellar candidate who does not get in either. In both cases, those kids are at the top of their classes, have great work and study ethics, have participated in sports and extra-curricular activities, and can produce a stack of recommendations from any number of enthusiastic adults. The world is their oyster, with or without the Academy, and any school would be absolutely delighted to welcome them to their freshman class. Their future is not just bright---it is shining. The goal of the now-missed Academy education is to be a Naval Officer but that achievement is still wide open for them with NROTC or OCS.

Having said that, I also do find most of my candidates write big checks with their mouth that their bodies never cash. All of my candidates sincerely assure me that they will reapply next year too. Yet in all my years of being a BGO only one has ever really applied a second time, and this is still after I have related my experience of applying 3 times and going to 2 years of college before my own appointment. In checking up on past candidates who did not get in, I found the number actively involved in ROTC of any sorts was pretty thin. OCS? Not on anybody's radar. So as a result, I see a turndown as the first step to seeing what kind of commitment and motivation a young person really has. If and when they show up on my web page the next year, I sit up and take notice-----perhaps guts and drive are alive and well yet in today's generation.
 
Spud said:
I never shed a tear for a stellar candidate who does not get in. I never shed a tear for a not-so-stellar candidate who does not get in either. In both cases, those kids are at the top of their classes, have great work and study ethics, have participated in sports and extra-curricular activities, and can produce a stack of recommendations from any number of enthusiastic adults. The world is their oyster, with or without the Academy, and any school would be absolutely delighted to welcome them to their freshman class. Their future is not just bright---it is shining. The goal of the now-missed Academy education is to be a Naval Officer but that achievement is still wide open for them with NROTC or OCS.

Having said that, I also do find most of my candidates write big checks with their mouth that their bodies never cash. All of my candidates sincerely assure me that they will reapply next year too. Yet in all my years of being a BGO only one has ever really applied a second time, and this is still after I have related my experience of applying 3 times and going to 2 years of college before my own appointment. In checking up on past candidates who did not get in, I found the number actively involved in ROTC of any sorts was pretty thin. OCS? Not on anybody's radar. So as a result, I see a turndown as the first step to seeing what kind of commitment and motivation a young person really has. If and when they show up on my web page the next year, I sit up and take notice-----perhaps guts and drive are alive and well yet in today's generation.
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For this reason, I disagree with those who advocate for the elimination of the MOC nomination process. The nom process serves as another layer to help differentiate the levels of commitment among candidates.
 
Maplerock said:
Holy cow. Those stats are incredible. I know you're very proud. It is a shame that such a successful kid didn't gain an appointment. Perhaps an athlete in your district was deemed more important, or that diversity or gender quotas filled the spot. The academy admissions have a difficult job, and stellar candidates are passed over every year.

You'll hear about how everything works out, and he'll be fine etc. It's all true, but it's hard to understand.

Many of the kids that get in don't realize just how lucky they are. Sure, they earned it, but as one can see from your story, it takes a perfect storm for the academy's needs and a student's desire and achievements to line up for a coveted appointment.

Good luck
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I think that many of the kids that don't get in sometimes don't realize how lucky they are. Any admissions process is a process of discovery on both sides of the ball. This is the first (or perhaps second or third) time that our DS or DD is applying to schools and/or academies, but it is not the first time the school is reviewing applicants. Schools generally have a pretty good idea not only of who they want but of what sorts of kids with what sorts of profiles have done well in their programs. Wanting something desperately is not always the best indicator of whether it is the right move for you. Sometimes, schools do kids a favor by rejecting them because they cause that kid to really examine what he or she wants to do and why. Kids are then forced to explore and seek out opportunities that may never have otherwise occurred to them or, in some cases, they recommit and redouble their efforts and become better candidates in the process. Is the system perfect? No. But it seems to work pretty well. I'm sure none of that helps when that TWE shows up, but that doesn't make it invalid.
 
Great posts -- I assumed the number of 2nd time applicants was high. We are letting the dust settle and thinking of the future, recognizing that my DS is having a GREAT senior year. The toughest part has been informing all of those who wrote recommendation letters, etc. that he didn't get in -- he feels he let THEM down! Giving him a week or two before thinking too much about the upcoming year -- thankfully he applied for and rec'd scholarships so 1st year of college is not a worry and will give him the opportunity to grow and mature away from home!
 
I feel the need to interject one piece here, because I keep hearing it and it has been building a momentum of its own.
I disagree with the statement "The goal is to become a naval officer".
That does not wrap this all up. If that was the only goal, then why would any of ours sons or daughters apply to any academy ever?
They can become an officer any ole way, ROTC, commission after college, etc.
The goal of my DS and I believe many that post on here and spend so much effort applying to these academies is to become a part of the military academy experience. Granted, this does lead to serving as an officer, and they all are looking forward to that... but I would argue that these kids want to live, breathe and experience the life of an academy cadet. There is no other experience like it in this world.
Just my thoughts, likely just debating semantics, but I believe this is a valid differentiation.
 
F15DOC said:
I feel the need to interject one piece here, because I keep hearing it and it has been building a momentum of its own.
I disagree with the statement "The goal is to become a naval officer".
That does not wrap this all up. If that was the only goal, then why would any of ours sons or daughters apply to any academy ever?
They can become an officer any ole way, ROTC, commission after college, etc.
The goal of my DS and I believe many that post on here and spend so much effort applying to these academies is to become a part of the military academy experience. Granted, this does lead to serving as an officer, and they all are looking forward to that... but I would argue that these kids want to live, breathe and experience the life of an academy cadet. There is no other experience like it in this world.
Just my thoughts, likely just debating semantics, but I believe this is a valid differentiation.
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Totally agree with @F15DOC
For many the primary goal is the "academy experience." For others it may be truly to become an officer in the shortest time possible. I think we too often assume that everyone fits the latter.
This differentiation will help dictate if a candidate should reapply or not.
 
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Agree with F15DOC! The goal for most of these kids is "The Academy"! No matter how much you want to serve or become an officer, after that first, second or third visit, your hooked! It is the Academy any way you slice it!

GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY!
 
BostonUSNA2020 said:
What time were the emails sent out for TWE's??
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My DD's email was sent at 1:22pm yesterday. I've seen others with different times though so its not like they send mass emails, it appears to be individual emails (although it's the exact same letter), but an email is sent as the review they candidate's file.

In DD's case, I thought she'd made it through the massive cut the day before and was still in the game for at least another week. Looks like admissions is working every day. Good luck to you/yours!
 
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