Well I got in.
Do not underestimate the value your academy and military experience brings when you look at grad school.
U.S. federal service academies offer a great deal of stress, responsibility, and experience. Many admissions departments understand this, and that it may affect your GPA. You will oversee other students and fill leadership positions.
When you graduate from a service academy, you will most likely lead men and women, manage budgets, interact with the public and be entrusted by the American public with big expensive things.
I started my application process in March for grad school at George Washington University.
That's not an easy thing to do. I graduated in 2006 from undergrad and having 4 years pass, the prospect of returning to school was daunting to say the least. A commander in my office, the executive assistant to our admiral made a habit of stopping by my cubicle almost every day "Did you apply yet?" or "Did you look" .... Same questions, every day. He talked to me about the benefits, and the need of a master's and how this was the perfect time to do so.
I put it off for weeks...and weeks...and made excuses on why now was not the best time....
Well, one day he pushed me far enough to check it out. I went online, did a search of the program I was looking for in the DC area, came up with a few schools; George Washington University, Georgetown, American, George Mason, etc...
From there I looked at the programs, and was really interested in GW's program. I filled out the initial interest form, and received an email the next day from the program director. I suspected it was an automatic email, so I called the number and got the real email of the program director.
I shot him an email with my little background and that I was interested in his program. He fired one back in no time, offering a chance for me to sit in on a class and meet with him. I jumped on it, and sat in on a class the following week. I was invited back by the professor and met a student who was doing a paper on the Coast Guard. I offered to help him.
A week later I returned for the second class to sit on. I even skipped the Washington Capitals game I had tickets to to do this.
I talked to the program director a second time, and began my application.
In short time I had my three recommendations, my direct supervisor, my boss's boss's boss, a captain, and the a professor from CGA I looked up to and still kept in contact with. I asked them to submit their recommendations, blind, online in a month. All agreed, and all had them in within a month.
I signed up for the GRE and submitted an application for a GRE waiver from GWU.
It was supposed to take 2 weeks to receive a response for the GRE waiver, instead it took 2 working days, and I was granted my GRE waiver. I cancelled my GRE test, only received half of the $160 check back for the test, but it was worth not studying for that test
With all of my forms in, and all of my recommendations in, as well as a statement of purpose and the resume, the waiting game started.
Easily, the waiting game is the hardest part, as with GWU, the application website keeps you informed regarding each step of the process. "Application Complete" to "Your Application is being reviewed by the Admissions Committee" to "A decision has been made..."
I got an email from the program director before the official GWU notification came, stating "Welcome Aboard".
Now, my CGA GPA was not amazing....not in the slightest. I've had some good professional experiences since my time at CGA, but I was worried about that GPA.
My advice, keep that GPA high, it DOES matter. A "2.0 Good To Go" mentality will not help in the application process later. I was short-sighted as a cadet just trying to get by. I will not approach academics in grad school the same way.
Do not underestimate the abilities you have, advocate for yourself, and take advantage of everything that has been placed before you. Schools like veterans, they really like active duty, and they, in a small part understand what has been asked of you.
I've found George Washington University to be very supportive of veterans, so far. They want to see more military involvement. They operated with the Yellow Ribbon Program, and they have veterans groups. I received an email from GWU this morning from the veterans programs coordinator for the school.
Future officers in the Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force.... TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GRAD SCHOOL!