TWE

I am sorry to hear of all the TWEs. Every year this is a very sensitive time of year and its always sad to see so many dreams and hard work boil down to one small envelope. For those who do want to reapply I highly recommend taking some time away from this process, embrace your Plan B, and then re-engage your BGO and RD to understand where you can improve. I think within about 6 weeks of college you will have a different view of life and that can be a benefit in the reapplication process. The thing that I have learned over the years is great kids will do great things regardless of where they go. I hope they choose to serve this nation, because we need them to. More importantly, the young men and women who head down to their local recruiter's office deserve the best officers we can provide them. There is always a disagreement on how we get these officers... this debate can boil down to athletes, minorities, the whole congressional appointment process being right or wrong. It is what has been in place for decades and the Academy works within the process. Personally I believe they do a pretty darn good job. I wouldn't want their job and I know a ton of people who work in admissions. They take their job incredibly serious. As suggested, if you disagree with the process, laws, etc. by all means contact your representatives. As someone who has been through this process, I know that the best officers are not always the ones with the best this or that. As usnabgo08 stated, the people we lead could care less where we went to school, what we scored on the ACT, what we majored in or what our GPA was. I am sorry to those who have gotten the TWE, I can't imagine how hard that is. I wish you the best of luck in this journey and hope to see you on the boards next year. Watching last year's roller coaster thread from this exact time last year and then into this year with re-applicants seeing the BFE has been amazing. Good luck to those still on the island and good luck to those who are off of it in your journey with Plan B.
 
Having just received the TWE, DS is on to Plan B...but remains committed to re-applying for the USNA Class of 2020. (Applications, I am go live on April 1) Plan B is an NROTC Scholarship at a great school a little bit farther from home than Annapolis, but a fantastic Plan B otherwise. I do have several questions that I hope the BGOs on this board may be able to answer.

1. Does DSs BGO remain the same, or will he be assigned a BGO where he is going to college.
2. Given that DS will be in an NROTC program, will he need a BGO or will his NROTC unit commander fill that role?
3. Will the application for USNA'2019 be reviewed along with the application for USNA'2020?

I am sure more questions will arise as the process moves forward, but I would appreciate any help with regard to these initial Q's

Thanks... and to the remaining hopefuls, may your envelopes be thick!
 
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1) DS will have a new BGO to remove bias from last year (that is what I was told as a re-applicant this year). His new BGO should be by pea nene resident? Mine was for a different school district in the area, though I'm not sure about that. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

2) I don't believe his NROTC commander can be a BGO but I do believe he can give a recommendation (should be a space for that in the USNA portal)

3) I don't believe the 2019 application will be reviewed again. Could be wrong here but I don't see a reason why it would.

Again, just a college re-applicant here so if I'm wrong please correct me here :)

Good luck next year!
 
1. You can have the same BGO or request a new one. Really up to you. Some like to start fresh and others feel like they have a good bond with them. Whatever you prefer express it.
2. No, the NROTC CDR cannot be a BGO. BGOs are trained and approved by USNA.
3. Only the parts that transfer over, which isn't too much. Essays, CFA, interview are all redone which are the big parts.

Also remember that you won't be looked at until first semester grades are in from college. So take your time, embrace Plan B. I think you will find your interview and essays will be different as you have grown and matured.
 
The admission's selection process is no less fair at the academies than it is at just about all other universities. My DD was valedictorian, school newspaper editor, national merit finalist, class president of a school of 2000 students, and was the prom queen. She was denied from Harvard. A Hispanic student at her school who had several B's in classes with my DD, and who wasn't very active in other school activities or sports was accepted to Harvard the same year. That really burned my DD. Obvious racism/affirmative action. She ended up going to another good school and is now a corporate banker in NYC. It worked out pretty well for her in the end.
I was told today that the daughter of my co-worker was accepted at Harvey-Mudd in Math/engineering as an under-represented minority. She didn't have the stats to otherwise get into the school. Her minority is that she is a white female. So the racism/affirmative action unfairness actually worked in her favor.
I tell my kids to just do their best on the things they can control and not worry about the system. The admissions process probably isn't perfectly fair to everyone. But it is what it is, and we can't change it. So move on.
I also told my white sons that if there is a minority female from our district with close to the same stats, that minority female will get the appointment from our district and my sons will need to be high enough on the NWL to be selected. The admissions process is what it is. Move on.
 
DS is still mailbox stalking. He has a Coast Guard appointment in hand and that is plan 'B,' but still holding out hope for USNA.
 
I got my TWE yesterday. For all those who are still waiting to hear from USNA, best of luck! And for those of you who will be reapplying next year, good luck to you as well! You're all in my prayers! I know what a trying time this must be!
 
baileydb said:
I got my TWE yesterday. For all those who are still waiting to hear from USNA, best of luck! And for those of you who will be reapplying next year, good luck to you as well! You're all in my prayers! I know what a trying time this must be!
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Baileyb, Sorry about the TWE received……...but congratulations on accepting an appointment to the USAFA! :)
 
baileydb said:
Thank you so much! USAFA was my #1 so I am actually very glad someone else will be getting appointed to USNA instead of me!
Good luck to everyone still waiting!
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Even better!! Everyone is happy! So happy that you received an appointment to your FIRST choice! :wiggle:
 
From an appointed reapplicant to all getting the TWE:

It sucks. I know because I've been there. I received my TWE mid-April last year. I, like so many of you, thought I had the right combination. I was top of my class, stellar SATs, President of just about everything I was in, Founding member of a few, nearly 500 hours of volunteer/community service, 6 varsity letters, Team Captain of two sports, part time job, etc. This year I was nominated three times (two Senators and a MOC) and at each interview they looked through my application and resume and stats and literally every one of the panels said they are baffled as to why I didn't get in last year. Well last year, I received one nomination. It is what it is. I knew for a fact there was already a guy with LOA to USNA from my district. Yeah, last year was a mess with TWEs and Principal noms. I asked why I didn't get in and all Admissions said was do well in college. Was it a numbers game? Possibly. Was it that I came from a small rural school where most of my future peers would be farmers, coal miners, or power plant workers and Admissions didn't trust my GPA, rank, and SATs? Possibly.

I'll admit that I was crushed afterwards. I was mad and I wanted something to blame. Don't. Whatever you may believe, God or fate just has a different plan for you. I thank Him for telling me, "Not yet..." I received a full academic scholarship to a Big Ten university. I joined Marine Corps PLC. I took on 18 credit hours (STEM heavy) and did well. I was almost guaranteed to be selected for OCS this summer. The year allowed me to mature and grow and see things from a broader point of view. It allowed me to experience the difficulty of the college curriculum WITHOUT the discipline required at the SAs. It's a great experience. Don't see the TWE as the end of the road but rather a detour.

Also, don't bash those recruited athletes or less academically inclined. Recruited or not, they made the commitment to attend and serve their country. I tip my hat to anyone who makes that commitment no matter what their credentials are. At PLC, I met some terrific people. Most would not be considered academically competitive for an SA based on their HS grades or SATs. However, they were hard workers and tremendous leaders. Guess what folks? Most of our military officers don't come from SAs and aren't at the same academic level. Doesn't mean they're ineffective leaders. In the Marine Corps only about 10-15% of their officers come from the Academy.

Anyway, I met one such guy in PLC that could have been a recruited athlete for track but he did not want to continue running in college. He had like a 1200 SAT(CR+Math). Would've fallen into that athletic/nonacademic type that get into the Academy that so many despise. He is now one of my very best friends. He's a really hard worker, a PT stud, and is a natural born leader that I would follow anywhere on any day. Despite his subpar test scores(SA wise), he would do very well at the Academy. I'm sure this doesn't apply to all. My point is, just because you had better *this* and *that* doesn't mean you deserve it any more than they, and they don't deserve it any less. You didn't get in, and trust me there's a reason. If you truly want to go and you are meant to, then you will. Just work hard and it will happen. Don't belittle or bash the rest. They, in some capacity, want to serve their country too. Respect that.
 
MiddyB said:
From an appointed reapplicant to all getting the TWE:

It sucks. I know because I've been there. I received my TWE mid-April last year. I, like so many of you, thought I had the right combination. I was top of my class, stellar SATs, President of just about everything I was in, Founding member of a few, nearly 500 hours of volunteer/community service, 6 varsity letters, Team Captain of two sports, part time job, etc. This year I was nominated three times (two Senators and a MOC) and at each interview they looked through my application and resume and stats and literally every one of the panels said they are baffled as to why I didn't get in last year. Well last year, I received one nomination. It is what it is. I knew for a fact there was already a guy with LOA to USNA from my district. Yeah, last year was a mess with TWEs and Principal noms. I asked why I didn't get in and all Admissions said was do well in college. Was it a numbers game? Possibly. Was it that I came from a small rural school where most of my future peers would be farmers, coal miners, or power plant workers and Admissions didn't trust my GPA, rank, and SATs? Possibly.

I'll admit that I was crushed afterwards. I was mad and I wanted something to blame. Don't. Whatever you may believe, God or fate just has a different plan for you. I thank Him for telling me, "Not yet..." I received a full academic scholarship to a Big Ten university. I joined Marine Corps PLC. I took on 18 credit hours (STEM heavy) and did well. I was almost guaranteed to be selected for OCS this summer. The year allowed me to mature and grow and see things from a broader point of view. It allowed me to experience the difficulty of the college curriculum WITHOUT the discipline required at the SAs. It's a great experience. Don't see the TWE as the end of the road but rather a detour.

Also, don't bash those recruited athletes or less academically inclined. Recruited or not, they made the commitment to attend and serve their country. I tip my hat to anyone who makes that commitment no matter what their credentials are. At PLC, I met some terrific people. Most would not be considered academically competitive for an SA based on their HS grades or SATs. However, they were hard workers and tremendous leaders. Guess what folks? Most of our military officers don't come from SAs and aren't at the same academic level. Doesn't mean they're ineffective leaders. In the Marine Corps only about 10-15% of their officers come from the Academy.

Anyway, I met one such guy in PLC that could have been a recruited athlete for track but he did not want to continue running in college. He had like a 1200 SAT(CR+Math). Would've fallen into that athletic/nonacademic type that get into the Academy that so many despise. He is now one of my very best friends. He's a really hard worker, a PT stud, and is a natural born leader that I would follow anywhere on any day. Despite his subpar test scores(SA wise), he would do very well at the Academy. I'm sure this doesn't apply to all. My point is, just because you had better *this* and *that* doesn't mean you deserve it any more than they, and they don't deserve it any less. You didn't get in, and trust me there's a reason. If you truly want to go and you are meant to, then you will. Just work hard and it will happen. Don't belittle or bash the rest. They, in some capacity, want to serve their country too. Respect that.
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Wow. Very well put and a great motivation for re-applicants.
 
Wow, MiddyB, your post is so great! I am psyched my son will be in your class at USNA. His experience was similar to yours. I hope somehow you and he become friends. We are a fortunate people to have people like you willing to serve and lead our service members. God bless you! For those of you who receive the dreaded TWE this year, MiddyB's advice is just about the best I've seen on this forum.
 
Unfortunately, I received my second TWE earlier today. My brother sent me this quote which I think might help others, especially those considering reapplying.

“Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.” - Denis Waitley

Still deciding what is next for me or if I will apply again. I hope this may help some of you in the same position.
 
So terribly sorry for your disappointment; thank you so very much for sharing the inspirational quote. I am going to copy it and put up for all my kids to see. Good luck, HopefulMid! God bless.
 
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Mom529 said:
So terribly sorry for your disappointment; thank you so very much for sharing the inspirational quote. I am going to copy it and put up for all my kids to see. Good luck, HopefulMid! God bless.
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Great and inspiring quote, HopefulMid19. I am sorry the "stars didn't align for you". I'm certain you will be awesome, no matter what!
 
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Megan'sMom-Okla said:
Great and inspiring quote, HopefulMid19. I am sorry the "stars didn't align for you". I'm certain you will be awesome, no matter what!
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What she said-
HopefulMid19 - as another second time-arounder I was keeping my fingers crossed for you and I wish you the best going forward as you consider your options.
 
justiceforall said:
Today is the dreaded day. Nothing has ever looked as depressing as that small envelope. I was hoping that I could survive crucifixion day. I sympathize with everyone else here, and I will be going to UC San Diego pursuing my dreams as a Marine Corps officer. Good luck ya'll.
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