College applicant help!

usnacandidate12

5-Year Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2011
Messages
19
Hi Everyone,

I am currently a freshman at Ohio University and am re-applying this year. I have received the Principal Nomination from my MOC and am Medically and Physically qualified. I am currently participating in ROTC, and believe I have a strong application. My only concern is a chemistry grade. Fall quarter I received a failing grade. This class is the 2nd most failed class at the University. However, this quarter I am re-taking it and am doing much better.

I want to believe that I have nothing to worry about, but I am worrying about my chemistry grade. My high school GPA, ACT, and SAT scores meet all of the USNA standards. Please give me feedback!
 
You're probably fine. Also you didn't really ask a question. I realize how easy it is to worry about things like this but since its one class and you've got the principle nom I don't think it would keep you out. It would be helpful to post what your college gpa turned out to be though...
 
I think that you should be worried and I think that you should be acting, not sitting back wondering. I would think any F is a red flag for admissions - more so one in Chem. Also, will the Academy even see your winter quarter grade before they decide? I would do everything I can to let them know that it was an anomoly. Even if it means having your current Chem professor send an email to NA stating how you've turned it around and are doing fine. Call your BGO and explain. Call or email the RD and do the same.

If being a plebe is something you really want - don't leave any stone unturned in your efforts.
 
I have already e-mailed the Academic Officer for the East Region, explaining the entire situation to him. This was about a one page e-mail and was sent under the guidance of my BGO.

Also, since I do not know when my application is going before the board, I just have to wait to send my Winter quarter grades. I am considering just sending my grade as it is now, that way they have at least something to look at.
 
While some of the counsel would seem sound, if speculative, as are all observations and advice here...worth precisely what it costs, maybe, as granma used to wax? ...Let me be an encouragement in light of what you've done.

I think you will receive an appointment.

Here's one caveat ...

While there is much talk about appointments from top-shelf young people like you, those not appointed directly out of HS, and go on to college and then apply or reapply, recent stats reveal that each year fewer and fewer in your position are appointed. Those spots seem to be increasingly allocated to other, higher priority areas.

What's the point in noting this reality? Simply to suggest you seem like an excellent candidate with great record (one anomaly ...and there are plenty in your shoes, even at USNA, who've bombed fist semester chem...it's known as THE killer course at the Yard), to an increasing degree, you are swimming up stream ...unless the current administration chooses to reverse this trend. Yours is in part analogous to investors trying to make money in a down market, when there is no way to "short" the appointment process.

Here's hoping you find the fish-ladder as you swim upstream and make it into the Yard's pool. I'm hoping and betting you will.:thumb: No matter how it comes out, you have seemingly done your best. And after all, isn't that all you could do? Good luck. Pray genuinely.:cool:
 
While some of the counsel would seem sound, if speculative, as are all observations and advice here...worth precisely what it costs, maybe, as granma used to wax? ...Let me be an encouragement in light of what you've done.

I think you will receive an appointment.

Here's one caveat ...

While there is much talk about appointments from top-shelf young people like you, those not appointed directly out of HS, and go on to college and then apply or reapply, recent stats reveal that each year fewer and fewer in your position are appointed. Those spots seem to be increasingly allocated to other, higher priority areas.

What's the point in noting this reality? Simply to suggest you seem like an excellent candidate with great record (one anomaly ...and there are plenty in your shoes, even at USNA, who've bombed fist semester chem...it's known as THE killer course at the Yard), to an increasing degree, you are swimming up stream ...unless the current administration chooses to reverse this trend. Yours is in part analogous to investors trying to make money in a down market, when there is no way to "short" the appointment process.

Here's hoping you find the fish-ladder as you swim upstream and make it into the Yard's pool. I'm hoping and betting you will.:thumb: No matter how it comes out, you have seemingly done your best. And after all, isn't that all you could do? Good luck. Pray genuinely.:cool:

So you're saying that the probability of getting in as a re-applicant is diminishing? I'm confused because I've been told that reapplying actually increases your odds of getting in by several sources including my BGO. I understand that the Academy views re-applying as an act of maturity and determination. One BGO I talked to said it separates you from all of the straight-out-of-high-schoolers and puts you in a separate pool.
 
So you're saying that the probability of getting in as a re-applicant is diminishing? I'm confused because I've been told that reapplying actually increases your odds of getting in by several sources including my BGO. I understand that the Academy views re-applying as an act of maturity and determination. One BGO I talked to said it separates you from all of the straight-out-of-high-schoolers and puts you in a separate pool.

Reapplying from college does help, assuming you do well academically. High school grades, SATs, ACTs etc don't really factor in as much when you reapply. Those are just indicators of college performance. If you don't perform when you actually get to college, then it won't exactly play to your advantage the second time around.
 
So you're saying that the probability of getting in as a re-applicant is diminishing? I'm confused because I've been told that reapplying actually increases your odds of getting in by several sources including my BGO. I understand that the Academy views re-applying as an act of maturity and determination. One BGO I talked to said it separates you from all of the straight-out-of-high-schoolers and puts you in a separate pool.

Well, I'm not sure of the probability of appointment as a re-applicant diminishing, as all the specifics are not known. But in a gross sense, that "company line" is not totally true.

Specifically, there's been a 22% decline in appointments over 4 years from that group. Last year, I believe the number was approximately 60? None have knowledge of how many applicants (and re-applicants) there were in this category, but what we do know is that this group has been in steady decline while others have been growing. NAPS and targeted ethnic groups have increased while all other categories ... women, foundation, NUKE schoolers and fleet, alumni children ...have significantly declined.

So, it would be a stretch to declare your chances have steadily diminished, but the statistics would seem to point to that being the case. The good news is there were 60+ last year. May your efforts enable your being among this year's appointments.

I'd be suspicious what you've been told may not be accurate, and would be pleased to learn I'm wrong. But the realities of the zero-sum game required with a fixed number of appointments, and more being appointed from other categories, it requires robbing Peter to pay Paul.

I'm confident as taxpayers and more specifically superior candidates realize they are being diminished in favor of specific, elite groups, this will swing back. But for now it is what it is. In any case, it appears your group is not one of the favored few.
 
To respond to the last few posts, it seems as if my failing grade in Chemistry will keep me out of the Naval Academy? I hope that the fact that I am re-applying will show maturity, as well as the fact that I am retaking the course. Also, the ROTC and my high ACT/SAT scores should look good to the Board. The primary nomination also adds weight as well.

I believe that anyone that re-applies is seperated from the rest of the pack, simply because they have had a year+ of experience, time to mature, and it shows that this is what they truly want.

My understanding is that since I received the principal nomination, as long as I am academically/physically/medically qualified I am guarenteed a nomination. So I guess my overall question is...Can I still be academically qualified even though I received a failing grade in chemistry?
 
To respond to the last few posts, it seems as if my failing grade in Chemistry will keep me out of the Naval Academy? I hope that the fact that I am re-applying will show maturity, as well as the fact that I am retaking the course. Also, the ROTC and my high ACT/SAT scores should look good to the Board. The primary nomination also adds weight as well.

I believe that anyone that re-applies is seperated from the rest of the pack, simply because they have had a year+ of experience, time to mature, and it shows that this is what they truly want.

My understanding is that since I received the principal nomination, as long as I am academically/physically/medically qualified I am guarenteed a nomination. So I guess my overall question is...Can I still be academically qualified even though I received a failing grade in chemistry?

I'm pretty sure the answer would be yes IF you retake it in the spring and get a C or better.
 
Good luck with that! I hope you can bring that Chemistry grade up to a B, preferably an A! That will be MORE than redemptive for you. USNA likes overcomes, maybe even more than overachievers. I wouldn't be so sure you are "guaranteed" a spot. You have some fixing to do. Get some tutoring to help. It will serve you well in your plebe year of Chemistry. Stay hopeful and humble.
 
colleged rigor considered?

Curious, does USNA consider the rigor of the school attended and the grade or only the grade?

My DS and DD(2 years apart) attend different colleges and both took calculus 1 during 1st semester. DD attends state college, not overly competitive and was an average math student in HS. In college calc 1 she earned a A-. DS attends very competitive college (known for good engineering) was an excellent HS math student(IB), worked his tail off and received a B- in college calc. With out question DS college calc was more competitive, difficult and required more work than DD college calc. Average test scores prove DS calc was more challenging.

If USNA considers grades only, DD grade indicates she is a significantly better calc student than DS, which is completely inaccurate. Also DS scored higher than DD on ACT
 
Grade. And that is precisely why ACTs and SATs are retained, unlike so many other alleged "highly selective" institutions abandoning such. It is the great leveler. The next step? Placement exams ...your son might well test out of calc. But I'm not aware that a C from Harvard merits more consideration than an A from Slippery Rock. Now ...the fact that the student has attended one vs. the other? Perhaps that will merit some consideration.
 
Just remember that only approximately sixty five (per USNA) out of last years appointments were from those with college level experience and second and third applications with nominations. It does get harder and harder after the first High School application. My understanding is that they do consider the school attended, course difficulty and college grades.
 
Well, we have a difference of opinion. I cannot imagine the outcry if a taxpayer funded entity determines that Penn State is > or < than Michigan is > or < than USC is ...

I'd be very skeptical of that, especially with literally every MOC and US Senator directly responsible for the goings on here ...
 
I would agree with AF6872, I am sure that board members consider the reputation of well-known colleges because it can substantiate the rigor in courses. Of course, this isn't something that USNA would publish or that is written down and there isn't some magical equation that compares the grades from 2 different colleges. It is probably a "judgment call."

The only written and acknowledged comparison of schools is for high school, where they request a profile and consider the percent of graduates who go onto 2 and 4 year colleges. At least, they use to do that.

I also think that the chances are more in favor of the candidates because, IMO, it is easier to do well in college (semesters) where there are many means to excel -- quizzes, tests, papers, some professors even can consider effort -- versus a test that may or may not "predict" what one can do in college. You can also do other extracurricular activities to improve the application. I would be interested in seeing the number of candidates reapplying from college, but I'd speculate that the numbers (percentage wise) are more favorable for appointment.
 
I would be interested in seeing the number of candidates reapplying from college, but I'd speculate that the numbers (percentage wise) are more favorable for appointment.

So are you saying that a candidate re-applying after attending college for a year+ would be looked at more favorably among the Board? What criteria would this be based off of? This is the situation I am in.
 
So are you saying that a candidate re-applying after attending college for a year+ would be looked at more favorably among the Board? What criteria would this be based off of?

As in years past, the bulk of college candidates are evaluated at the same time (after Fall semester transcripts are received). Essentially, you are competing with other college candidates for the amount of appointments allotted. So when you mention looking more "favorably," all the candidates that you are competing against are in the same boat.
 
Just FYI--DD is a college applicant and just received an LOA this weekend. Looks like the college applicants were reviewed this past week.
 
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