Reapplying!!!

Just as an FYI to all the 2015ers who are still waiting or plan on reapplying the preliminary application for the class of 2016 opens tomorrow! I am very excited to start this again! Good luck to all those still waiting!

Awesome and I admire your drive, dedication and enthusiasm. Keep in mind first semester grades are critically important and your re-app is reviewed upon receipt of official first semester college transcripts.

Keep the fire burning, your enthusiasm is contagious.

From a re-applying standpoint...read the stickies on the top of this forum.

From someone who has had to re-apply, my view is the following ...

The Admissions Board is determining your ability to succeed as a MIDN (with the goal that you will make an outstanding officer). You need to prove to them that you can handle the rigors of USNA. Not to beat a dead horse, academics (mimicing the plebe course load) is essential BUT IMHO, if you can combine that with other loads (intramurals, ECAs, student government, ROTC, etc) it may help the board get a "warm and fuzzy" that you can deal with more than academics. After all, academics IS NOT the only thing that you need to worry about at USNA, there are plenty of other demands.

Best of luck.

jadler03 said:

From a re-applying standpoint...read the stickies on the top of this forum.

From someone who has had to re-apply, my view is the following ...

The Admissions Board is determining your ability to succeed as a MIDN (with the goal that you will make an outstanding officer). You need to prove to them that you can handle the rigors of USNA. Not to beat a dead horse, academics (mimicing the plebe course load) is essential BUT IMHO, if you can combine that with other loads (intramurals, ECAs, student government, ROTC, etc) it may help the board get a "warm and fuzzy" that you can deal with more than academics. After all, academics IS NOT the only thing that you need to worry about at USNA, there are plenty of other demands.

Best of luck.

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thank you jadler03...I like your opinion, DS has the grades in the right classes, NROTC, intramurals.....hoping you are correct, only time will tell

For those reapplying, please do read my sticky above. It isn't my advice, it's the advice USNA gives to BGOs to advise their candidates.

If you're reapplying, it's really, really important first to understand why you didn't get in. It's easy to say it's a "numbers game" -- and it often is -- but your numbers weren't as high as those who were appointed and you need to know why. Your RD is the only one who can tell you for certain where you can improve. Your BGO can give you some guidance but doesn't see your packet, doesn't sit on the admissions board, and doesn't make the decision. So, as noted, wait until June or July when things slow down a bit and follow up with your RD.

Then go about addressing the issue or issues. I had a candidate this year do all the things in the sticky, do them very well, and now has an appointment in hand. So, it is possible.

Thanks for the reminder, FutureMid! I can't wait to begin this journey all over again...

usna1985, I've read your sticky and I plan to take all the Plebe courses I am allowed. However, in my TWE, it said a "technical" major... I'm going for International Studies and Chinese. Is that going to hurt my chances?

Either way, good luck everyone, for a second time around!

FutureNavyPilot said:

usna1985, I've read your sticky and I plan to take all the Plebe courses I am allowed. However, in my TWE, it said a "technical" major... I'm going for International Studies and Chinese. Is that going to hurt my chances?

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Int'l Studies -- not going to help. Chinese -- maybe.

I haven't seen the TWE but my PERSONAL VIEW (note the caveat) is that, if you take and get As in Calc and Chem/Physics and English and History, you'll probably be ok even with a non-technical major.

That said, USNA is looking for technical majors at USNA. Thus, they worry that someone who chooses a non-technical major at a civilian college will choose one at USNA -- and the converse as well. So, if you do the above AND choose a tech major, your chances are improved.

BTW, the reapplying candidate I had this year who was successful majored in engineering. I don't know the majors of the ones still waiting.

Good Luck to you!

Good luck as you go for the gold again!

I have read your sticky and it is framed on my wall right next to my TWE. Might be a bit extreme but i want to make sure i don't lose focus! i plan on doing engineering and starting nrotc int he fall as well as a couple of ECAS. usna1985 i do have a question. i am starting college in the summer (june 30th funny how that worked out) , when is the best time to send my college transcripts? after summer or after fall( fall is when i will actually start taking my engineering courses)

If I havent heard back from USNA yet, should I start the preliminary application on April 1st?

usna1985 If you're reapplying, it's really, really important first to understand why you didn't get in. It's easy to say it's a "numbers game" -- and it often is -- but your numbers weren't as high as those who were appointed and you need to know why.

usna1985, are you saying that a candidate who is 3Q'd with a nomination who gets rejected at this point in the process was bested only by candidates with better academic credentials (SAT, ACT, GPA, Class Rank, Course Load, etc.) assuming similar varsity team sport/leadership resumes? If so, who couldn't live with that?

However, my daily reading of this blog over the past year would indicate this is most probably not the case as "other" factors creep in as the whole cadidate score is determined.

If this is true spending a year at a quality four-year college while reapplying and taking the most rigorous physics, chemistry, and calculus course load available might not cure the prospects "shortcomings".

I guess I am questioning the value of reapplying if a candidate has already demonstrated high proficiency in the aforementioned courses, has more than adequate standardized test scores (based on past USNA data), and team sports and leadership credentials. These kids are no better candidates next year than they are this year and a year in college will only serve to show ongoing academic prowess as the ship has sailed on things like standardized test scores, HS activities, and sports, for most.

It would show persistance, however, but to me it's a shame to put this extra hurdle in front of a few candidates - a hurdle others do not have to clear. Sometimes when the horse is dead it is advisable to dismount.

Your thoughts?

^^^^

I can't fully answer your question. I can only tell you that, last year, I had a candidate with 3 noms, superb SATs, double varsity athlete (recruited for one), lots of ECAs, etc. Didn't get in -- not even a WL -- and I had no idea why (still don't). That person reapplied this year and now has an appointment.

As I have said elsewhere, two others who did the same thing are still waiting to hear. Why the difference -- don't know.

There is no way I or anyone else can guarantee that, if a candidate does everything USNA says, it's the golden ticket. I suppose it depends on one's desire and determination. I can only imagine how painful it would be to go through it all a second time and be rejected again. And, there is clearly that risk in reapplying.

if annapolis is your dream ( as it is mine) then why would you ever stop trying. why would you simple give up because you may get rejected again. i don't care if it takes me until i'm 23 to get in, i will NEVER give up. you don't knwo the 100% reason as to why some of us did not and will not be accepted and neither will we. will it be even more painful to get a rejection a second time? Absolutely. but Annapolis is worth the pain. at least to me it is. part of what they teach us there is to NEVER GIVE UP THE SHIP. how can we expect them to take us seriously as officers if we start giving up now. Maybe they turned us away because they want to see if we really have the drive and the passion to come back and fight like hell to get in the second time. I don't know their reason and i am not going to drive myself crazy trying to figure it out. i know what i need to work on, and i plan on doing everything in my power to be the best candidate they've ever seen. they will have no choice but to acceot me. they won't be able to say no.

mariners,

To complement usna1985, sometimes it is a numbers game and USNA determined (somehow) that other candidates were in front of others. Chances are that for the ~500 candidates who were 3Q'd and didn't receive an appointment, there isn't much more to improve in their record other than maintaining or challenging themselves in college.

I guess I am questioning the value of reapplying if a candidate has already demonstrated high proficiency in the aforementioned courses, has more than adequate standardized test scores (based on past USNA data), and team sports and leadership credentials. These kids are no better candidates next year than they are this year and a year in college will only serve to show ongoing academic prowess as the ship has sailed on things like standardized test scores, HS activities, and sports, for most.

It would show persistance, however, but to me it's a shame to put this extra hurdle in front of a few candidates - a hurdle others do not have to clear. Sometimes when the horse is dead it is advisable to dismount.

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I believe the exact opposite...it is less of a hurdle if they were 3Q'd and continue to excel in college (academics, ECAs, etc), because the admissions board will know they were previously 3Q'd. For the candidates that have lower scores or lacks leadership skills/ECAs, you have to really prove yourself even more so.

The incoming class is limited...the line has to be drawn somewhere and someone who is 3Q'd/strong candidate, is, unfortunately, going to be turned down. You can make the same argument in the Navy with promotion boards, command boards, etc....there are some really good officers/enlisted, but somewhere they have to draw the line.