What to do Next

I recently received my TWE (the day before graduation) stating that I was not offered a spot off of the Wait List. I now have to decide what to do this coming year before hopefully getting that BFE for the class of 2019. Right now I am going to attend my local university for at least a semester. Then I can either enlist in the Navy reserves or active duty and transfer to the Naval Academy should I receive an appointment or I could attend the university for two semesters. Right now I am leaning toward enlisting because I believe that if I enlist I would be able to become a more effective and well rounded officer in the Navy. I would be able to better relate with the enlisted men under my command because I would know from a first hand point of view what they were going through. I would greatly appreciate any and all feedback and opinions as this decision is weighing heavily.

Do two semesters of college. If they have NROTC enroll in it.

kinnem said:

Do two semesters of college. If they have NROTC enroll in it.

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In addition....take physics, chemistry, calculus and English. Keep you grades/GPA high and work hard at NROTC. Re-apply to the USNA.

+1 to Kinnem

stay in college and imitate the plebe courses as much as you can. excel at them. participate in ROTC or get involved and show leadership in other clubs and activities.

good luck!

If your goal is to attend USNA and become an officer (through USNA or otherwise), your best bet is to attend college.

You don't "transfer" from enlisted to USNA. You serve as an enlisted and then you apply for an appointment. Some make it every year, but it's a LOT harder than you might think. You have to find the time to apply, you have to have a command committed to helping you, you have to have a very strong record.

By attending college, you not only put yourself in a better position to reapply to USNA but you can also go NROTC or graduate from college and go OCS. All are paths to becoming an officer.

Thanks so much for the input. I greatly appreciate all of your wisdom.

I would participate in NROTC but the school that I will be attending does not have any ROTC program whatsoever (the other college with NROTC would be too expensive). And I will definitely take the suggested Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, and English courses while attending. I have already begun the admissions process for the class of 2019 as well. Leadership wise I plan to start working as a swim coach at the local YMCA throughout school.

If I enlist, I would most likely join on the reserve side and be done with boot camp and A school before I-Day (I would only be required to report 1 weekend a month). I talked to the USNA admissions counselor and I would compete for a college applicant spot opposed to an enlisted one. I would receive an appointment for being a college student (a little different than a high school applicant's process with congressional nominations), not as an enlisted personal.

Joining the reserves would, in my opinion, help me personally become a better leader down the road as soon as I become an officer. I think that I would learn some invaluable skills that most do not learn. My enlisting would not serve as a boost to my USNA application but would help me develop into the best leader that will serve and protect our country.

What they are telling you is enlistment to USNA does not work the way you think it does. It's not a character/resume builder rather it is a much more difficult and uncontrollable path. Trust the wisdom offered to you.

2018midmom said:

What they are telling you is enlistment to USNA does not work the way you think it does. It's not a character/resume builder rather it is a much more difficult and uncontrollable path. Trust the wisdom offered to you.

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Agreed. It is a hundred times more difficult to get into USNA from enlisted perspective than direct entry or re-apply through college. I don't know who your source is, but they're wrong when they tell you that when you reapply from reserves that you get a college spot rather than a enlisted spot, because you have no college experience or GPA to transfer to your application.

Also the majority of enlisted that get in to the academy (with exceptions of power nukes and very few other exceptions) go to NAPS first as well.

Also if you enlist and still don't get into the academy, you still have to fulfill your service requirement.

It seems like you have already made up your mind, but I would recommend trying to apply for NROTC scholarships if money is an issue. If you truly want to be a good officer then the school that the NROTC program is at shouldn't matter.

As a former enlisted sailor I will 100% agree with the rest that have posted. It just doesn't work that way. Think of it this way - the Navy makes decisions based on the needs of the Navy, not the sailors wants or desires. Plus, technically, you will be under an enlistment which means the Navy "owns" you for a certain amount of time - doesn't matter if you are reserves or active duty - an enlistment is an enlistment. And remember, things are still volitle out there and reserves can be called in to active duty anytime.

There are NROTC scholorships, other scholorships and of course student loans. If being a Naval Officer is your goal - even if it is not via USNA, then go to a college with NROTC and keep applying for the scholorship spots. Take the course load you would be taking if you were at USNA.

I am the coordinator for an education reimbursement program at the VA here in St. Louis. I see RN's and MD's with 100's of thousands of dollars of student loan debt. Whiile I don't encourage getting into debt, I do think the first year would be worth it at a college with NROTC with an opportunity to get into that program. Big Picture thinking.

Thank you again. I just got off the phone with a prior USNA graduate that was in my same situation. He applied and did not get in his first year. He enlisted in the Marine Corps and went the reserve route and then reapplied again for the Naval Academy before he was finally accepted. He told me that enlisting did not really benefit him as soon as he got to the Academy and that I should attend college for two semesters. He also stated that they will look favorably on the fact that I am reapplying and did not give up when I faced defeat.

I believe that I have come to a decision to go to college for 2 semesters and imitate the life of a plebe as best as possible with rigorous classes, leadership, and physical training. I also may join the sea cadets to demonstrate my commitment to joining the Navy.

Thanks again for all of your wisdom as it helped open my eyes to what I should do.

Great luck!!

Enlisted

Great question and I just want to say as enlisted active duty everything they said is true it is very hard and probably not the recommended path but it is possible. I would say if you didn't enlist from when you were 17 there really isn't enough time. A lot of things are out of your control and you really need to prove yourself. Going through boot camp and then reserves I would say you would get a taste and good experiences but honestly probably a waste of time from the academic year you could be doing at your communities college. And as everyone else said its a commitment. Good luck everyone in this fight for the class of 19

If someone's plan 'B' is to attend a college that does NOT offer an NROTC program, they need to re-evaluate their priorities. Enlisting is NOT the recommended route to attending USNA. If your real goal is to be an officer in the military, you need to follow the advice being offered, as there are more then one way to do that. The real goal isn't being able to say you attended USNA, it should be military service to your country.

Thanks Joelbradford525.

Time2, my plan ' B' was to attend the college with an NROTC program; however, I was advised by my USNA admissions counselor to not attend if it would cause financial hardship ( $ 30,000 for 1 year). My plan ' C ' ( also with an NROTC program ) fell through because I was not accepted. My plan ' D ' was to attend the college without an NROTC program. I have chosen to pursue this option because I have been advised my so many people to do this. I now know that enlisting is not the recommended route because of the advice that I have been given.

Being able to say that I attended a service academy has NEVER been a goal of mine. Though I do believe that attending would give me the best opportunity to serve our country. I will become a naval officer regardless of whether or not I attend the USNA. My only goal is to serve and protect our country.

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I was in a similar situation last year; I applied to USNA and was not accepted for the class of 2017. I then went to college and was not able to do NROTC because the program at my university was full. I took rigorous classes, earned a good GPA my first semester, and was accepted for the class of 2018.

I think the most important part is that you go to a university if possible, take rigorous classes, and do well in them. I think ECA’s (like NROTC) can play a factor, but I think that the main thing that admissions is looking for are good grades in tough classes.

Of course your ultimate goal should be to become a Naval or Marine Officer, and NROTC is a great way to become one.

Hey no problem. It looks like you have a good plan and you just need to execute and do the best you can. I hope to see you there next year.