Advice wanted!!

[usmaapp1]

I received a medical DQ yesterday and my dodmerb status is pending waiver submission. I was told by my liason that I won't get a waiver unless I get a nomination which makes sense. I received an LOA in September last year during my senior year of high school, I hadn't completed a nomination application or taken medical exams. Had to accept a basketball scholarship while still waiting to hear back from USMA or else I could've lost my only full-ride offer. I decided to reapply this year, however I didn't start my application until December 4.. The only nomination I could apply for was Senator Sessions in AL. My medical DQ is due to a recent ankle surgery I had in November. Funny how things work because I would've needed that same surgery if I would've gone to USMA last year which would've been an issue. If I get the nomination and get a medical waiver and get appointed that would be a work of God! Anyways, in high school I graduated 124/389 with a 3.56 GPA and a very competitive high school. My ACT is a 32. 4 years of basketball, 2 year varsity letters, 1 year captain. 1 varsity letter in track and field. Lots of leadership activities and volunteer hours. My first semester at a civilian univ. I was on the Dean's List as an athlete with a 3.588 GPA. I took General Chem I, World History II, Pre Calculus with Trig, Foundations of Oral Communication, and Sports Nutrition. I transferred 18 credit hours from AP exams which got me out of most freshman level classes. I am also an NCAA varsity athlete at my current school. Unless I get this nomination from the Senator, my chances are over for this year. For planning purposes, I'm trying to figure out my best options for back up plans! I'm torn over many possibilities so am requesting any opinions or advice. My biggest issue at my current school is that I am very limited academically. It's a small liberal arts college that doesn't offer many choices for after graduation. I want to get a degree in engineering (preferably systems) which I have no choice of getting here. Staying here all 4 years would require several years of graduate school (at least 4) which costs lots of money and time and all for a career that I really don't want to do! Currently studying exercise science but have only taken a few courses. There is a civilian university at home that is a research university and offers several engineering options as well as ROTC. I could see this as a possibility because in the case that I don't get in next year, I could still get my degree in engineering and commission as an Army officer, which I really want to do. Other option is to stay at current university where I would be playing basketball but continuing in a pursuit of a "useless" degree for what I want to do. I have also thought about self prepping at MMI but have heard that appointment rates are very low for self prep, I wondered if my background of a strong USMA candidate who received an LOA early would help me from there. I know this is a lot but I really appreciate your help and input! Please vote in the poll and feel free to give any advice or your opinion or anything you know based off past experience. My main goal is to serve as an officer in the Army and have a degree that can be used in the army and also have a good career after retirement. Obviously I would more than anything love to attend West Point and graduate from there. My main drawback on ROTC is not being guaranteed active duty and not experiencing all the great things that USMA cadets do, they get to "live it" everyday I feel and that is something that I really want to be a part of. Thanks again so much.

 

[UHBlackhawk]

I'm not a doctor... so take what I write with that in mind.
First, you are correct. If you were at an Academy you would probably be okay. There are two stages to the waiver process. The first is to get in. Once you are in, you must be medically qualified for commissioning and, in some cases such as aviation, you must meet branch requirements.
I would not give up due to an ankle injury if you truly wish to attend a service academy. As long as it heals well, you can probably get the waiver approved. Of course as pointed out to you, the nomination must come first.
If it does not work this year, my thought would be to do ROTC. You then would have an additional path for a nomination through your ROTC PMS.

 

[kinnem]

Agree with Blackhawk. BTW, have you taken English Composition? Have you been introduced to the concept of paragraphs? Just sayin'.

 

[UHBlackhawk]

Oh, and above statements on a medical waiver are based on the assumption that you had surgery on the ankle due to an injury and not a chronic condition, and that it fully healed.

 

[usmaapp1]

I received a nomination from my Senator and MALO told me the RC submitted my waiver request, so what does that mean for me exactly? My MALO told me that it take up to 60 days. Should I get a letter from USMA saying they are pursuing a waiver? And will dodmerb notify me if I need to send additional documents or do I need to ask that. I've tried calling twice in the past few days and have gotten voice mail both times.

 

[buff81]

A waiver request (which has to be submitted by your RC) means that your medical file goes to the docs at WP. They will determine whether to grant a waiver or deny the waiver. If they want more information about your medical situation, they will contact DoDMERB. DoDMERB will in turn contact you to get the additional info that they need. Once you submit that to DoDMERB, they will send it to WP. Then, the docs will make a decision on whether to grant your wavier. Once that decision is made, they will contact DoDMERB - who will update their files with either waiver granted or waiver denied.
PM me if you are in AL05.

 

[RGVHOPEFUL]

My son is currently a candidate for both USMA & USNA. He has told us that he really wants West Point. With that being said, his GPA is 4.00, he ranks 85 out of 756 ( Top 11 % - completing all his AP classes) and SAT score of 1150. He is Vice-President of National Honor Society, lettered in Golf along with hundreds of community service hours. He found out he was medically disqualified for astigmatism. His astigmatism was above a 3.00.

I forgot to mention he did receive a Congressional and ROTC nomination for both USMA & USNA.

Does he still have a chance of receiving an appointment ? I know my son is just stressing waiting to see what happens. We are praying they do give him a waiver.

 

[UHBlackhawk]

Good grief yes. Boards are still meeting.

 

[RGVHOPEFUL]

UHBlackhawk I know good grief is correct. My wife and I are stressing more than our son. Every time we all check his portal it says his application complete pending review. The medical also says medical waiver pending. We noticed on another thread that the first batch of appointments has been sent out for class of 2021.

His liaison officer did tell my son he was still in the running and if he did not get the appointment he would go to the national waiting list along with the ROTC List. His Congressman nominated his group of ten using the competitive scale. His liaison officer told him he was in the top of five. He could not tell him what rank in the top five because it would be unfair to the other nominees in his congressional district. That was very criptic to say the least. So we are looking for any advice as to how this may turn out.

 

[UHBlackhawk]

Sorry, I did not mean to sound flippant. I know it can be nerve wracking. But it is still early in the process.

 

[RGVHOPEFUL]

UHBlackhawk no need to apologize. You are correct though. It is nerve wracking not knowing where he stands. All we have been told is to just be patient since this will be the hard part. The waiting for an answer.

Our son does have a plan b though. He has been accepted to attend UTRGV. They have an Army ROTC program. But, to be honest it didn't really thrill him. So we know he wants to attend USMA.

Thank you for the advice though. We will be nervously and patiently waiting for an answer.

 

[UHBlackhawk]

UHBlackhawk no need to apologize. You are correct though. It is nerve wracking not knowing where he stands. All we have been told is to just be patient since this will be the hard part. The waiting for an answer.

Our son does have a plan b though. He has been accepted to attend UTRGV. They have an Army ROTC program. But, to be honest it didn't really thrill him. So we know he wants to attend USMA.

Thank you for the advice though. We will be nervously and patiently waiting for an answer.

Even if it does not work out this year tell him to not give up. While not a guarantee, the admission board does like persistence. Tell him to do well in college and apply again. It also opens up another nomination route through ROTC.
I know several cadets who got in on the second or even third try.

 

[RGVHOPEFUL]

UHBlackhawk we just talked to him to be ready in case he does not get an appointment. To re-apply after a year at UTRGV. I could tell that is not what he wanted to hear. All he told us was he worked hard and did his part. It is out of his hands and he has been praying. At least he is being mature about the situation.

 

[UHBlackhawk]

There is still much time, so I would tell him to not give up quite yet.
I know it's hard to tell a young person that a year in the long scheme of life is nothing, especially if he is doing ROTC, taking college courses.
Another option is to enlist and apply from the ranks. The service academies have a very difficult time finding enough qualified enlisted applicants. I know on the Navy side if you qualify for nukes and then apply you are almost guaranteed getting in.
Yeah, enlisting sounds rough. But in many cases a year or so off really helps a person mature.

 

[RGVHOPEFUL]

You are so right. I know adversity in life builds character which in turn helps you mature.

I know he wants to get his degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has not given up yet. He just wants an answer is all. Yes or no as he says. So he knows he has to start preparing for plan b.