Already Rejected

Mooradian said:
I contacted and spoke with an admissions rep a few days ago, a LT.

The rejection was based on several classes during my junior year, shortly after my accident, that I did not perform well in. Honors Physics, Trig, AP U.S. History, Honors English, Honors Chem. I received 3 C's. According to admissions those C's are what kept me from qualified status. ...
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A few thoughts and questions:

1. You list 5 classes you in which you indicate "I did not perform well in." And then you go on to note you "received 3 Cs."
A. Would you mind specifying 2 things on those 5 courses?
B. What specific grades did you receive in each class?
C. Also, would you share what your AP scores were in each?
D. Noting "Teacher recs were all good", which classes were taught by your teacher recommenders?

2. Re: your potential Plan B schools ... my own POV is that barring one specific issue, your choice might be clear.
A. What's the specific issue? Football. How important is that in your total scheme? If it is front and center then Norwich remains among your apparent options.
B. IF it is only an ancillary, "luke warm" issue, not really central in your decision-making, then the issue becomes clear for you.

C. VA Tech. Why? Because you are not in need of any "prep" school remedial strengthening. That part of your experience would likely be less than you would be capable of, imo, especially if you seek an engineering program. With all due respect, with regard to a technical major and degree program, a NWP, MMI, or Valley Forge have significantly less to add to your profile beyond military prep. None is a slam dunk, sure thing ala a USNA Foundation or NAPS possibility, and you can get that readily at a major university like VA Tech or any number of others that you would be an excellent candidate for admission.

And more critically ... difficult as it might be to consider at this point, as you approach a Plan B and consequent reapplying to USNA in the course of that, you also need to be considering a Plan C and even D. It is a very distinct possibility that you may not be appointed in the next round either, no matter your performance. We see any number of outstanding re-applicants who fail to gain appointment in ensuing opportunities.

Now, what if that is the case and you are looking at not one but two years down the line? A person of your capability should be in hot pursuit of a high quality academic experience and specific program.

And there is one other consideration IF you're thinking football ... serious injury.

The bottom line here is that you have some serious and very disparate options here that might well be refined by some serious thinking about what it is you want.

I believe that an NROTC scholarship option to VA Tech, Penn State, or other top flight engineering school ... and NOT playing football might be optimal options IF you are determined to continue pursuing USNA and more importantly IF you are determined to continue pursuing military service to your country in the USN. All avenues might take you to the latter. And several might not.

Good luck and help us to learn from your experience by sharing issues in #1.
 
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Mooradian said:
i do have serious circumstances that affected academics heavily last year, including a severe car accident that landed me a SEVERE concussion and the murder of a very close friend. USNA should and hopefully DOES know about these, as my school administration has sent them multiple documents describing my jr. year situation.
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Something here doesn't seem right. You state that you are medically qualified. I think you are also saying that you and your school counselors have told Admissions that you had a concussion so severe that it affected your grades. With all the PTSD type issues associated with head trauma that is surfacing due to the wars in the mideast, I would think that this condition would at least require a waiver from the specific service. Are you absolutely positive that the views which Admissions has gained from your descriptions about your condition is equivalent to that which DodMERB utilized to consider you qualified?
 
I was qualified very quickly through DoDMERB.

I am attending my CVW this weekend, and a LT. in admissions called me to inform me that they are going to mee with me Thursday evening or Friday.

I am assuming I will have a lot more information, even though I have already spoken to an admissions rep.

Will update.

As far as football, I'm not too serious about it. While a great opportunity, I think that my time as an OLB and TE is coming to an end and want to pursue my military career and excel academically in post-highschool education.
 
Re: Jr. year classes...

Honors Physics, had a 71%.
Honors English, 79%
Trigonometry, 70%, retook this summer and made a 97%.
AP U.S History, I had an 87% I believe
Honors Chemistry, 82%.


I missed a lot of school and spent 2 days half-dead in the hospital before I came-to. These arent the grades I usually get. However, they killed my GPA and Class rank.

Currently taking AP Calc 1, AP English 1, AP Gov, and a computer literacy class.

Currently hold a 90% in Calc, 87% in English 1, 94% in Gov, and a 99 in the easy-as-pie computer class, and am on the upward trend. Really busting my butt this semester, as I did before.

Next semester, taking AP Calc 2, Chemistry II (no AP chem here) mandatory Speech/PhysEd class, and Social Psychology.
 
Did you take AP exam(s)?

Which teachers wrote your recommendations? The 70% trig? 79% English?

Looks like you're making a terrific recovery! Keep rolling!

Have you applied for an NROTC scholarship? For where? Heard anything?
 
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God bless you child! I hope you make it and are one day looking out for me and my countrymen!
 
I have applied for NROTC and AROTC, to USC (south Carolina), V tech, PSU, shippensburg (backup school, close to home), norwich.

I am prepping hard for my SATs and have been scoring 770+ on math and reading practice exams... I hope to god that translates to a real score in October.

I am starting to get worried once people brought up that the board might have seen a quality that they didn't like in me. I've been updating my file regularly and made sure all info was accurate. It pains me to think that I was wrongfully deemed in bad character for some reason, as others suggested.
 
You've explained what happened in your life, an untimely and unfortunate circumstance.

Still, when one sees the hard numbers and realizes you were a single point away from a D in trig and only 2 from a D in physics, and then one sees that you have such strong SAT (remember ... aptitude measures) well, it paints a picture that being a traditional candidate would be very tough to get beyond. As you've said, a student of very high aptitude who performed poorly. But the way you've rebounded and presumably will continue to do in year #1 in college, will allow you to put that poor year behind you. None knows if it will be enough, and all you can do going forward is your best.

I confess to wondering what type of "good" recommendations teachers in what you've described as a highly competitive school who've graded you with the lowest C he/she could give in math ... and the highest C he/she could give you in English. What would they say? Wonderful young man who underperformed and we know he can and will do better? Great young man who had a tough situation that he di not handle well? Great boy in a very tough class in a very tough school who had a very rough situation? Not trying to be harsh, but you see the position you put yourself in, I trust. The problem is that there is simply no good way to explain or lend that great recommendation in either of the areas you needed. Even if they were good recs, they could not provide what you needed without being viewed as perhaps uncredible.

But I believe seeing the numbers illuminates the harsh reality the Admissions Committee faced and could not ignore in light of mountains of folks who did not have to explain away such circumstances. And the Committee may well have been in a mind set that mimics life at USNA ... NO EXCUSES. Solve the problem.

And now the issue is to figure out a carefully thought out plan in light of what may be further explained in your CVW. Honestly, I"m surprised they've allowed the invitation to remain in light of your situation as those are intended to expose candidates perceived as highly possible appointees. Good for you. Use it to your benefit.
 
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Mooradian said:
I have applied for NROTC and AROTC, to USC (south Carolina), V tech, PSU, shippensburg (backup school, close to home), norwich.

I am prepping hard for my SATs and have been scoring 770+ on math and reading practice exams... I hope to god that translates to a real score in October.

I am starting to get worried once people brought up that the board might have seen a quality that they didn't like in me. I've been updating my file regularly and made sure all info was accurate. It pains me to think that I was wrongfully deemed in bad character for some reason, as others suggested.
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As you can probably tell from my icon I am partial to South Carolina myself. Great unit there that my DS belongs to. If you have any questions about the school or the unit I'm sure my DS would be happy to answer them/ If so, PM me and I'll put you in touch with him.

If there is any way to knock out that physics score either in high school or first year of college I would strongly recommend doing that. You seem to have already made mince-meat of the other grades.

Good luck. You have a great attitude and I think you'll eventually make it. :thumb: However, be prepared to fall in love with the school/unit you end up at. I'm sure it will be at least bittersweet to leave it for the Naval Academy.
 
VT

I live in Virginia and practically camp out at Tech during football season :shake:, and if I don`t get into USNA, I`m hoping to get MO scholarship to VT. Excellent program...it`s great, I think, because it`s not like VMI as far as a university that`s strictly military, VT is also a civvie university (even though it`s a Senior Military Institute) and has a lot of diversity as far as Corps of Cadets vs. Civvie students. Excellent academics, social life, and military program. Blacksburg is convenient to a few different places, and is not out in the middle of nowhere contrary to the popular contradiction.

Of course, I`m only a sophomore, and all of these ladies and gents can answer your questions, but I feel that I`m pretty well versed on their program, so if I can answer any questions for you, PM me and I`ll do my best. :thumb:
 
Challenge=Oportunity

Mooradian said:
The rejection was based on several classes during my junior year, shortly after my accident, that I did not perform well in. Honors Physics, Trig, AP U.S. History, Honors English, Honors Chem. I received 3 C's. According to admissions those C's are what kept me from qualified status. I would have hoped that they would have taken more into consideration the extent of my injuries, but alas, they didn't.

I am not using it as an excuse. It is entirely my fault for the events and subsequent poor performance of my 1st semester grades during Jr. year.

I will attend either VTech, Norwich, or Valley Forge Military Academy (Service Academy prep program, apparently >90% get appointments)

I've been accepted into Norwich already and might play football there, and I will be in the NROTC program regardless of scholarship or not at any of those three schools.

I am reapplying next year.
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Taking ownership of a negative situation is a sign of maturity and integrity that will serve you well. Looks as if you've received some good counsel and preparing for temporary alternatives. I say temporary because you've stated your intention to reapply to USNA. As you proceed down this alternate path I hope you will see that things happen for a reason. It may not be obvious at first but, with time, that reason will show itself. I would not be surprised if after some time at your next campus you find yourself immersed in your new environment, thriving with like minded classmates. But if USNA still lights your fire, let that fire simmer. Use this setback to show the folks at admissions you overcame a huge disappointment and did not lose sight of your goal of attending USNA. With every challenge comes an opportunity to show your character. This could very well be that opportunity for you. Good luck.
Cheers...
 
Mooradian -- something is not making sense here. I am having trouble connection the dots between the severity of your injuries and your quick qualification by DODMERB.

You state that last year you were in a serious car wreck with a SEVERE concussion and in the hospital for two days 'half dead' -- yet you were NOT disqualified by DODMERB??

Something is seriously wrong here. You should have been given a 'head injury' questionnaire to complete. What you are describing is NOT a mild head injury but at the very least a Moderate head injury. Moderate head injuries take a year - post symptoms to become qualified.

I really think you need to address the discrepancies between DODMERB and your injury/recovery as stated by your school in your records.
Good Luck to you.
 
I did not receive any extra documentation after my physical, which surprised my parents and I. I do agree that I was qualified very quickly less than 1yr after Initial event.

Guess I'll find out more on Thursday or Friday
 
Just_A_Mom said:
Mooradian -- something is not making sense here. I am having trouble connection the dots between the severity of your injuries and your quick qualification by DODMERB.

You state that last year you were in a serious car wreck with a SEVERE concussion and in the hospital for two days 'half dead' -- yet you were NOT disqualified by DODMERB??

Something is seriously wrong here. You should have been given a 'head injury' questionnaire to complete. What you are describing is NOT a mild head injury but at the very least a Moderate head injury. Moderate head injuries take a year - post symptoms to become qualified.

I really think you need to address the discrepancies between DODMERB and your injury/recovery as stated by your school in your records.
Good Luck to you.
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Agree completely. I somehow feel that the DodMERB decision does not reflect the severity of the situation as depicted on this thread. Whether or not this is correct, DoDMERB made a mistake, or DoDMERB did not have the same information with which to make their decision, remains to be seen.
 
Mooradian,

My DS attended Boys State with you and says you are A+ top quality. He voted for you to be Governor there and hopes to see you at USNA next year. Best of luck to you!
 
Mooradian,

One other thought in regards to football. Even at Norwich, freshman are not likely to see much pt and if your goal is to move on to USNA the time spent practicing may be taking away from resources better spent elsewhere.

However, if you decide you are still considering that route, my son has a friend there (I believe a Jr.) who played football and lacrosse and I would be glad to try to put you in touch.

Based on this thread I think you are an excellent candidate and I wish you all the best. Always remember, there is more than one way to skin the cat as well. My nephew wanted USNA but did not get a medical waiver in time to receive an appointment. He went NROTC at Notre Dame but hurt his ankle first semester and could not train and ultimately gave it up. Graduated, took an engineering job was laid off after a year. Took his second job and just hated sitting behind a desk. A little more than 18 months ago he was accepted in to OCS and he is now a Navy pilot flying helicopters. I think you have the right attitude and you will succeed. Good luck!
 
AJM7680 said:
Agree completely. I somehow feel that the DodMERB decision does not reflect the severity of the situation as depicted on this thread. Whether or not this is correct, DoDMERB made a mistake, or DoDMERB did not have the same information with which to make their decision, remains to be seen.
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Or DoDMERB did not make a mistake. Difficulty recovering from an injury doesn't mran you're not recovered.
 
Givethemwings,

What a small world! Perhaps PM me, I may have met your son and/or had interaction with him. Tell him thanks, the experience there was amazing!


Additionally, I have been considering Northwestern Prep. I have already applied. I am really hoping West Point turns out differently, so I don't have to make all fo these difficult decisions...

In regards to playing time as a freshman football player at Norwich, I am fully aware. It's something I'm considering but, ultimately, I want to do what is best for my file when applications open again in 7 or so months.

I feel NWP is a great choice for prep to USNA, but if I do not receive an appt. next year then a full semester was spent in classes that do not transfer. The only positive for that is that I still have Spring semester to go to VTech/Norwich.
 
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