Application Step Confusion for USNA

devon.j97

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Jul 7, 2015
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Hello. I'm currently a rising senior and my dream is to serve in The United States Military. I have narrowed the branches that I'm interested in down to The Army, Marine Corps, and Navy. I'd prefer to go to USNA because I would be able to get a taste of The Marine Corps and The Navy. The careers I'm interested in are Aviation, Combat Arms, or Special Operations. Anyway, I had applied to the USNA summer seminar and had been denied but was told that it was my preliminary application. Recently I was contacted by a Blue and Gold Officer telling me to get in touch with him and that I continue my application. The problem is that I have not been named as an official candidate and it's already July. I'm a first generation officer hopeful as most if not all of my ancestors were enlisted, and the only living family member who served was an enlisted Marine. I'm sorry about the essay of a question.
 
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Contact your RD and ask what is needed for you to become an official candidate. Your BGO can also ask this question on your behalf. Typically (but not always), it will be your SAT/ACT scores not being high enough, especially in math.
 
Go ahead and contact the BGO, he or she can be helpful wherever you are in the application process.
 
Hello again. Thank you for all the great answers. I replied to my BGO and he said go on and continue my application process online, and to also send in transcripts. I still haven't been named as an official candidate, but the BGO didn't see any issue. My major problem is that when i click continue application on the USNA website, it takes me to a log in portal which asks me for my name and password. I know my name of course, but I cannot for the life of me think of a password. I had written to the admissions office, and all she said was that I didn't have an official candidate number. I feel really dumb like I'm missing something, which I probably am. This is a dumb question but what is an RD?
 
The RD is the Regional Director, who is the Admissions person at USNA for your geographic region. I think your BGO is giving you incorrect advice in that I don't believe you can submit elements of your package, such as transcripts, until you are designated an official candidate.

I suggest you write back to your RD and ask what you need to do (improve) to become an official candidate. My guess is that it's your SAT/ACT score but you should find out. There is still plenty of time to be named an official candidate and submit your packet.
 
Thank you so much for this info! I will call my RD asap. Unfortunately but not surprisingly I was told I'm not an official candidate and that i should improve my GPA and test scores. With the ladder, I hadn't originally taken theSAT when I submitted my preliminary application, and now I'm taking an SAT prep thing 4 nights a week so that shouldn't be too hard, but with the GPA, i have a pretty low gpa, and I understand how to improve it but since i have to apply by winter, doesn't that mean there wouldn't be enough time to improve it?
 
Devon,
If you are a rising senior with a low GPA, even if you get straight A's in the coming year it is uncertain if you can sufficiently impact your total GPA in order to receive a USNA nom AND an appointment. Of course, you should still give it your best shot, but it also means having a viable plan B (and C and D...) locked and loaded. This could mean exploring other means of becoming an officer through ROTC programs. Don't neglect the other avenues to achieve your goal!
 
Right that's what I thought. I didn't think i could really raise it all that much. For what I lack in a good gap, i have a lot in making contingencies. I have many plan B's. At first I was so focused on purely getting into the Academy, but to be honest, I just want to serve my country. I still want to go to a good college of course but if i have to become an officer through (N)ROTC then I'm fine with that. I do have a quick question, I know about the Naval Academy Prep School in RI...How exactly do i go about going applying there? is it more like "oh you didn't get into the academy, we'll put you on a wait list for NAPS"? or something like that? And thank you for your info! much appreciated!
 
It is the latter.....if USNA admissions deems you as a "borderline" candidate then you can be offered NAPS for one year, after which you are considered for regular admission to USNA.
http://www.usna.edu/NAPS/

There are also USNA "foundation" school programs whereby a candidate can be offered a scholarship to attend other prep colleges throughout the country.
Here is link to a previous thread on the topic.
http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/foundation-naps-question.41545/

You might want to ask your BGO about the above possibilities, although you must still have strong academics and "whole person" accomplishments in order to be considered.
 
The primary consideration for candidacy is testing scores. So continue to do well at your prep courses and once you take the next SAT or ACT (which, hopefully you improve) and get the scores...have those sent to USNA...I would also, simultaneously, scan the report or take a screen shot (make sure any extraneous personal information is blacked out) and email your Admissions Counselor, that way they might be able to decide sooner on tour candidacy.

You can also request through your BGO, as stated above...but these have to be extenuating circumstances normally (i.e. you have some type of hardship or disadvantage).
 
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