Applying as a college re-applicant

adt98

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Dec 26, 2015
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I just received my TWE. I'm going to reapply next year. I was just curious how different it is to apply as a college re-applicant? Still pressing forward thank you and congrats to all 2021 appointees. I received a 4 year rotc scholarship to my in state college but my heart is truly set on West Point
 
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It is not much different. I got a twe last year and took a 3 year army rotc scholarship to my state school. I applied again this year and haven't been appointed yet so most likely a twe. To answer your question, the only thing reapplying does is to allow you to have more time to strengthen what west point wants, which are SAT and GPA. As simple as that. If you don't strengthen those skills, expect another TWE.
 
Even if you improve your ACT and get good grades in college like myself it still might not be enough. I haven't heard yet but it I will probably get TWE soon. There are other factors in play out of your control. If you found a university you would be happy at for four years then go there and reapply and see what happens.
 
You have to do most of the same things over again next year. West Point will keep things like test scores, but you will need to have your high school send in transcripts and class profile again. The SOEs carry over but you will need at least two new ones from college professors. The harder part will be applying for nominations again. The MOCs dod not keep anything and you start from scratch. Getting letters of recommendations from individuals you do not see anymore can also be challenging. You will also have to take the CFA again.

Some good news here through. Your DodMERB is good for two years so you do not have to do that again. If you are in ROTC, you can compete for a service connected nomination and appointment. Another nomination source lets you compete in other slates. The scoring process also gives a boost to the WCS based on a successful semester of college.

My DD successfully navigated the process to gain an appointment as a re-applicant. My best advice is to do an honest assessment on the strength of your application and look to improve the weaker areas. You can ask your RC, but I bet you already know the answer. If your test scores are low, your CFA is lacking or you are missing leadership roles, then you will have to spend extra time improving those areas. You need to take a challenging schedule and do well your first semester in something similar to what a plebe would take. Do not retake classes if you do not need then, but replace them with other challenging classes. You test out of Calc I, take Calc II or physics. Show up for ROTC in the best shape of your life. You physical fitness level has a big impact on how you are viewed by others in the service.

Hope that helps. The best advice though is to go off to your Plan B with an open mind and have fun. It may turn out that you love it there.
 
I was in the same boat as you last year and I got an appointment this year. My tip for you is to show admissions that you can excel in college with a challenging course load (calc, physics, chem) and also while fully participating in ROTC (and maybe something else). I'd also get in contact with your local liaison a little before the start of the fall semester and explain your goals and how you aim to achieve them. If you convince him that you have the drive, and the results at the end of the semester are good, then he will most likely talk highly of you to the admissions people or the regional liaison.

Other good people to talk to are your ROTC cadre because an NCO cadre will administer the CFA and the CO will give the interview which could lead to you getting a ROTC nomination. However, I wouldn't walk in day one and say your West Point goals because they will not care as they don't know you. Give it a month, or at least until you demonstrate yourself as a serious cadet, before you bring up West Point to the cadre.

Lastly, enjoy college. I did. Go out and meet people. Maybe you will learn that this is where you want to be and that's perfectly fine. More than one way to become an officer.
 
“Your DodMERB is good for two years so you do not have to do that again.”

True. However it is good for EXACTLY two years. DS ('15) was a reapplicant, had done DODMERB in maybe May the first time, was appointed second time, but the DODMERB actually expired before R Day, so while it was sufficient to get an appointment, make sure it is valid through R Day or you might be in for a disappointment. On the plus side, DODMERB is aware of this and gave him an extension without another medical exam, simple paperwork but requirement to be valid on R Day.

Best of luck to you!
RLTW
 
I think there's a world of difference in being a reapplicant from college and being a reapplicant who is busting his/her butt in a rigorous ROTC program in a civilian college. A reapplicant with good SAT/ACT and good college grades cannot compare (in my opinion) to a reapplicant with good SAT/ACT and good college grades and an excellent recommendation from his/her ROTC commander (not to mention the ROTC nom).
 
I was in the same boat as you last year and I got an appointment this year. My tip for you is to show admissions that you can excel in college with a challenging course load (calc, physics, chem) and also while fully participating in ROTC (and maybe something else). I'd also get in contact with your local liaison a little before the start of the fall semester and explain your goals and how you aim to achieve them. If you convince him that you have the drive, and the results at the end of the semester are good, then he will most likely talk highly of you to the admissions people or the regional liaison.

Other good people to talk to are your ROTC cadre because an NCO cadre will administer the CFA and the CO will give the interview which could lead to you getting a ROTC nomination. However, I wouldn't walk in day one and say your West Point goals because they will not care as they don't know you. Give it a month, or at least until you demonstrate yourself as a serious cadet, before you bring up West Point to the cadre.

Lastly, enjoy college. I did. Go out and meet people. Maybe you will learn that this is where you want to be and that's perfectly fine. More than one way to become an officer.
Thanks for your suggestions, our son just registered Cal, Chem, Physics and a Engineering courses at a local university while waiting to reapply for the Academies next year. The school that he is going does not have Naval ROTC...so now we are looking at plan C.
 
I was in the same boat as you last year and I got an appointment this year. My tip for you is to show admissions that you can excel in college with a challenging course load (calc, physics, chem) and also while fully participating in ROTC (and maybe something else). I'd also get in contact with your local liaison a little before the start of the fall semester and explain your goals and how you aim to achieve them. If you convince him that you have the drive, and the results at the end of the semester are good, then he will most likely talk highly of you to the admissions people or the regional liaison.

Other good people to talk to are your ROTC cadre because an NCO cadre will administer the CFA and the CO will give the interview which could lead to you getting a ROTC nomination. However, I wouldn't walk in day one and say your West Point goals because they will not care as they don't know you. Give it a month, or at least until you demonstrate yourself as a serious cadet, before you bring up West Point to the cadre.

Lastly, enjoy college. I did. Go out and meet people. Maybe you will learn that this is where you want to be and that's perfectly fine. More than one way to become an officer.
Thanks for your suggestions, our son just registered Cal, Chem, Physics and a Engineering courses at a local university while waiting to reapply for the Academies next year. The school that he is going does not have Naval ROTC...so now we are looking at plan C.
@Faith All schools do not have all ROTC programs but there is usually a regional one that you would attend. My DD goes to school in Dallas and has to attend ROTC once a week in Arlington. It makes scheduling a little more challenging but for $50,000 a year, it is worth the hassle.
 
@Faith All schools do not have all ROTC programs but there is usually a regional one that you would attend. My DD goes to school in Dallas and has to attend ROTC once a week in Arlington. It makes scheduling a little more challenging but for $50,000 a year, it is worth the hassle.
Wow! 50 K a year for scholarships? Thanks for the advice! We will check into the Regional ROTC!
 
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