College Reapplicant Call!!

[USNAHopeful1]

As all candidates are, I am beyond anxious on the admissions cycle but this my second time applying, and it has my anxiety doubled. I have since gone to college to study Mechanical Engineering and was fortunate enough to be on a 4-year NROTC Scholarship. However, I do not know how the college reapplicant competitive scores are weighed. I was able to achieve a brutal 2.9 GPA first semester taking 19 credit hours with Calc I, Physics I, and Chem I as part of my classes. I understand that this GPA is not very good, but is it so bad that I have no chance? Relative to my peers I am at or above their GPA's but don't know if this matters, it certainly makes me feel better in a small scope but at large I know it is not good. I have probably read every single thread and website on this, as well as watching every YouTube video associated with USNA. Last year I had a very competitive package but this year I am not as confident. I guess my question to all who may read this outpouring of emotion is, am I out for the count? Thank you all in advance.

If any college reapplicant has had a similar experience, what do you recommend to not turn your hair grey?

 

[IronmanDaremo]

My son is a college re-applicant in a very competitive District (we're about 40 minutes from USNA, and his grandparents live in Annapolis). He had a LOA last year, but was unable to fulfill the nomination requirement. So, he didn't get an appointment. Stellar GPA, all honors/GT/AP classes, multi-sport varsity athlete (top runner on his team, nearing D1 qualifying times, etc.), but only a mediocre SAT score (1250). No appointment to the USNA, or the USAFA - at which he actually did have a nomination.

Fast forward to this year. Went to a local state university, decided to walk-on to NROTC as a "college programmer" to see what life is like as a midshipman. Signed up for a Tier 1 major (chemical engineering), but even though he had Calc and Physics in high school, he only tested comfortably enough to get in and take pre-Calc. And he's not taking Physics yet. Took Chem 1 in the Fall (which he got a C in - his only non-A grade), and will be taking Chem II and Calc in the Spring, as well as a 19 credit course load. He finished the Fall semester with a 3.5 GPA while taking 16 credits, but not as aggressive a schedule as you appear to have. He did finish his applications for the Academy and for the 4-year national NROTC scholarship and is in the same boat with waiting to hear results. But his CFA was not as good as last year, so that might hurt him as well (even though a week later he crushed the fitness assessment for his NROTC application).

Unfortunately, he has already heard back from our member of the House that he, once again, did not receive a nomination from him. We're still waiting to hear back from the Senators, but those tend to be even more competitive. And he is not sure if his CO will be putting him in for a NROTC nomination. Without a nom, he is probably back in the no-go boat. He seems resigned to that, but has not given up hope.

And he is still in play for the NROTC scholarship, either the national 4-year one, or one of the side-load 3-year options for his Sophomore year.

It is definitely a roller-coaster ride!!

 

[Old Navy BGO]

There are way too many variables to try to compare to other College reapplicants, and frankly you aren't competing with them -- you are competing within your Congressional Slate.

Among the decisions an Admission Board must make is whether a Candidate is academically qualified to make it through the Academic rigors or USNA. This decision is easier to make when evaluating a College freshman with a semester of a strong STEM course load under there belt. (There are plenty of high GPA/high SAT candidates who struggle with academics once they get to college). Admissions will consider your course load, and the quality of your college, as well as all the other factors which go in to the Whole Person Score in determining whether a 2.9 is good enough to qualify for Admission, then you will be considered on each Nomination slate to evaluate how competitive you are.

 

[Usnavy2019]

College reapplicant here. I was in your shoes way back when. I was in a ROTC equivalent program (SSMP - pretty much NROTC at Maritime Academies that gives you a USNR commission instead of a USN one). The thing that kept me sane was honestly my Battalion. They were great officers and really helped me where they could. It also gave me reassurance that I was working toward my ultimate goal, which was a commission, regardless of how the second round went.

Looking back on my college time, I'd do it all over again, but do realize that you have an awesome opportunity right now with the scholarship. Annapolis is a special place that holds a special place in my heart. However, it is not the only way to get into the Navy. Plenty of friends and mentors are from NROTC and OCS. Once you hit the Fleet (in reality your initial training pipeline), commissioning sources blur together. You've been set up for success wherever you end up! You get unique experiences in NROTC just as you do at USNA.

Best of luck to you and happy to answer any follow-up questions!