Denied Appointment- Applying Again

C

CAP2020

Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2021
Messages
11
Today I was notified on that I will not be admitted into USMA. I'm somewhat confused on what I need to do better when I inevitably decide to apply again, so I wanted to ask some questions. Here's some general background about my file. My GPA is HS was a weighted 3.7, I received 28 superscore on the ACT, varsity sports, I received an advanced designee national 3 year scholarship at my state school back when I applied in HS. I also received three nominations (representative, senatorial, ROTC), and my CFA was below average. Now, as a freshman in college entering the spring semester, what can a realistically improve in order to make my file this fall to be more competitive, besides improving my ACT scores? FYI I'm not worried about being a college sophomore applying to USMA, knowing I will have to start over as a plebe/freshman if admitted. Also, I know the prep school is heavily inclined to accept recruited athletes, but do I have a chance of getting into the prep school?
 
It appears your weighted GPA and CFA were not competitive. Could be many other factors.
 
USMA is an SA that tells you if you are fully qualified. Presumably you did not get that notification? That is a good starting point for discussion with your USMA POCs.

Otherwise, take a plebe-like schedule in college and get excellent grades. If you are planning to do AROTC, be a hard-charging cadet who is both a good follower and a good leader and gain your chain of command’s recommendation for a college ROTC nom. Stay fit and stay out of trouble. Let your essays reflect increased maturity and personal growth.
 
CAP2020 said:
Today I was notified on that I will not be admitted into USMA. I'm somewhat confused on what I need to do better when I inevitably decide to apply again, so I wanted to ask some questions. Here's some general background about my file. My GPA is HS was a weighted 3.7, I received 28 superscore on the ACT, varsity sports, I received an advanced designee national 3 year scholarship at my state school back when I applied in HS. I also received three nominations (representative, senatorial, ROTC), and my CFA was below average. Now, as a freshman in college entering the spring semester, what can a realistically improve in order to make my file this fall to be more competitive, besides improving my ACT scores? FYI I'm not worried about being a college sophomore applying to USMA, knowing I will have to start over as a plebe/freshman if admitted. Also, I know the prep school is heavily inclined to accept recruited athletes, but do I have a chance of getting into the prep school?
Click to expand...
What state and district are you from?
 
CAP2020 said:
KS03
Click to expand...
Did you receive a TWE? Any notification informing that you have been placed on the NWL such as 3Q correspondence before rejection? It's still pretty early in the game and I haven't seen any candidates that got rejected.
 
foxtailsean said:
Did you receive a TWE? Any notification informing that you have been placed on the NWL such as 3Q correspondence before rejection? It's still pretty early in the game and I haven't seen any candidates that got rejected.
Click to expand...
I was not 3q'd, which was odd. But here is the letter with some retractions of course. Screen Shot 2021-02-02 at 2.20.07 PM.png
 
You could still have chance at a USMAPS. I know of a 2020 USAFA grad who was denied admission, sent a similar letter, and then a few months later received an offer for the prep school. Keep yours hopes up!
 
CAP2020 said:
I appreciate the replies. Trying to stay optimistic.
Click to expand...
I recommend you get an Army ROTC scholarship and join ROTC at a civilian school of your choice. You can reapply next year or you can just take ROTC path. At the end of the day, every cadet who passed the 4 year course will commission as a 2LT. I heard no one really cares about your commissioning source after like a year of active duty service.
 
Any of us can speculate on what could be stronger in your file. Your admissions counselor is who can go over the details with you. I am sure you are frustrated and bummed. No question. That stinks.
You asked what you could realistically do moving forward. Everything! You can, if this is what you want, buckle down and improve all facets of your file. Enlist mentors at school, improve your personal candidate statements (possible essay topic, rebounding and redoubling your efforts for admittance and improving). As @Capt MJ said, be the hard charging cadet in ROTC and earn your Command's respect and recommendation. You have the advantage of DODMERB being good for 2 years, so that's a plus. Tons of time to train safely and max the CFA. You can do this!!

Improve test scores through practice (yeah, Covid messed up test dates this year but there is hope on the horizon).

Our DS's roomie is a reapplicant. His stats were crazy, he's a stellar guy all around. Our DS still cannot fathom this guy being a no last cycle. But he buckled down, ran for positions in leadership, reapplied for nominations and admission and he aced a plebe like schedule. He now is doing really well and brings wisdom and maturity to direct admissions. He's such a blessing to the Company (and my DS).

Be that guy/gal. Be the one that got knocked down and back up. SA's need candidates with grit. So do the Armed Forces.
 
CAP2020 said:
Today I was notified on that I will not be admitted into USMA. I'm somewhat confused on what I need to do better when I inevitably decide to apply again, so I wanted to ask some questions. Here's some general background about my file. My GPA is HS was a weighted 3.7, I received 28 superscore on the ACT, varsity sports, I received an advanced designee national 3 year scholarship at my state school back when I applied in HS. I also received three nominations (representative, senatorial, ROTC), and my CFA was below average. Now, as a freshman in college entering the spring semester, what can a realistically improve in order to make my file this fall to be more competitive, besides improving my ACT scores? FYI I'm not worried about being a college sophomore applying to USMA, knowing I will have to start over as a plebe/freshman if admitted. Also, I know the prep school is heavily inclined to accept recruited athletes, but do I have a chance of getting into the prep school?
Click to expand...
I have no knowledge of the prep school selection criteria. But, I would think college reapplicants are generally not often considered for it. (Thinking that the 1 or 2 years of college should show USMA everything they need to see similar to what the Prep School year would) Plus college re-app athletes would have already started their NCAA clock, so a prep year would waste another.

Agreed with others that its difficult to answer without seeing everything. (and probably would with seeing it). Not sure if this makes sense, but it could be similar to a NCAA basketball team on the wrong side of the bubble, a team with no bad losses but unfortunately not enough good wins, either. The opportunities seem to be there, though... ( turning both CFA, ACT/SAT into above average scores for example, while rocking the college gpa. )
 
I personally know two USMA cadets who recently graduated who were not admitted the first time. One did a year at NMMI and reapplied and another did a year at Greystone then reapplied. It can and has been done. Nose to the grindstone. Good Luck!!
 
CAP2020,

I have a letter that reads almost exactly like that one (the numbers are different) that informed me I was not being admitted to the class of 1982. I got that letter from EVERY academy, and I still have those letters.

Okay...so...Plan B: what do you do? First, you press ahead! This is a setback, but it's not the end of the world, even though it sure does feel like it is! I remember that feeling well. Okay...second...attack your options. ROTC scholarships...still out there being evaluated and selections being made...that might happen? Other options? Local college/university with AROTC; you join, you become the stellar first-year cadet. You take an academic load that mirrors a WP Plebe...and you excel! You destroy the AROTC program: fitness, discipline, uniform, etc...etc...You show your instructors that YOU are all that and more. And you let them know...you want to serve as an army officer; you had hoped to go to "the Point" but...here you are. You're still going to reapply however...you are here, now, and will excel!!

You do that...there are no guarantees, but it will strengthen your position mightily!

And then maybe next year you'll be like me: four offers of appointment to the Classes of 1983 (USCGA made me an alternate; they're TOUGH).

Your destiny hasn't been written yet...

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
(Non-select: USMA82, USNA82, USAFA82, USMMA82, USCGA82)
 
At this point I would recommend not retaking the ACT to try and increase your score unless you really want to do that. You are a freshman in college and getting good grades at your college would show that you are more prepared for USMA than increasing your ACT by a couple of points. The biggest thing for re-applicants is that first semester in college and how you perform academically and within your ROTC unit. Your course schedule also matters a lot. Did you take Calc, Physics, English and other courses similar to the ones you would take as a freshman at USMA? Just some things to consider as you begin another application cycle. Listen to the advice above, reach out to admissions and get their opinion because that is the feedback you need to hear. Good Luck!
 
CAP2020 said:
Today I was notified on that I will not be admitted into USMA. I'm somewhat confused on what I need to do better when I inevitably decide to apply again, so I wanted to ask some questions. Here's some general background about my file. My GPA is HS was a weighted 3.7, I received 28 superscore on the ACT, varsity sports, I received an advanced designee national 3 year scholarship at my state school back when I applied in HS. I also received three nominations (representative, senatorial, ROTC), and my CFA was below average. Now, as a freshman in college entering the spring semester, what can a realistically improve in order to make my file this fall to be more competitive, besides improving my ACT scores? FYI I'm not worried about being a college sophomore applying to USMA, knowing I will have to start over as a plebe/freshman if admitted. Also, I know the prep school is heavily inclined to accept recruited athletes, but do I have a chance of getting into the prep school?
Click to expand...
My DS was sent the same letter yesterday. He is a HS senior with a weighted 3.93 with 5 AP classes completed and 2 more this year, super scored ACT 30, varsity track, civil air patrol, nominated by representative MN1, numerous volunteer ops. CFA below average in push ups and pull ups average or above average in the other categories, close to private pilot's license 25 hrs. On his own he asked me how he could get feedback on how to improve and recommend asking. He did send an email tonight to his regional commander to ask for some feedback about how he could improve. The military is what he wants to do and he was nominated to USAFA and USNA but wants to go to West Point. He has also applied for an AROTC and has plan b-e schools as well. My wife and I are frontline healthcare workers and he has helped us immensely with our other 2 kids this past year. I would give you the same advice I gave to him, reach out to the regional commanders and find out where you can improve and go after it is hard as you can.
 
flieger83 said:
CAP2020,

I have a letter that reads almost exactly like that one (the numbers are different) that informed me I was not being admitted to the class of 1982. I got that letter from EVERY academy, and I still have those letters.

Okay...so...Plan B: what do you do? First, you press ahead! This is a setback, but it's not the end of the world, even though it sure does feel like it is! I remember that feeling well. Okay...second...attack your options. ROTC scholarships...still out there being evaluated and selections being made...that might happen? Other options? Local college/university with AROTC; you join, you become the stellar first-year cadet. You take an academic load that mirrors a WP Plebe...and you excel! You destroy the AROTC program: fitness, discipline, uniform, etc...etc...You show your instructors that YOU are all that and more. And you let them know...you want to serve as an army officer; you had hoped to go to "the Point" but...here you are. You're still going to reapply however...you are here, now, and will excel!!

You do that...there are no guarantees, but it will strengthen your position mightily!

And then maybe next year you'll be like me: four offers of appointment to the Classes of 1983 (USCGA made me an alternate; they're TOUGH).

Your destiny hasn't been written yet...

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
(Non-select: USMA82, USNA82, USAFA82, USMMA82, USCGA82)
Click to expand...
Quadruple Likes if I could.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top