Going Forward..

fullspeedahead

fullspeedahead

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2019
Messages
592
Unfortunately, I received a TWE as a college re-applicant but I am keeping my head up and ready to start the process over again.

I emailed my BGO regarding improvements that could be made on my application but have not gotten a response. Is there any way to get in contact with someone in admissions to discuss my application and improvements that could be made going forward?

Both years I applied I was told that I was very close to getting in but just did not make the cut because of the intense competition, especially here in Maryland. Just wanted to know if there is anyone I can speak to or meet up with (once COVID blows over) to go over my application.

Thanks in advance for any guidance or help.
 
You can reach out to your admissions counselor and ask for feedback.
 
Yes ..reach out to your Admissions Counselor... I would suggest a nice email, asking if you can set up a time to have a conversation about your application and what you can do to be more competitive for a third attempt. That gives the Admissions counselor the opportunity to pull your file, review and give you specific response instead of the generic grades, sports, activities, etc. I have heard, anecdotally, that some admissions staff are more candid with these types of inquiries. Timing is probably important ...and I can't tell you when the best time is ,,,,I suspect they are still wrapping up the Class of '24, and a many of the JO's might have other assignments during the course of the Summer , so early May may be a good time to reach out.
 
Fullspeed... I just noticed your NROTC tagline. Are you already NROTC ? One question worth asking Admission Counselor is whether applying as a 2nd year NROTC Midshipman is viewed favorably or not .. There is no question that it gives you another Nom Source, and a command endorsement helps, but I can't help but think that at some point USNA Admissions has to look at Cost Benefit from the Navy's perspective, i.e. the Navy will have two years invested in you at the end of next year... with two years to go until Commissioning instead of four.

You should also consider how you are going to answer the question --why leave NROTC when you are halfway to your objective? IMHO- your answer should address the question of how attending USNA after two years of NROTC is going to make you a better Officer instead of explaining some personal desire to attend USNA. That is a difficult question to answer --while I love USNA and thought it was a great experience , I served with enough outstanding NROTC and OCS grads, to recognize that you don't have to attend USNA to be a good leader and great Naval Officer.
 
@Old Navy BGO Yes, I am currently a college programmer midshipman in a respective ROTC unit. Those are all great points and I never really thought about the cost benefit from the Navy's perspective. I will be sure to bring that up with my admissions counselor.

ROTC has been the most beneficial experience of my life and I have seen the developments I have made as a young man. I love my university and I am close with all of my shipmates and other friends. With that being said, USNA has been a personal goal of mine for the past years. Being able to follow in the footsteps of John McCain, Oliver North, Halsey, etc.. is a dream that I have worked countless hours towards obtaining and will never give up until I am no longer able to reapply. The way I look at it is if I want to spend my career in the Navy then a couple of years sacrificed to achieve my goal is not a big sacrifice. The Naval Academy would transform me into a better leader and midshipman due to the extensive amount of opportunities granted to each midshipmen throughout their four years compared to ROTC midshipmen. We still have many opportunities in ROTC, but I cannot pass by the opportunity to attend the Naval Academy if it means I have to reapply again this year.

You are absolutely right that a commissioning source does not determine the quality of a Naval Officer. The amount of drive and motivation I have shown in ROTC by volunteering for every single unit event, pushing myself during PT, and putting 100% into my Navy classes would serve me well at an institution such as the Naval Academy and allow me to grow even more. My years in NROTC would not be a waste if I were fortunate enough to attend the academy, instead the years I have spent reapplying have allowed me to build a strong foundation which I can take either to the academy or the fleet.
 
fullspeedahead said:
Unfortunately, I received a TWE as a college re-applicant but I am keeping my head up and ready to start the process over again.
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Not to disparage people's dreams but, after a 2nd failed attempt to gain admission to USNA while, at the same time, participating in an NROTC program, it seems to me the most efficient and best course for you is to stay with your NROTC program, earn your college degree, get a commission and start your naval career - not start all over with a 4-yr program. At some point you have to ask, "Just what do I have to gain by pursuing a commission through USNA as opposed to NROTC at the expense of starting over after already being halfway to college graduation/commissioning?" There is a difference between being focused and obsessed.
 
@Memphis9489 Those are also great points that I have kept in mind through the process. As soon as entered my college and my unit, the re-application process became my plan B. All the effort and work I have put into being a better leader and midshipman has paid off and I am happy to say that I earned some leadership positions within my unit as a freshman. I understand that it can seem like an “obsession” or even ridiculous that I would want to start over my time in college. However, there will be a point in time during my life (not any time soon) where I hang up my boots and call it a day. My parents have always taught me to never live life with regret and I know for a fact that I would regret not trying just one more time to achieve my dream. The application process may be arduous, difficult at times, and lengthy. But it is all worth it in my eyes to even have a chance of getting an appointment.
 
fullspeedahead said:
@Memphis9489 Those are also great points that I have kept in mind through the process. As soon as entered my college and my unit, the re-application process became my plan B. All the effort and work I have put into being a better leader and midshipman has paid off and I am happy to say that I earned some leadership positions within my unit as a freshman. I understand that it can seem like an “obsession” or even ridiculous that I would want to start over my time in college. However, there will be a point in time during my life (not any time soon) where I hang up my boots and call it a day. My parents have always taught me to never live life with regret and I know for a fact that I would regret not trying just one more time to achieve my dream. The application process may be arduous, difficult at times, and lengthy. But it is all worth it in my eyes to even have a chance of getting an appointment.
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I respect the grind bro.
 
fullspeedahead said:
My parents have always taught me to never live life with regret and I know for a fact that I would regret not trying just one more time to achieve my dream.
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It seems your dream is to attend the Naval Academy as if it is the end objective. The Naval Academy is only a means to an end - the end being earning a commission in the Navy or Marine Corps. You can do that in your NROTC program. If you earn an appointment to the Naval Academy on your third attempt you'll be halfway to commissioning.

Take it from me, once you get in the fleet it doesn't really matter that much how you obtained your commission. Nobody will care that much. The enlisted troops under you will not care or even know how you got a commission. You'll either have the "right stuff" to be a great officer or you won't - and going to the Naval Academy will not necessarily imbue you with the "right stuff". I was a carrier aviator. In my squadron we had Naval Academy graduates and non-Naval Academy graduates. I never really gave it much thought. The USNA grads were not all the best pilots/officers.

At this point, what is it you think you have to gain by starting over at USNA? Quite honestly, it being your "dream" is not enough. I can't imagine what future regret you think you may have. If anything, you are far more likely to have regrets about taking 6 years to get a commission when you could've done it in 4.

 
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@Memphis9489 Thank you for your replies, it is beneficial to have that perspective and I appreciate you sharing your fleet experience.

Saying it is my dream to attend USNA is a broad statement and I definitely went into more detail on my application. It is very true that I could have my commission in four years and I would be grateful to earn a commission from my current university and be a part of the world's best Navy. However if I did get appointed to USNA I do not think of it as taking longer to get commissioned, I think of it as more years to better myself as a future Naval officer. From the moment I arrived at my university ROTC was my main priority. If I continue at my current university I will never have the chance to drive YPs on the Severn, learn how to sail, become surrounded with vast Navy culture and tradition, challenge myself daily in a military environment, hear leadership speeches from distinguished speakers, experience Plebe Summer, experience Sea Trials, and more at a civilian university. If I do not get accepted, then I will graduate with a great degree and an even better commission. If I do get accepted, then I delay my commission for a couple of years and get more opportunities for military involvement and leadership.
 
fullspeedahead said:
@Memphis9489 Thank you for your replies, it is beneficial to have that perspective and I appreciate you sharing your fleet experience.

Saying it is my dream to attend USNA is a broad statement and I definitely went into more detail on my application. It is very true that I could have my commission in four years and I would be grateful to earn a commission from my current university and be a part of the world's best Navy. However if I did get appointed to USNA I do not think of it as taking longer to get commissioned, I think of it as more years to better myself as a future Naval officer. From the moment I arrived at my university ROTC was my main priority. If I continue at my current university I will never have the chance to drive YPs on the Severn, learn how to sail, become surrounded with vast Navy culture and tradition, challenge myself daily in a military environment, hear leadership speeches from distinguished speakers, experience Plebe Summer, experience Sea Trials, and more at a civilian university. If I do not get accepted, then I will graduate with a great degree and an even better commission. If I do get accepted, then I delay my commission for a couple of years and get more opportunities for military involvement and leadership.
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Full speed, you’ve been given some great advice and things to ponder from very knowledgeable people. Reading your replies sounds like you have taken it all in (and then some) and remain committed to continue to pursue an appointment to the USNA. You express your desire well with reasons that may not be logical or appropriate to some people, but it does to you! Your interviews and essays should reflect this quite well, and the evaluators will definitely see your commitment and drive. You are far from the first or last SA re-applicant coming from an ROTC program with one or more years of attendance. They too had the dream of attending the USNA and had their own reasons for taking a longer path to the end result...commissioning.
Continue to work hard and improve all areas of your application. Look at it as two years of “Prep” school and you will be that much better prepared when you get to USNA.
We all have dreams, and there’s nothing wrong with chasing them if you’ve fully considered all of your options and have a strong plan to achieve that dream and a solid backup plan in the event you fall short. It sounds like you have that map/plan in order and will commission either way.
Best of luck to you!
 
Seems to me that the people who have had the benefit and enjoyment of an USNA experience are very quick to say it doesnʻt matter. Well it matters, and itʻs kind of obnoxious to say that you didnʻt notice who in your unit graduated from the academy and who didnʻt - thatʻs just BS.

The OP should have a good think about exactly what he/she wants and the best path to get there - and sometimes the path matters. And, they asked a specific question which some of you didnʻt bother to answer.

My son was also denied a second time, and called his admissions officer to ask if it was a medical issue or an academic issue - so he could make a decision whether or not to take a run at it again. He was strongly encouraged to try a third time. Iʻm not sure if he will as he was admitted to a fantastic school and will play hockey and perhaps lacrosse.

Fullspeedahead, call your admissions officer, listen carefully to what they say. Then make your decision. I donʻt think you will ever regret following your dream. If you get in great, if that door doesnʻt open, then it wasnʻt your door.

Good luck to you!
 
Of course you notice who went to USNA. And if you went to Notre Dame, you notice those who went there. All of us USNA grads served with grads who commissioned through ROTC, AOCS, and OCS. Many, including me, have relatives who commissioned other than through a SA. We saw great - and terrible - examples of officers from all. We had some USNA folks in our squadron who made me embarrassed to be a fellow grad. And some who remained friends for life.

USNA is a great school. For some, it’s the best route to commission. But not for all.

I never want to discourage someone from reapplying if they have a reasonable shot. That said, I want to make sure folks understand there are other great ways to commission. If they choose to stick to the USNA route, I wish them well.
 
Thank you all for your replies and consideration in helping me out throughout the process. I am proud to announce that today I picked up the national NROTC scholarship after reapplying this year. After all the hard work put in throughout my time in college and high school, I am grateful for the path that I have been offered today. I’m going to have a long and serious think about my future and talk to my unit staff about my potential decision to reapply for a third time. No matter what happens, whether I receive an appointment or carry on through the amazing ROTC program I am involved with, I am incredibly thankful that one day I will be a part of the world’s finest Navy. Thank you once again for your time and Go Navy!
 
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