Going "Rudy" on gaining admission to Annapolis

[USMC Crayons]

So my DS has determined that he is going "Rudy" for Annapolis (i.e. he is going to apply until either he turns 23 or they let him in). He is planning to attend a local university and participate in ROTC in the meantime (assuming he does not get in the 1st time). It is my understanding that you have to go through the plebe process regardless of how much college you have under your belt, but how do they handle college credit you already have? Can you transfer courses and graduate early, or are you stuck going 4 years regardless?

 

[A1Janitor]

College credits do not transfer. But you can validate classes and try and fit a minor/dual major in.

 

[dddad]

It is a four year program regardless how much college you have done before arriving.

 

[USMC Crayons]

College credits do not transfer. But you can validate classes and try and fit a minor/dual major in.

Copy, thanks for the response.

 

[THParent]

My son graduated with a guy who got in on his fourth try. At the start of Firstie year, he said "Hey, this is the first time I have been a senior!"
(He was a Freshman twice, a Sophomor twice, and a Junior twice).

 

[G0navybeat@rmy]

Glad to know there's a name for what I'm doing. When I applied for the first time, my then BGO told me about a girl who graduated from Yale before she gained an appointment.

 

[nuensis]

Validation can make room for semester abroad and VGEP. Part of the difficulty in being selected for those programs comes with validating enough classes to make them feasible at all, regardless of QPR.

You have to show up to graduation, but you don't have to spend 8 semesters at USNA.

 

[hopefulhockeymom]

One of the detailers for my daughter's Summer Seminar group took a similar approach and he made it on his third try! Super determined and persistent, and his story was very inspiring and encouraging!

 

[IronmanDaremo]

One of the c/o '25 peeps that was on the board made it in on his 3rd round. He was part of my son's NROTC program and on scholarship there, but he really wanted to attend the Academy. He's now a 3/C and said he was very happy with his decision, even though he would have been a Jr. at the college he was at the year he reported for I-Day.

 

[time2]

So is his goal to be able to say he graduated from USNA or to become an officer in the military? Applying multiple times doesn't guarantee a more likely outcome. If you are 3 yrs into a college NROTC program I am not sure what you gain by starting over for 4 years at USNA.

 

[NJROTC-CC]

So is his goal to be able to say he graduated from USNA or to become an officer in the military? Applying multiple times doesn't guarantee a more likely outcome. If you are 3 yrs into a college NROTC program I am not sure what you gain by starting over for 4 years at USNA.

Once upon a time, USNA grads had an advantage in terms of career advancement in the Navy. This is really not the case anymore. Regardless of where you obtain your commission, you will have to prove yourself on the job.

 

[OldRetSWO]

Once upon a time, USNA grads had an advantage in terms of career advancement in the Navy. This is really not the case anymore. Regardless of where you obtain your commission, you will have to prove yourself on the job.

Maybe during WWII and into the 50's or so.
Not since the 70's or 80's

 

[Herman_Snerd]

So my DS has determined that he is going "Rudy" for Annapolis (i.e. he is going to apply until either he turns 23 or they let him in). He is planning to attend a local university and participate in ROTC in the meantime (assuming he does not get in the 1st time). It is my understanding that you have to go through the plebe process regardless of how much college you have under your belt, but how do they handle college credit you already have? Can you transfer courses and graduate early, or are you stuck going 4 years regardless?

Good for him. He should be open with the cadre leadership at his NROTC unit, and focus in his first semester on picking courses he will excel in (get a 4.0), learn/ be present in ROTC, and work with his unit to get a recommendation for his reapplication - if that's all necessary. Lather, rinse, repeat if these first rounds don't go his way. I'd only recommend he keep an open mind that he may find a "home" within NROTC where can can complete his path to commission and serve - a lot of folks with user names like "USNAhopefulclassof2028" or "USMAorbust" end up in a ROTC program and ultimately decide to stay. For some ROTC is their plan A. There are green to gold and other paths where "older" midshipmen are at USNA or ROTC for officer development training. The son of a family friend went enlisted marines to NAPS to USNA - his little brother went straight NROTC and will be an officer 2 years before him. if your son wants it, go for it- thrive in fitness, ROTC and academics his first year in college, stay out of trouble, and good luck.

 

[usna1985]

I'm a fan of perseverance. However, I recommend not letting his desire for USNA get in the way of a shorter and equally viable path to commission. Does it REALLY make sense, if he has a path via ROTC? What "more" will he get out of USNA that he won't get via ROTC? Sometimes, the right path is the nicely paved one right in front of you.

 

[NeptunePride]

So my DS has determined that he is going "Rudy" for Annapolis (i.e. he is going to apply until either he turns 23 or they let him in). He is planning to attend a local university and participate in ROTC in the meantime (assuming he does not get in the 1st time). It is my understanding that you have to go through the plebe process regardless of how much college you have under your belt, but how do they handle college credit you already have? Can you transfer courses and graduate early, or are you stuck going 4 years regardless?

Please do not join ROTC. It will greatly decrease your chances of joining USNA.
And make sure to change your application every year. The outcome won’t change if it’s the same app

 

[IronmanDaremo]

Disagree ^^^.

If my son didn't join NROTC, he would not have received a nomination, as that ended up being his only nom source. He loved his NROTC unit, and had just received the scholarship as well (as a college programmer freshman applicant). But the Academy was where he wanted to be, so he declined the scholarship and took the appointment.

As a certain PNS has mentioned (who is located here on the forum), a recommendation letter from a PNS perhaps holds more weight than an MoC nom as it is a first hand observation of a candidate over a longer period of time versus a 15 - 30 minute interview and paperwork.

 

[Herman_Snerd]

Please do not join ROTC. It will greatly decrease your chances of joining USNA.
And make sure to change your application every year. The outcome won’t change if it’s the same app

Agree on the point about changing it up if the first application was not accepted. Solid.

However, @Juddusna very respectfully, it sounds like you're stating that a candidate, say second semester college freshman, proven GPA, outstanding fitness, strong unit evals, and actively thriving in a NROTC unit, with a growing foundation in military science/ courtesies/customs with an actual nomination letter on university stationary, from a active military officer/ PNS to Annapolis (if earned) would in your opinion be in at a great disadvantage vs someone who isn't in NROTC but also reapplying to the academy? That seems counter-intuitive on it's surface - what specifically are you basing that guidance on?

 

[alboul23]

Please do not join ROTC. It will greatly decrease your chances of joining USNA.
And make sure to change your application every year. The outcome won’t change if it’s the same app

I personally know two people from my NROTC class who applied and were accepted to the academy during their freshman year. While I don't think it will improve your chances it certainly won't hurt them.

 

[AN21]

Please do not join ROTC. It will greatly decrease your chances of joining USNA.

Speaking as a reapplicant who participated in NROTC, I disagree with this statement. While there is no direct link between improved admissions chances and NROTC involvement (as none of us fully know the ins and outs of what USNA admissions is looking for) I would argue that NROTC affords candidates a strong foundation that would come in handy should they receive an appointment to USNA. As an NROTC MIDN, you are prepared physically, morally, and academically to lead sailors or Marines in the Fleet, same as USNA MIDN. Of course there are elements of "normal college" in there as well, but I imagine the skills someone learns from NROTC are applicable at USNA.

I had to leave my unit due to a lengthy injury, but one of our AMOIs graciously agreed to submit an LOR for me this year. Obviously I don't know how that will influence the outcome of my application - nor do I imagine it holds enough weight to be the deciding factor as to whether or not I receive an appointment. However, I don't imagine a recommendation from a career Marine whose primary objective is to train and develop future officers will hurt.

If someone joins NROTC for the sole purpose of trying to gain USNA admission rather than with the goal of becoming a commissioned officer, then I would agree that they should do a gut check and determine why they're really there. But that's beside the point here.

 

[jl123]

Going "Rudy" is not an uncommon path. Many notable SA grads have attended one, two, or three years of college before entering an SA.

Although much less common, some have finished a 4 year degree - General John Nicholson (R), former commander of US forces in Afghanistan left USMA after two years, graduated from Georgetown after two more years, and then reapplied and returned to USMA to finish the final two years and graduate.