How can I improve my candidacy?

B

basketball2squid

Member
Joined
May 25, 2023
Messages
52
Hey everyone! I applied to USNA my senior year of high school got into the foundation but chose to attend a civilian college due to a family ordeal. I have applied again as a college reapplicant, got medically disqualified due to receiving knee surgery three years ago, and am waiting for a waiver. Seeing as this is the second year it has happened, I don't have high hopes, but I will definitely reapply again next year if I do not receive a waiver. As a result, I want to continue to make my application as strong as possible. I will list my stats and extracurriculars; any tips and critiques would be appreciated.

Grades:
3.8 weighted high school GPA (honors diploma)
3.5 first-semester college GPA (major in animal science)
29 super scored ACT
B in college calculus
B and A in college biology
Received an A in high school AP chemistry and will take college chemistry next semester

High-school extra-curricular:
4-year varsity letter basketball and 2 years team captain. 4 years club basketball and 4 years team captain
Two years of outdoor track
4-year basketball camp counselor
Internship at a vet clinic
National honor society
Freshman mentoring program
Church organization
Volunteer with an organization to spay/neuter animals in a foreign country

College extra-curricular:
1 summer league JV basketball coach
1 season college basketball team manager (included as work experience)
1-year youth summer camp basketball coach (included as work experience)

Most-prominent high school awards:
Community service award
Grit and Integrity Award
Scholar athlete award
Medallion award winner (awarded for having the highest GPA of the sports team during the season)
 
basketball2squid said:
Hey everyone! I applied to USNA my senior year of high school got into the foundation but chose to attend a civilian college due to a family ordeal. I have applied again as a college reapplicant, got medically disqualified due to receiving knee surgery three years ago, and am waiting for a waiver. Seeing as this is the second year it has happened, I don't have high hopes, but I will definitely reapply again next year if I do not receive a waiver. As a result, I want to continue to make my application as strong as possible. I will list my stats and extracurriculars; any tips and critiques would be appreciated.

Grades:
3.8 weighted high school GPA (honors diploma)
3.5 first-semester college GPA (major in animal science)
29 super scored ACT
B in college calculus
B and A in college biology
Received an A in high school AP chemistry and will take college chemistry next semester

High-school extra-curricular:
4-year varsity letter basketball and 2 years team captain. 4 years club basketball and 4 years team captain
Two years of outdoor track
4-year basketball camp counselor
Internship at a vet clinic
National honor society
Freshman mentoring program
Church organization
Volunteer with an organization to spay/neuter animals in a foreign country

College extra-curricular:
1 summer league JV basketball coach
1 season college basketball team manager (included as work experience)
1-year youth summer camp basketball coach (included as work experience)

Most-prominent high school awards:
Community service award
Grit and Integrity Award
Scholar athlete award
Medallion award winner (awarded for having the highest GPA of the sports team during the season)
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... ?
... don't understand this.
"Got into Foundation (last year)."
I thought your Medical Qualification is good for two years. Before Foundation is offered, you have to be medically qualified.
"(this year) Got medically disqualified from an injury 3 years ago." Not tracking this at all. You're medically qualified last year, but now you're disqualified because of an injury 3 years ago?
 
severn said:
... ?
... don't understand this.
"Got into Foundation (last year)."
I thought your Medical Qualification is good for two years. Before Foundation is offered, you have to be medically qualified.
"(this year) Got medically disqualified from an injury 3 years ago." Not tracking this at all. You're medically qualified last year, but now you're disqualified because of an injury 3 years ago?
Click to expand...
Not sure if DoDMets uses the same thing as MEPS, but recently they switched to a new system that is able to track stuff to the tee. I enlisted in September last year, and they were telling me stuff that i didn't even know about me. Luckily none was DQ.
 
severn said:
... ?
... don't understand this.
"Got into Foundation (last year)."
I thought your Medical Qualification is good for two years. Before Foundation is offered, you have to be medically qualified.
"(this year) Got medically disqualified from an injury 3 years ago." Not tracking this at all. You're medically qualified last year, but now you're disqualified because of an injury 3 years ago?
Click to expand...
I was medically disqualified last year, as well as this year. I received a Foundation offer last year before I completed my dobmerb.
 
Be prepared to explain why no NROTC. If your school doesn't have NROTC, why did you pick that school. Remember the Navy wants people who want to be int he Navy. For SA's, they want them to want to be officers. Showing that you are going that path even without going to USNA shows desire. I understand maybe the path you took doesn't have that option, but you need to explain why in your essay or interview in a positive way. You are going against college candidates, and likely a significant percentage of them are in NROTC. Explain to them why they should pick you over them.
 
Ihavenoidea said:
Be prepared to explain why no NROTC. If your school doesn't have NROTC, why did you pick that school. Remember the Navy wants people who want to be int he Navy. For SA's, they want them to want to be officers. Showing that you are going that path even without going to USNA shows desire. I understand maybe the path you took doesn't have that option, but you need to explain why in your essay or interview in a positive way. You are going against college candidates, and likely a significant percentage of them are in NROTC. Explain to them why they should pick you over them.
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Keep in mind, that something like 11 states have zero NROTC programs. 10 of the 39 that do have NROTC only offer it at one school, with no cross town. So while NROTC is a nice to have, it's not a feasible option for many reapplicants.
 
USMC Crayons said:
Keep in mind, that something like 11 states have zero NROTC programs. 10 of the 39 that do have NROTC only offer it at one school, with no cross town. So while NROTC is a nice to have, it's not a feasible option for many reapplicants.
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I agree it is not feasible for every reapplicant. It is why I said "I understand maybe the path you took doesn't have that option". I alslo wasn't saying about every reapplicant, just to the OP. What I am saying is that the OP may want to consider providing a reason for not going that path even though they want to be a Navy officer. NROTC might not be required, but it is a popular path for reapplicants. OP has to "convince" the USNA to choose them over a NROTC reapplicant. It is better to be able to explain your path as a positive rather than not bringing it up at all. Or just saying "Its not available at my school".

The essay and/or interview are the candidates chance to speak about the intangible things about themselves in their application. Why they chose their path could be a chance to explain that "why" in wanting Navy and USNA.
 
To the OP, articulate your story. Why Navy. How you fit what they are looking for in leaders. Don’t just build a resume. Build a mindset. And good luck to you.

Also, no excuses, but if life stuff happened, be able to articulate why you chose what you did. And why.
 
Every challenge is an opportunity to show how you have grown from that challenge. Reflect on the challenge, what you have learned from it, and how it has made you better for having dealt with it.
 
basketball2squid said:
I am a manager for a D1 sports team, what are some other leadership roles I can have while in college?
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Well that is good. Can you hold Student Senate spot or become an Ambassador for your school? Give back to the community in a mentoring roll (like with a former Scout Troop) or help on the Finance or Property committees at your church or Student Activities...Leadership in groups like CRU (I think that was formerly Campus Crusaders). Maybe represent the school in other groups...coach for the flag football intramurals, Secretary of the Chess Club. There are lots of activities. Start a Running Club on campus. Start a Service Project group or serve on one.
 
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