OCS with a bad physics grade

[Navy1503]

I am currently a junior in college majoring in Materials Engineering. I really want to do OCS post grad, and become a naval aviator. I have all of the qualifications, however I do have a bad physics 1 grade (a D). Physics 2 is a C. Is this detrimental to my application?

 

[WT Door]

I am currently a junior in college majoring in Materials Engineering. I really want to do OCS post grad, and become a naval aviator. I have all of the qualifications, however I do have a bad physics 1 grade (a D). Physics 2 is a C. Is this detrimental to my application?

It has been bit since my officer recruiting days. Your grades will be looked at in the overall context of your GPA. Come in with a 2.5, you might not be competitive. Recruiters can be choosy. A GPA over 3.4, with a C or D in demanding classes will look more impressive than anything less than a 3.0. You are a junior. Work your tail off in your senior year and get that GPA as high as possible. Good luck to you.

 

[Navy1503]

It has been bit since my officer recruiting days. Your grades will be looked at in the overall context of your GPA. Come in with a 2.5, you might not be competitive. Recruiters can be choosy. A GPA over 3.4, with a C or D in demanding classes will look more impressive than anything less than a 3.0. You are a junior. Work your tail off in your senior year and get that GPA as high as possible. Good luck to you.

Thank you! I currently have a 3.0 exactly. I am trying really hard not to drop below it. My school is very hard engineering school. When would you say I should start the process for applying?

 

[A1Janitor]

Does your schedule allow to retake physics 1?

Even just for a better foundation of understanding, but what would your gpa be if that d became a b?

 

[Navy1503]

Does your schedule allow to retake physics 1?

Even just for a better foundation of understanding, but what would your gpa be if that d became a b?

Unfortunately, the way my classes worked out, I could not take Physics 1 at my school. I already have a packed schedule next semester. I would have to take it at a community college over the Summer, and that would not affect my GPA at my current school.

 

[A1Janitor]

Unfortunately, the way my classes worked out, I could not take Physics 1 at my school. I already have a packed schedule next semester. I would have to take it at a community college over the Summer, and that would not affect my GPA at my current school.

It would make your application look better if you took it in the summer at community college and excelled. It would also help you have a better foundation for future courses.

 

[Navy1503]

It would make your application look better if you took it in the summer at community college and excelled. It would also help you have a better foundation for future courses.

I am currently looking at retaking it, I am just not sure how I would pay for it. Do you think acing the ASTB could override that score?

 

[WT Door]

Thank you! I currently have a 3.0 exactly. I am trying really hard not to drop below it. My school is very hard engineering school. When would you say I should start the process for applying?

You are welcome. I don't want to lead you astray in telling you when to start the process. Here is what I would do if I were you. Call the NTAG, Navy Talent Aquisition Group (old name: Naval Recruiting District) closest to you and ask to speak with an officer programs representative regarding Officer Candidate School. Introduce yourself, tell them you're a senior and then ask all the questions you want! Have some ready before you call. They will probably take your name and put it in a tickler file for future possible contact.

https://www.cnrc.navy.mil/Portals/8...RDOswrOKFxsiYsgFWtA==&timestamp=1719955274274

 

[WT Door]

Here's another link for NTAGs

https://www.navycs.com/districts.html

 

[justdoit19]

I am currently looking at retaking it, I am just not sure how I would pay for it. Do you think acing the ASTB could override that score?

As with any person asking about their ‘resume’, it’s impossible to know. How does the rest of your application stack up? What are your leadership roles? What’s your motivation? How are your intangibles (ie: interview…if that’s a thing for OCS)?

And of great importance, what are those stats/answers for your competition?

No need to answer, but you can see how it’s impossible to guess. It’s a competitive program. Set yourself up the best way that you can, with the best resume you have. It’s all you can do. But no one here can give you a specific answer about what to do bc there isn’t a specific answer. Other than ‘put forth the resume/application you can’.

Good luck to you!

 

[Herman_Snerd]

Thank you! I currently have a 3.0 exactly. I am trying really hard not to drop below it. My school is very hard engineering school. When would you say I should start the process for applying?

First, thank you for your willingness and interest to serve. With regard to your comment about trying really hard to not drop below (a 3.0 GPA). real talk - be careful what you are planning for here. I'd change your goal to commit to improve your GPA and shine, not "try" to maintain. I'm the parent of a student naval aviator, and I'll share this - Navy aviation has a culture of excellence - those that I've seen in flight school, well nearly all, are highly motivated, come prepared, and the ones I know were prior rock stars at college. They are not trying to maintain a 3.0 - many are doing what it takes to graduate with honors/ deans list etc. Join them in that performance level now.

I have no knowledge of the OCS selection process for SNAs (pilots) but others in the know state it's highly competitive. I would look beyond selection only, and prepare for that flight school environment. Challenge yourself to get top grades in your remaining college time. don't try (really hard) - instead, do. As a good friend of mine from Bangalore says "Do the needful". get it done, make it a top priority. because there is a high volume of new material you'll need to learn that comes at you fast in flight school week after week (nife, primary etc.) and your peers for the most part (some don't make it) will be acing most tests that are put before them. Attrition happens, not all who start make it. Help yourself by raising your bar now.

Good luck to you.

 

[Navy1503]

First, thank you for your willingness and interest to serve. With regard to your comment about trying really hard to not drop below (a 3.0 GPA). real talk - be careful what you are planning for here. I'd change your goal to commit to improve your GPA and shine, not "try" to maintain. I'm the parent of a student naval aviator, and I'll share this - Navy aviation has a culture of excellence - those that I've seen in flight school, well nearly all, are highly motivated, come prepared, and the ones I know were prior rock stars at college. They are not trying to maintain a 3.0 - many are doing what it takes to graduate with honors/ deans list etc. Join them in that performance level now.

I have no knowledge of the OCS selection process for SNAs (pilots) but others in the know state it's highly competitive. I would look beyond selection only, and prepare for that flight school environment. Challenge yourself to get top grades in your remaining college time. don't try (really hard) - instead, do. As a good friend of mine from Bangalore says "Do the needful". get it done, make it a top priority. because there is a high volume of new material you'll need to learn that comes at you fast in flight school week after week (nife, primary etc.) and your peers for the most part (some don't make it) will be acing most tests that are put before them. Attrition happens, not all who start make it. Help yourself by raising your bar now.

Good luck to you.

Thank you for the advice! This is definitely the plan. By maintain, I mean I am currently during finals week so that is all I can do this semester unfortunately. But I cam already looking ahead for next semester to raise it!. And I WILL have a better GPA to submit an application with. Not only a GPA, but everything else as well. This is something I have wanted for a very long time. I am not going to let a few bad grades stop me (I struggled a lot my first year in college). If anything I hope I can show growth!

 

[Navy1503]

As with any person asking about their ‘resume’, it’s impossible to know. How does the rest of your application stack up? What are your leadership roles? What’s your motivation? How are your intangibles (ie: interview…if that’s a thing for OCS)?

And of great importance, what are those stats/answers for your competition?

No need to answer, but you can see how it’s impossible to guess. It’s a competitive program. Set yourself up the best way that you can, with the best resume you have. It’s all you can do. But no one here can give you a specific answer about what to do bc there isn’t a specific answer. Other than ‘put forth the resume/application you can’.

Good luck to you!

Thank you!