Plans for applying next year

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Knight55

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Hello all I am a senior in high school. I’ve been looking through here for a while but decided to finally post.

Long story short my grades in high school are not the best however I have taken a fair share of STEM courses (Aerospace science, Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, etc). My SAT score is also pretty low (1090). However I do have quite a few ec’s/leadership positions. I went through part of the application process for USNA (submitting application, and officer interview) then stopped (regrettably due to doubt).

Anyways I am dedicated to turning it around in college. I have been accepted into the college program for NROTC at Jacksonville university. My major is in Aviation management and flight operations. It is classified as a Tier 2 major however it is pretty much a business major and the only thing making it tier 2 is the actual flying aspect of it. With the major you rack up a multitude of pilots license. However, I definatly plan on taking Calculus, Physics, English, and History during my first year.

At JU I plan to join the sailing team to keep up with a sport and rack up flight hours with my major (I heard pilots license help but I’m not 100%)

My question is... would it be a smart idea to go to JU with this “tier 2” major? Would it be better to switch to a solid STEM major? Or would it be better to go to say a Service Academy Prep School like Northewestern Prep?

Any help/guidance would be appreciated. Thank you.
 
See the sticky above about reapplicants. Take a strong STEM courseload , and do well. IMHO, your flying will be irrelevant.. While a private pilot license may give you some bump, a lot of hours is probably meaningless. The Navy knows how to train pilots...we are looking for leaders.
 
Do not worry about switching your major to a "solid STEM major." Pursue something you enjoy because with all of the things that you are planning to do in college, it is essential that you do not overload yourself during your first semester. A tier 2 major is still challenging and you will certainly regret transitioning to a tier 1 major if your heart is not fully set on it. You might also want to spend some time over the summer studying for the SAT and retaking it again to try and bump up that score.
 
I agree about the SAT. Buckle down and do practice questions. Google how to improve your test. Basically,
1. You will have to put in over 150 hours of study time to get your score to the impressive level. So, 10 hours a week means 15 weeks out.
2. With this in mind, back plan from your next SAT. Make it part of your daily routine to do practice questions. Then, every other week do a practice SAT.
Good luck.
 
Thank you all for the feedback so far I greatly appreciate it

After some careful consideration I decided to switch my major to mechanical engineering. Due to the university’s flight cost, it’s interest I have in it, and it being something USNA would want to see.

I will defiantly start studying hard for the SAT with practice questions, possibly a tutor my friend recommended to me, and using @UHBlackhawk advice.

I am also keeping my eye out to seek more possible leadership roles around my community

Again, thank you all for your honest input. More advice would be much appreciated if anyone has any.
 
My additional advice would be to keep your goal to yourself this first year as a college programmer. Work hard in your ROTC program. Be a leader. Work toward earning a college programmer scholarship.

Because you may decide you are perfectly happy where you are. You may decide that both ROTC and USNA have the same result for you: commissioning as a Naval Officer. You may decide you don’t want to ‘start over’. You may decide you love your unit, your friends, your college!

Take this next year to prepare for applying, there isn’t a downside to that as it will also will help you earn a college scholarship. And it will help you be a student that your unit will want to endorse for that ROTC Nomination when the time comes. But be open to your experience where you are. You may decide it’s where you belong.

Good luck to you!!
 
Knight55 said:
Thank you all for the feedback so far I greatly appreciate it

After some careful consideration I decided to switch my major to mechanical engineering. Due to the university’s flight cost, it’s interest I have in it, and it being something USNA would want to see.

I will defiantly start studying hard for the SAT with practice questions, possibly a tutor my friend recommended to me, and using @UHBlackhawk advice.

I am also keeping my eye out to seek more possible leadership roles around my community

Again, thank you all for your honest input. More advice would be much appreciated if anyone has any.
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My son used Khan Academy on line to assist in SAT studying and it's free. He prepped hard for 6 weeks and took SAT tests every weekend during the process. He brought his SAT from a 1290 to a 1450. You can achieve great things when you put your mind to it.
 
Agree with your SAT. Also try the ACT -- some folks do better with that format. You can self-prep (I did) but it means treating study as if it were an academic course.

Your major is not as important to USNA as the courses you take and the grades you earn. So, select the major that interests you because -- if USNA doesn't work out -- you'll be in it for 4 years.

Finally, train for your CFA. Start now and try to max it. Sailing team is ok but I suggest you also do a sport that requires you to run and do cardio activities, as those will be important for Plebe Summer and beyond.

Use this summer productively -- take vacation but then get a job, learn a new skill, volunteer regularly -- don't just sit around the house for 3 months.
 
I would not necessarily take up a sport to practice for the CFT, but you do need to train for it. For example, the 1-mile run is NOT a long-distance run. It's a long sprint. The best way to prep for it is by doing 220's, 440's, 1/2 mile runs and Fartleks. I'm not saying to ignore long distance cardio training, but that won't give you the "bang for the buck" that long sprints will do.
Sprints and core weight training will help with the shuttle run.
Push-ups, do them almost every day.
You can Google how to improve the different areas of the CFT and come up with a training program.
 
Hello all, with everything just posted above and the great advise....has anyone heard from a reputable/non-biased source on Jacksonville University’s NROTC unit or had any experiences? I have received a 4yr NROTC Marine Option scholarship along with more scholarships monies from JU for academic achievement in HS. So basically a full ride BUT wanted any input on JU itself. Becoming a USMC Officer is my goal and I understand this is a way there. Any advice or input about the school itself is appreciated.
 
USNA2024Hopeful said:
Hello all, with everything just posted above and the great advise....has anyone heard from a reputable/non-biased source on Jacksonville University’s NROTC unit or had any experiences? I have received a 4yr NROTC Marine Option scholarship along with more scholarships monies from JU for academic achievement in HS. So basically a full ride BUT wanted any input on JU itself. Becoming a USMC Officer is my goal and I understand this is a way there. Any advice or input about the school itself is appreciated.
Click to expand...
Hello @USNA2024Hopeful. I am officially going to JU and know a lot of people who are going too for NROTC. It was a great unit when I visited... there are about 70 Mids total and I’ve met a lot of incoming Marine Options. I made a Snapchat group chat for all of us. If you want to be added I’m more than happy to add you. Either DM me on here or respond to this message with your Snapchat and I can add you in.
 
As you focus on the SAT, really focus on the Math section. I have been told by an admission officer that weighs heavier than the English/Reading. Meaning a 1410 780M/630R is weighted slightly more than a 1410 630M/780R
 
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