Re-Applicant Thread

It was probably the best Admissions could do, given there was not one glaringly awful thing. There are probably a few thousand candidates who were in that same boat. There is no guaranteed recipe. I would bet there were many candidates with better “stats” who also did not get an appointment offer. The slate competition can be fierce, and if the elected officials collaborate so as to not duplicate names across slates, that adds more difficulty.

He should go after that ROTC nom by being the best mid possible - positive, volunteers for the crap jobs, aces the PRT, peer leader but also a good team player, excellent in academics, always squared away in uniform, never late (on time is late, 10 minutes at least early is the culture), known for helping others who might be struggling. Completely committed to the NROTC program as his path, no whiff of just-passing-time here. Waits until he has proven his worth and gotten a bit known before respectfully bringing up he would like to take another shot at USNA and will be applying for the NROTC nom, because the immersion approach still appeals to him, though he is very happy in the program where he is and would proudly graduate from it.

He should reapply for VP and all elected official noms again. Submit new essays for the noms that show growth and maturity from his college and NROTC experience, so submit those applications, if he can, closer to the Sen/Rep deadline, so he can show up as “new & improved.” USNA will wait until they can see first semester college grades before they seriously evaluate college applicants. He should kill the plebe-like courses first semester. Improve on the CFA just to show continued attention to physical fitness.
 
And @SnootyHen , read @IronmanDaremo ’s story. Sometimes, there just isn’t a spot. Even with nom’s, LOA’s, stellar resumes, etc.

When I read your post, what I took away, is that your son IS a great candidate. Nothing glaring stuck out. Admissions stating ‘more nom’s’ is correct: it gives them more ability to appoint. And I understand that’s outside his control. It happens every cycle. There is a good chance, taken @Capt MJ suggestions to heart, he could have a spot next year. It’s a marathon. Just look at Ironmans story.

It’s the nature of the beast. Lots of wonderfully qualified applicants are not appointed. Every year. Your son made it far. That’s a testament to the person he is. If he decides he want to apply again, having a year under his belt and a new nom source will only strengthen his resume. Usna loves reapplicants!!

He may also fall in love with where he is planted. Only time will tell.
 
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Lots of lessons learned in my kid's journey (or, should I say, stories of experiences). As the kids say, his journey was "epic."

Snootyhen, your kid is in a great place with a great option. Getting an appointment would be gravy on top. All the good advice above from the good CAPT and justdoit19.

I'm happy to answer any questions here, on in a PM, if that is more comfortable. We are also from a super competitive district, and my kid never received any MoC noms to the Naval Academy (only one to USAFA in his first round).
 
We are preparing to reapply for next year. How do we find out our admissions counselor so that we can contact them? My son wants to learn what he did do right to land his on the waitlist and how to strengthen his application for 2024 plebe class.
 
GoblinMom said:
We are preparing to reapply for next year. How do we find out our admissions counselor so that we can contact them? My son wants to learn what he did do right to land his on the waitlist and how to strengthen his application for 2024 plebe class.
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The re-applicant can go to the USNA website Admissions pages and look for the admissions officer assigned to his region based on legal residence, organize his questions, contact them and ask for a review and feedback.
 
Capt MJ said:
It was probably the best Admissions could do, given there was not one glaringly awful thing. There are probably a few thousand candidates who were in that same boat. There is no guaranteed recipe. I would bet there were many candidates with better “stats” who also did not get an appointment offer. The slate competition can be fierce, and if the elected officials collaborate so as to not duplicate names across slates, that adds more difficulty.

He should go after that ROTC nom by being the best mid possible - positive, volunteers for the crap jobs, aces the PRT, peer leader but also a good team player, excellent in academics, always squared away in uniform, never late (on time is late, 10 minutes at least early is the culture), known for helping others who might be struggling. Completely committed to the NROTC program as his path, no whiff of just-passing-time here. Waits until he has proven his worth and gotten a bit known before respectfully bringing up he would like to take another shot at USNA and will be applying for the NROTC nom, because the immersion approach still appeals to him, though he is very happy in the program where he is and would proudly graduate from it.

He should reapply for VP and all elected official noms again. Submit new essays for the noms that show growth and maturity from his college and NROTC experience, so submit those applications, if he can, closer to the Sen/Rep deadline, so he can show up as “new & improved.” USNA will wait until they can see first semester college grades before they seriously evaluate college applicants. He should kill the plebe-like courses first semester. Improve on the CFA just to show continued attention to physical fitness.
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Oh wait - I can’t remember if NROTC are-applicants have to re-do CFA or just do Navy PRT - I always conflate with NAPS. He can check with Admissions if he doesn’t see clear guidance.
 
SnootyHen said:
My son spoke to his admissions counselor a couple of days ago and I am sort of disappointed in what he learned. Our expectation was that his SATs needed to be higher. They were good but not great and we knew it (this was after a few re-takes...he just doesn't test well). That wasn't it. He said the SATs were more than sufficient. His focus was that DS should apply to multiple sources for the nomination because we're in a very competitive district. Well, he DID apply to everything he could have (2 sen, 1 rep and VP). Both Sen sent a form letter saying they have hundreds of qualified applicants and regret to inform blah blah blah. He got a phone call from the Rep so we were thinking he was the principal but never knew for sure because she lost her primaries and was no longer available to talk. I guess they don't KNOW that he applied for all of them but the guy really focused on that as the main source of improvement for next time. He did say to beef up his CFA a little. DS only took it once (at NASS) because he did fairly well and didn't anticipate being able to improve much. Plus we were told it was a small portion of the consideration anyway.

I guess I am just a little surprised. He went through all the extra curriculars and leadership and academics and said everything was really great and just try to stay active in college for the re-application. But he focused really hard on applying for more nomination sources. It's disheartening to hear because that's the one thing DS can't control. He did everything he COULD control except live somewhere less competitive. At least for the next time, he will also be able to apply for the NROTC nom. I was just hoping for something more specific he can work on and this feedback seemed pretty generic.
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FWIW, DD got similar positive yet not-earth shattering feedback - never hurts to keep testing and trying for a higher score, never hurts to try to get a higher CFA, etc.

Also, we ended up doing a free consultation with that Academy Endeavors college consultant, just to learn more about what he had to offer. He, too, didn't really have anything earth shattering and acknowledged that living in a competitive district can be really challenging and encouraging her to work hard to secure a ROTC nom this go-around.
 
CAPT, they have to re-do CFA (at least in my kid's experience). He did the CFA one week with his unit with his LT advisor, and then a week later did his NROTC test (which he ran faster, by a lot, go figure).
 
IronmanDaremo said:
CAPT, they have to re-do CFA (at least in my kid's experience). He did the CFA one week with his unit with his LT advisor, and then a week later did his NROTC test (which he ran faster, by a lot, go figure).
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Thank you!
 
IronmanDaremo said:
CAPT, they have to re-do CFA (at least in my kid's experience). He did the CFA one week with his unit with his LT advisor, and then a week later did his NROTC test (which he ran faster, by a lot, go figure).
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DS was trying to decide if he wanted to re-do the CFA this summer here at home or wait and do it with his NROTC LT. I coach club swim at the HS so I have access to all the equipment we'd need and can have one of the other coaches or a PE teacher administer it. But he was thinking he'd like to do it with his unit. The only thing I worry about is he's going to CU Boulder and we live in the frozen tundra midwest. Altitude adjustment might take a hot minute for him to get back to his current level of fitness. But maybe I am over-thinking it. Any thoughts on if there's a better option?
 
SnootyHen said:
DS was trying to decide if he wanted to re-do the CFA this summer here at home or wait and do it with his NROTC LT. I coach club swim at the HS so I have access to all the equipment we'd need and can have one of the other coaches or a PE teacher administer it. But he was thinking he'd like to do it with his unit. The only thing I worry about is he's going to CU Boulder and we live in the frozen tundra midwest. Altitude adjustment might take a hot minute for him to get back to his current level of fitness. But maybe I am over-thinking it. Any thoughts on if there's a better option?
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College and professional sports teams travel to Denver and Colorado all the time to compete. They usually arrive only the day before. No acclimating. Seems to work fine for them. If you want, maybe google something about any special preparations the teams might do. There may actually be little to nothing.
 
If I recall, my kid had to do it with someone at his college, not back at his HS (since he was no longer part of it). I'm not saying someone else isn't qualified, but my take is it looks better to have someone you associate with regularly do it. The LT advisors are familiar with the requirements and know the drill.
 
IronmanDaremo said:
If I recall, my kid had to do it with someone at his college, not back at his HS (since he was no longer part of it). I'm not saying someone else isn't qualified, but my take is it looks better to have someone you associate with regularly do it. The LT advisors are familiar with the requirements and know the drill.
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That makes sense. Thank you!
 
SnootyHen said:
DS was trying to decide if he wanted to re-do the CFA this summer here at home or wait and do it with his NROTC LT. I coach club swim at the HS so I have access to all the equipment we'd need and can have one of the other coaches or a PE teacher administer it. But he was thinking he'd like to do it with his unit. The only thing I worry about is he's going to CU Boulder and we live in the frozen tundra midwest. Altitude adjustment might take a hot minute for him to get back to his current level of fitness. But maybe I am over-thinking it. Any thoughts on if there's a better option?
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He might feel it a bit
 
hopefulhockeymom said:
If he tries to do it right when he gets there he might be a little winded but after a week or less he will be totally fine!
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I'm a runner and I have run a few races in Colorado and Utah and it's always rough for me but I'm sure part is that I am there to run and then leave (no time to acclimate) and also, considerably older than DS. Dang old people lungs!! I'm sure you are right, he'll bounce back a lot faster than I do.
 
update on where i’m at:
Just told my mom i’m back in the game. time for round 4 :) … i’ve gotten all my transcripts and sat scores sent to nom offices, and now i’m just starting on lors.
 
gordt said:
update on where i’m at:
Just told my mom i’m back in the game. time for round 4 :) … i’ve gotten all my transcripts and sat scores sent to nom offices, and now i’m just starting on lors.
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You're way better than me. I am on my third and final.
 
gordt said:
update on where i’m at:
Just told my mom i’m back in the game. time for round 4 :) … i’ve gotten all my transcripts and sat scores sent to nom offices, and now i’m just starting on lors.
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The paradox of this vs the obvious trend of recruiting shortages! Interesting to say the LEAST!
 
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