Oh word! I also took those classes…. But good news, you can (and probably should) take pre calc and calc and maybe even calc 2 if you can. Same with chemistry. Because yes, you do have some credits for both of those classes, but not only would it look very good to USNA if you took those classes and got A’s but you would also be fulfilling credits for your engineering degree as well. I would also recommend physics if you can. You can also see the classes that a “plebe” would take on the USNA website. You’ll be sitting super pretty if you take classes like those/get involved in other extracurriculars and pursue leadership roles!
Reapplying to USNA (after a turndown)
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Agree to talk to an admissions counselor, BUT it sounds like you could take the next advanced STEM courses…physics, an engineering course, etc. The reason they say “plebe-like” schedule is because it isn’t always a one size fit all. The key is to take a challenging curriculum which is as close to or exceeds the rigor of plebe year (and do well in the courses!). Combine this with some extracurricular activities/sports and you make yourself competitive.
I am taking HS precal right now, so I will be taking cal 1 in college this year. Thanks for the clarification on the meaning of plebe like. I don't want to retake classes, but I will if I have to. It makes sense that Admissions would look highly upon higher level classes anyways.
This makes sense. I am waiting for a answer back from NROTC before I make my final decision as to which university to schedule courses with.
Also, hopefully, my admissions officer will be able to guide me towards a more specific number of classes that I should take to be competitive.
Due to circumstances out of my control, I will not be able to play sports for a college that I attend. Does anyone know if there are some extra curricular activities that USNA looks more highly upon than others?
Thanks for all the help. I hope that I can do NROTC this year, and make it to the Academy next year.
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Participating in NROTC is good.
ECAs with leadership opportunities is preferred, but most freshman may not have that opportunity…some activities you can make into leadership opportunities. Sports doesn’t have to be NCAA…can be intramural, doing a few local road races, etc.
Don’t need to completely overfill your plate, but the more you can demonstrate you can handle most aspects of plebe/MIDN life, the more you increase your competitiveness. NROTC might be the only thing that can fit into the mix.
ECAs with leadership opportunities is preferred, but most freshman may not have that opportunity…some activities you can make into leadership opportunities. Sports doesn’t have to be NCAA…can be intramural, doing a few local road races, etc.
Don’t need to completely overfill your plate, but the more you can demonstrate you can handle most aspects of plebe/MIDN life, the more you increase your competitiveness. NROTC might be the only thing that can fit into the mix.
Okay. So is doesn't have to be like the traditional ECA then. I am sure I can find something once I hear back from NROTC. I can also complete some more community service hours in the meantime. I have done quite a bit of working recently, so possibly scaling that back and focusing on school related ECAs might be a better choice.
Should I wait to message my admissions officer until their busy season is over, or should I go ahead and message them right away?
Thanks.
Should I wait to message my admissions officer until their busy season is over, or should I go ahead and message them right away?
Thanks.
Oh definitely. I wouldn’t retake pre calc then. I took trig and then college pre calc, so I never retook a class. You should be good just taking calc 1 and above. Plus they are harder classes, so they’ll look better too. Granted you get A’s and stuff
Makes sense. I know I will be able to do well in those classes. If you don't mind me asking, did you retake the ACT or SAT as well? Or would Cal 1 make up for that? That was probably a low point on my application compared to other applicants.
Yes I did. I took it 3 more times before I was just done taking it. But when I was at USNA for inspire this year, I talked to someone who was actually on the admissions board (looking at apps and making decisions) he told me that they look #1 really hard on any C’s in classes you have. Regarding SAT, he said that as long as you have over 600 on both reading and math you’re good. He was also telling me that the SAT isn’t an “and all be all” but rather a super small portion of your app. (Not saying don’t try to get a high score, just don’t kill yourself over it) what they are looking for are individuals who will succeed at USNA, and you getting A’s in hard stem classes at a college will do that as well as good extracurriculars and leadership etc.
Good to know. I will retake the it anyways, just to see if I can get something better. I believe USNA takes superscore, so hopefully I can focus on my worst sections in particular.
I will get high grades in the stem classes without a doubt. Hopefully I can find some leadership opportunities as well.
Do you think it would be worth a CVW? I went on a tour already, but it was not a CVW.
Definitely, there’s no harm in retaking it, and USNA does super-score. So I didn’t do CVW even though I was invited because I went to INSPIRE. I would highly recommend it, because before INSPIRE I wanted to go to USNA, but after INSPIRE, I wanted to go even more. Because you actually spend days there, and you’re on the midshipmen’s schedule, you sleep in the dorms, and you go to classes with them. When you do that, I just think it really helps you see how the naval academy really is and everything like that. You can only go to CVW’s by invite, so ask your regional counselor/BGO for an invite when you can!
That would be awesome to be able to go back to the Academy. It would be a good motivator to help get through those stem classes too. I will definitely ask about that!
Do you recommend waiting to reach out to my admissions officer until the appointment season is over, or should I reach out now?
Thanks for the help.
Yes you should go because it will be one of the things getting you through the year! I would recommend to wait until the new application opens (which is next month). Of course! Rooting for you, you’ve got this!!
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Yes, this would be a good idea.
I will 100% ask about this opportunity. It would be awesome to be back. Thank you for the support!!
On the various Facebook pages, as well as the list of appointees here, there are quite a few re-applicants. As a re-applicant, if you make straight As (with an occasional B), your chances are very high you will receive an appointment. A C, however, will almost certainly doom a re-applicant.
A1Janitor
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I would say re-applicants have an opportunity to strengthen their applications from the prior year. Improved academics and leadership areas can be improved.
But it’s still a competition. There could be excellent candidates applying from high school on the slate you are competing on.
Indeed. But a C is almost a certainty (not 100%, but close) killer for a re-applicant. To your point, a C shows regression and not progression.
I have questioned several people in admissions about this given the abundance of Cs earned by plebes at the Academy and have never been given a satisfactory answer. It seems a C is an easy way to immediately weed out the abundance of re-applicants who didn’t take their first year college semester seriously. It’s unfortunate but I can see why they do it.
IronmanDaremo
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Funny, my kid got a C in Chem his first semester as a re-applicant.
Guess what? He's a Youngster right now .....
Guess what? He's a Youngster right now .....