Reapplying to USNA (after a turndown)

Nolram said:
I checked my college and the date to apply as a programmer passed. Is my best bet to be a competative candidate is be triple qualifed (academically, physically, and medically)? I know when I do my BGO interview he's gonna mention why I passed up on ROTC, but if I can find something to replace it would that be fine, like a leadership position or something in that nature?
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Did you call the unit itself, leave no stone unturned?

And take a moment to think through why your alternative plan - and kudos to you for going forward to college and thinking about it now - was not fleshed out with ROTC non-scholarship student due dates, contact with the target unit recruiter, a solid plan to apply, research at primary sources such as the ROTC website, target unit website, alternative school website, etc. You did not pass up ROTC; from what you have shared, it seems you allowed yourself to fall out of the application window. it passed you by. It’s okay to pause and think, “How did I get in this situation? Maybe I don’t really want a commission by any path, I just fell in love with USxA, and I’m fine with just being a college student and trying again for that goal.”
All questions above are rhetorical - no replies needed.

The pros for choosing ROTC as part of your SA re-application strategy, IF your goal is a degree and a commission, and not solely attending a SA, are partly listed below. The SA is not the end goal - the commission is, and the 5+ year after of ADSO.
- Opportunity to earn a ROTC nom, in addition to any you might earn from 3 MOCs and VP.
- Professional training putting you on the path toward a commission whether you are offered an SA appointment or not. Classroom, field, uniforms, drill, customs, language, culture, etc.
- Leadership development and opportunities that are 100% understandable to SA Admissions.
- PT workouts and standards to meet, similar to an SA.
- Practice in juggling a complex schedule of college requirements and ROTC commitments, somewhat parallel to an SA.
- Taking courses expected by the service ROTC program and having to maintain a satisfactory GPA, just like an SA.
- Exposure to officers and enlisted personnel as mentors, examples and sources of informations.
- Summer training to expose you to officer specialty paths as well as continue professional development.
- Some ROTC cadets and midshipmen find they have found their tribe, and it’s a good fit at the college and the unit. And they let go of the SA dream. Or, they realize the military path is not for them at all, and that’s okay too.
- You don’t have to explain to MOC nom panels or anyone else why you are at an ROTC school and not in a unit.

Cons:


To be fair, re-applicants can and do successfully apply to SAs without doing ROTC. They:
- kill the academics at their college or prep school, and do the best they can to mimic a first-year SA schedule
- figure out how to demonstrate leadership growth in a way that is not just a figurehead role, but they actually made a difference
- they turn in a strong CFA performance
- they make it through DoDMERB
- they show improvement or continued potential from whatever HS base they built on.

Good luck to you!
 
I would be remiss in not mentioning, in general, the high quality of preparatory schools with SA prep programs, especially those already in partnership with the SAs for prep scholarships. Many go the unsponsored prep route and find their way to a SA. That can be the right fit for many.

Bottom line is you commit to a path for reapplication, give it your best shot and hope for a different outcome next cycle.
 
If you haven't actually physically talked to someone at the unit (one of the active duty members), and gotten a definitive, "No," then the opportunity hasn't closed yet.

Usually, the NSO (new student orientation) is the week before school starts. So, you have time. And for the physical aspect, you can just get the equivalent of a "sports physical" to be in a unit. You do not have to do DoDMERB unless you are going on scholarship.
 
After several months of thought, advice from people I trust, and processing how my C/O 2028 journey went, I am going to set aside enlisting for the time being and will be attending a local university at the end of this month. I have not completely put enlisting on the back burner, just think I need to at least try a year so I don't have regrets or what if's. I have a pretty loaded schedule set up NROTC, Chemistry, Pre-Calc, etc. and D1 athletics, so I know I have the right mix I just have to execute. The only thing in the back of my mind is how difficult it is to go to USNA from my area. Every where I turn I run into Annapolis grads and prior applicants that didn't try more than 1x, and while they are not negative, it's just so obvious how many unbelievable applicants from my area don't get an appointment. Many of these people also have more nomination sources available to them than I do because a parent is either active duty or retired. I also know that even if I secure an NROTC nom, there are only so many slots that can be charged for appointments, so that is not as much lift that many might think it is. I realize that you have to "Not give up the Ship" and you won't know until you try, but at this point am I just kidding myself? I just hate the idea that I could absolutely smoke everything this year and that still won't be good enough simply because of where I live. The applications for Senator Warner are already coming due in about 45 days, and I just feel sometimes like I am not being honest with myself about my chances. It appears like many re-applicants had a nomination last year, but just didn't make the final cut, and thinking that somehow I am going to go from no nomination at all for 2028 to securing a nom and gaining an appointment for 2029 just seems like a huge stretch.
 
WestCoastRefugee said:
. It appears like many re-applicants had a nomination last year, but just didn't make the final cut, and thinking that somehow I am going to go from no nomination at all for 2028 to securing a nom and gaining an appointment for 2029 just seems like a huge stretch.
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Currently you have four major leg ups over the high school applicants

1. If you do well academically, you can prove that you can handle College course load

2. If you are in good standing with your rotc, that shows that you can handle the duties and responsibilities of USNA-esque living and structure.

3. You are a D1 athlete but shows your commitment to athletics and your athleticism

4. You have not given up the ship


If you don't make it again, then it's "oh well"

If you make it, you won't regret it for the rest of your life

Will you spend your time wishing and daydreaming about what could have been, or are you going to seize it and make it what will be?

You owe it to yourself to try.
 
@WestCoastRefugee, if it weren't a stretch it wouldn't be worth doing. You sound a little like your own worst enemy. You can only control what you can control, right? Plus, you might get going in NROTC and figure out that's your home. Just work the process until you finish your app, or until you get to a point where the tradeoff between finishing the app and meeting some other goal doesn't balance out and you drop it and stay in NROTC. Good luck, man, you will have a lot on your plate!
 
WestCoastRefugee said:
I realize that you have to "Not give up the Ship" and you won't know until you try, but at this point am I just kidding myself? I just hate the idea that I could absolutely smoke everything this year and that still won't be good enough simply because of where I live.
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There is only one certainty in the USNA /Service Academy Process -- 100% of those that don't try will not get in. (In other words, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take).
 
What advice would you give your son who has now been turned down twice? He was a NASS participant, applied his senior year, 3Q, was turned down, he moved on to plan B without ROTC scholarship, committed as an athlete his Freshman year in college, was 3Q again this past admission cycle. I just don't know what advice to give him now. The defeat is real... he has mentioned not reapplying, which I get. It's a lot of work, and as a college sophomore, I think the thought of going back through the cycle seems far fetched. Also, paying for college is a concern. What advice or options should I mention to him that could lead him to commissioning and earning his education?
 
Littleval_Navy said:
What advice would you give your son who has now been turned down twice? He was a NASS participant, applied his senior year, 3Q, was turned down, he moved on to plan B without ROTC scholarship, committed as an athlete his Freshman year in college, was 3Q again this past admission cycle. I just don't know what advice to give him now. The defeat is real... he has mentioned not reapplying, which I get. It's a lot of work, and as a college sophomore, I think the thought of going back through the cycle seems far fetched. Also, paying for college is a concern. What advice or options should I mention to him that could lead him to commissioning and earning his education?
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I've basically done the same thing, but 3x rejected. It's rough and it still hurts, I just hope he finds his way and continue to be there for him, and he will find his way in the world.
 
Littleval_Navy said:
What advice would you give your son who has now been turned down twice? He was a NASS participant, applied his senior year, 3Q, was turned down, he moved on to plan B without ROTC scholarship, committed as an athlete his Freshman year in college, was 3Q again this past admission cycle. I just don't know what advice to give him now. The defeat is real... he has mentioned not reapplying, which I get. It's a lot of work, and as a college sophomore, I think the thought of going back through the cycle seems far fetched. Also, paying for college is a concern. What advice or options should I mention to him that could lead him to commissioning and earning his education?
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Hate this for your son.

If he wants to be an officer, he can apply as a College Programmer and then eventually Advanced Standing if he does not get a Side Load scholarship if his school has NROTC. He needs to reach out to the unit asap though to apply as NSI is being scheduled as we speak.

He can also go the OCS route.
 
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Littleval_Navy said:
What advice would you give your son who has now been turned down twice? He was a NASS participant, applied his senior year, 3Q, was turned down, he moved on to plan B without ROTC scholarship, committed as an athlete his Freshman year in college, was 3Q again this past admission cycle. I just don't know what advice to give him now. The defeat is real... he has mentioned not reapplying, which I get. It's a lot of work, and as a college sophomore, I think the thought of going back through the cycle seems far fetched. Also, paying for college is a concern. What advice or options should I mention to him that could lead him to commissioning and earning his education?
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I am sorry to hear about the bumps in his road to USNA.

USNA typically does not inform candidates if they are fully qualified or 3 Q.
Fully qualified:
- Medical: DoDMERB Q or waiver
- Physical fitness: CFA passed
- Academic/Scholastic: everything else USNA evaluates in the application using its unique whole person algorithm, which is not just grades and test scores.

Plus a nom(s) from somewhere.

Did he follow a USNA-like curriculum and excel, per the advice on USNA.edu?
www.usna.edu

Previous Candidates & College Candidates

Previous Candidates and College Candidates page for Admissions at USNA.edu. Updated Tue Jun 24 20:22:11 EDT 2025.
www.usna.edu

Did he contact his AO last year after they got 2028 in, in that quiet time after I-Day and before the 2029 cycle ramped up, to ask for candid feedback on any glaring weakness? Is he planning to do that this year? July is relatively quiet.

Some people apply until they age out. It is either worth it or not to the individual to start all over again. He’s going to have to figure that out.

If the goal is to become a Navy officer, here are 2 paths to explore that involve him getting a college degree at a civilian school.
Navy OCS

Navy NUPOC
www.navy.com

Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program | Navy.com

The NUPOC program is a collegiate path for engineers to join the U.S. Navy as officers in the Nuclear Propulsion Program. Earn a full-time salary while studying. Learn more about this opportunity now!
www.navy.com www.navy.com


There are also direct commission programs as well as scholarship programs for health professionals, as well as direct commission programs for other officer communities such as Civil Engineerimg Corps and JAG Corps.


He may well need time to grieve the loss of a dream. If the real goal is to serve as a Navy officer, then there are other paths. Ditto Marine Corps paths.

Let us know how it goes.
 
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Littleval_Navy said:
What advice would you give your son who has now been turned down twice? He was a NASS participant, applied his senior year, 3Q, was turned down, he moved on to plan B without ROTC scholarship, committed as an athlete his Freshman year in college, was 3Q again this past admission cycle. I just don't know what advice to give him now. The defeat is real... he has mentioned not reapplying, which I get. It's a lot of work, and as a college sophomore, I think the thought of going back through the cycle seems far fetched. Also, paying for college is a concern. What advice or options should I mention to him that could lead him to commissioning and earning his education?
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I would suggest applying multiple service academies. My son was denied to USNA twice, but USMA gave him a place his last cycle. It’s quite possible that he can get the degree he wants and the opportunity to serve elsewhere. It’s also possible he would be happier elsewhere once he is accepted/wanted.
 
Is it true that re appliers are statistically more likely to get Prep School to the academy, I remember hearing somewhere that it is harder to get direct after your first time.
 
No. They generally do not send re-applicants to NAPS. The purpose of NAPS is to enhance a deficiency that the Academy may see in a promising candidate. If you have graduated HS, and went to a college, then you are showing how you would do in college courses with your grades there.

People that get NAPS offers are typically enlisted applicants who have been out of school a while, athletes who need improvement in some area (STEM classes, etc.), or applicants who perhaps did not have as rigorous a HS course load, or lower standardized test scores but still show a lot of promise.

It is incredibly rare to see college re-applicants get a NAPS offer.
 
I'm trying to plan ahead for classes since I'm currently waitlisted to USNA. I was a reapplicant last cycle, and I earned A's in chemistry and calculus this past year. I'm currently registered for Calc 2, US History, and General Physics with lab for next semester. They don't offer General Chem 2 for next semester, so I thought physics would be the next best option. It's not calculus-based, not sure how much weight that carries. Are there any other classes I probably should be taking? I will get in touch with admissions and my BGO after I find out my waitlist decision, but I wanted to register before classes got too full. I don't want to overload myself with difficult courses, as I do have a lot of other commitments and will need to retake the SAT, as that was the low point of my application.
 
Maybe this is just anecdotal, but I thought I'd share. We had parent group plebe send off last week and to my surprise, out of all the incoming class of 2029 in our area, only two were directs. Everyone else had at least a year of college or prep school.

In addition, one of the two directs is a recruited athlete.

So for those who did not get in for 2029, try again!
 
Got turned down and I will be going to college with ROTC, and taking Chem with lab and calc 1 and 2. I am dead set on reapplying, and already started the process and applying for nominations. Starting to get stressed because I want to wait for college professor letters of recommendation, and my ROTC commander recommendation. Just registered to retake the ACT, and I’m holding off on submitting my activities, volunteer work, and essay to build it to the best of my ability. Any advice?
 
ridgestar88 said:
Got turned down and I will be going to college with ROTC, and taking Chem with lab and calc 1 and 2. I am dead set on reapplying, and already started the process and applying for nominations. Starting to get stressed because I want to wait for college professor letters of recommendation, and my ROTC commander recommendation. Just registered to retake the ACT, and I’m holding off on submitting my activities, volunteer work, and essay to build it to the best of my ability. Any advice?
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You’re applying for next year’s class? You’ve got plenty of time. They won’t even look at your application until your fall semester college grades are in.
 
DS just went and got enrolled at his college. He has a Rhetoric class that counts as English, Physics, Engineering Physics, his AROTC class, Spanish, and a History class. He was told they will teach him Calc in his physics class. Will this fly for reapplication to the Academy or does he need to enrolled in Calc (or some Math) also? My understanding is that a Plebe takes about 18 credits? Is that right?
Thank you.
 
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