DISCLAIMER: The opinions I am expressing are my own and do not reflect the opinions of UNC Naval ROTC, the Navy/Marine Corps, etc. My intention IS NOT to disparage the Naval Academy, nor is it to convince anybody to decide one way or another. The purpose of this post is to share MY personal testimony, in hopes that somebody might learn from it.
Almost two years ago, I was in the same place as many of the students who are currently applying to the Naval Academy. Constantly checking my emails, I feared my decision would never come. Finally, on March 29th, 2017, I received my rejection notification. I was crushed, and I did not want to UNC, my backup school. My intense disappointment did not last long, as I remembered all of the good memories I had as a child visiting Chapel Hill and realized that I would be able to have other opportunities that the Naval Academy could not provide. Not so secretly, if given the chance I would have gone to the Naval Academy in a heartbeat right up until the first day of new student orientation for NROTC. Over a year later, I couldn’t be happier with how things turned out. I am still just as excited about my future Navy career and I am enjoying everything that Chapel Hill, UNC, and NROTC has to offer.
As we enter the time during which most appointments are given out, I encourage everyone considering the Naval Academy to also consider ROTC. Too often, applicants to the Naval Academy either believe that they will get in and look down on ROTC or have no idea what ROTC is. For example, my best friend is desperately trying to earn a scholarship so that he can commission when he graduates. He, too, applied to the Naval Academy believing that he would get in and did not. Many of my friends who also applied to the academy but did not apply for the ROTC scholarship have since dropped the program for various reasons. At the heart of nearly all of their decisions have been their belief (or the reality) that they would not get a scholarship. I hope that nobody ever has this experience ever again.
I will conclude my testimony, as any self-respecting Tar Heel should, with the best possible endorsement I can give the school I have grown to know and love. I began my college experience thinking I would end up in cybersecurity. I liked computers and programming but I did not love it, as I would later find out. I am now a Russian major and am well on my way to becoming fluent, something I did not think I would ever do. I could go on about how I discovered a passion for Photoshop through my group of friends, or how I have learned how to use a 3D printer and a laser cutter. As those who know me well know, I cannot talk about my college life without talking about my job working in a kitchen at a sorority house. All of these things have made me into the person I am today and I am incredibly thankful for each and every moment that I have had at UNC.
If you have any questions about the decision process between the Naval Academy and NROTC, ROTC life, UNC Chapel Hill, the LREC program, or the NROTC scholarship application, feel free to PM me and I will help you in any way I can.
Once again, I wish all of those who are still waiting good luck and I congratulate those who have already gotten appointments. To those of you who weren’t so lucky, keep your head up and don’t give up on a career in the Navy. There are plenty of ways to get to where you want to go. It’s up to you to decide which path you take.
but that's 3 more times during college & SA Admissions looks favorably on repeat applicants. Congrats to you & good luck to all those waiting.