Third Attempt Club

whatyetmaybe

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Joined
Jul 25, 2018
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After now being denied a second time, I am faced with the unique opportunity to join the likes of President Carter, Admiral McCain Sr, Ross Perot, and my grandfather in the exclusive third try club at the Academy. I'm posting to see if there is anyone on the forum who got in on their third try and is willing to share their story, or even if they failed after three times to perhaps share what they believe their major hindrance may have been. Outside stories are welcome too!

I thank you kindly for your time and wish to see this perhaps generate some hope for others!
 
I would just like to say I admire your persistence towards your goal of attending the academy. Getting in on your third try is certainly possible and not unheard of. I had a classmate in my plebe summer squad get in on his third try and I know a current firstie who got in on their 4th try. It sounds like the academy is a major goal of yours. Assess where you can improve your application and good luck!
 
I got in on my third try. I'm rather new to the SA forums, but I spent a number of years researching and wanting to go to the Naval Academy when I was in high school. I got the TWE in the spring of my senior year. I reapplied after my senior year and got the TWE again, but afterwards got accepted to a Navy sponsored prep school. After the year of prep school, I got accepted to USNA on my third application. I know the feeling of having everyone ask you "have you heard/been accepted yet?" It's tough and absolutely no fun. I know. But I felt blessed and fortunate to get in on the third time. I looked at the previous two times, not as failures, but just as situations that this was not my year. Your commitment to apply, then apply a second time is absolutely commendable. Thank you for having the fortitude to even ask this question among so many high achievers. So the real question is - should you try again for a third time? I can't answer that for you. But I will tell you that after my third time - I met a beautiful young lady during the spring of my junior year at the Academy at a dance called the International Ball. We dated, got married and have four kids now. Our oldest is a sophomore at the Naval Academy now. Our second, a high school senior, just got the TWE. He wants to reapply again next year.

So, make sure you're in a college program you want and will succeed at during a four year stint. If you want to be a Navy Officer, going NROTC is also an awesome path. It never hurts to reapply to USNA even if you're in NROTC, and if you get accepted, now you have the option of continuing in your current program or go to the Naval Academy. PM me if you have any other questions. Thank you for your perseverance and willingness to serve our Country!
 
I know that when my DS came home from NASS, one thing that really solidified his desire to attend was his detailer. Who got in on the last attempt he could make (4 times maybe?). One of the first things he told me about was his detailer and how much he admired him. And the fact that he tried so many times to get in told DS that it’s a special place. And he wanted to belong.

So you all as re-applicants are looked upon with admiration and respect by many!

Good luck, will look for you all next year !
 
I got in on my third try. I'm rather new to the SA forums, but I spent a number of years researching and wanting to go to the Naval Academy when I was in high school. I got the TWE in the spring of my senior year. I reapplied after my senior year and got the TWE again, but afterwards got accepted to a Navy sponsored prep school. After the year of prep school, I got accepted to USNA on my third application. I know the feeling of having everyone ask you "have you heard/been accepted yet?" It's tough and absolutely no fun. I know. But I felt blessed and fortunate to get in on the third time. I looked at the previous two times, not as failures, but just as situations that this was not my year. Your commitment to apply, then apply a second time is absolutely commendable. Thank you for having the fortitude to even ask this question among so many high achievers. So the real question is - should you try again for a third time? I can't answer that for you. But I will tell you that after my third time - I met a beautiful young lady during the spring of my junior year at the Academy at a dance called the International Ball. We dated, got married and have four kids now. Our oldest is a sophomore at the Naval Academy now. Our second, a high school senior, just got the TWE. He wants to reapply again next year.

So, make sure you're in a college program you want and will succeed at during a four year stint. If you want to be a Navy Officer, going NROTC is also an awesome path. It never hurts to reapply to USNA even if you're in NROTC, and if you get accepted, now you have the option of continuing in your current program or go to the Naval Academy. PM me if you have any other questions. Thank you for your perseverance and willingness to serve our Country!
You really are more like 2.5 and not 3 times. I realized that you applied 3 times but after you got accepted to prep school, you were almost guaranteed a spot as long as you didnt screw up
 
After now being denied a second time, I am faced with the unique opportunity to join the likes of President Carter, Admiral McCain Sr, Ross Perot, and my grandfather in the exclusive third try club at the Academy. I'm posting to see if there is anyone on the forum who got in on their third try and is willing to share their story, or even if they failed after three times to perhaps share what they believe their major hindrance may have been. Outside stories are welcome too!

I thank you kindly for your time and wish to see this perhaps generate some hope for others!

First thing I would suggest is to contact your admissions Rep and ask them what you’re lacking, and what to do in the next year to get where you need to be. They would know better than anyone. Follow that advice and reapply. I commend your desire to serve, and hopefully you can do it via USNA. If not, I hope your plan B will be in place and get you to your ultimate goal of commissioning.
Best of luck, and keep us posted!
 
I know a USMA Cadet who got in on his third try. He was doing ROTC so he was a year away from commissioning. He walked away from it to join “The Long Gray Line”. One of the most well adjusted Cadets I have known and he’s crushing it academically.
 
No. I didn't go to NAPS or a Foundation school. I got an opportunity after I got denied from USNA the second time. It was't like getting denied then going to NAPS or Foundation the second go around with a pretty clear acceptance if I passed. Please don't assume or think my acceptance after my second attempt would be assured. It wasn't. I got in on the third time. It can happen. It can also not happen. I praise any young adult who wants it so bad to persevere when so many others think they've got it figured out or tell someone else, like you just did, what they think - when they really don't know what the situation was. Good luck to all of those who got rejected and are considering another app. Pls PM me if you have any questions. Good luck!
 
Hi, I am reapplying for USNA 2027, I desire to major in Pol. Science and have done my STEM Courses this year. I would only be taking the courses for my major (humanities, history, etc) from here on out. Is that okay for my application?
 
Hi, I am reapplying for USNA 2027, I desire to major in Pol. Science and have done my STEM Courses this year. I would only be taking the courses for my major (humanities, history, etc) from here on out. Is that okay for my application?
You’ll get your best advice from an official source such as Admissions. You can drop into their live chat by clicking on the chat balloon on their web page. It’s usually for an hour at noon ET daily.

You don’t tell us what STEM courses you took - no need to - but assume you aligned your syllabus to:

My unofficial thought is everyone at USNA gets a BS and even non-STEM majors take STEM courses throughout their 4 years. Have you researched what courses are taken by sophomores and juniors? Are you able to take a challenging STEM course similar to what a USNA midshipman would take after plebe year? That shows understanding of what USNA expects of its midshipmen and demonstrates you can handle advanced college STEM courses. You can research what STEM courses Poli Sci majors take at USNA on the USNA/department website. You want to show you are willing, ready and capable of handling a BS syllabus with ongoing STEM - even if you don’t have to in your current major. Something to talk about in your updated essays showing personal growth and maturity. Again, this is two cents and gut feel.
 
I desire to major in Pol. Science and have done my STEM Courses this year. I would only be taking the courses for my major (humanities, history, etc) from here on out. Is that okay for my application?

First of all, consider being open to a STEM major at USNA. Keep in mind that USNA must graduate ~70% STEM majors every year. To ensure they meet that total, they want to appoint a higher percentage who have indicated a desire to major in STEM. Thus, if you go in determined to be a non-STEM major (and not a Chinese / Arabic major), that could be perceived as a slight negative. [Please don't everyone flood me with responses saying that you were determined to be a humanities major from Day 1 of your application and still got in. I was a non-STEM major, so I get it. BUT, we're talking about someone who is reapplying. Also, not suggesting that anyone be untruthful. But the OP should consider whether s/he might be interested in something like Oceanography or Quantitative Econ, etc.]

As for the original question . . . are you saying you've taken Calc I-III, a fourth semester of math, physics, chem, a semester of EE, and 2 semesters of cyber? If not, there is plenty of STEM left for you to take. If you've taken all of the plebe courses, look at what youngsters take. It's also important to do well in those courses.

My personal opinion is that an all-humanities course load won't help you for USNA purposes and could very well hurt. 3 humanities courses along with 2 STEM courses is probably OK. A third STEM course would be better. At the same time, you need to do what you have to do to graduate on time from your current school in the event USNA doesn't work out. So be sure to factor that in as well.
 
One of the guys from my kid's NROTC unit (before my son joined) got in on the 3rd try. Just finishing up his Plebe year this month.
 
consider being open to a STEM major at USNA
Just here to say STEM forever. :cool:

BT BT

To @gordt -- good luck and much respect for continuing the grind. I had to apply three times mid-career for the program that ultimately led me to where I am now. That type of persistence will pay dividends, whether USNA works out for you or not. Putting it another way -- you're the type of individual I'd want working for me, in uniform or out.
 
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