My DS received his TWE on his portal Thursday. I have a couple of questions regarding reapplying. 1) Can the RC tell him what part of his whole candidate score was lacking? 2) when can be open up a new file for reapplying? 3) how does the process for college students differ from high school students (ie SAT scores, references, nominations, etc). Thank you for any and all comments.
TWE
- Thread starter Megtrip
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So sorry to hear the tough news.
Your DS, if he chooses to re-apply, should go right back to the primary source to look at the application info for Class of 2025 and specifics for college re-applicants. His DODMERB will be good for 2 years, though he would have to update any changes to his medical history. Nominations - apply same as before for upcoming cycle. CFA - again. Whatever his alternate plan is, he should be taking a Plebe-like college schedule. He should already know if he participates in AROTC at college, that can be another nom source.
If he googles “USMA college re-applicants,” some good SAF threads on the topic will show up. Sometimes that is easier to use than the SAF Search tool.
I’ll defer to our regular USMA posters to comment on how he can get feedback on this year’s application.
Your DS, if he chooses to re-apply, should go right back to the primary source to look at the application info for Class of 2025 and specifics for college re-applicants. His DODMERB will be good for 2 years, though he would have to update any changes to his medical history. Nominations - apply same as before for upcoming cycle. CFA - again. Whatever his alternate plan is, he should be taking a Plebe-like college schedule. He should already know if he participates in AROTC at college, that can be another nom source.
If he googles “USMA college re-applicants,” some good SAF threads on the topic will show up. Sometimes that is easier to use than the SAF Search tool.
I’ll defer to our regular USMA posters to comment on how he can get feedback on this year’s application.
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Capt MJ is spot on as always! To add greater precision to one point, the DoDMERB exam is valid for 2 years from the date of the medical exam, not the decision or the Optometric exam.
And after doing this for 28 years, depending on where an applicant lives, it may not be that the applicant comes up short versus the competition exceeds an applicant’s achievements, to date. An applicant can and will always strengthen their individual resume. But, don’t think YOU came up short. Google Edwin Moses and Kane Waselenchuk. For a 10 and 13 year period, they were/are the number one in their sport in the world. View it as building on your strengths instead of shoring up your weaknesses
And after doing this for 28 years, depending on where an applicant lives, it may not be that the applicant comes up short versus the competition exceeds an applicant’s achievements, to date. An applicant can and will always strengthen their individual resume. But, don’t think YOU came up short. Google Edwin Moses and Kane Waselenchuk. For a 10 and 13 year period, they were/are the number one in their sport in the world. View it as building on your strengths instead of shoring up your weaknesses
usmaismygoal
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1) My RC was able to tell me what held me back last year, though it was medical misdiagnosis that DQd me, he told me what to work on so that I would not have to worry about anything else except a waiver. So call or email your RC so that you can get his perspective on how to attack re-applying. Also you do get extra points on your WCS for being a college re-applicant.
2) As for when he can open a new file, I remember being allowed to in August(late summer). Make sure his current one gets closed.
3) being a college re-applicant (When I did it this past school year) required I: took the CFA again, got two SOEs from professors, sent in transcripts after my first semester and also took classes that looked like that a plebe would take. I also remember my high school guidance councilor having to re-certify something too on my portal.They will have all of your SATs but it is recommended you take it again. At least a small improvement will mean something. I’m under the impression (my opinion) that since the SATs are supposed to show how well you will perform in college then it would mean more that you had a solid college transcript instead because that will show how well you actually do. But that is just me and I still took the SAT again.
extra) a few bits of advice also.
- I would recommend strongly doing ROTC and going for an rotc nomination (on top of your other nomination sources you will need to get again). Do not however join every club there is, my RC suggested doing just ROTC and trust me that’s enough.
-grades are important, but don’t be afraid of Bs. They are normal in college and going to a tough college like I did I got one or two.
-ask if you are allowed to, but I would suggest getting the CFA done as soon as possible and ready to submit. Maybe even before you get to college if it is allowed to be taken so early.
- realize that you will need to get 2 professor SOEs so from the start you need to be going to office hours every single time you can. If the teacher knows you by name and a good bit about you it will reflect in your application.
- personally I think being a re-applicant from college and taking ROTC is not a bad thing. I know that it will help me for the academic rigors that will come since I will be attending USMA. So don’t think of it as a bad think, of anything you should feel lucky that you gain a year of maturity academically and in a military standpoint if you do ROTC.
Sorry for your DS. Our DS made it to April last year and had the same fate. Great posts above, especially from usmaismygoal. We found this thread, which is a sticky in the USNA section, to be very helpful guidance for college re-applicants. https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/reapplying-to-usna-after-a-turndown.61711/
Service academies look favorably upon re-applicants. An improvement in every aspect of the application should be the goal. Different from HS applicants, most service academies will not review a college re-applicant's file until they receive the first semester transcript. I say this to avoid any unnecessary stress trying to get the application completed even sooner than this year's app.
-College grades: college grades will be one of the most, if not the most important aspects of your DSs application. Going to office hours and getting EI (extra instruction) with professors should be the plan.
-SOEs (letters of recommendation): in the directions for USMA it says "If you are a prior candidate and submitted your four high school SOEs, you may contact us to have them added to your current file." But as the previous poster said, SOEs from two (or three) college professors should be sought after. The guidance my DS got was to ask professors at the end of October/early November with a target of having everything (except your transcripts) completed in your re-application by Dec 1st.
-What was mentioned above about getting the CFA completed earlier is very helpful advice. Try to get this done before college starts if you can.
-For USMA, there will be a supplemental document on ECAs/clubs that will be submitted. This is where your DS can show how they got involved in various clubs and activities in college. Being a participant in a club is good. But leading an organized effort or fundraiser is better. Also, he can talk about what he did over the summer following HS before college started. Even with a college load of 14-18 hrs, most college kids have more time on their hands than they realize.
-SAT/ACT: Agree with the above poster that SATs are supposed to show how well you will do in college. But it's something that can show an improvement in your overall application score. Our DS's verbal score needed some improvement. Over the summer he took a course called Ace Reader, which helped improve his reading speed and strengthened his comprehension. He also took a course in SAT grammar to review/re-learn all parts of grammar. These two courses not only helped improve his SAT verbal score, but they also set him up to do well in university classes. Khan academy is a free resource that can also help.
-Essays: Your DS can use this experience and what he did to improve himself over the next year as part of the narrative of why he wants to attend USMA.
-Thank everyone who helped with the application process and let them know that he will be re-applying.
Getting a TWE is very disappointing. But don't let it define your DS. Service academies admissions boards appreciate perseverance. Good luck to your DS. Feel free to PM me with any questions.
Service academies look favorably upon re-applicants. An improvement in every aspect of the application should be the goal. Different from HS applicants, most service academies will not review a college re-applicant's file until they receive the first semester transcript. I say this to avoid any unnecessary stress trying to get the application completed even sooner than this year's app.
-College grades: college grades will be one of the most, if not the most important aspects of your DSs application. Going to office hours and getting EI (extra instruction) with professors should be the plan.
-SOEs (letters of recommendation): in the directions for USMA it says "If you are a prior candidate and submitted your four high school SOEs, you may contact us to have them added to your current file." But as the previous poster said, SOEs from two (or three) college professors should be sought after. The guidance my DS got was to ask professors at the end of October/early November with a target of having everything (except your transcripts) completed in your re-application by Dec 1st.
-What was mentioned above about getting the CFA completed earlier is very helpful advice. Try to get this done before college starts if you can.
-For USMA, there will be a supplemental document on ECAs/clubs that will be submitted. This is where your DS can show how they got involved in various clubs and activities in college. Being a participant in a club is good. But leading an organized effort or fundraiser is better. Also, he can talk about what he did over the summer following HS before college started. Even with a college load of 14-18 hrs, most college kids have more time on their hands than they realize.
-SAT/ACT: Agree with the above poster that SATs are supposed to show how well you will do in college. But it's something that can show an improvement in your overall application score. Our DS's verbal score needed some improvement. Over the summer he took a course called Ace Reader, which helped improve his reading speed and strengthened his comprehension. He also took a course in SAT grammar to review/re-learn all parts of grammar. These two courses not only helped improve his SAT verbal score, but they also set him up to do well in university classes. Khan academy is a free resource that can also help.
-Essays: Your DS can use this experience and what he did to improve himself over the next year as part of the narrative of why he wants to attend USMA.
-Thank everyone who helped with the application process and let them know that he will be re-applying.
Getting a TWE is very disappointing. But don't let it define your DS. Service academies admissions boards appreciate perseverance. Good luck to your DS. Feel free to PM me with any questions.
My class of 94 USNA brother hits all the high points. I would add that the RC will almost always provide the direct feedback, but you should wait a few weeks before you reach out. They are bust trying to finalize the class. I would also suggest a true self-assessment. Something tells me your DS knows what areas need to be improved.
Many others also say that the academies look favorably on re-applicants but that is just a subjective matter. Objectively, college re-applicants will get a boost to the academic portion of the WCS for successfully completing a challenging semester of college with a similar course load as a plebe. This boost is not available to high school applicants.
Many others also say that the academies look favorably on re-applicants but that is just a subjective matter. Objectively, college re-applicants will get a boost to the academic portion of the WCS for successfully completing a challenging semester of college with a similar course load as a plebe. This boost is not available to high school applicants.