Underdog stories?

H

HopefulKiddo

Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2019
Messages
21
Hello,
I was wondering if anyone has some underdog appointment stories.

I am a candidate that has completed my packet including a nomination.

I have a GPA that is slightly low (because of life circumstances and it has been corrected. Low freshman grades lowered it) and my SAT math score is below the median.

Everything else in my packet is average to above average. I’m very nervous because of this and was wondering if anyone was in a similar situation.
 
Do you have a MOC nomination, presidential, or other?
 
There are plenty of stories like this being shared. Keep your head up. If this is truly a goal of yours, one that you want more than breathing, you will have the fortitude needed to "find a way." Some on this board applied 3 different times before they found a way. It isn't over until you either age out, or reach the end of the road with a non-waiverable DODMERB DQ. Anything short of that means you still have a chance.

That being said, those who are truly hungry will not stop at personal improvement. Low fitness score? Keep working at it. Low SAT score? Keep working at it. Low grades? Go to a prep school, enroll in community college - but keep working at it. Lacking leadership experience or solid extracurricular achievements? Keep working at it. Is money or time a complicating factor that your personal circumstances cannot solve? Consider enlisting in the Air Force and forging a path into a Service Academy that way.

Bottom line - If you truly want this, there is nothing stopping you from achieving the goal other than your own limitations on how much work you are willing to put in. Your actions need to align with your words. If the are - fantastic! You will continue to improve and you will have written your own underdog story about how grit and determination led you to achieve your goal of attending a Service Academy.
 
shiner said:
There are plenty of stories like this being shared. Keep your head up. If this is truly a goal of yours, one that you want more than breathing, you will have the fortitude needed to "find a way." Some on this board applied 3 different times before they found a way. It isn't over until you either age out, or reach the end of the road with a non-waiverable DODMERB DQ. Anything short of that means you still have a chance.

That being said, those who are truly hungry will not stop at personal improvement. Low fitness score? Keep working at it. Low SAT score? Keep working at it. Low grades? Go to a prep school, enroll in community college - but keep working at it. Lacking leadership experience or solid extracurricular achievements? Keep working at it. Is money or time a complicating factor that your personal circumstances cannot solve? Consider enlisting in the Air Force and forging a path into a Service Academy that way.

Bottom line - If you truly want this, there is nothing stopping you from achieving the goal other than your own limitations on how much work you are willing to put in. Your actions need to align with your words. If the are - fantastic! You will continue to improve and you will have written your own underdog story about how grit and determination led you to achieve your goal of attending a Service Academy.
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Thank you for the words of encouragement. I love a challenge so even if I get denied we will see about prep school, self prep, or college
 
I can only relate my DS story. He went to a competitive HS and his unweighted GPA was a 3.7. He took the hardest courses and did well on AP tests. There was not a JROTC program and he didn't play a varsity sport. His SAT was a 1300 and 31 on his ACT's (those were good). What he did excel at was finding opportunities to show leadership in school clubs and in a community Explorers Program (Police group). He could sell ice to an Eskimo and really nailed the interviews (he said). So even though he wasn't your cookie-cutter cadet (according to the website). He received 3 nominations and an appointment.
Averages are just that the middle road, some are higher, some are lower, some are different.
 
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