LONG POST ALERT for FAMILIES LOOKING FOR SCHOLARS INFO, TIMELINES, etc.
DD received a fully qualified medical status today and accepted her CGAS appointment sooooo....everything just got real! So exciting. I know how many times over the past year I scoured this forum looking at posts from previous years that might contain helpful information that would encourage her as she experienced the highs and lows of the process. To be fair, sometimes I needed to read something that would encourage me, too. With that in mind, I am posting the following for future applicants or applicant families who may have a question about the type of candidate who may be considered for Scholars. I also included a timeline of events for anyone who may wonder what a time line of events "could" look like. I say "could" because it is clearly different for each candidate. Lastly, I posted a few things that I, as a parent, have learned going through this process.. Now that her application experience is complete, this will be my last post in the forum so I thought I would leave some encouragement behind for those who walk this road later. If it can be of help, wonderful. If not, feel free to skip on by.
Basic STATS:
3 Sport Varsity athlete, National Level Competitor in one of those sports, State Level Science Competitor, 4 Year Cadet USNSCC - Squadron Leader, 3 national JROTC leadership awards. Multi-Day Leadership Events with the USCG via USNSCC, Multiple AP classes, dual college credit classes and honors. Struggled with the ACT/SAT. Did NOT seek to be a recruited athlete. Siblings are all enlisted CG. First in all generations of our family to attend college.
VISITS:
Visited the Academy 3 Times for Overnights: SOJA (Spring Overnight for Recruited Athletes Junior Year), AIM (Summer) Genesis (Senior Fall).
Those visits did not involve interviews, coach interaction, or anything that indicated in any way, shape or form that she was being considered any more or less than anyone else in attendance.
APPLICATION TIME LINE:
Applied EA: October 1 (ish)
Beyond confirmation of application receipt, there was no communication after application. No request for Interview.
Dec 20: Received Phone Call offer Scholars Appointment. As she didn't think she was being considered at all, She was absolutely stunned and thrilled. (Me, too!!)
Dec 29: DODMets Email notification
January 14: Dodmets notified her that her file was "Complete"
February 1: Dodmerb Notified her that she was fully qualified.
SPECIAL NOTES:
Please note that this is her experience as an individual and my experience as a parent observer. Plenty have had a different experiences. I think the most important things that I could offer to future families, from our experience, is threefold.
#1) DO NOT GIVE UP and SEEK TO BE WELL ROUNDED: She wasn't the candidate with a 4.5 and perfect ACT. She had a catastrophic freshman year but regrouped to finish strong. She fought hard till the last second, working with tutors, getting help, giving up sports for academic support, etc. Even now, she is still fighting that battle. If someone had asked me going into this application process (and, some did), I would have told you that, based solely on test stats, she probably wouldn't make the cut. Thankfully, the USCGA saw something different. I am so grateful that they DO what they claim: Give a fully holistic review of each candidate. If she had been evaluated "solely" on test scores and early HS GPA, I do not believe that she would have received an offer of any kind. SOOO - to all of those out there with a bad semester, or a sub par standardized test score, DO NOT GIVE UP. If you want it, continue to fight for it until they "flat" tell you no. And, even then, don't give up. The current Director of Admissions shares his story with visiting groups about how he was turned down (twice, I believe) before being offered a chance in a later year. Also - assuming that every applicant is viewed as a three tier (Academic, Leadership, Fitness) if one area is less impressive, make sure to really shine in the other two areas.
#2) BE PATIENT: If you have applied and haven't heard anything, do not assume they aren't interested. She heard nothing until the moment they called her. It took us all by surprise. The very kind officer told her that she had been on their radar the entire time. LOL. She had absolutely no idea. It just goes to show that silence is not necessarily a bad thing. Patience is king.
#3) EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT THE USCG: In her case, and in big part to her siblings, she was only interested in the CG. She made that choice early on (middle school) and then mapped out a plan to give it her best shot. I know many apply to two or more academies. In her case, it was CG or nothing. Actually, her back up plan was STILL the CG. (Enlistment to OCS, or CSPI) During our visits, I recall one of the admissions staff saying that (paraphrased) "The CG wants people who want the CG." In her case, I am sure that her years of involvement with the Coast Guard/Navy program USNSCC were helpful in showing that she had taken steps to understand the CG life, customs, leadership and mission. I don't know how much weight it had on their choice, but I can't imagine it hurt. SO, if you (or your DD/DS) are truly committed to the CG mission and can show that (USCGAUX or USNSCC are great options to do that), it may go long way. Again, though, that is just my guess.
I hope that this information will help someone at some point. On this forum, you will read about a LOT of amazing candidates who are 1st in their class, Olympic caliber athletes, captain of every team under the sun, 4.5 GPA's, a million AP classes, perfect ACT/SAT score and may have saved a life or two at some point. (Just being silly - but ya'll probably get my point! LOL) I am just going to be 100% real with this next comment: For families (like mine) who have "Super Hardworking" kids but perhaps not "Super Scholars" or "Super-Duper Stars", STATS like that can honestly seem a bit discouraging at times. My guess is that almost all of the scholars have a story similar to my DD. So - if you read all of the incredible stats being posted and think, like I did, that you or your DD/DS won't stand a chance, let the Scholar Stories encourage you. My guess is that if others posted their Scholars Stories, they would be proof that sometimes hard work, consistent improvement and a doggedness not to give up can get that door to inch open a bit. So, Be Encouraged. Lastly, wherever you are in your journey when you read this, best of luck!!!
