Hello all! I am resurrecting this thread with perhaps my final update on this very long yet rewarding journey (which is also just getting started)! About a year and a half ago, I provided an update of my situation and offered some advice. I still stand by that advice. I just wanted to share the outcomes of my experience and show that regardless of your decision, you can end up where you want.
This past June, I commissioned into the United States Marine Corps alongside my classmates. Many people often talk about the feeling of tossing your cover into the air after the three chants... it's pretty nice.
My journey towards earning a commission and pursuing a graduate education ultimately paid off. While I am not currently at MIT, I earned a spot to pursue a masters degree in systems engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. I have the opportunity to perform cutting edge research at a top notch institution. I get the added challenge of completing a two year program in just one year, but there's a reason we worked on all of those time management skills at USNA. I service selected Marine Corps aviation, so I will be attending TBS next fall (after earning my degree) and then reporting to Pensacola for flight training in 2024. I will hopefully get to use my education to impact to future of Naval Aviation.
In short, if you set your mind to it, you can make it happen. Hopefully this serves as proof that so long as you tirelessly work towards your goals, you can get there. Good luck to the USNA Class of 2026 as they begin their journey at the academy, and best of luck to all of the applicants for the USNA Class of 2027. Semper Fi!