Applying as a college student

<p>I was given the opportunity to graduate this summer and go to a college this fall but the Naval Academy is still my goal. I've contacted my BGO but I haven't heard back from him yet. So I wanted to know is it harder to get in from college or is the process any different?</p>

<p>The process is exactly the same. Your chances are higher if you do well in the Fall...USNA loves reapplicants.</p>

<p>I can vouch for that!</p>

<p>I wouldn't be a re-applicant I would still be a first time. But it helps if I do really well?</p>

<p>Yeah. You need to do well the first semester as that is what the admissions board will see as part of your application.</p>

<p>Just curious, but why didn't you apply this year?</p>

<p>It's not harder or easier to apply to USNA from college, other than that you don't usually have the natural support system (i.e., college counselor) at college that you have in h.s., so you need to do it more on your own.</p>

<p>I strongly suggest trying to take in college the same or similar courses to what you'd take as a plebe (chem, calc, English, history). Doing well in these courses proves to USNA that you can handle college level work of the type you'd have at USNA. If you can't get into these courses (and I know it can be tough at some schools, competing vs. the med school wannabes), take whatever hard science and math courses you can -- physics, biology, engineering, statistics, etc. as well as "real" humanities courses, including advanced language. Skip the sociology, philosophy, zoology, art, music. Not that these courses aren't valuable -- they are -- but not for USNA admissions purposes. </p>

<p>Give your BGO another chance to reply. We're still finishing up the Class of 2010 and not yet totally focused on 2011. Not an excuse but a reality.</p>

<p>Finally, if you've not done so, go to the USNA web site where there is a lot of info on admissions. Read it now, so that you're prepared.</p>

<p>I didn't apply this year because I'm a junior and I just decided that I want to graduate early. To late for the academy. But I have been preparing for applying for the class of 2011 since forever. And I couldn't find a lot of info on applying as a college student. I did call and they told me that the process was no different.
Classes I would take next year:
Calc I and II, Chem w/ lab, a core class that's like a lit class, and hopefully an independent german course, but it all depends on what the prof. thinks of me because there german courses are too easy. And that's 17 hours right there.</p>

<p>Yeah that's 17 hours, but you don't take Calc I and II simultaneously. Get involved in an engineering cirriculum and bust your butt at it (if you're interested in engineering).</p>

<p>I applied from college and the process is no different. Still had to have my HS counselor sign stuff (helped going to school close), still had to get HS teacher recommendations (also added my college advisor's recommendation to the stack), etc.</p>

<p>I also applied after HS, (similar situation as you actually, didn't apply first time). Just make sure you stay on top of everything and stay organized, because it's not as easy as just asking your teachers; you have set aside time to go back and get everything from your counselor and teachers and everything. As long as you are a full time student at college (varies depending, but usually around 12 credits), it doesn't really matter how many credits. Just do as well as possible (3.5+ is what the Academies really like). Good luck.</p>

<p>12 credits? I'd do more.</p>

<p>I did 16 then 14 (was 18, had to drop a class). 14 was pretty sad, really, but they were all core engineering classes (signals and systems, energy conversion, physical electronics, etc.).</p>

<p>I'd take harder classes with a lower GPA over easy ones with a high GPA. My honors advisor liked me because I busted my butt and didn't take the easy route. Going to Circuits I my first day of college was interesting, but I ended up doing alright and I think it was a better choice than coasting.</p>

<p>I am interest in majoring in Economics/Business. Has anyone got in from college taking the typical first year business classes?</p>

<p>I'm planning to be an Econ major at the Naval Academy. I'm technically an Econ major at my current college so I took intensive econ courses along with one calculus and chemistry supplements. I also took 16 credits first semester then 14 credits this semester. As far as I'm concerned, I got a conditional appointment right away after sending my first semester transcript so I guess they don't mind deviating from typical plebe courses as long as you can maintain a high GPA.</p>

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I am interest in majoring in Economics/Business. Has anyone got in from college taking the typical first year business classes?

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<p>I don't know about this one- I would seriously rethink your game plan! In everything I have read, USNA recommends taking courses as prevously stated- calc, chem, lit- and the suggestion of a language seems like a good one- classes that correspond to the core classes the plebes take during the first year.</p>

<p>Business? not sure about that one! I would definately suggest running that by your BGO for sure!</p>

<p>Major in what you want to. Declaring a major as a freshman doesn't really mean anything, as the majority of people take very similar courses in the technical degrees. I highly doubt the Academy will take your major into consideration if you're applying as a freshman and are taking a similar plebe schedule. And should the Academy fall through a second time, you're good to go on your Business track and not stuck with several hard engineering courses that won't help you towards your degree.</p>

<p>Definitely take the calc and chem, even if you did the APs in HS. A second year could only help. That's what I did.</p>

<p>No, get out of the calc and chem. I got out of 33 credit hours coming into college, and now I'm very far ahead. Look, if you're going to make it at a SA, slacking isn't the way to do it. So get out of as many classes as possible, then forge ahead.</p>

<p>Besides, which would you rather do, retake calculus in a civvie college, or retake differential equations at a service academy (since noone, so far as I know, can get out of differential equations).</p>

<p>I'm going to try to get out of as many classes as possible, but the fact is after two years in college, there are going to be a lot I can't get out of. Had I not taken those 33 credit hours, I wouldn't be anywhere near as far ahead.</p>

<p>

I just meant that at most colleges, 12 credits is minimum to be considered a full time student. Definitely do more than that. I only took 14 this semester as well (because I got the LOA and Appointment and all that jazz well before the second semester started), and it was as you said "sad".</p>

<p>My second semester was spent on Co-Op (end of this week I'm done), so I won't have been in "school" (although I get credit for the Co-Op) since the fall.</p>

<p>Awesome...where'd you Co-Op? A bunch of kids I know from my school (upperclassmen) had Co-Ops at places like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, GE etc. Did you find it to be a valuable experience?</p>

<p>Last summer I worked in Engineering Reliability for FirstEnergy, a public utility. During the fall I went to school full-time and worked there part-time. This semester I work at the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station.</p>

<p>I considered it a very valuable experience. Here's why:</p>

<p>People often ask me why I'm going to USAFA after two years in college. I tell them because I spent two years in college.</p>

<p>It's boring as all get-out here in the real world, at least where I work. I figured I had a shot at USAFA, so I took it, and it paid off.</p>

<p>I know exactly what you mean. People always ask me "now that you've gone to a year of regular college, don't you regret wanting to leave it?" Almost the exact opposite is true...I just felt like that wasn't the place for me, and it completely reaffirmed the fact that I had made a good choice in applying to USAFA. Now, even in the depths BCT and 4th class year, I will know that I made the right choice, and will have no regrets or thoughts of "I should've gone to a normal college".</p>

<p>I have spent 2 yrs at a "normal" college, and after my first year I decided I wanted more out of schooling so I applied and waited all 2nd year to find out I got my appt :) I totally agree with PatriotCPM because I believe I have lived the life of a normal college student, I even joined a sorority (not the best idea, but still a good way to be social and have fun). But still, TacticalNuke is right, once you go to a normal college, you'll wish you did more. Ya, things are going to be WAY different once June 28th rolls up for me and even though I'll miss my friends and the fun parties, I'm going to be getting so much more out of my life by taking this path than I EVER would've if I stayed at my current school!!!! Friends and parties only get you so far in life, but the things I expect to learn at the Academy will be WAY worth leaving the typical college life behind.</p>