<p>Hi I am a Hispanic-Caucasian kid who may not have had the best GPA freshman and sophomore year. My GPA for freshman year was a 2.84 and for sophomore year was a 2.96. I have yet to take any ACT/SAT tests since I am about to start this junior year and was curious if I was able to turn my chances around these next two years.
However I do have leadership experience as I am a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and have been responsible for instructing both children and adults alike. I have been away from Martial Arts for a while but I plan to pick up soon and earn my third degree. I have medals in Weapons, Forms, board breaking, as well in sparring in some tournaments.<br>
I have extensive accolades in the Army JROTC program at my school and am one of the top cadets who participates in many events as well as all the JROTC teams. One of my awards is the superior LET 2 medal with others. I am going to be either a Company 1sgt. or XO this year and either the Regimental CSM Deputy Commander and possibly even Regimental Commander my senior year. As for sports I was on swim team my freshman year and did some track this sophomore year but not varsity. I have many military family members mainly Army and Air Force including a cousin who graduated from the USAFA in 2007. My family's affiliation with the military stretches all the way back to the American Revolution.
I am curios as to what my chances are and if there is any chance I still have on getting in. I want the Academy experience and plan on being a Marine Officer after graduation and serving in either Marine Recon or Marine Aviation.
I am just about to enter my junior year and any advice from individuals familiar with the process would be much appreciated.</p>
<p>As for Academic rigger I have taken all normal classes with one integrated my freshman year. This sophomore year I still had that integrated class with one AP and one honor class. This junior year I will replace that integrated class with an honors one and take two AP classes.</p>
<p>You don’t get to apply directly to the service academies as a civilian, unless you happen to be the child of a Medal of Honor recipient. They do not accept applications from the general public.</p>
<p>You have two basic options to get in to a service academy:
(1) Get nominated, by one of your Congressmen (Representative or Senator) or by the President or Vice President of the US. Generally, you need a very solid academic record to get a nomination.
(2) Enlist in the appropriate branch (Navy, in your case) and apply to the corresponding service academy from within that service. You only need your commanding officer’s nomination, which should be easy to obtain, and not a Congressman’s.
Keep in mind that there is an age deadline: you must not yet have reached your 23rd birthday on the day you would enter (July 1) the academy’s summer start session. For most standard-age applicants, that means that if you enlist directly after HS, you would have one full term of service (4 years, usually) to get in - although the reality of the application cycle is that you would have to complete the application process by 3 years. Still, you could work out physically and take college classes on your own time regularly for 3 years to make yourself an appealing applicant.<br>
And if you don’t get in to the USNA in 4 years, you will still have a much more attractive status applying to any college as an Honorably Discharged active duty veteran.</p>
<p>To be more correct: the USMC is part of the Department of the Navy, and the USNA graduates can go to either the USMC or the USN upon graduation. You could enter the USNA as an enlisted man from either the USN or the USMC.</p>
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<p>That’s not true at all. The vast majority of applicants are civilians from the general public. They wouldn’t have that many applications if the only way to apply would be prior enlisted or a kid of a MOH recipient. Also, just because you have a nomination doesn’t mean you’ll be appointed.</p>
<p>You shouldn’t enlist, OP, unless you really don’t mind not becoming an officer, because there’s no guarantee you’d be accepted to a commissioning program after enlisting. </p>
<p>Your chances aren’t looking very good, because academics are extremely important and many applicants accepted have at least a cumulative 3.5 or so, though usually even higher than that. And you only really have one year to boost your GPA, you’ll be applying to college before your senior year is over. Even if you got a perfect 4.0, your cumulative would still be below the average GPA. Are there any extenuating reasons for your GPA? Many of those appointed have a very rigorous schedule with many AP classes.</p>
<p>You really need to do well on your SAT and ACT, especially on the math and reading sections. </p>
<p>Most definitely have a back-up plan, because USNA has about a 7% acceptance rate. You could always do a year at a regular college and apply again, if you do well. But you need to have good grades. </p>
<p>Maybe @NROTCgrad can help you out too; he’s familiar with the process. </p>
<p>Go to USNA’s website and read their catalog and class profile and you’ll see how everything works and what your options are.</p>
<p>^ A nomination from your Congressman is NOT a direct application from a civilian. The vast majority of applicants are, in fact, Congressionally nominated. Nomination from some authorized source is a requirement.</p>
<p>Perhaps it would have been more clear to say that they cannot review an application unless all associated requirements, including being nominated, have been fulfilled. The distinction might be expressed as I do not consider them to have “accepted” an application that they are not allowed to review because it lacks a nomination.</p>
<p>From the USNA website:</p>
<p>“To receive an offer of appointment to the Naval Academy, an applicant must obtain a nomination from an official source. There are many nomination sources and applicants are encouraged to apply to all available sources. This normally includes a U.S. Representative, two U.S. Senators and the Vice President of the United States.”</p>
<p>See: “Steps for Admission: (4) Apply for Nomination”</p>
<p>“If the information provided in your Preliminary Application indicates your record is strong enough, you will become an official candidate for admission and you will receive a candidate information letter as early as the July prior to your high school senior year. Upon completion of your candidate file, the Admissions Board will review your record.”</p>
<p>See: “Steps for Admissionin: (6) Official Candidate”</p>
<p>“If you are found scholastically qualified but do not receive a Letter of Assurance, you will be competing for an Offer of Appointment from within your nominating sources. Approximately 2,000 candidates are found fully qualified (scholastic, medical, CFA, and have obtained a nomination) each year. Of that number, about 1,500 will receive appointments and approximately 1,200 become midshipmen.”</p>
<p>See: “Steps for Admission: (11) Selection & Deadlines”</p>
<p>Yeah, you have to be nominated, but you apply as a civilian. You submit your application to USNA, transcript, test scores, essays, letters of rec, and then you have to be nominated by your congressman (or other nomination source). But you apply as a civilian and you send USNA your application. And they can review your application before you have a nomination, that’s what’s LOAs are for; it basically says that so long as you receive a nomination, you’re accepted. Yes, you need a nomination, but the nomination is separate from the rest of the application so to speak. </p>
<p>But they specifically say that they review upon completion of your candidate file. Your candidate file is not complete without a nomination. Ergo, they do not review if you do not (yet) have a nomination.</p>
<p>They also specify that you should obtain your nomination concurrently; there is not enough time to obtain them sequentially. It is essential to have a nomination for them to review your file. No nomination = file incomplete = no review = no consideration for admission.</p>
<p>Bottom line:
USNA does not review/evaluate incomplete applications.
Applications are not complete without the required nomination.
He is very unlikely to get a nomination from a Congressman with his current academic record.
He can fairly easily get a nomination from his CO on active duty.
He can greatly improve his chances of being selected if he dedicates and applies himself for two or three years on active duty.</p>
<p>Another option: each of the service academies has a preparatory school, for candidates who aren’t academically “academy-ready”. He can apply to enter the USNAPS and USNA on the same application, provided he would still be within the age limits when entering the USNA. (I have a friend who got into the USAFA this way.) This is probably his best bet, actually.</p>
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That’s a good option, but most of the time, those slots go to recruited athletes. Another option along the same lines is to do a year at a civilian prep school, or if he wanted to, participate in ROTC in college and do well enough to commission that way instead. </p>
<p>Also, OP might not even be competitive enough to open an application. You have to have a sufficient record (I think it’s mostly determined by test scores) to become an official candidate and even have the chance to apply. He’ll need to do really well on his tests.</p>
<p>I agree that your chances are below average… BUT you should definitely apply and give it everything you have. If you really want it, and give it your best, you never know. You might catch a break.</p>
<p>You do have the advantage of your Hispanic background. The military academies definitely have strong affirmative action plans.</p>
<p>Your martial arts experience is an outstanding asset too.</p>
<p>Wanting to become a Marine is another edge. Focus on that, and make a major effort to max the physical fitness test. This has the potential to overcome your mediocre grades.
<a href=“Marine Corps Boot Camp | Recruit Basic Training | Marines”>Marine Corps Boot Camp | Recruit Basic Training | Marines;
Try to make the varsity cross country team. Marines love people who run.</p>
<p>I agree that the USNA Prep School is a very good option for you. But you still have to apply to the Academy first. They will offer you the Prep School only after determining that you are not yet ready.</p>
<p>Here is one way to catch a break… People who live in states with very small populations (like Alaska and Wyoming) have an major advantage because they have a lot less competition. Plus sometimes your Congressman just likes you a lot, and tells the Naval Academy that you are the preferred candidate. In that instance, USNA is required to take you unless you are determined to be unqualified. Long shot? Yes. But it happens.</p>
<p>Also consider the U.S Merchant Marine Academy. It is a totally legitimate path to a USMC commission. Actually, USMMA midshipmen can commission in any service (including Coast Guard) or remain a civilian. Plus, the competition is much less stiff. USMMA is easily the most overlooked academy.</p>
<p>GPA. I was asked to write a letter of recommendation for a candidate who did have the qualifications (Congressman, grades, etc.) and the academies were very strict in what they wanted to hear about the student on their forms, especially grades. </p>
<p>You can try, but because the coursework is tough, that GPA is crucial.<br>
When my son finished his Eagle award in Boy Scouts, near an election, we had congressmen coming out of our ears offering LOR, pictures, accolades for any academy application.</p>
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Principal Nomination? Common misconception that the USNA has to give you an Appointment if you are 3Qd and receive a Principal Nomination.
<a href=“http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=37662”>http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=37662</a></p>
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I missed the part where the USNA says your candidate file is not complete without a nomination and that they won’t review it without the nom. Yes…you eventually need a nomination for an Appointment…but NO you don’t need one to have your candidate file reviewed. </p>
<p>BTW - Most Members Of Congress (MOCs) use a non-ranked slate of candidates. In circumstances where MOCs do not specify a principal candidate or ranked alternates, one individual from among the MOCs nominees who is found to be fully qualified will be appointed by the academies to serve as cadets. In other words…USNA gets to choose the candidate from a slate of 10. How do they choose without reviewing the candidate files?</p>
<p>FutureUSNA1998 I think your current chances of admission to the USNA are not good. That said…if you have a strong year academically and do tremendous on your SAT/ACT tests…then maybe. Other than the Principal Nomination part that I posted, I agree with NROTCgrad on all his other points. Regardless you should at least try to apply.</p>
<p>If you are determined to be a Marine Officer then the NROTC/MO might be a better fit for you. Also review the following thread and consider the PLC course.
<a href=“Become a Marine Corps Officer | Marines”>Become a Marine Corps Officer | Marines;
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>@aglages,
Thanks for the correction and clarification. </p>
<p>@FutureUSNA1998
If you really want the “academy experience” you might consider, as a back up plan, ROTC at Virginia Military Institute or The Citadel. Sure, they are not the same, but both a quite good and their graduates are very proud of their experience.</p>
<p>Thank you I live in a populated state however. Southwest Florida to be exact but I am unsure exactly as to what my congressional district is. From my school I see no competition however I see another boy who is applying who does have a higher GPA and I see as my competition. Most of the people I know of that want to attend an academy are looking at West Point. One thing that unsettles me is my former JROTC Regimental commander got accepted into the seminar and all was going well for him but he failed an AP Calculus class during his senior year which turned him down although he still had a GPA of over 4.0 he didn’t get accepted and is now going to do an Army ROTC program in college on a scholarship. </p>
<p>Thank you I have considered NROTC as my backup plan. It doesn’t matter to me on whether or not I get the scholarship because of my status as a child of a 100% disabled veteran I would just like to get accepted into NROTC however and will do so if I cannot receive my nomination and get accepted to the Naval Academy as it is my dream to become a Marine Officer and one day maybe even Commandant of the Marine Corps</p>
<p>Your competition is more than just those in your HS. All the other HSs in your Congressional district plus any home schooled students are you competition just for the US Reps nomination. You’re competing with all the applicants in the entire State of Florida for the two US Senators noms and the whole country for the VP nom. On the other hand, you can’t be sure (until you check with him/her) how many nomination slots your MOCs have left. Some may have more than one. The good news is that as the son of a 100% disabled vet you are also eligible for a Presidential nomination in addition to the US Rep, both US Senators and the VP nom. </p>
<p>Failing any class (particularly math/science) as a junior or senior is going to seriously hurt a SA application. Not sure why you would be concerned about that considering you’re planning on RAISING your GPA by having a tremendous academic year.</p>
<p>Good luck pursuing your dreams and remember there is more than one path to your goals. </p>
<p>Thank you very much I knew having a veteran as a father was important but I didn’t know the fact that he was 100% disabled tremendously increased my chances. I am going to apply to my district and can someone explain to me what a blue and gold officer is exactly? I have her name and email on a list back home but what is their role?</p>