<p>I was wondering what my chances are of getting into the Naval Academy.
I live in the Bahamas on a US Naval Base (though none of my family is Navy, they are civilian contractors). </p>
<p>My GPA is about 3.4-3.5. My SAT score was Critical Reading:660, Math:650, and Writing:650.</p>
<p>The community is extremely small (population approx. 300) but I am involved in the following extracurricular activites: paintball, running club, youth group, softball when in season (baseball is not available), while I have no community service on record I do help out in the community any way I can, I also go to the gym regularly.</p>
<p>Also have recommendations from the base OIC and principal who is an ex-Marine.</p>
<p>just forming a first impression based on your name, but... would you be ok in the navy if you weren't a SEAL? Also, I think I read that your chances of going to BUDs are way higher if you just enlist. What if you enlisted, went to BUDs, then if you made it through, great, and if you didnt, apply to USNA? sounds like a plan to me!</p>
<p>as for your stats, your gpa is slightly below average, your SAT scores seem average, and nothing stands out at all about your extracurriculars. I have no idea how the congressional district situation would work out for you, but that would play a huge factor. For the class of 2010, only one person in my district applied to USNA, so I would say they had a lot of luck in getting a good district.</p>
<p>Taffy is right. Do you want to be a SEAL, or a Naval Officer who happens to be a SEAL?</p>
<p>If the answer is the former, then enlist and apply to BUDS. Not only will you have better chances, but you'll be able to drop out of BUDS and still be able to reapply (Officers get just one chance), and you will be a SEAL for as long as you stay in the Navy (whereas officers get assigned shore duty and so forth, becoming less an operating SEAL than just another desk jockey).</p>
<p>In short, if you're not willing to serve five years as a Boiler Officer aboard a sub tender or oiler, then I recommend you reassess your interest in USNA.</p>
<p>Not being harsh; just telling it like it is.</p>
<p>Thanks to both of you. I have studied be becoming a SEAL and still hadn't heard some of the stuff you put in. And yes, best case scenario I would like to be a SEAL or a pilot (two very different fields, I know).
I had no idea officers could only apply once. Or that they become less operational with time.
The only problem with going for BUDS first is that from what I understand that is only the first phase in SEAL training out of almost three years. If I were to get cut out at any time wold I have to start all over? That is why I would want to go the Academy first. I would hate to skip college and then not make the teams after a year+ of training.</p>
<p>I will work this next year on raising my GPA and my SAT scores as well as take the ACT. As for the extracurriculars, I can't do much to improve them. There are not many available sports or other programs to join.
Your thoughts?
Thanks again.</p>
<p>If you're in a running club, make sure you're competing and that your times/distances are improving. Prep well this summer so that you can improve your SAT scores. And it's a great idea to take the ACT - twice if you can. The academies take the highest subscores on both exams.</p>
<p>Thanks, momoftwins, I will make sure to stay competitive in my running and prepare for the SATs over the summer.</p>
<p>Zaphod, after attending the Academy, I could always refuse the rank of officer. This would leave me as enlisted, correct? If I can do this I will, I'm not in it for the rank.</p>
<p>I dont think they want people to soak up 300 grand in training to serve as enlisted. I don't think you'd have many peoples support on that, and if you want to go to college and be enlisted, just go to another college without an obligation and enlist after college.</p>
<p>As for your extracurriculars, try to gain leadership positions in them. President, Vice Prsident, Board Member. Run for office in your school. </p>
<p>If you make it through BUDs, your chances of washing out of the pipeline after that are much lower. BUDs is the weed-out indoc course. If you have a medical issue or something that isnt that bad happen, the instructors can recommend that you be rolled back into the class that started right after yours, so i wouldnt worry too much about that. I don't think they really want to send BUDs graduates back into the kitchen.</p>
<p>SEAL selects about 20 people out of USNA and many people apply for it... Unless you're the cream of the crop, be comfortable with the idea of not having a chance in hell of getting picked up for it. Pilot is also very desirable, because navy boys love tom cruise and Top Gun. You have to be ranked pretty well in the class to get picked up for pilot... Are you ok with flying a helicopter, or are you thinking that everybody goes F-18?</p>
<p>First, I hated Top Gun. And I'm not that big a fan of Tom Cruise, either.</p>
<p>The book the Academy sent said that upon graduation you could serve four years enlisted or five years as an officer. I will check again, but that sounds right. And from what I've heard, if I attending other colleges doesn't come close to attending the Academy.</p>
<p>I will try to get leadership positions in my extracurriculars. However, there's nothing I can run for in my school. It's very small, 35 kids, only 10 of which are in highschool.</p>
<p>I will strive to be better and eventually/hopefully the best. If only the cream of the crop goes in, that is what I will go for.</p>
<p>As far as flying goes, helicopters are fine with me. It's being in the air I love, not the hunk of metal I'm floating in.</p>
<p>If you like helicopters, take a look at USMA. I believe (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) they have the largest flying fleet in the world.</p>
<p>The book (and if not the book...the contract each MIDN signs with DON) says that if you FAIL to accept a comission THEN you might have to serve in an enlisted status (and/or pay the government money back that they spent on you, according to the GAO). It never says you have the choice. At graduation, almost everyone who walks across the stage gets a comission (the others are medically seperated from the service, but still graduate). No one AND I say NO ONE enters the Academy with the intention of leaving in an enlisted status.</p>
<p>DON'T waste taxpayers' money by going to USNA if your goal is to be enlisted.</p>
<p>You're right, jadler03. I just checked the book again and while it does say you can become enlisted, it doesn't say you get to make the choice.</p>
<p>And best case scenario I wouldn't even think of trying to leave as enlisted. I'm simply trying to find a way to get onto the career paths I'm striving for and stay on them.</p>
<p>And believe me, my goal isn't to be enlisted. My grandfather, father, and several very close friends went that route and all of them have told me college and officer is the way to go.</p>
<p>So, is there any way to go in as an officer with a good chance of staying where you are?</p>
<p>Also, momoftwins, you're probably right about the USMA. I don't know this for a fact though. However, I've grown up around the Navy, if I could I would prefer stick with them.</p>
<p>I just realized how far ahead of myself I'm getting. I'm not even in the Academy yet, I don't need to worry about how much I will be moved around as an officer. Yes, it would be awesome to become a SEAL or a pilot but it would not be the end of the world if I'm not. The whole reason behind going to the Academy is to serve my country and get an education while I'm doing it.</p>
<p>On that note I just have one more question. What is the best way to approach my blue and gold officer (it has to be by e-mail for overseas)? Should I begin with simply a greeting and introduce myself as 'Candidate XXXXXX' or should I jump right in and ask question and inquire about an interview?</p>
<p>Thank you all for your time, you've all been a great help.</p>
<p>If you want to fly helicopters, dont go to USMA. Army Officers don't fly much at all once they hit captain (thats a few years of flying), except to stay current. If you want to fly in the Army, just go to college, get your degree, apply for Warrant Officer Flight Training, and become a warrant officer pilot. Flying is their job, and they fly all the time. You said you just care about the job and not the ranks, so thats being a warrant officer. Air Force helicopter pilots fly about the same amount as Army warrant officers, except AF Helo pilots ARE officers (that's what I'm aiming for at U Illinois for now; Air Force ROTC, pilot training, to helos)</p>
<p>As for the BGO, i just said "Hi, I'm Firstname Lastname. I'm a candidate for the class of 2011 at Annapolis. The website listed you as my BGO to have an interview with you so I figured I'd give you a call to update you on my status." then he asked some questions like why i want to go to annapolis and some stuff like that, its probably not standard. I have to schedule a special interview with him cause I'll be away at college when he normally does it (similiar situation for you?).</p>
<p>I'm not going to be away at college, but I live overseas. They assigned me a BGO that is standard for all overseas candidates. However, I live in the Bahamas and she lives in Maine so I have a feeling our interview will be over the internet. I'll just have to wait and see.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the help, Taffy. I owe you.</p>
<p>Wannabeseal,
Take initiative when it comes to extracurriculars. My son was homeschooled therefore had 2 students in his school but still had a pretty long list of extracurriculars. Start a club or a tutoring group at your school. Find someone in charge and ask what you can volunteer for on the base.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Zaphod, after attending the Academy, I could always refuse the rank of officer. This would leave me as enlisted, correct? If I can do this I will, I'm not in it for the rank.