Naval Academy dilemma (serious advice needed)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>This is my first post on this forum and I have joined specifically to inquire advice on attending the Naval Academy. It has been my BURNING desire since sophomore year to get accepted and become a SEAL. I'm excellent physically for I have been doing Stew Smith's 12 Step to BUD/S program and I am in wrestling. </p>

<p>Freshmen year I took all honors classes and wrestled. I received straight A's. I was in Kiwins, CSF (scholarship club with huge benefits), and Korean club. I volunteered around 50 hours at the local Marine Corps recruiting station. I went to Mexico for a mission trip in the summer. My future highschool career looked good as the classes I took were very tough. I took Chemistry in the summer with intentions on taking Bio AP the following year. </p>

<p>That was a dumb mistake. I got put in Chemistry AP instead of Bio AP the next year. I also took all honors and WHAP my sophomore year. I really struggled with Chem Ap (cause of the summer course) and it took time away from all my other classes. I ended up getting a one on the AP test. For WHAP I got a four on the AP test and I got a 740 on the world history SAT II test (Should I retake it?). Because of Chem AP I ended up getting 3 B's (one included CHAP) by the end of the school year. I was in five clubs and I applied for board positions in all of them but I did not get ANY. I also ran for Finance for the student council and I did not win. I did get accepted into a Junior Leadership Program which is pretty prestigious but thats it.. I did the Mexico mission trip again and I was an intern at an accountant and consultant group in the summer. </p>

<p>My junior year right now is when everything started going really downhill. I am taking all honors and Bio AP and APUSH. I have been procrastinating alot this semester so at best I will be getting 4 B's and two A's (one honor). I am on the verge of two C's. I am joining the swim team. I tried to start a FBLA chapter at my school, I got a teacher advisor and held meetings with 20+ members but it got shot down by the activities director (for no good reason). I was looking good at being a team captain for wrestling for next year but I started skipping practice because of my classes so I doubt it now. I will be getting the Bronze Presidential Award for volunteering at my church which isnt too great. My Korean teacher is going to nominate me for student of the month award but I don't know cause most of my other teachers dislike me. I am in three clubs again. Again this year has been incredibly hard on me so far.. Procrastination is what killed me and I regret it.</p>

<p>So here's the thing
My grades are falling. I lack leadership positions and volunteering hours.</p>

<p>I am considering volunteering at the local hospital (a year long commitment) next year. Should I do it?</p>

<p>I have a passion for guitars (one of the main reasons why I have been procrastinating) but I am wondering if I can do anyting with that to sweeten up my application. I am joining the praise band at my church so I guess that helps. I also enjoy writing poetry. Should I start entering some into poetry contests?</p>

<p>I am working dilligently to get the best possible SAT score (taking it January). I will be completing my nomination application this coming week.</p>

<p>So in regards to my situation, can you guys give me ANY advice? I want to go to the Naval Academy really bad but I don't know if its a possibility anymore. I heard about NAPS. Can someone explain to me how to apply for it and the difficulty involved? Also how does the one year at college then apply to the Naval Academy work? </p>

<p>Please let me know as I am desperate. Thanks.</p>

2

<p>Sounds like you have too many irons in the fire. For instance,
-why join swim team if you are already missing practices with wrestling team? Better to have one GOOD solid performance in a sport than two where you are doing not so well.
-Rather than joining the praise band, how about going to where you already volunteer and see if you can help train new volunteers (which would be leadership)?
-Rather than taking on ANYTHING else, why not work on improving what you have on your plate; course grades, SAT scores, relationships with teachers, etc.?</p>

<p>Finally, leadership IS important, as I understand it. That means getting along with, motivating and of course leading others. You do need some leadership experience (this would be the one area where you need to add something, with everything else just improve where you are).
You mention that “My Korean teacher is going to nominate me for student of the month award but I don’t know cause most of my other teachers dislike me.” Try and consider why those teachers dislike you, if that is in fact the case. Work to change that. Also, build on what you have…the relationship with your Korean teacher. Can you work with him or her and offer tutoring to a couple of other students and maybe find some other students to do the same? This would be leadership.</p>

<p>Hopefully some with experience in this regard can help you. Sounds like you want this badly but need some mentorship on how to package yourself and ready yourself. Keep at it and keep seeking advice. Ask, perhaps, also about NROTC maybe?</p>

<p>T</p>

3

<p>Excellent advice from @taben112… consider that last year NAVY had approximately 20,000 applicants vying for about 1250 spots. My son is a senior going through this process, with an OUTSTANDING GPA, EC’s, leadership and test scores. He has qualified medically and has received a nomination from our Senator. Yet, he is STILL waiting for an appointment that could never come… my point being this, go for your dream but be realistic and have very strong and viable Plan B and C in place the entire time. Right now you should apply to attend USNA’s Summer Seminar program for next summer. I believe the app is currently available online. Get your GPA as high as possible, as well as your SAT and ACT. They could care less about AP test scores or SAT subject tests. Narrow your EC focus to a couple of things you feel strongly about and try again to get into a leadership position in those organizations. Find a way to get some volunteer hours and find a way to get in the good graces of your teachers because they have to write you rec’s and they MUST be outstanding. And again, PLAN B AND C are vital. FYI, NAPS spots appear to mostly be reserved for recruited athletes who are not quite up to speed academically (although were probably still very very good students, just not quite as high), and if you do a year of college first you STILL have to have all your ducks in a row and everything in perfect order. Good luck!</p>

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<p>However you get into any of the service academies, you will spend 4 years there. If you spend a year at NAPS or anywhere else, you enter the Naval Academy as a 4/c (equivalent to a freshman). You might place out of several classes, but you still have to stay 4 years to graduate (you could work on graduate classes your final year). Note also that attendance at NAPS doesn’t guarantee admission the following year - you still have to compete with yet another set of applicants.</p>

<p>You are trying too hard - they will not be looking for loads of EC’s but for string commitment. If you’re already struggling with grades, joining yet another team isn’t going to help - either as an EC, or with your grades. </p>

<p>Also understand, going to the Naval Academy means a commitment to the Navy and/or Marine Corp, it does not guarantee you a spot in the SEALS. Given your struggle with your grades, I suspect you will end up doing something else. Shortly before graduation, each class picks their MOS (occupation), and that is done in order of class rank - if you’re stuggling now, will you rank high enough in your class to have such a choice?</p>

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<p>As CTScoutmom said, Quality > Quantity, and do what you love rather just to pad your application.</p>

<p>You need to work on your grades, and focus on that first, extracurriculars 2nd, and try to stop procrastinating. </p>

<p>As far as NAPS, when you apply to USNA, they automatically consider your for NAPS. Those who USNA feels need an extra year to improve are sent to NAPS. Now, what are your grades and all because if your grades are too high, you won’t get into NAPS and will be rejected from USNA if they aren’t high enough though. CTScoutmom is actually wrong on one point, I believe. As a NAPster, you don’t compete with other applicants, you are extended an offer of appointment as long as you meet all of the requirements (2.0 or above and all of that) and receive a nomination. Even if you cannot get a nomination, I hear they usually try and get you one (I read somewhere in addition to whatever congressional nomination they get, they all receive a Secretary of the Navy one too, but not sure if this is true of not). Just wanted to point that out, that NAPsters have a pretty much guaranteed spot so long as they do well. </p>

<p>Echoing what taben said, figure out what’s going on with you and your teachers. You will have to submit a recommendation from your math and English teachers, so you better be on good terms with them as this is one of the many things that help admissions decide to admit or reject a candidate, and while it probably won’t make or break your application, every bit helps/hurts. As granipc said, there’s not really a person to whom USNA is a safety school…even if you have a 4.0, 100 EC’s, etc., you still might not get in. There are a lot of other things people can’t see which can affect them getting in:</p>

<p>-BGO interview
-MOC interview (for nomination)
-Essays
-Recommendations
-etc.</p>

<p>So this is what you need to do:</p>

<p>-Work hard
-Stop procrastinating (think of yourself on I-day, on graduation, etc., when you start to procrastinate and tell yourself you will never get there if you don’t buckle down and do your work)
-Do your best on your SAT/ACT’s </p>

<p>Now is a good time to start thinking of a plan B, C, D, E…</p>

<p>This is what most do:</p>

<p>-Apply to USNA and NROTC scholarship
-If rejected from USNA and not the scholarship, they do that, and might reapply. Or they might fall in love with NROTC and go with that all 4 years
-If they don’t receive the NROTC scholarship, they do the college program NROTC, reapply for NROTC scholarship and USNA
-If you get in then, great. If you get NROTC scholarship, great.
-By now, most will just stick with NROTC and reapply for a scholarship if they haven’t received one already.</p>

<p>Long plan, but important. Some, if they don’t get into USNA, will go to a Senior Military College (SMC) because that’s like a happy-medium between a civilian college and service academy.</p>

<p>CTScoutmom brings up a good point. The class of 2013 recently received their service selections, and only 40 got Special Ops (SEAL/EOD combined), those are Mids at the op of their class. You put down your top selections, and what you get is based on your interest, class ranking, needs of the Navy/Marine Corps, stuff like that. You have to be great to get SEAL. </p>

<p>Also consider about receiving a nomination. How competitive is your district and state?</p>

<p>I hope that helps.</p>

6

<p>Thank you guys for the input. CE527M thanks for your post its extremely helpful. </p>

<p>So I will stop procrastinating, work better towards my relations with teachers (its the little things that would kind of make them ****y), and work to manage my time so I dont miss practice. </p>

<p>Grades and SATs I feel are very doable. The classes this year aren’t that hard just a lot of work. This semester is a bust but I feel like I can get mostly A’s next semester if I try my best.</p>

<p>The issue I have are leadership roles. I’m not sure if I can become a president of any the clubs I am in (I will try though). Are there any organizations you guys can recommend me based on the military or any Christian affiliated ones in which I can prove my leadership in? These I feel I will be passionate about. I’m going to try to join the praise band and become the praise band leader. </p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

7

<p>Rather than starting something new with praise band or another new organization, can you offer to put together a student to student training for Mexico mission trip have done twice?
I think you will look to scattered if you add yet something else in the last part of 11th rather than building on, and showing commitment to, those things you are already involved in. Commitment matters. We here this again and again not just with the Academies but with college admissions in general…
They would rather you have a handful of things you are good at and lead in (i.e. one sport with team captain, two clubs throughout high school, one band instrument) than 10 things that you did only here and there with no leadership, growth, or commitment to any.
You have a good thing going with the Mission trip. Now, what can you do to build on the fact that you have attended twice?
T</p>

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<p>Glad my post was helpful, I was thinking of a lot of different hings to write down and felt like it wasn’t organized well :)</p>

<p>Are you involved your youth group a lot? Because church is a +. Missions trips, volunteering with your youth group, all excellent things to put down. Try to get involved with all of that.</p>

<p>Less is more.</p>

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<p>If not NAPS, you can consider Greystone, an all-academy prep school in Texas – I think it may be the only recognized one outside of the “official” academy prep schools.</p>

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<p>Thank you guys again. I’m joining the praiseband anyways not for college but just cause I think it’d be a good use of my talent/hobby. Becoming the praise band leader is something I’d consider for college.</p>

<p>Taben1112/CE527M- the student to student training is a great idea! If that doesn’t work I know I can participate in other leadership roles with the Mexico mission as my church is very supportive. I should just try to get a leadership role in general for God and for my college. </p>

<p>Kellybkk- THANK YOU for that recommendation. It seems like the school just for me regarding my situation. I will research it alot but how difficult is it to get in?</p>

<p>I think I should try to join one organization, just to assure a leadership role. Something with a cause that I would want to stay committed to. </p>

<p>Guys just to clarify my real passion is becomming a Navy SEAL. It is a very serious passion and I think due to my mentality I will have a good chance at BUD/S. However, because I know that academically I am able (I just regretfully messed up alot with my grades) and due to my constant desire for prestige the Naval Academy is a must.</p>

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<p>In all honesty, if SEALs is what you want, enlist. You are not guaranteed a BUD/s slot at all by becoming an officer, even with NROTC it is also up in the air. That said, if you show a lot of interest at USNA, if you do mini BUD/s over one of the summers (that’s one of the options for 2nd Class summer training) and if you talk to people about it (there are people on campus from every service selection, Marines, Subs, SEALs, etc.) then you will have a better shot than no one. But it is hard to get.</p>

<p>Also, kellybkk reminded me that besides NAPS, there is also the foundation program, sometimes the Academy will sponsor someone, sometimes candidates decide to do that for a year instead of going to a regular college if they are rejected. Read more about that here: [Foundation</a> Program??? - United States of America Service Academy Forums](<a href=“http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=29470]Foundation”>http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=29470)</p>

<p>Also, that website I gave you is INVALUABLE! Go there and they can help you out a lot too.</p>

<p>And don’t forget to apply to USNA’s summer seminar!</p>

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<p>You got a lot of good advice and good information above. I will echo the advice to focus on your grades and focus on just a few extracurriculars that you do well rather than spreading too thinly. Dont try to force the leadership thing. It needs to come naturally and it should if you just stick with something rather than moving to new ventures in hopes of finding a leadership position. Earn it by having a lot of experience and as such the ability to offer, guide and share. That is being a leader.</p>

<p>We are a sponsor family to two USNA plebes. One is a strong individual, focused student and good athlete. The other was recruited for his athletic ability and received a Sec Nav nomination which the USNA executed rather than having to go through the traditional process of being nominated by a congressperson. Long and short is, be the best you can be but stop trying so hard to be who you think you need to be. Either you have it or you don’t, but 1) if you don’t get in, there are some good alternative suggestions above and 2) if you don’t get in. you will live.</p>

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<p>Daniel,
I am the parent of a Naval Academy grad and now Naval officer, please don’t take my advice as mean, it is not intended to be such. You’ve been given a lot of good advice above but let me be honest with you; you’re average at best, unfocused and not succeeding at anything. You can’t say that you have a burning desire and allow your grades to fall, make poor choices and skip practice.
It is highly unlikely that you will achieve an appointment, and it’s basically too late (Jr. year) to correct your shortfalls (mediocre grades, no solid leadership, etc.). Find out who your Blue & Gold Officer is, meet with him/her and get their insight and advice.
It’s time to make solid back-up plans. First, what is your top priority; to become an Naval Officer or a SEAL? I perceive that it’s to become a SEAL yet you are demonstrating qualities that are very un-SEAL like: skipping practice, procrastinating, unfocused, etc. You’ll never make it through BUDS which is designed to weed out men who are not singularly focused on never quitting. Are you willing to enlist to get a shot at SEALs? More importantly, are you willing to get the shot and still be an enlisted sailor if you fail? If your desire is to be an Officer then you may have some hope. USNA and NAPS are highly unlikely. NROTC is a possibility but you need to apply for the scholarships and associated colleges. Good news here is that you’ll have four years to get yourself squared away.
My advice: Quit the shotgun approach, stay laser focused on improving your grades, stop pushing yourself to AP if you can’t make the grade. Better to get an A in non-AP than a C in AP. Quit all of these extracurricular activities and focus on one or two and achieve excellence in them. SEALs, join a CrossFit gym and get in superior shape. As you know, most of BUDS is about water; find a SCUBA class and get certified, this advice is less about the certification and more about becoming comfortable in the water.
Are you willing to dedicate 7+ years (1 high school, 4 college, 2 training) to become a warrior (killing people and blowing things up)? 7 years of pain, loneliness and sacrifice just to get to the point of pinning a Trident on your chest and start your service commitment?
Lastly, I commend you on your desire to serve and I sincerely hope that you prove me wrong. I wish you Godspeed and success in achieving your goals.</p>

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<p>Agreed, with similarly no malice or meaness intended. </p>

<p>Several thoughts:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>As noted, IF you are serious about SEALs, you’ll need to get squared away. That begins with self-perspective, candor, and some behavioral adjustment. Step #1 may be receiving the counsel you’ve sought and got here (and presumably elsewhere) and developing an action plan for the next 18 months. </p></li>
<li><p>If you REALLY want to be a SEAL and stay a SEAL, enlisted may well be the preferable route to the Navy officer ranks.</p></li>
<li><p>Remember that USNA, as good as it can get for many, is NOT the end game. There are various routes and you’ve time to pursue those. NROTC, OCS are far more likely paths in light of the choices you’ve made and not made to date.You need to put time on your side.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Remember … you are seeking an opportunity. First you need to determine what opportunity you seek. Good luck, go after it.</p>

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<p>How is Stew Smith’s 12 step guide to BUD/s by the way?</p>

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<p>Don’t report that 1 on AP Chem. Getting a 1 shows no dedication to the course at all. I have to agree with usnaparentoh10. Start looking at your Plan B and Plan C schools.</p>

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<p>The AP exam score will be expected as long as the course is on your transcript.</p>

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<p>Don’t worry too much about reporting the 1 on AP Chem, I similarly had bombed the AP Physics exam but sent in the score anyways at the recommendation of my guidance counselor. I did end up going to NAPS first, got placed in their advanced track, and then validated both semesters of physics and various other classes which helped me greatly. In my experience with NAPS (to answer some questions I saw on this thread) everyone who graduated successfully, had no outstanding conduct issues, and chose to continue received appointments to the Academy. A lot of the advice here is pretty solid, you should really try to focus and excel at a few things rather than do a little at everything.</p>

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Whatever happened dude? Where are you now?