USNA or NROTC Scholarship Chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
1

<p>Hi, I am a junior in highschool. Male, born and raised in Maine, but this is my first year at Hargrave Military Academy - a boarding school in Virginia. I am from Maine's 1st Congressional District, and that is where I will be (hopefully) getting a nomination from. My grades were less than stellar at my public high school in Maine, a 3.3 GPA unweighted in all honors/AP classes, and I failed an independent Science Research class because I didn't do the work. Now, however, I am buckling down with a 4.1 unweighted this year. Below is a copy of my (brief) resume: </p>

<p>Education</p>

<p>Hargrave Military Academy, Chatham, Virginia 2013-2014
11th Grade
Award for Academic Excellence for the Second Semester (awarded only to one cadet per semester)
1st Squad Leader, 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, rank of Cadet Staff Sergeant
VA State Bar Assoc. 2014 Law in Society Essay Competition Battalion winner
Perfect score on the Hargrave Eye of the Tiger military challenge
Led initiative to establish a VEX Robotics program at Hargrave
Member of Mu Alpha Theta Math Honors Society
One of two nominated to attend the 2014 Virginia Tech Corps of Cadet’s Leadership Conference</p>

<p>Greely High School, Cumberland, Maine 2011-2013
9th-10th Grade
US Navy Senior Award from the Office of Naval Research for Intel Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) project
Played a key role in establishing a Student Government, worked closely with students, faculty, the administration and the School Board
Facilitated a debate between Chris Tyll and Dick Woodbury, who were running for the Maine District 11 State Senate seat in 2012</p>

<pre><code>Academics
</code></pre>

<p>Cumulative, unweighted GPA of 3.4, weighted 3.85
ACT composite score of 34, SAT Math of 800, SAT Critical Reading of 730
5 (maximum score) on AP Chemistry test</p>

<p>Athletic
2 Varsity Letters in Alpine Skiing
Varsity Letter in Swimming
Varsity Letter in Cross-Country
HMA 2013-14 Spirit Award for Cross Country
Portland Yacht Club Junior Sailing 2011 Brown Pawle Award for Most Shipshape </p>

<p>Work Experience</p>

<p>McDonald’s Spring-Fall 2013
Crew Member
Worked an average of 15 hours a week during the school year, and 30 hours a week during the summer
Biked 9 miles to/from work</p>

<p>I am also slated to be inducted into Beta Club at the end of the year, as well as receive a Varsity Letter in baseball, and I am also currently in the process of becoming a certified lifeguard. I also will (hopefully) be getting a student lobstering liscense, so I can do that full time instead of going back to McDonalds. I am 99% positive I will get a 5 on the AP US History test, and at least a 4 if not a 5 on the AP English Lit&Comp test. I am currently attending the Naval Academy Summer Seminar, the West Point Summer Seminar, and VA Boy's State, and (hopefully) the Coast Guard Academy Summer Seminar this summer. I also expect to be top 5% in my class of 70. If it was only this year, I'd be #1, but I don't know how much my old grades will bring me down. </p>

<p>So, do you think I can get into the Naval Academy or get a NROTC Scholarship (haven't decided my five schools for that yet) </p>

2

<p>You definitely have a shot at the Naval Academy, but just remember there is no such thing as a “slam dunk” for the academies.</p>

<p>However, unless you have some major problem (perhaps medical), you are as close to a “slam dunk” for a NROTC scholarship as one can be. Those ACT and SAT scores are truly impressive. But keep up the grades. You do have something to prove there.</p>

<p>I recommend applying for the NROTC scholarship as soon as it opens up (some time in May). You are far more likely to get your school of choice that way. Also, with those SAT/ACT scores you should aim high. Think schools like Duke, Tulane, Georgia Tech or Vanderbilt. If you like the military structure of Hargrave, then consider Virginia Tech and its Corps of Cadets.</p>

<p>Actually, choosing your top choice for a university is probably the trickiest aspect of the NROTC scholarship process. The Navy tells you which school you will go to, but if you do not get accepted to that school, then you have a rather big problem. So you should not reach so high that you risk not getting accepted. If the Navy gives you your first choice but you do not get accepted there, then you go back to the bottom of the college assignment list and might not even get sent to your second or third choice. So be careful.</p>

<p>Another great school to consider is the University of Rochester. Outside of your major, Rochester has zero required courses. So you have a lot more options there, than almost anywhere else. Plus, Rochester gives free room and board to NROTC scholarship students. So does Tulane, for that matter, and Vanderbilt gives an extra $6,000 per year toward room and board.</p>

<p>Definitely do not put any of the Maine NROTC colleges any higher than third. You will not be challenged at any of them. Perhaps you can claim residency for Virginia (but probably not) and thus include Virginia Tech or UVa as your state school. The Navy requires at least one state school where you are eligible for in state tuition.</p>

3

<p>It is a very encouraging sign that you have been accepted into the summer seminar programs for West Point, USNA, and Coast Guard Academy. This means that your earlier grades for 9th and 10th grade might not be a huge factor. BUT… do not get complacent. Getting into any of the service academies requires 100% effort. Stay focused.</p>

<p>If you really prefer the service academies over ROTC, then also consider the Merchant Marine Academy. It is the easiest to gain admission, and has the advantage of allowing you to earn a commission in any of the services, including Coast Guard and Air Force. It does have two notable disadvantages, however. The curriculum is very limited with only five different majors. In addition, its campus is not near as nice as any of the others. Still worth considering, especially as a back up strategy.</p>

<p>I mentioned VT Corps of Cadets earlier, but also consider Virginia Military Institute on a ROTC scholarship. I am certain that people at Hargrave can give you even better guidance on this. My view is that VMI might actually give both better academic education and better military training than USNA or even West Point. Academics because it has far more Ph.D instructors (98%) than USNA (65%) – and USNA has more than either Air Force or West Point. Militarily, the spartan life at VMI might, perhaps, prepare you best for rigorous life in the military. The downside is that cadets at VMI are not quite as bright as at USMA, USNA, or USGA, and of course prestige is higher at the academies. All in all, though, VMI compares extremely well with the academies.</p>

<p>Another major benefit of VMI is that it is literally next door to Washington and Lee University. The students at W&L are very intelligent, and thus so are its women students. Since you are obviously a very intelligent person, you might want to meet very intelligent women. Under some conditions, you can even takes classes at Washington and Lee.</p>

<p>I might want to backtrack on my advice about Duke and Vanderbilt. This is could be tricky, because it is questionable whether they will respect the military environment at Hargrave. Plus, if USNA turns you down because of earlier grades, then Duke and Vandy might do so too. Perhaps a better strategy is to focus a little lower. Not too low, though. Maybe look into Boston University (closer to home, for one thing) or again, U.Rochester. One advantage of Rochester is that if you do not get into U.Rochester, you can still use the scholarship at Rochester Institute of Technology or SUNY-Brockport. The scholarship is good at any college which has a crosstown agreement with the host school.</p>

4

<p>Thanks, I really appreciate you taking the time to respond, you’ve given me a lot of good info. I did, though, forget to mention what I plan to major in - mechanical engineering. </p>

5

<p>Majoring in mechanical engineering will definitely help you in getting the NROTC scholarship. It is among their preferred majors… tier one among three teirs. Almost every college with NROTC has mechanical engineering, and all the ones that I mentioned do.</p>

<p>My short version of advice is:

  1. Apply as early as possible for the NROTC scholarship. Right now that looks to be in June.
  2. Choose colleges which you both like and have a low chance of rejecting you. Just today here on CC, the mom of a student is trying to figure out what to do about the fact that her son was given a NROTC scholarship to Berkeley but Berkeley did not accept him. Try to avoid this situation.
  3. University of Rochester gives you a ton of flexiblity. Give it serious consideration.
  4. Consider Virginia Tech and VMI too, if you like the military structure (only if you like it, or need it)</p>

<p>Finally, enjoy your summer sessions at USMA, USNA, and USCGA. Usually about half of those attending do attend. So, your odds are good.</p>