Waiver for Allergy Immunotherapy

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
1

<p>I'm VERY frustrated at the moment - I'm a senior in high school trying to get into USNA, obviously. I started allergy immunotherapy in May of my sophomore year after searching as much as I could to see if it would prevent me from getting into the Academies - couldn't find ANYTHING. I'm now disqualified from NROTC, USMA, and USNA because of allergy immunotherapy within the past year.</p>

<p>I've been found academically qualified by USNA and have a letter of assurance from USMA, but both places still require medical qualification before I can go any further. To make me even more confused, a letter from the Naval Academy said that they won't give me a medical waiver until they find out if I'm qualified in everything else - I feel like I'm going in circles.</p>

<p>I'm visiting USNA this Friday, doing an overnight like they offered.</p>

<p>Don't know if stats would help judge my chances of getting a waiver:</p>

<p>ACT: 31 sophomore year, 34 junior year
SAT: currentely 1410/2090, but next results come out on Monday, hoping to improve
Drum major 9th grade, 11th grade
Yearbook editor 11th grade, 12th grade
Varsity track 10, 11, probably spring of 12
American Legion Award in 9th grade
National Junior Honor Society (9th grade)
National Honor Society (11th grade)
National Merit Semi-Finalist as of Oct. 22 (listed USNA as my first choice school)
Won national essay contests
Girls State participant</p>

<p>Took CFA during summer seminar
BBthrow: 33'
pullups: 3
Shuttle: ? Ok i think, not fastest, not slowest
situps: 82 (tied with iron michelle in my squad)
pushups: 45
mile run: 9:56 (yes, I know this sucks :-D)</p>

<p>Retook Oct. 12
BBthrow: 34'
pullups: 2
Shuttle: ?
situps: 85
pushups: 50 (max)
mile run: 8:33</p>

<p>This is all very frustrating to my family - my parents were army officers and can't tell how proactive they/I should be in the Navy. My brother sought a WP appointment two years ago, got nomination but never appointment, VERY disappointed, now 3 year advance ROTC.</p>

<p>I was planning to try to talk to admissions when I'm in Annapolis next weekend, sent email to USMA regional director offering to get tests, have corresponded with both DoDMERB and USNA about my allergy immunotherapy.</p>

<p>I know my brother's best friend got in last year w/ AIT, had to get an MRI or something....</p>

<p>Please, anything you know would be helpful at this point!</p>

2

<p>forgot to add, 3.84 on non weighted GPA
class rank 34/565, very competative school (9 national merit scholars)
by the time I graduate I'll have 10 AP classes</p>

3

<p>How often do you get your shots? I seem to recall reading somewhere that it was ok to get them as long as it's not more than once a month.</p>

4

<p>eek. OK, my history:
started shots May 04, took them every 4 days, got to maintanence in 3 months (very quickly).
after that (aug 04-sep05), was told i needed to get shots every 2 weeks at maintanence level to keep up (that's the eek part)
however, i voluntarily chose to get the shots, and as my parents point out, I'm not allergic to anything that would affect me on a ship....tree pollens, cats, dogs, feathers.
I discontinued shots in early september after I got my first DoDMERB disqualification, had the nurse practitioner write an initial letter of clarification for both USNA and DoDMERB when they requested it
Whew! long answer to a short question. Guess it all boils down to the fact that, yes, I got them more than once a month.</p>

5

<p>Ok my son was basically in the same boat as you and he did get a waiver. So I think you have a shot...oops bad choice of words...anyway, good luck!</p>

6

<p>Wow. What a tough situation! I feel so badly for you. Sounds like you need to seek some help from high places. The initial letter of clarification may not have been written in a manner beneficial to you.There have been some real absurd horror stories about DODMERB. If you are completely off the shots and only allergic to those minor things (that 99% of the population is allergic to as well), why not search for a new contact within USNA to discuss this matter with you? Also, go back to your health provider and let them know what is going on. Sorry to say that you might have to step back to go forward. All is not lost. You have worked so very hard and your stats prove it so don't give up. Keep pounding on all the doors. Someone is bound to hear you soon. Take a deep breath and come Monday, get back on the phone and talk to anyone who will listen! Maybe someone on here (HELLO ANY DOCTORS IN THE HOUSE) can offer some really good sound advice.</p>

7

<p>thanks, you don't know how encouraging that is to hear...my fingers are crossed and I'm prepared to do as much as it takes!</p>

8

<p>I posted this somewhere else already, but in case anyone's waiting for this thread to continue....
the DoDMERB site says that USMA AND USNA have granted me medical waivers!!! Hallelujah!!! Nothing's come through in the mail yet, but so far the website has never been wrong. This is such a relief, hope the same thing is happening to others!</p>

9

<p>marmadillo: congrats....obviously USNA sees something in you they want, regardless of a few little allergies....just goes to show, it all works out in the end somehow!</p>

10

<p>Thanks for keeping us up to date and congrats! One more step in the process.</p>

11

<p>Great! I thought you'd be ok but you never know about these things.</p>