c_odonnell

Is anyone familiar with the process of readmission of former Midshipmen? What does the admissions board look at to make their decision? Any insight on the process would be greatly appreciated.

Bill0510

Interesting question.

You will have to provide a lot more circumstantial information before getting any kind of meaningful answer, i.e. under what circumstances did the former midshipman leave?
But, having worked for and with a few government agencies the personnel of whom consider themselves "elite", I can tell you that "returns" are not usually looked upon favorably.
There will be an attitude of "he had his chance" that will have to be overcome.
Unless the departure was beyond your control, e.g. serious injury or significant personal calamity, then I wouldn't hold high hopes.

But . . . I am sure it happens

navy2010

I believe the process is the same as the first time around, including the nomination process.

Ditto bill's post above.
It has been done....

Know of one specific case where the midshipman was seperated after the fall semester of 2C year as a result of poor academic performance. He left, attended a community college for the spring semester in the courses he was deficient in, then returned in the fall to REPEAT his 2C year (which placed him into the following years class).... what I do not know (for this particular case) is whether or not the mid was required to get another nomination..... as mentioned, he was reinstated into the 2C year on track to graduate with the following year's class (which I believe he did- although as far as I know, he did not graduate in June, but rather ???august???....)

Not sure how often this happens- but it does. Would suggest the midshipman make an appointment with the admissions office to discuss the particulars.
Best of luck!

c_odonnell

Bill,

Midshipmen left at end of plebe year because of deficiency in academics (was able to voluntarily resign). Attended Penn State since with a 3.9. Also, during time at the Academy ranked third in company.

GreatAmerican

Midshipmen who are expelled cannot be readmitted to the academy. Since this individual was allowed to resign he can be readmitted. My understanding, from someone who was readmitted, is that being readmitted is an admisintrative process. You do not need another nomination.

From the USNA catalog:

navy2010

3.9 is great! just curious... what type of courses?

Whistle Pig

Thanks GA. You've nailed it again.

shogun

"Midshipmen left at end of plebe year because of deficiency in academics (was able to voluntarily resign). Attended Penn State since with a 3.9. Also, during time at the Academy ranked third in company."

Im confused...how can one be ranked "third in the company" and still be academically deficient?

c_odonnell

shogun- Rankings are composed of peer evaluations, company officer evaluation, and upperclass evaluations. Even though I was unsat academically I was still ranked third in my company and ranked second after plebe summer.

Navy 2010- some of the courses I took since departing were Business Calculus, Accounting, History, and Government.

MOM2LOLA2011

Off subject.. HEY HEY WHISTLE PIG.. Whats shakin in your neck of the woods? Just wanted to say HEY from Great State of GA

Bill0510

Shogun . . .

Specificity of speech is a beautiful thing to watch in action.

"Ranked third in company" --as used by c_ seems to be a statement that is true but less than accurate.
Based on his [her] comments, he may very well have been "ranked third in company" as determined by peer and company officer evaluations.

This ranking, however, would then be combined with gpa and other performance measures, e.g. PRT scores, to determine the Overall Order of Merit.

Thus, being "ranked third in company," while a nice statement in isolation, does not carry much weight in the "overall" measure of one's "merit." [Just off of memory, the OOM is heavily weighted by gpa although, when measured against others, the peer/company officer evaluations do make the difference between mids.] Especially when it might be considered taht this represents only one [two?] semester's work.


While being "ranked third in company" is better than being ranked last in company, I would bet that Admissions will look at the types of courses taken--in this case history, government, business calculus--and compare them to the course in which c_ was deficient. If the deficiency was in Chemistry, for example, the natural question will arise: What did you score in Chemistry at Penn State? If the answer is that C_ did not take Chemistry, I would guess this will raise a significant red flag.

C_: Only you can answer the truth about why you were academically deficient and what you have done since to correc the deficiency. If you were deficient in math but did well in science that might overcome the lack of Chemistry--although the question will come up regarding "Business Calculus" and not "Calculus."

At the end of the day, what have you done in the intervening year to make your story any more compelling? That is, you, in fact, were academically deficient. Why should the Academy believe that you would do any better this time than last. After all, "you had the chance" and did not succeed.

But, hey, all they can do is say "no."

grad/dad

Military performance (company ranking) is about 45% of the Military Order of Merit (MOM). The MOM is about 18% of the Overall Order of Merit (OOM). Academics is 65% of the OOM. As Bill0510 said it is better than being ranked three from the bottom.

shogun

Thanks Bill and Grad/Dad. That sounds similar to the way ranking is done at West Point. The cadets there do receive evaluations from the upperclass cadets and those results are factored in with their military instruction grades to come up with their ranking for the Military Program. Of course there is the academic ranking as well as the physical program score which also get factored in to come up with the overall Cadet Performance Score (overall ranking in the class):

Cadet Performance Evaluation System (CPES)
*
*
1.* The calendar year is divided -- for purposes of cadet performance evaluation -- into four terms.* Term 0 (zero) begins on R-Day (30 June) and ends with the start of academics (mid-August).* Term I continues through 31 December.* Term II begins on 1 January and ends on 22 May.* Term III is the Summer Term, and ends on 18 June.* Cadet performance evaluations within our three Programs (Academic, Military, and Physical) progress independently throughout the year.
*
2.* The Academic Program Score (APS) represents the cumulative grade point average for all academic subjects excluding the MS and PE core courses.* The grade point average is the sum of the numeric grade (on a 4.0 scale) earned in each course times the credit hour weight of the course divided by the total credit hours completed.
*
3.* In the Military Program, there are sixteen evaluated activities.* These include summer training, military performance during each term, and Military Science courses.* Military Science courses are graded like other academic courses.* All other Military Program activities (summer detail, AY duty positions) are evaluated using the Military Development (MD) grade.* The Military Program Score (MPS) represents the weighted average of the MD grades in each activity combined with MS course grades.* The weights are progressive -- activities completed at higher levels of responsibility generally have greater weight.
*
4.* The Physical Program consists of Physical Education courses, fitness testing, and athletic participation (AP).* The Physical Program Score (PPS) is reported at the end of each term and is derived from 50% coursework, 30% testing, and 20% AP.* Results for prior academic years were accumulated throughout the year and were reported at the end of Term II.* The Physical Program Score (PPS) represents the weighted average of all evaluations.*
*
5.* Cadets accrue separate Program Scores for each term during the year.* Term scores are aggregated to create cumulative scores in each program.* The Cadet Performance Score (CPS) is the weighted average of the cumulative Program Scores.* The APS contributes 55%, the MPS contributes 30%, and the PPS contributes 15%.* Program Scores are standardized before being combined with their weights.* The CPS is then converted to the familiar 4.00 scale with an average of 2.80 and a standard deviation of 0.40 for all Classes.
*
6.* At present, the CPS is used to determine the sequence in which First Class Cadets select their Branch of the Army, the order in which they choose their initial assignments, and (upon commissioning) their sequence onto the active duty rolls of the Army.* USMA Honor Graduates are those cadets who have satisfied all graduation requirements while earning a cumulative CPS of 3.50 or above.
*
7.* Other honors and graduation criteria are associated with the Program Scores.* Examples include the Annual Dean’s List (Silver Star), the Distinguished Cadet Award (Gold Star), the Superintendent's Individual Award (Wreath) and the Military Achievement Award (Bronze Star).** The criteria for all performance awards and graduation requirements are described in separate publications.
*

itlstallion422

The whole re-admission thing is fairly unusual, but I know specifically of several guys from my class who have been re-admitted. The biggest category is Mormons. Many leave after youngster year for their missions, and then rejoin the brigade two years later. They officially resign and have to be re-admitted. Although as long as they leave the Academy in good standing re-admission is never an issue. Another of my classmates who left the Academy voluntarily and in good standing was re-admitted after a year at a civilian school as well... The final category is made up of people who are basically "forced" to resign or get kicked out. Its my impression that those people often need some pull to get them back at the Academy. I only personally know of two cases of this happening. In one, a friend of mine spent time at a maritime school, got good grades and impressed a former supt. That was a big help in getting him back in. The other case, which is fairly well documented, included an All-American Lacrosse player who got re-admitted after some time at Community College. Obviously nothing I am saying is at all official, more just my observations of how the system has worked these past few years.

navy2010

That was the case I was referring to.
It is my understanding he repeated courses at the CC similiar to the ones he failed at USNA, along with some economic courses to fill his schedule. It is my further understanding he did well at the CC with the courses he took.

c_odonnell-
I guess "nothing ventured, nothing gained"....
so if this is what you want, go for it.
I am assuming you still have spring semester to go in the school you are currently in... if that is the case, would think carefully about what courses you choose.... would try and mirror those you either did poorly in at the academy for sure.... and if you have already done that, then advance on that track to a higher level of science/math.

Give some careful thought as to what happened on your first attempt- and what will change it for you this time around. I think if you can be honest about that, and convey that, then that is all anyone can ask. You can only control what is yours to control.... so do the very best you can with that.

Best of luck to you- I hope you make it! If not.... then pick up the pieces, find another way to get that commission, and be happy on that journey! USNA is not the only way to get there... (and rumor has it the food is better "elsewhere" these days!~ )

ps.... a rank of "3" - even in peer rankings- is nothing to sneeze at....especially as a plebe!!!!! Good for you! So hit your books HARD and GO FOR IT!!!!!!!