<p>jj: Yes, you have a chance. As with all potential candidates, you will need to not only know, but convey, why you want to go to USNA. If law is your desired outcome, know that far and few between come out of USNA and head into a grad school for law/JAG. If your only desire is to attend USNA because of a prestigious education, then it likely isn’t the place for you. If your desire is to become a Naval Officer, by any means, then you’ll have a much better shot. You <em>will</em> be up against a large number of applicants that do have that aim. If you are not admitted, are you willing to become a Naval Officer via NROTC or OCS? If not, why not? As a BGO, those are questions I would most certainly ask you.
Also, while you’re attaining a 3.9 at present in college, what is the coursework and what is the college? You say it’s top-20; in what, and by who’s standards? What are the ECA’s? Are you physically fit? Do you play a sport (or 2 or 3)? Do you have and demonstrate any leadership amongst your peers? What are you doing for the community where you attend college? How much are you balancing/juggling successfully? Those are all questions a good BGO will either ask or look to see answered, and if the BGO misses them, the selection board most certainly will look at.
For instance, I already see a bit of vascillation. At first you comment “if I choose to reenter civilian life” and in the very next paragraph you’re discussing the duration of the service requirement. So, if I were your BGO, I’d be testing the waters to see just what your level of commitment is. Are you only wanting in to “5 and dive”? You understand the length of commitment, but are you focused on that, or becoming an Officer? Are you looking for grad school through USNA? (that carries more time…)
The other thing I’d be reading between the lines on is “why here, and why now”? Give me a compelling reason to choose you over anyone else. Impressive that you are willing to begin your entire college career over again. What are you working for a degree in now, and what would be your academic path at USNA? If you haven’t taken, for instance, a math class since your frosh year at civilian U, you may be in for a bit of a shock… (I know our daughter, recently graduated from a civilian university in Linguistics, didn’t have a math class for the past 3 years. She had a bit of brush up to do before she went to conquer the GRE…, while her Mid-brother is entrenched in math/science on a daily basis at USNA).
Yes, you have a chance. My question is why do you want that chance? Convince me.</p>