<p>Does anyone know if/how a student can accept an appointment and attend first year at one academy while reapplying for an appointment at another ( first choice) academy the following year? Yes, we know it would mean starting over.
AND what is the procedure for reapplying in general? Full application with nomination or an abbreviated version?
Apologies if this a repeat, I searched.
thanks.</p>
<p>I think that would be considered bad form. You would have to get nominations again and that would be hard to get a second time, besides the academies even considering you again. That’s what NAPs, NASS, etc. are for. Try them first.</p>
<p>Well you can’t just call up NAPS and ask for an application.<br>
I know people reapply to academies several times, you have until 23. But I don’t remember hearing that second or third applicants are on the nomination lists.<br>
I have read on each academy forum of those who have reapplied, but I can’t remember who they are. If anyone has input, or can give me names to search, I would appreciate the help.
Thanks</p>
<p>What is your thinking behind the question? You got in one, but want to go to another academy? If you really want one in particular, try again next year and go to university elsewhere in the meantime.
A fair number who have reapplied are those who were not accepted and have gone to college elsewhere. It was surprising to me the signficant number of plebes who had already completed a year or 2 of regular college and finally received an appointment and were accepted (and start from ground zero). I have not heard of anyone starting at a military academy and transferred to another. There are a couple exchange programs, i.e. where a West Pointer goes to Annapolis and vice versa for a semester, but that’s it (and I wonder why they do it?). Hope others chime in.</p>
<p>I would strongly agree with the advice above. If you really intend to open a new application at the Academy you didn’t get into, DO NOT accept an appointment at another Academy. Doing so will block another candidate from appointment, and then if you drop out that spot will never be filled. For that reason, neither your appointment sources nor the Academy you want to attend will view your actions as honest or honorable. (In fact, it comes off as downright selfish.) If you really don’t want to attend the Academy you have an appointment to – do the right thing. Turn it down, excel at a civilian school next year, and go for your dream round 2 at the Academy of your first choice. You will be respected for the choices you made, and appointment sources tend to look very kindly on those with the resiliance to come back and try again – for the right reasons.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you believe you could be satisfied with the Academy you have an appointment in hand for then you need to let go of your disappointment and commit whole-heart before you accept the appointment. If you go in with anything less than 100% committment, your survival changes diminish quickly.</p>
<p>I know that West Point has even had a cadet who had just earned a B.A./B.S begin as a plebe.</p>
<p>I sincerely doubt that an application from a plebe at one Academy would be taken seriously by the Academy being applied to. As stated above, it’s not good form, and I doubt they would want to create any REAL interservice issues.</p>
<p>cc3071a - If you try what you mentioned, I would like to see the looks on your professors’ faces when you ask them to fill in the recommendation forms. This would likely not be something you would want to share with the upperclassmen in your Company, as they would likely make your life very challenging to say the least. Your company officer (TAC at WP) would also not be very understanding.</p>
<p>It would be best to hang back a year and try again at the academy of your choice.</p>
<p>There is also the opportunity of an interservice transfer after graduation, but they are very limited.</p>
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<p>CHIME! :D</p>
<p>Every year during first semester, each academy sends about 6-10 students to each of the other academies, so you’ll see woops and zoomies at Navy, while Midshipmen raise the standards at the other degenerate institutions a notch or two just by being there.</p>
<p>Is my bias showing? :D</p>
<p>It’s done to foster cooperation and understanding and all that good stuff. I don’t know the details (never having done it, myself), but it’s a staple every year.</p>
<p>During the Army/Navy and Navy/Air Force games, the game begins with the ceremonial “exchange of prisoners” so that the students can root with their own side.</p>
<p>Now, NONE of this is in any way intended to allow a student at one place to transfer lock, stock, and barrel to another. That does not happen. As mentioned above, there are a few interservice transfers AFTER GRADUATION, but those are VERY rare, indeed.</p>
<p>Best advice I can give you is to pick one and stick with it or, if you choose an alternate, stick with the alternate. I’d be willing to bet thay simply won’t allow otherwise.</p>
<p>Zaphod: I’ve always wondered why anyone would WANT to be an exchange student - knowing that they are in for a semester of being tortured and harassed! A dubious honor at best!
cc307a - Either wait for the academy you really want or go with the flow at the academy you are in. “You’ve Got to Dance with Them What Brung You.”</p>
<p>cc3071a - it’s clear that you’ve received an appointment to Annapolis but really want to go to West Point. Either go to Annapolis or go to a civilian college and reapply to West Point next year. Worst case - just go to Annapolis and enjoy the air conditioning and the softer life you’ll find there. They do seem to lower their academic standards for some sports more than the other Academies so you’ll be able to cheer on their winning teams.</p>
<p>Clearly, cc3071a received an appointment to USMA, and had their heart set on four years by the bay, Chesapeake Bay that is! Can’t say I blame him/her…;)</p>
<p>GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY!</p>
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<p>NOW THEM’S THAR FIGHTIN’ WORDS! </p>
<p>Scurvied knuckledragging landlubbers. :D</p>
<p>Actually, he got in to both and really wanted to go to Kings Point!</p>
<p>Hey. Didn’t you just steal some of my chocolate? Of course he wanted to go to KP. To get muddy and loose shoes are fun times. Good advice here. “You’ve Got to Dance with Them What Brung You.” Brilliant way to put it.</p>
<p>Geez. I will elaborate and then maybe you could stop sniping and offer suggestions, please.</p>
<p>My son was accepted to USAFA & USMA but has his heart set on USNA. He received three nominations from every office he interviewed with, but not to USNA ( we live in Maryland and if you are a white male who isnt a recruited blue-chip athlete, competition is absurd), therefore he was denied an appointment. His USNA admissions regional director said he did very well in the admissions process and they were looking to bring him in, but were legally restricted without the nomination. He was too qualified for NAPS which he would have taken in a heartbeat. He hasnt heard from his top civilian schools yet. He wants the USNA, but he will take ( yes settle, apologies ) for another academy over a civilian school. He wants a career in the military and believes USNA has more to offer him after school. The question was should he risk trying again, or settle. We had hoped that he could hedge his bets ( and I am sorry but this is a selfish procedure, as many posts will support) and take another academy while attempting USNA again. Frankly I think the worst hazing would come from USNA when the mids found out where he was from, rather than from the academy he was leaving. </p>
<p>We have heard of stories where denied candidates show up, backpack in hand, on I-Day and wait for drop outs and actually get accepted that day. He is willing to grovel, but the timing will cost him chances at the other two academies.</p>
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Who’s sniping? We answered the question as posted. Forgive us if we can’t read minds…</p>
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Excuse me? Who told you that? There is no such thing as being “too qualified” for NAPS. Whoever told you that has a screw loose.</p>
<p>
That’s up to him. If he wants USNA that bad, he can roll the dice and see if he can get in next year. He needs to weigh what he MIGHT get (USNA) with what he HAS (USMA and USAFA). That’s a difficult decision, admittedly, but an enviable one.</p>
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Not even close. They’d celebrate him as having become enlightened. All in good fun, of course. Sadly, however, the reception from the upperclassmen and administration at the place he would be LEAVING wouldn’t be in good fun at all.</p>
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I’ve never, ever, heard that. Anyone have confirmation? Sounds completely untrue to me. Admissions don’t work that way, in my experience. You don’t come in unless INVITED, and they don’t just pick people off the street.</p>
<p>Look, man. You asked for our advice, so here it is:</p>
<p>1) Your son needs to decide if his desire to attend USNA outweighs the fact that he got appointments to BOTH USAFA and USMA. </p>
<p>2) He needs to DECIDE. NOW.</p>
<p>3) Whatever he decides to do, he needs to STICK WITH THE DECISION. </p>
<p>Your son is wise in that he is looking to the future after the military. In that regard, I can assure you that West Point and Air Force are equally thought of with Annapolis. In another thread, I described the differences between the academies, and how the differences are generally noticeable only when you’re on the inside (because, quite frankly, those on the outside are too ignorant to know better).</p>
<p>One thing your son needs to understand, however, is that if he receives appointments this year and turns them down, he will NOT get them next year. Neither the Academies nor the politicians will waste their time with someone who they offered an appointment to and then turned them down. So, if he once again fails to get into USNA next year, he’s SOL on the Service Academy route unless he goes USCGA or USMMA, and those are even harder to get in to, based upon percentages.</p>
<p>Frankly, were I him (“restricted” to USAFA or USMA - I know people who woul commit mass murder to have a choice like that), and knowing what I know now, I’d go to USAFA. I’d love to live in the mountains of Colorado and learn how to fly on the government’s dime…</p>
<p>Oh, and one last thing. We don’t always get our first choices in life. I didn’t get to even LOOK at Naval Aviation, I didn’t get into nuke school. I didn’t get my first choice for home port on my second DIVO tour. I didn’t get into CIA when I applied coming out of the Navy. My marriage failed. </p>
<p>Life’s tough. Improvise, adapt, and overcome. He needs to start learning that NOW.</p>
<p>Zaphod, Actually, you did offer suggestions right away, but other early posts were just critical and sniping. But my apologies for offending anyone. It seems, in fairness, that only regular posters are allowed to have opinions.</p>
<p>USNA regional admissions director told me personally on the phone, yesterday, he was over qualified for NAPS. NAPS is strictly for candidates who need a little extra support academically before entering the academy. I knew that, it is documented elsewhere. </p>
<p>My son tells me from a friend who is currently a third year mid, that they give the guys who come in under any other method a hard time at first. But yes, all in the sense of future camaraderie. This mid witnessed first hand the story about a last minute acceptance on I-Day. In the end the other mids respected the guys guts at trying. </p>
<p>Yes my son fully appreciates all that he has been offered, and understands many are not offered as much, I never said otherwise, but in his mind, USNA is first and it is a SUBJECTIVE PROCESS. I never said one school was better than another, please dont twist my words. But he feels there is more that fits him in the NAVY, he isnt pilot qualified in the AF and USMAs engineering program isnt accredited.<br>
Thanks</p>
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<p>Christ, that makes no sense. I know because I WENT to NAPS. Of course, that was 20 years ago…</p>
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<p>No doubt. I never heard of that while I was there.</p>
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<p>Oh, YOU never said it. I said it! Rivalries die hard, you see! 
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<p>I didn’t know about USMA Engineering not being accredited. Then again, I was smart enough not to apply there! ;)</p>
<p>As for Air Force, there are plenty of good career paths in the AF that don’t involve being a pilot. In my comment above, I was speaking about how (unless things have changed again), most if not all USAFA cadets get their CIVILIAN pilot licenses while at Colorado Springs. I would not have qualified for AF pilot either (bad eyes).</p>
<p>You’re absolutely right it’s subjective. However, unless your son wants to be a REAL engineer (i.e. - crunching real numbers and such), then the accreditation of USMA will be a non-issue. </p>
<p>Folks who come out of the service academies rarely go into the “hard sciences” for two reasons. First, they just spent five or more years being leaders rather than academics, and it takes time to get back up to speed afterwards. Second, when they come out, they are sought after as LEADERS. West Point is hard to beat in that regard, accreditation or no.</p>
<p>So, again it falls upon your son. What does he REALLY want to do with his life? I’ve often offered the advice that you shouldn’t go to a service academy unless you plan on making a CAREER out of said service. That was my goal going in. Sure, goals change, but where you start is important.</p>
<p>So, I’ll toss the ball back into your son’s court and see how he hits it.</p>
<p>Tell you what. Why not get HIM on here, and I (and others) will be more than happy to help! :)</p>
<p>USMA’s Civil Engineering program and Mechanical Engineering program rated in U.S. News 2005 one of the Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs in the nation.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/engineering/nophd/enns04_brief.php[/url]”>http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/engineering/nophd/enns04_brief.php</a></p>
<pre><code>* #2 Civil Eng.
- #3 Mechanical Eng.
</code></pre>