OCS 18 SEP 17 | IWC Board

[Anuj Kainth]

Non-technical degree and no real IP experience to backup. Futhermore, you're applying to a program with a 5-10% selection rate at best.

I guess I don’t understand what a tech degree is. My bachelors was in computer science with a concentration in network administration. My MSITM Concentration was information assurance security and digital forensics. What is a tech degree for IP?

 

[exNavyOffRec]

I guess I don’t understand what a tech degree is. My bachelors was in computer science with a concentration in network administration. My MSITM Concentration was information assurance security and digital forensics. What is a tech degree for IP?

I just saw you mention your Masters, I am guessing you took Calc and calc based physics for your degree? If so maybe there is something else in your application that is making them say no?

 

[Anuj Kainth]

I just saw you mention your Masters, I am guessing you took Calc and calc based physics for your degree? If so maybe there is something else in your application that is making them say no?

Must be a combination of my time in service... currently 13 years active and that I did not have to take calculus for my degree. We focused on useful stuff like programming languages, network mapping, creating database programs, and managing insert brand name networks, servers, IDS, IPS, etc etc etc

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

I just saw you mention your Masters, I am guessing you took Calc and calc based physics for your degree? If so maybe there is something else in your application that is making them say no?

On some previous posts I see he went to a "for profit" school (Trident University). Even though he got a masters degree, many times these schools don't match up to an actual brick and mortar university.

Also, concur there might be other factors in his application that are turning off the board members.

 

[Anuj Kainth]

On some previous posts I see he went to a "for profit" school (Trident University). Even though he got a masters degree, many times these schools don't match up to an actual brick and mortar university.

Also, concur there might be other factors in his application that are turning off the board members.

RUFiO181 Thank you for the insight. I wish I had gotten this feedback after my first attempt (may have reduced my expectations for selection). It's just tough to be turned down the second time after the recruiter called ME and asked ME to resubmit sounding very optimistic. As for the College I attended, it was recommended by Army education centers and past mentors. My experience was that it had a strict standard with considerations for active duty personnel(Extended deadlines with proof you were in the field/deployed/name it). It is regionally accredited (WASC) and I can honestly compare it to Arizona State where my wife attended. I have also seen my peers fail out because they can't handle the workload. Either way, still active duty, still succeeding, still serving! I wish all those selected a hearty congratulation and if you are ever in Hawaii hit me up.

 

[KMiles]

Pro Rec Y for IP

 

[ichneumonidae]

Just called today. Got 2 big NO NO for Intel and IWC

Hang in there for supply. Your application (from the limited stats in your signature) looks strong on that front.

Thanks! And congrats on your supply Pro-Rec. Wishing you the best for SWO-Oceano if you don't already know the result.

Cheers! I believe because I wrote in Supply as my number 1, my application wasn't considered by this board. Excited nonetheless! Maybe we'll be in the same OCS class.

 

[Vincent]

Got a N. Not surprised, but solidified what steps I need to take next.

Regarding the "reconsideration package" - is there a different time frame I should be aware of other than the 6 months since the original non-selection occurred? I have a one-time waiver from the Community Manager to apply to the board due to a low GPA and I will have started on my Masters by then and currently have some Awards en-route. I also will be completing at least one if not two CompTIA certifications by that 6 month mark.

Because of that one time waiver for this board, can I only can submit the reconsideration package one time or does that mean I can submit a reconsideration package at every single board UP to that 6 months from the original non-select?

 

[exNavyOffRec]

A waiver is good for that board only, you have to redo the entire application.

A masters while good still does little to overcome a bad GPA, it is rare to have a person selected that has been turned down before, it does happen but often those are the guys with high GPA's who were probably very close on a previous board.

 

[Vincent]

I have yet to meet an officer active duty that has picked up OCS on the first try. Not even at just this Command.

I find that truly ridiculous to hear that a Masters Degree in STEM would do little to overcome a bad GPA from a Bachelors of Arts & Sciences almost 7 years ago.

There is something called the reconsideration package - I am not submitting a new application until I am outside of the 6 month reconsideration package located on the OPNAVINST 1420.1B - Chapter 4 Section 10 paragraph a. page 4-12.

Is there a phone number I can call to chat with one of you to maybe clarify in case i am wording something incorrectly, it seems that what you guys say and what I am reading are two different things.

Anecdotally, my current Department Head applied five times to OCS before he was accepted.

I have a hard time believing that applying again, with additional awards, and coursework on a STEM Masters Degree, would be disregarded because I have previously been turned down on a different board as a factor.

I do appreciate the responses. As I re-read this I can see it might come across standoffish, unintentionally. I am grateful for the advice.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

The boards don’t care if you’re active duty or prior enlisted. They want the most qualified and high GPA tied with a STEM-related degree helps create the best first imprsssion to the selection board. A lot of prior/fleet applicants come into the board thinking evals, interviews, quals, awards are what help separate them from the pack. It doesn’t and when they stack up against a civilian with a much higher GPA and a STEM dsgree more than likely they’ll take the civilian.

I don’t know how old you are, but you need to consider other programs to include SWO. Their age limit is up to 35 if you have MP or EP evals. Otherwise, you will continue to be a non-select and age out of programs with less competitiveness.

The low GPA is your major weakness and typically GPA waivers aren’t granted to priors for IWC because of the competitiveness.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

I have yet to meet an officer active duty that has picked up OCS on the first try. Not even at just this Command.

I find that truly ridiculous to hear that a Masters Degree in STEM would do little to overcome a bad GPA from a Bachelors of Arts & Sciences almost 7 years ago.

There is something called the reconsideration package - I am not submitting a new application until I am outside of the 6 month reconsideration package located on the OPNAVINST 1420.1B - Chapter 4 Section 10 paragraph a. page 4-12.

Is there a phone number I can call to chat with one of you to maybe clarify in case i am wording something incorrectly, it seems that what you guys say and what I am reading are two different things.

Anecdotally, my current Department Head applied five times to OCS before he was accepted.

I have a hard time believing that applying again, with additional awards, and coursework on a STEM Masters Degree, would be disregarded because I have previously been turned down on a different board as a factor.

I do appreciate the responses. As I re-read this I can see it might come across standoffish, unintentionally. I am grateful for the advice.

actually it isn't ridiculous, you have a person with a bad undergrad GPA that then does well on a masters, and another who has an outstanding undergrad GPA and also does well on a masters, the second candidate is still better academically. This program can be very selective, rates have been as low as 3%

A person cannot resubmit within 6 months unless there has been significant changes to their application, starting a masters is not what was considered a significant change, earning a masters was. NRC trumps NPC and the OPNAVINST

nearly everyone I had picked up including IWC was on the first try, aviation is often the exception since they look at ASTB the most, awards really don't matter that much. Things have changed in the past 8-10 years, guys that were picked up back then are no longer competitive, I can't tell you how many times I heard that from people in the IWC community.

They raised the age for SWO which has a better selection rate, not sure if you would meet that requirement or not.

 

[Vincent]

Rufio & NavyOffRec,

Age -28
OAR - 59
B.A. Economics (I started a small business during school and simply just got the degree to get it.)

Definitely have been given nothing but the advice you are saying via priors/fleet applicants.

Regarding applying for SWO. Everything I read for SWO is hands down - ZERO waivers for GPA. With a Masters, will that NOT replace my GPA for SWO applications? I fear there is zero point going for SWO and then applying to laterally transfer later on after getting my pin if the GPA is that important for SWO.

 

[tide7]

Non-select, here. It was a competitive board, so I'm not too discouraged. Best of luck to anyone still waiting on results.

 

[Tope]

I'm typically just a lurker but I wanted to address some of the claims I'm seeing in this board about what is or is not competitive. One cannot know precisely what the board members are looking for, the best we can do from this end is observe those we see speaking about their experience and try to spot patterns and correlations. This does not mean that even our most consistent correlations are correct. They are correlations. That said I want to put this out there for everyone to see:

I am 26 with 4 years, 5 months active duty. I am a CTN2, tested in September for 1st class. My evals are thus: P, MP, EP (transfer), NOB. I have 1 FLOC, one NAM. My PT scores are meh, good medium till Spring when I got my first ever excellent. I have a bachelors from an engineering college in geologic engineering where I had a 3.0 GPA and C's in calc and physics. My ASTB was a 53, I went ahead and did the aviation portion because why not and got 6's. My LORs were from a CDR who is now (but wasn't then) the CO of my old command and a LCDR. I had 3 glowing interviews from all LTs.

The rest was what I could say for myself which is that I want the best for my Navy and my Sailors and I'm willing to make the hard decisions to ensure that the best is what they get. I took what opportunities I had as a 2nd class at a huge command to take care of my sailors, to reach out to the surrounding community and better both. My stats aren't great so I have to assume that I was selected for 1810 because of my commitment and drive to make a better, healthier, stronger Navy.

Also, congratulations, you just met a "(soon to be) officer active duty that has picked up OCS on the first try".