COMPETITIVE PROFILE FOR THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREE COMPLETION PROGRAM (BDCP) print this page
BDCP a very financially rewarding program for applicants and a tremendous tool for recruiters to attract top quality college students to begin a career as a Naval Officer. BDCP candidates are selected by an officer community (Aviation Officer and Surface Warfare Officer BDCP professional selections are made by CNRC staff vice community representatives) when determined that the applicant possesses the desired skills, abilities, and professional growth potential desired by the specific community. Once professionally selected, the CNRC staff conducts an evaluation of the applicant's academic record and selection is based on the assessment of the individual's potential to meet the academic performance standards prescribed for the program.
Several factors are considered in assessing the likelihood of an applicant's ability to achieve the required academic standard:
1. TIME TO GRADUATION: Applicants pursuing technical degrees are eligible for BDCP when they are within 36 months of graduation. A semester is not considered complete until the transcript is received. For example: If an applicant graduates with a technical degree in December 2003, the Fall 2000 transcript (with grades) must be a part of the application in order for the applicant to be considered. Applicants pursuing non-technical degrees are eligible when they are within 24 months from graduation. The approved list of technical and non-technical degrees is attached. Applicants who are in their final semester of college are generally not considered competitive and will not normally be selected because of the short time to graduate. There has been a number of problems associated with the disposition of "one semester BDCP students" that failed to successfully complete the program given the challenge of enforcing the enlisted service obligation to meet program requirements for collegiates with less than one semester in a paid status. Additionally, there is no significant benefit to the Navy in accessing these applicants as a collegiate, vice an in-year non-paid "Depper," given the short time that these students will be in the program until graduation. Given the structure of the Program Authorization, we will consider exceptions to this guideline in cases where extenuating circumstances can be clearly demonstrated.
2. ACADEMIC HISTORY: Applicants must demonstrate that they are capable of maintaining a strong academic performance as a full time student at a regionally accredited four-year college or university. The cumulative grade point average requirement is a minimum of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants earning less than a semester grade point average 2.7 in several semesters, or who show a decreasing academic trend prior to applying for the program, are typically not considered best qualified and will not normally be selected. Applicants that have only completed coursework in a Community College prior to application, though they are accepted to a four-year institution, are eligible to apply for the program. However, these applicants are usually not considered competitive because they have not proven their ability to meet academic performance standards at a four-year school. Historically, most students fail to meet the academic standards of the program in the first one or two semesters following transition from a Community College to a four year institution, are frequently placed on academic probation and in inactive status, and ultimately attrite from the program. Individuals who fall in this category may be favorably considered for BDCP, but they must have successfully completed challenging technical/mathematics courses at the Community College. Finally, students with significant gaps in their status as a full time college student (one or more years) will not be considered for the program until they have met the academic requirements for the program as a full time student immediately prior to application.
3. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY: Extra activities are considered by the OCMs for the professional recommendations, but they do not weigh much in the boarding process for collegiate selections. These activities may include (but are not limited to) work, family support, community organizations, etc. BDCP applicants are expected to have demonstrated superior academic performance prior to selection.
These guidelines are based on a review of a number of cases in which BDCP students failed to achieve the required academic performance. In many cases, CNRC and NRD personnel were required to spend a significant amount of time to counsel/manage these collegiates. In a majority of the cases, these students ultimately attrited from the program without reaching a commissioning source at a cost of many thousands of dollars to the Navy with no return on the investment.
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