Graduating senior..Navy OCS to flight school an option?

[justfly]

I'm currently in my senior year at ERAU (2.6 GPA) majoring in Aeronautics with a minor in flight and Aviation Safety. I have my Commercial SEL/MEL and instrument rating with around 300 hours of flight time and am involved with an Accident Investigation club on campus. I also work out everyday. My question is, do you think I stand a chance if I apply for OCS? I am planning on getting some volunteering time in next weekend and trying to boost my grades the last two semesters before I graduate to around a 3.0 minimum...I had trouble with math the first few semesters I was at this school and had to switch degree programs so my GPA is kind of low. Ultimately, I want to be an Officer in the Navy or Marines, and if I get lucky enough, make it to flight school. What are your **honest** opinions? Would I be wasting my time by applying?

P.S. I know flight time really isn't a big factor as far as getting picked up for OCS goes, but flying takes up a good deal of time so I was just stating something I am involved in.

 

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

Yes, you'd be wasting your time applying. You know why I say this...because you're wasting your time asking us if you'd be wasting your time, so that probably means you don't want it that bad. If you did I'd suspect you'd just go for it and put your best effort out there and see what hand you're dealt. Forget about chances and just focus on improving yourself and whatever you can offer in an application package.

You'll never know if you never apply. Good luck with whatever route you take.

 

[TheBubba]

Justfly,

Look at it this way: The is one known quantity in this equation: your chances of getting picked up for OCS should you not apply are exactly 0%. Your chances of getting picked up for OCS increase to > 0% if you submit an application.

My advice: If you even THINK you might want to fly for the Navy, apply. If you change your mind and decide you want to take another route, no harm no foul. No one here will be upset if you decide you don't want to earn Wings of Gold.

What it comes down to is what you want. If you want to be a Naval Aviator, then apply. It won't be a waste of time. What's the worst that can happen? The board says no? In that case, reapply or move on. None of us with wings got where we are by being wishy-washy and taking no for an answer.

Just my $0.02

 

[jtmedli]

None of us with wings got where we are by being wishy-washy and taking no for an answer.

Just my $0.02

I'm obviously not winged, but this is truth. Hold on to that tidbit on insight and take it to heart.

 

[...aywkubttod]

I'm currently in my senior year at ERAU (2.6 GPA) majoring in Aeronautics with a minor in flight and Aviation Safety. I have my Commercial SEL/MEL and instrument rating with around 300 hours of flight time and am involved with an Accident Investigation club on campus. I also work out everyday. My question is, do you think I stand a chance if I apply for OCS? I am planning on getting some volunteering time in next weekend and trying to boost my grades the last two semesters before I graduate to around a 3.0 minimum...I had trouble with math the first few semesters I was at this school and had to switch degree programs so my GPA is kind of low. Ultimately, I want to be an Officer in the Navy or Marines, and if I get lucky enough, make it to flight school. What are your **honest** opinions? Would I be wasting my time by applying?

P.S. I know flight time really isn't a big factor as far as getting picked up for OCS goes, but flying takes up a good deal of time so I was just stating something I am involved in.

Since you're entering your final year, I'm guessing you have already completed ~100 college credit hours (assuming a normal BA/BS/BBA requires 125-130ish), so going from a 2.6 to 3.0 your last year isn't possible with a "normal" schedule.

You would have to take something like 21-24hrs per semester (while maintaining a 4.0) in your last year to make that big of a jump at this point.

 

[Triangles]

I'm currently in my senior year at ERAU (2.6 GPA) majoring in Aeronautics with a minor in flight and Aviation Safety. I have my Commercial SEL/MEL and instrument rating with around 300 hours of flight time and am involved with an Accident Investigation club on campus. I also work out everyday. My question is, do you think I stand a chance if I apply for OCS? I am planning on getting some volunteering time in next weekend and trying to boost my grades the last two semesters before I graduate to around a 3.0 minimum...I had trouble with math the first few semesters I was at this school and had to switch degree programs so my GPA is kind of low. Ultimately, I want to be an Officer in the Navy or Marines, and if I get lucky enough, make it to flight school. What are your **honest** opinions? Would I be wasting my time by applying?

P.S. I know flight time really isn't a big factor as far as getting picked up for OCS goes, but flying takes up a good deal of time so I was just stating something I am involved in.

Hi, Yes! apply by all means. Seek out a Officer Recruiter in your area.

To provide some good insight to help you along, this is what the "board" (people that decide to offer you a commission opportunity) might consider and look at in regards to your application.

- GPA (what course work did you take?, Calculus, advanced courses? Math is important to score well on.) 2.9-3.1 may be considered competitive if you are a Aerospace engineering/physics major, but not if you are an Art History major. Every degree has its level of difficulty. Math is essential to aviation! Retake your course work if nessessary.

-Flying experience: Your flight experience is more than enough.

-Important tip: You need to convey in your essay(motivational statement) the reason why you seek a commission in the USN? Is it to fly?

I don't want to give away to many tips, as I am applying for SNA. Best of luck to you and your future aspirations.

 

[TheBirdy]

Justfly, as previous members said, if you don't apply you'll never know. You'll miss 100% of the shots you don't take right?

If you want it bad enough you'll do your homework, put the work in, find a recruiter and get a package together. Search through the different months board threads and read some of the stats of applicants who have been pro-rec'd. NO one will be able to tell you if you will for sure get picked up as an SNA/NFO with your stats for 2 reasons:

1) everyone is different; some people have high GPA's others have low ones, some with high ASTB scores others with low ones, it varies from person to person (and is not limited to just GPA and ASTB)

and..

2) this is probably a very important thing to keep in mind, when the boards review a package, they take into account a "whole person" approach (they ask for extracurriculars, awards, GPA, ASTB scores, motivational statement, LOR's, etc. for a reason..to get an idea of an applicant as a WHOLE).

That being said, if you want it bad enough you'll go for it despite what other people think/say. And if you don't get picked up the first time, you can always reapply again. Be persistent, if you think reapplying 2 or 3 times shows how bad you want a commission, wait till you get to OCS..

Good luck.

 

[Seafort]

Since you're entering your final year, I'm guessing you have already completed ~100 college credit hours (assuming a normal BA/BS/BBA requires 125-130ish), so going from a 2.6 to 3.0 your last year isn't possible with a "normal" schedule.

You would have to take something like 21-24hrs per semester (while maintaining a 4.0) in your last year to make that big of a jump at this point.

I did it, but it did mean summer courses. Three full semesters prior to graduation: 4.0, 4.0, 3.4. Final GPA? 3.08.

 

[...aywkubttod]

I did it, but it did mean summer courses. Three full semesters prior to graduation: 4.0, 4.0, 3.4. Final GPA? 3.08.

Right. In three semesters (plus every other assumed difference in the two situations...starting GPA and credits, the number of hours being added, and the grades received).

Hitting a grand-slam in each of your final 30 at-bats for the season, after you struck out the other 450 times you stepped up to the plate, doesn't do much for your batting average.

 

[Seafort]

I had 1.1 semester GPA my spring semester of my junior year. It tanked my GPA. That means, I was a senior. I took a full semester over that summer, then two normal senior year semesters. If justfly is willing to postpone graduation until August, he can do it. His university or specific departments might allow him to retake courses. It's not impossible. Just difficult. And it does mean not paying much attention to anything else. I had no social life to speak of.

 

[CUPike11]

Just go for it man. Like everyone else here has said....you'll never really know unless you do it and find out yourself.

My undergrad GPA was in 2.7 in Aerospace Engineering but had a 3.9 in grad school so that helped. You sound competitive but none of us know. You'll be surprised at the difference a year makes. This time last year, I was wondering when I'd get my final select and had just gotten evicted from my apartment, gotten arrested for a bar fight (actually for once not my fault), and going on almost a year of unemployment and had to stop school due to no job.

A year later I'm in FL in API for the Navy and excited to wake up every single day and learn about what I'm going to be doing for my career.

Go for it!

 

[BigIron]

Continue to read all flavors of the posts here at AW - not just the flying ones. There's a lot more involved with being an officer than just flying. As a flight student (basically the 1st 2 years of your Navy life) you'll pretty much do a very intense course of study and flying: That's your only responsibility. Once you hit the fleet in your first tour, you will become a branch officer, or division officer and now need to be able to interact with the troops. You'll continue a flight syllabus in earning your aircraft / mission qualifications in addition to your ground job. This is where some folks fail early. Some guys are good pilots, but can't deal with people. Make sure you're going to want to lead people and manage programs. The more senior you get in the Navy, the more leadership and program responsibility you will have. Factor this type of thing into your decision to go to OCS. It's good that you have flight time and experience, but that will only take you so far.

Good luck.

 

[james23]

Put your application out there and let the selection committee decide! You'd be surprised on how many applicants (low or high gpa) are selected. You can always pad up your kit in many ways too! Good luck!

 

[ryan1234]

I'm currently in my senior year at ERAU (2.6 GPA) majoring in Aeronautics with a minor in flight and Aviation Safety. I have my Commercial SEL/MEL and instrument rating with around 300 hours of flight time and am involved with an Accident Investigation club on campus. I also work out everyday. My question is, do you think I stand a chance if I apply for OCS? I am planning on getting some volunteering time in next weekend and trying to boost my grades the last two semesters before I graduate to around a 3.0 minimum...I had trouble with math the first few semesters I was at this school and had to switch degree programs so my GPA is kind of low. Ultimately, I want to be an Officer in the Navy or Marines, and if I get lucky enough, make it to flight school. What are your **honest** opinions? Would I be wasting my time by applying?

P.S. I know flight time really isn't a big factor as far as getting picked up for OCS goes, but flying takes up a good deal of time so I was just stating something I am involved in.

Unfortunately, I think the flying time is a subjective factor to the board or not too much of a factor. I applied AD Navy with a lot of time C/MEL, MES, SEL, IR, etc and no dice. My GPA was about a 2.8 when I applied I think with a 7/8/8 test score. But also an arrest on my record so...
anyways.... there's no real way to tell unless you apply - and if the Navy is the flavor for you, keep applying. But, if the branch doesn't concern you - consider the Air National Guard (and yes, it's possible to be full-time in the Guard)... it's competitive in a different way and a different 'culture'.

And if you think you're 'wasting your time' applying, you've pretty much self-eliminated. 100% of the shots you don't take, you miss.

 

[Swanee]

Unfortunately, I think the flying time is a subjective factor to the board or not too much of a factor. I applied AD Navy with a lot of time C/MEL, MES, SEL, IR, etc and no dice. My GPA was about a 2.8 when I applied I think with a 7/8/8 test score. But also an arrest on my record so...
anyways.... there's no real way to tell unless you apply - and if the Navy is the flavor for you, keep applying. But, if the branch doesn't concern you - consider the Air National Guard (and yes, it's possible to be full-time in the Guard)... it's competitive in a different way and a different 'culture'.

And if you think you're 'wasting your time' applying, you've pretty much self-eliminated. 100% of the shots you don't take, you miss.

Possible, and possibly one of the best deals in the military if you can swing it. My old man did 27 years as an AGR guy with the same unit. Of course, it's also highly competitive.