Unusual OCS applicant (I think)...

[WTL0715]

First of all, I have been lurking on the boards for some time without registering and I promise that I've attempted to use the search function. I have seen a million people ask the "do I have a chance" question so I will try to avoid that mess.

25/M
SNA 1st/ SNFO 2nd
BS/Business and CJ (hybrid degree)
Liberty University
GPA: 2.8 (Will graduate in December '09)

No ASTB or PRT test scores yet - still working on the initial application.

I think that I am in a unique position because I have a low GPA, but I have some life experience that might mitigate that issue. I have worked as a police officer for the past five years on a full time basis. I put myself through college with police work. I have an excellent file at work and am confident that I will come highly recommended from the brass at my department. I am also a Mensa member and have a laundry list of varsity high school sports and college intermural sports. I have 35 hours of fixed wing flight instruction time (including a cross country and a solo), but I ran out of money in the face of high tuition a few years ago.

I am trying to gauge how much my work experience will counter the low GPA for the selection board. I understand that there is no way to know for sure, but I am wondering if anyone else has been in a similar situation. I searched for former police officers on the boards, but I was unable to find any. I would appreciate any help here.

I am usually a solid test-taker and feel that I may do well on the ASTB if I prepare properly (just a guess, obviously).

Basically I would like to know: 1) Are my law enforcement background and little bit of flight time likely to help me overcome the low GPA? 2) Do high test scores, in the face of a low GPA, help me or make me look lazy? 3) Do selection boards usually take into account conditions like my difficult work schedule when examining GPA?

Any helpful info here would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

WTL

 

[OUSOONER]

Good luck with your kit.

I was 26 and had a whopping 2.5 GPA in a non-engineering major and now I'm in Primary down in Corpus Christi.

You can do it, you just have to show the board why you had a low GPA, what you did to make up for it. The application process is more to show how much of a rockstar you are, not how much you suck.

Turn that low GPA into a positive, show examples of leadership and being an all-around person.

B/c your GPA (like mine) was a bit low, do your best to destroy the ASTB. I scored an 8/9/8 57 and I think that weighed heavily. I recommend getting some solid letters of recommendation and write a very good motivational statement.

The board aren't a bunch of robots who just look at numbers, they really do take the "whole person concept" into account. I'm here with guys who have master degrees from MIT and I have liberal art majors from Bumfuck University as well down here...

Just show your recruiter you want this, you might have to do a lot of leg work at first because it is a seller's market right now. They are not hurting for talent. I had to practically make it work myself because some of my stats were heinous. However, it worked out.

Again, good luck

- Sooner

P.S. I also took 6 years to graduate college and had 8 F's on my transcript (Hope that encourages you)

 

[Uncle Fester]

No, a low GPA won't kill your chances. Your years as a PoPo are good, especially if your supervisors give you shining recommendations as to your leadership, maturity, etc and so on. As OUS says, rock the ASTB and your PRT. You wouldn't be the first guy who had a crappy college GPA, but now's the time to demonstrate that you're serious about this Navy thing.

 

[blarged]

2.8 is of course not the greatest, but as stated, it is not a show stopper. There are many people around with lower GPAs. I wouldn't even classify 2.8 as a 'bad' GPA.

For these items that you feel require some explanation, utilize your motivational statement.

 

[overspeed550]

I agree with everyone's feeling on your situation- you aren't unique in alot of regards. Low GPA can be overcome with a shit-hot, kick ass motivational statement. Become a PT animal, impress them with your motivation, and the rest is sheer luck!

 

[Mr. Blonde]

I agree with everyone's feeling on your situation- you aren't unique in alot of regards. Low GPA can be overcome with a shit-hot, kick ass motivational statement. Become a PT animal, impress them with your motivation, and the rest is sheer luck!

Pretty sure this was a big factor in my selection.

<<<-----2.45 gpa :watching3

 

[cpwhit1]

I'll beat this dead horse.

24/m
6/7/7/52 ASTB
2.67 GPA Mathematics (took me 6 years)
no flight experience
didn't take prt before my selection.

My ASTB scores were competitive but obviously my GPA was pretty low as well. I made up for it with leadership experience in a fraternity and on student government.

You'll be fine, just don't give up. It took me a couple of boards to get selected SNFO.

Good luck!

 

[blarged]

You'll be fine, just don't give up. It took me a couple of boards to get selected SNFO.

+1

Remember this

 

[eddie]

Pretty sure this was a big factor in my selection.

<<<-----2.45 gpa :watching3

"I’m talking about goddamn me! In the store, live, un-cut, in person, bringing in the customers, lubing the deals."

 

[WTL0715]

Thanks for the info guys. I will likely not be able to turn in an earthshattering PRT because I have never been much of a runner. I will work hard to get it above average and hope it doesn't hurt me. The test scores and the motivational statement will definitely be my strong points - I tend to test well and write well. I can also count on shining recommendations from the bosses.

I will get the ASTB scheduled and see how I do. If I manage to blow it out of the water, I'll feel a lot better about my chances. My understanding is that I can retake the ASTB if I so choose - is that correct?

Thanks again,

WTL

**The recruiter with whom I spoke on the phone this morning told me that he would send me "the application" via email today. Unfortunately, nothing has shown up in my inbox (or spam folder). Though he didn't specify the name of the application, he said that it needed to be filled out before I could schedule ASTB or anything else with him. Can anyone point me in the direction of "the application"? Thanks in advance!

 

[IRfly]

Just make sure that you put the Mensa membership on the application. That'll make you a lock.








In all seriousness, see how the ASTB goes. That will be the great equalizer. I wouldn't say that you're that unusual of a candidate--you'll meet several people in OCS who have varying professional backgrounds. I'd guess that for my class and the ones around it (four years ago) there were about 60% 22-year-olds right out of college (including BDCP and NUPOC guys), probably about 15-20% prior enlisted, and the rest had put in at least a few years in the workforce or spent a few extra years in school for an advanced degree. I do think that low GPA and high test scores seems like laziness or lack of discipline, but you'll have the chance to make your case if there's another reason behind it.
Bear in mind, though, flight school will destroy you if you don't study, no matter how smart you are. There are no "gimmes" in Naval Aviation and the people around you will have no qualms about telling you if you're jacked up.

 

[Ken_gone_flying]

P.S. I also took 6 years to graduate college and had 8 F's on my transcript (Hope that encourages you)

Alright then, Van Wilder.

 

[cpwhit1]

My understanding is that I can retake the ASTB if I so choose - is that correct?

You can take it at most 3 times in your life. If you take it a second or third time and get a worse score than your previous score, your stuck with the bad score...in other words, your most recent score is the one the selection board looks at. Just study hard and you'll do fine. The study books actually make it seems harder than it really is (in my case anyway).

 

[WTL0715]

Just make sure that you put the Mensa membership on the application. That'll make you a lock.

Bear in mind, though, flight school will destroy you if you don't study, no matter how smart you are. There are no "gimmes" in Naval Aviation and the people around you will have no qualms about telling you if you're jacked up.

As for the Mensa thing, I assume you're being facetious. I took the test a few years ago and never kept up with my dues. In the case that it might actually help me out, I will need to catch up on my dues.

My first two years in college, I had mixed grades. I absolutely wasted my sophomore year screwing around, failed a few classes. After a year away from school, I went to police academy and paid my own way through the rest of school. The only reason my GPA isn't better is because I had to get used to online school this past year. First semester was Cs and Bs. Once I got settled in the last semester I earned almost all As. I will have to find a way to clarify that without sounding too defensive. I have no problem working hard - I kill all of my law enforcement training classes (some of which are difficult) because there is a tangible goal associated with the classes and a strong competitive environment. Flight school will offer both of those, I imagine.

-WTL

 

[cpwhit1]

Dude, don't dwell on this.

Give them a quick line or so stating you realize your GPA is lower than others and tell them what it was that offset your grades (your commitment to law enforcement and such).

FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE. The more you talk about your "bad" gpa, the less space you have to tell them all the bad ass sh#t you've done.