What NRC considers competitive

[Law_to_1830]

I've been lurking here a while, so I thought I should join and post my stats. I've applied for the June 2018 Intel board. What do you all think? How does my packet look?

• 30 years old, no prior service
• B.A. in Pre-Law 3.81 GPA
  • Classes emphasized history, foreign language, economics, and English
  • National Debate Champion 2009 (topic was US foreign policy towards China)
  • Study Abroad program in Spain
  • Scholastic Bowl Team Captain and Champion
• J.D. (Juris Doctorate) 3.1 GPA, The College of William & Mary
  • Classes emphasized criminal law, national security law, and international law
  • VP Military and Veterans' Law Society
• Fluent in Spanish
• 4 years’ experience as an attorney at a major law firm
• Prior pro bono work for a Veteran’s Benefits Clinic (my clients were disabled vets from all branches and I got them their VA Benefits)
• 67 OAR
• LORs:
  • USN O-3 Navy Intel officer and close friend of mine
  • USN O-5 Doctor and close friend of mine
  • Attorney w/ 40+ years of experience (my immediate supervisor)
  • Attorney w/ 30+ years of experience (the head of the law firm)
• No interviews (I heard they usually do this the 2nd time around)
• Applied for Intel 1830, though in retrospect I probably should’ve included cryptology as well

I've been told I'm competitive by my friend in the Intel program as well as by my OR, but I know it's a fiercely competitive program to get into, I don't have a STEM background, and my JD GPA isn't the best. It wasn't the best time of my life. Still, all of my other scores are quite high, I have an Ivy League doctorate, and I have some on-topic extra-curriculars. Do you think I have a decent shot at getting in? Is there anything I can improve on for next time if it doesn't work out?

(Note: I'm not interested in JAG. I've already applied for that 5x with no luck. There's only 1 board per year for Direct Commission, i.e. people who are already done with law school and are practicing attorneys, and that board usually only takes 1-4 people per year. So the chances are next to nil.)

 

[Mach1]

49 OAR 7/8/7
93 NFO/ 95 SNA
BS Criminal Justice - 3.82 GPA
Solid LoRs
Should have private pilot license before 1st board of FY 2019.

For the last 7 months or so I was looking at strictly becoming a pilot. Recently, I was made aware that my uncorrected vision does not qualify. Upon learning this I have decided to submit to the first FY Board of 2019 as an NFO applicant. Any input? I feel like my NFO package is pretty competitive.

 

[peppergunner]

49 OAR 7/8/7
93 NFO/ 95 SNA
BS Criminal Justice - 3.82 GPA
Solid LoRs
Should have private pilot license before 1st board of FY 2019.

For the last 7 months or so I was looking at strictly becoming a pilot. Recently, I was made aware that my uncorrected vision does not qualify. Upon learning this I have decided to submit to the first FY Board of 2019 as an NFO applicant. Any input? I feel like my NFO package is pretty competitive.

Looks good compared to previous NFO applicants. I assume you've done your research on all the NFO platforms?

 

[Mach1]

Looks good compared to previous NFO applicants. I assume you've done your research on all the NFO platforms?

Yes I have. I am hoping to get assigned to a F18, but I understand what I want more comes down to what's available and how I do throughout the training process.

 

[SAR Guy]

First time posting here. Finally got medically approved with no waivers required, waiting on my recruiter to get back to me after giving him my LORs and motivational statement. Will probably follow up in a week. Would appreciate any thoughts!

Applying for SWO
23 years old
51 OAR
B.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution - 2.8 GPA
3 LORs - Former supervisor, current supervisor, family friend formerly on the board of a service camp I went to.
SWO-centric motivational statement
Currently a Digital Marketing Manager
Volunteer Firefighter, certified EMT-B, Wilderness Search and Rescue Volunteer

I know that GPA hurts.

 

[abctotheabc]

First time posting here. Finally got medically approved with no waivers required, waiting on my recruiter to get back to me after giving him my LORs and motivational statement. Will probably follow up in a week. Would appreciate any thoughts!

Applying for SWO
23 years old
51 OAR
B.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution - 2.8 GPA
3 LORs - Former supervisor, current supervisor, family friend formerly on the board of a service camp I went to.
SWO-centric motivational statement
Currently a Digital Marketing Manager
Volunteer Firefighter, certified EMT-B, Wilderness Search and Rescue Volunteer

I know that GPA hurts.

Your package is pretty good. The GPA does hurt you though and the SWO boards have been more selective than usual the last year. My best advice would be to up your OAR score as much as possible.

 

[zoeth]

First time posting here. Finally got medically approved with no waivers required, waiting on my recruiter to get back to me after giving him my LORs and motivational statement. Will probably follow up in a week. Would appreciate any thoughts!

Applying for SWO
23 years old
51 OAR
B.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution - 2.8 GPA
3 LORs - Former supervisor, current supervisor, family friend formerly on the board of a service camp I went to.
SWO-centric motivational statement
Currently a Digital Marketing Manager
Volunteer Firefighter, certified EMT-B, Wilderness Search and Rescue Volunteer

I know that GPA hurts.

Like you said that GPA is low, those 2.x always hurt. Anthony was spot on, try and raise that OAR. Also maybe consider the ASTB? You are young, NFO and SNA could be an option!

 

[LnkyA]

I'm 30, with no prior service, and cannot get an officer recruiter's attention in my home state. Should I look for a new recruiter, or am I even competitive at all? The dream is Intel officer, but, really, I just want to be a Navy Officer.

• B.A. in Political Science: 2.8 GPA, I know, terrible...
• M.S. in Sports Administration: 3.75 GPA
• 4 years’ experience as a full-time director in non-profit youth soccer
  • I have a lot of leadership and development experience here
    • Mange the recreation program: 550 participants, 20-30 coaches
    • Volunteer at club fundraising events
    • Tournament committee member
    • Development of age appropriate soccer education curriculum
    • Coach development and mentoring
    • Coach my own teams
  • I've only had 'excellent' work evaluations
• Volunteer Work and Extracurricular Activities:
  • Taught English as a second language to new immigrants
  • Helped out with a soccer program that specialized in coaching kids with disabilities
  • Volunteered with United Nations Association of my city while in college
  • Participated in Model UN, won an award at the National Model UN conference in Washington, D.C.
  • Men's Club Soccer participant (my university did not have an NCAA program), went to national championship
  • Tried to play professional soccer for 2 years

Personally, I think I could be a competitive candidate, but again, can't get a

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

I'm 30, with no prior service, and cannot get an officer recruiter's attention in my home state. Should I look for a new recruiter, or am I even competitive at all? The dream is Intel officer, but, really, I just want to be a Navy Officer.

• B.A. in Political Science: 2.8 GPA, I know, terrible...
• M.S. in Sports Administration: 3.75 GPA
• 4 years’ experience as a full-time director in non-profit youth soccer
  • I have a lot of leadership and development experience here
    • Mange the recreation program: 550 participants, 20-30 coaches
    • Volunteer at club fundraising events
    • Tournament committee member
    • Development of age appropriate soccer education curriculum
    • Coach development and mentoring
    • Coach my own teams
  • I've only had 'excellent' work evaluations
• Volunteer Work and Extracurricular Activities:
  • Taught English as a second language to new immigrants
  • Helped out with a soccer program that specialized in coaching kids with disabilities
  • Volunteered with United Nations Association of my city while in college
  • Participated in Model UN, won an award at the National Model UN conference in Washington, D.C.
  • Men's Club Soccer participant (my university did not have an NCAA program), went to national championship
  • Tried to play professional soccer for 2 years

Personally, I think I could be a competitive candidate, but again, can't get a

The PA has changed from a 2.8 to a min 3.0 undergrad GPA requirment. So that might be why...

 

[LnkyA]

The PA has changed from a 2.8 to a min 3.0 undergrad GPA requirment. So that might be why...

Thank you for the response. I guess I was under the impression that the graduate degree would cancel out the poor undergraduate GPA. Granted, it is not at all an applicable degree, so I get it.

 

[Deleted member 67144 scul]

The PA has changed from a 2.8 to a min 3.0 undergrad GPA requirment. So that might be why...

Don't you think age is another factor he's getting ignored? 30, non-prior, and going for active duty is not a good mix.

 

[LnkyA]

Don't you think age is another factor he's getting ignored? 30, non-prior, and going for active duty is not a good mix.

Man, that is disappointing. I'm assuming at this point I am out of luck, even if I go back for a BS in Applied Computer Science? I received an acceptance e-mail to a computer science program for people without a background in CS, but already have bachelors degree. I'd be 31 by the time I finished it up.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Man, that is disappointing. I'm assuming at this point I am out of luck, even if I go back for a BS in Applied Computer Science? I received an acceptance e-mail to a computer science program for people without a background in CS, but already have bachelors degree. I'd be 31 by the time I finished it up.

It all comes down to talent acquisition. When it comes to officer programs, recruiters are in most dire need to find Pilots/NFOs and Nukes, those who are usually 22-23 years old with a degree (or STEM for Nuke). Everything else becomes secondary. For folks who aren't prior service and are older than 29... your attention and focus is usually very minimal.

 

[AULANI]

Man, that is disappointing. I'm assuming at this point I am out of luck, even if I go back for a BS in Applied Computer Science? I received an acceptance e-mail to a computer science program for people without a background in CS, but already have bachelors degree. I'd be 31 by the time I finished it up.

I don't know the what the age limit is for other programs but if you're not too old and want to be a Naval officer, just go for it. I wouldn't apply for Intel just because the selection rate is so low. I was too old for anything but Intel when I applied so I had no choice. At OCS I saw all kinds of people... especially the kind of people that I wondered "how did they make it this far in life, period?"

The bottom line is, you never know...

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

I don't know the what the age limit is for other programs but if you're not too old and want to be a Naval officer, just go for it. I wouldn't apply for Intel just because the selection rate is so low. I was too old for anything but Intel when I applied so I had no choice. At OCS I saw all kinds of people... especially the kind of people that I wondered "how did they make it this far in life, period?"

The bottom line is, you never know...

He's too old for other programs with higher selection rates (SWO, Pilot, etc.)...