Do community college transfers have a shot at nupoc?

tud22830 · Dec 11, 2011, 01:54

Hello all, I've learned a great deal about the nuclear industry through this website. I've been debating on joining the navy nuke program for quite awhile. I'm currently in an ABET accredited electrical engineering program. It is not a top school by any means. I transfered from a community college with around a 3.7 gpa. I took calc 1-3 and physics 1 and 2 at the community college. I received A's and B's in all of those courses. Fast forward to present time, and I just completed my first semester at my 4 year school. I got a B+ in differential equations, B in discrete mathematics, and an A in circuit analysis 1. Basically I'm wondering if the program looks down upon community college credits? If so, should I complete another semester before I try to get involved in the program?

-Joe

ToadSuck · Dec 12, 2011, 09:30

As long as you have a >3.0 GPA you are competitive for SUB/SWO Nupuc. You can apply even with lower GPA's.

It sounds like you have a fine GPA and a all the prerequisites. I don't think that you community college credits will be looked down upon (just my opinion). I think it would only matter what school you went to if you were applying to Naval Reactors.

I don't know about the rest of your backround...but if you are withing the timeframe for graduation. I think you are a prime candidate.

ToadSuck · Dec 12, 2011, 09:34

Oh...1 more thing.

Your Community college stuff is fine as long as your Physics was Calc based physics and not algebra based physics.

Some community colleges don't offer the calc based physics....

When all your transcripts get ordered for the recruiter he will have to find that out. If you want to know for yourself go to the course catalog of the university and read the class description. It should tell you whether it is calc based or alg based. If not, then it would be sent up to NRC for a determination.

tud22830 · Dec 12, 2011, 10:56

Yes, they were calc based. Is there a certain time of year that is best to apply?

ToadSuck · Dec 12, 2011, 03:24

They fiscal year in the Navy is from Oct to Sept. Every officer community does it differently. If you have 100 spots for a year nationally, some will take 8-9 a month but others with just take the 100 as they come.

If it is the latter then they could be "sold out" by November....

When I was the Nuke Officer Recruiter, in year grads had to all be in by June. You are not an in year grad so it shouldn't matter when you try to join. However, because of the economy and fresh billets opening every Oct...I would say (my opinion) apply as soon as you can after Oct 1st.

Since you are ready to apply now, I would not wait. You could be done with your package and know whether you will be fine or try again by the 2nd or 3rd week in January. If you are fine they will set up an interview date in D.C. in February.

If you are worried, SWO fills up first so choose SUBS as your 1st priority.

All this being said, I don't think you have anything to worry about as far as it being full. You have a great GPA and as long as you don't have age/moral/medical issues you shouldn't have an issue getting invited to interview.

From MY experience...The hardest part is getting an interview in D.C. (professionally recommended and invited). About 80% don't get professionally recommended to go interview. Once you get invited, the acceptance rate is 80-100%. The only people who didn't make it past the interview that went either freaked out or gave a horrible motivational reason to the admiral (no one else was hiring so I thought I would give this a shot...). One person even passed the interview, but turned it down.

tud22830 · Dec 12, 2011, 04:00

Ok, thanks for the info. I got the number for my local officer recruiting office. Do I just call them up and say I'm interested in the nupoc program? I want to come off as formal as possible.

ToadSuck · Dec 12, 2011, 06:27

Nukes and medical are the most in demand OFFICER folks needed pretty much always...

Like I said before, if you are verbally qualified (not actually qualified) over the phone by them asking you a couple of questions you will be given great treatment.

I would ask them who is the actual Nuke officer recruiter. Most recruiting districts have a person specifically designated to handle nuke.