Navy NCP, Previous Bachelors, and GPA

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Specializes in CNOR.

Hey guys,

I know that to apply for the Navy NCP you have to have over a 3.0 to be competitive (makes sense since the demand is so high). What I want to know is are all grades ever taken calculated into that? I graduated with my B.S. in Accounting over 5 years ago. I enlisted in the Navy when I graduated and decided to attend nursing school when my time was up. I got into my current program and I've been doing fantastic in my classes. My current GPA is well over the required 3.0, but my recruiter and his project manager are trying to add my previous degree's grades into the GPA. This brings it much lower, and I don't think I am competitive anymore. Is that how this works? I know I should trust my recruiter, but I've been "screwed over" before and I want to make sure I do it right this time. Just to note: I respect my recruiter a lot and up until now he has gone above and beyond to help me out.

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

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I can only speak to my experience applying for NCP. I have a long educational history and they asked for all of it. I know the Army only requests transcripts for the past 7 years, but the Navy wanted everything. That also brought my GPA down, but my last 7+ years are very good. I was told by my recruiter that I have a strong kit, but I have yet to hear if I have been selected. But it definitely didn't seem like I had an option to provide less than everything. Grades are one part of the picture, but my guess is that they look at them as any admissions team does - showing strong steady improvement is good but depending on the candidate pool that may not be enough. But you will never know until you try.

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Specializes in CNOR.

Thanks, oaktown. I had no problems turning them in. I have a degree and I'm not ashamed of it. I know I should have worked harder, but I was young and not really interested in my field. Maturity has definitely set in and I'm fully committed to nursing with or without a commission in the military.

Good luck with your packet!

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Specializes in Critical Care Emergency Military Nursing.

Yes, they will consider all of your grades. As nice as the NCP program sounds, it's not as sweet as the direct accession. The NCP only gives up to 24,000 for a 5 year payback, while a DA for 5 years pays 40,000, 4 years pays 30,000 etc. Plus it's easier to get in that way.

I am an ICU nurse in the Navy, and attempted the same thing. I had 2 degrees etc. I got turned down for the NCP and was accepted as a DA. My friend got accepted into the NCP and he had the same resume as me. In the end I got a better deal with less of a time commitment and more money.

Remember that the recruiter will attempt to tell you everything positive but they will leave out all the little details that make a huge difference. Please feel free to ask me more questions about the Navy and Navy Nursing.

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Specializes in CNOR.

Thanks, navyman7. I am actually contemplating just applying for DA as soon as I can. I will just focus on getting the best grades possible until then.

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