Help, Advice Please!

LexRun2014

5-Year Member
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Mar 7, 2011
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10
I'm a freshman in high school currently, but I'm a planner and one who thinks towards the future, and If anyone can help answer a few questions I have I would be very greatfull. I very much want to attend the USNA with my second choice being The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina. My first question is, although I know nobody knows for sure my chances of getting into the USNA I would like an opinion. I'm near positive i will graduate high school with: a 3.7-4.2 GPA taking AP classes in the social sciences and english, 12 varsity letters (6 XC, 6 Track), 3 or 4 AAAA Cross Country State Championships, I do 2 or 3 hours of community service a week with my church, plus mission trips, i hope to get into Boys State, I was in the top 5 of my state geography bee twice, and think I'm very capable of wowing my BGO (whom i know personaly) in an interview. Is that a USNA worthy resume? My next question involves math classes. Math is definintly my weakness, do i need to go all the way to Pre-Cal or Calculus in high school,so what im saying is, will it hurt my chances If i do not take those classes? Lastly, what can I do now, or soon to help with my chances, JROTC? tour campus? talk to my BGO? talk to my congressman? etc.... THANK YOU very much in advance!
 
I forgot to add, I will not likely be able to run scholarship Cross Country at Navy, but it isnt out of the question, I would be looking to walk-on with a 4:25 mile.
 
As the SA's all were technical/engineering schools originally and award grads with BS degrees you really need to start getting serious about science and math. Yes, you should get through pre-calc and calculus as well as chemistry, plane geometry, and trigonometry if your school offers them. You really need to take those courses in the AP mode if possible. Best wishes.
 
BTW, Most assuredly, you need to sit down with your BGO to chart a course of action.
 
Just my opinion but I wouldn't include state titles in your resume until they belong to you.
 
Just my opinion but I wouldn't include state titles in your resume until they belong to you.

Im not stupid...I have 3 already 7th and 8th graders are eligible (in SC at least to run varsity) so i have 7th grade, 8th grade, and 9th grade titles already
 
BTW, Most assuredly, you need to sit down with your BGO to chart a course of action.

You mean i should do so now, or soon? or wait untill my sophmore year or so?...and as far as the math goes, my school has all of those courses, i definintly will not be taking AP, chemistry and pre-cal i plan on being the highest level I go there, NOT gifted in math.
 
Im not stupid...I have 3 already 7th and 8th graders are eligible (in SC at least to run varsity) so i have 7th grade, 8th grade, and 9th grade titles already

Nobody was saying you are stupid. You asked for opinions and you got one. And for the record, when you are filling out you're application, there isn't really a place to talk about middle school. In all my experiences with college applications, high school is the only thing they care about.
 
Nobody was saying you are stupid. You asked for opinions and you got one. And for the record, when you are filling out you're application, there isn't really a place to talk about middle school. In all my experiences with college applications, high school is the only thing they care about.

I would think grade is irrelevant, its a varsity sport for the biggest high school in my state, regardless of my age I would've been competing as a high school athlete right?
 
I did not intend to undermine your accomplishments. It simply sounded as if they hadn't occured yet when you said " 3 or 4" after mentioning you were a freshmen. I apologize.
 
I did not intend to undermine your accomplishments. It simply sounded as if they hadn't occured yet when you said " 3 or 4" after mentioning you were a freshmen. I apologize.

I'm sorry, I misunderstood you, did'nt mean to be snappy, its all good :biggrin:
 
On the application they ask for high school achievements only. However, if the accomplishments continue, when you send in a resume I would add these titles achieved in middle school with an astericks. Couldn't hurt.

Speak to a BGO once the appointments have been completed for this year. He/she will be more receptive to meeting with you then. But remember, it will be stressed that you need to do very well in math and science. Even being a cross country athlete with state titles, never forget that there will be other kids with your exact same credentials trying for that appointment. You must do whatever you can to excel at academics and leadership also.

The qualified candidates will look like you do on paper. Don't sign up for activities that you do not care about, just to fill a resume. look at everything available to you and pick activities that you are passionate about. If you honestly find JROTC interesting, then sign up. It will help with the leadership aspect of your resume.

The one thing my son noticed while talking to other kids before and after MOC interviews was that even he could tell which kids were just doing activities for the resume. And I'm sure the interviewers could tell also. Be true to who you are, listen to the advice given. USNA wants real people with the potential to become real leaders.

Good Luck!
 
Thanks for the info i appreciate it!... do you happen to know what time the appointments are over this year?
 
I understand, trust me I know all about competing for a state title myself. Appointments are given up to a few weeks before I-Day in order to fill the class.

I would concentrate heavily on your leadership in areas outside of sports that interest you. I presume with your credentials you would stand high on the list of captains as maybe a junior or before! But show diversity, find something (or a few things would be better) other than running that interests you and committ your self to it. Maybe a club or something of the sort.....?
 
I've heard the majority of appointments go out this month and next, with a few trickling in up until a few weeks before I-day.

Just my measly two cents: Good on you for starting early. Many of my classmates still don't have any idea of what they want to do or where they want to go..and we graduate in 2 1/2 months.

Continue to pursue that goal. Just keep in mind that your goals/plans will very likely change. I came into high school dead set on going to the Air Force Academy and becoming a fighter pilot. Now I'm stuck between West Point and the Naval Academy. I didn't even finish my app to USAFA.

Semper Gumby:thumb: and good luck!
 
Continue to pursue that goal. Just keep in mind that your goals/plans will very likely change. I came into high school dead set on going to the Air Force Academy and becoming a fighter pilot. Now I'm stuck between West Point and the Naval Academy. I didn't even finish my app to USAFA.

Semper Gumby:thumb: and good luck!

The correct answer is "Now I'm stuck between the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy."
:usa:

In all seriousness, good on you guys for starting early but be aware of your plans changing. When I was a freshman in high school, I thought I was going to go to Bowdoin and be an English teacher.
I didn't decide that I for sure wanted to go to USNA until after I applied.
 
The correct answer is "Now I'm stuck between the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy."
:usa:

In all seriousness, good on you guys for starting early but be aware of your plans changing. When I was a freshman in high school, I thought I was going to go to Bowdoin and be an English teacher.
I didn't decide that I for sure wanted to go to USNA until after I applied.

I Definintly am not set on anything, but as of now I want to go to a military academy, USNA or The Citadel... I think the USNA gives you a huge advantage post college, where as The Citadel is more o a regional advantage? Is there as much historical significance to the USNA as The Citadel?
 
I Definintly am not set on anything, but as of now I want to go to a military academy, USNA or The Citadel... I think the USNA gives you a huge advantage post college, where as The Citadel is more o a regional advantage? Is there as much historical significance to the USNA as The Citadel?

Obviously I'm biased because I'm a mid (and a New Englander), but USNA has a lot more prestige on a national level than The Citadel or VMI. I've heard from numerous grads who've left active duty that the alumni network is very real and will hook you up. I'm sure the same is true for The Citadel, but there's a lot more USNA grads out there doing different things and the Academy has greater name recognition among people who may not know a lot about the military.

They're also very different places, for what that's worth. The history here is awesome and there's a very long standing culture and set of traditions at the Naval Academy. It's a very cool place to be, not just be from.
If you get a chance to come down (up?) here, take a visit to Memorial Hall and just walk around. It's probably the most humbling and moving place on the Yard.
 
I guess to re-itterate what others have said, being a good athlete is important, but also focus on participating in ec's, community service and practicing leadership. You also need to do well in math and science courses and score high on standardized tests. Looking at colleges now is good and shooting for a school like USNA will make you competitive for other selective universities. Try hard all 4 years and be open to the many opportunities abound, when I was a freshman I knew nothing about USNA aside from the Army-Navy game and if someone told me I was going there I would have thought they were crazy. Semper Gumby and best of luck.
 
Hurricaine12... I definintly see what youre saying, and I agree, I'm sure USNA is revered much more nationaly, you get a very limited prespective growing up in SC, and are taught that The Citadel is near holy haha... And i definintly plan on taking a visit up there in the next year or so to look around and such, I'm very intruiged by history and dont know much about USNA history. The Citadel obviously has a famous (or maybe infamous to you northerners) history dating back to the 1860s when cadets at The Citadel fired upon The Star of the West to start the war between the states. Having visited The Citadel many times, they are proud of that as is our state, it would be interesting to contrast that to the USNA.
 
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