Leadership for USNA?

A

aviatordream

5-Year Member
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Jul 5, 2011
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I'm a rising junior, and I am homeschooled. I am trying my hardest to get into the Naval Academy. My grades are very good, as are my involment in volunteering and athletics. My question is, how can I get "leadership" skills into my application?
I am on a varsity volleyball team, but as a homeschooler I will most likely not be captain or co-captain. We also do this "big sister-little sister" thing for the JV members that involves some leadership stuff, but my coach didn't put me in it as I don't know the actual school that well. (Should I ask if I can?)
I got into a class called "Leadership Skills Development", will that help at all?
I've done volunteering that involves some leadership, but I don't know how to put it.
Does anyone have any ideas? I want to go to USNA very badly, and I will try my absolute hardest to get some leadership into my resume. Thanks.
 
aviatordream said:
I'm a rising junior, and I am homeschooled. I am trying my hardest to get into the Naval Academy. My grades are very good, as are my involment in volunteering and athletics. My question is, how can I get "leadership" skills into my application?
I am on a varsity volleyball team, but as a homeschooler I will most likely not be captain or co-captain. We also do this "big sister-little sister" thing for the JV members that involves some leadership stuff, but my coach didn't put me in it as I don't know the actual school that well. (Should I ask if I can?)
I got into a class called "Leadership Skills Development", will that help at all?
I've done volunteering that involves some leadership, but I don't know how to put it.
Does anyone have any ideas? I want to go to USNA very badly, and I will try my absolute hardest to get some leadership into my resume. Thanks.
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Leadership experience means you find something for which you are in charge (and at risk). It could look a lot of different ways: if you're in Scouts, the Gold Award is one example. Leading a youth group at your church; chairing a book drive for your local library; leading a food drive; organizing a blood drive; etc. Even homeschool kids are eligible for public-school extracurriculars like Math Club or a dramatic production; join and become an officer in one of those. Look into the Civil Air Patrol and work into a leadership role. And so on.

What USNA wants you to demonstrate is: you take charge, you put yourself at risk (meaning, your hind end is on the line to produce some result that isn't a "given"), and you organize a group of people to achieve a common goal. So, choose something that really matters to you and that you're really committed to.
 
Also look into some specific activities ... Boys State, Presidential Classroom, HOBY, local leadership events, etc. Sometimes VFW, American Legion, etc might have essay contests. Be assertive on these things. They are not the magic bullets, but can lend some fire power to your position.
 
There is a misperception afoot that you must be a team captain, class president, etc, to get leadership recognition. I have seen candidates who held those positions who really didn't perform well in those roles. It is possible not to be captain/president/etc, and be a de facto leader - most any coach, advisor, etc, would be pleased to have a team member offer to work with the newer members of the organization to bring them up to speed, so on. Use some initiative and insight and you will find ways to earn leadership credit. Take on some of the not so glamorous jobs and do your best.
 
Setting up and leading a meaningful, community service project would probably be considered good leadership. Based on the Class of 2015 profile, almost 2/3 of successful applicants were team captain/co-captains on their sports teams (but the other 1/3 is still a significant portion).

My BGO stressed to me that quality of leadership is better than quantity. Having been involved in scouting for 6 years, he reccomended that I try to get one or two (NOT 3, 4, or 5 ) positions in a school club/team.

It makes sense that a person can be team captains of 2 sports of different seasons and be active in a civic club. However, if you are holding too many positions at one time, it is questionable to what you actually do in your club/team.
 
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