what are my big holes?

SA2017

5-Year Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2011
Messages
102
can anyone look this over and tell me where some priorities are to continue to work on. If I CAN NOT raise the ACT scores am I not very competitive? I know I have lots of time to retake ACT but every time I take them the scores go down.

Education
 High school Class of 2013
 4.35 Cumulative GPA (weighted out of 4.0)
 Distinguished Honor Roll (over a 4.0) each semester
 (12) AP/Honors Classes
 Dual Enrollment with local college in (2) Computer Classes (grade:A in both) Architecture and Engineering
 ACT Scores: English 34, Math 33, Science 30, Reading 25, Writing 11

Academic Awards and Accomplishments
 National Honor Society
 Hockey League All Academic Team


Leadership Activities
 Highschool Student Enrichment Team --Student Committee Chair (Student committee chair is equivalent to president of club.)
 Boys State 2012- (just told of appointment from high school)
 Community Hockey School--Assistant Director Mentor and Coach.


Athletics
 High School Hockey-Varsity –Captain
 Travel Midget Minor Elite Tier II hockey team


Service to Community
 Buddy Ball Baseball--Coach
Helped children with a mental or physical disability to play baseball, regardless of their limitations. Helped the children learn teamwork and promote self-esteem. Activity: Coached Special Needs Baseball Team
 Amateur Hockey State Championship
On-day support, registration and check-in, equipment management activities, statistics, score sheets, time clock
 Community Baseball
Assisted Coaches with Youth Homerun Derby and hitting skills contest. responsible for equipment and assisted with the on-day operations.
 Convalescent Center
Volunteered time in fundraiser garage sale that helped raised money for the Convalescent Center

Extracurricular Activities
 Key Club - Student-led Service program for high school students whose goal is to teach leadership through serving others.
 Environment Club Activities- Student organization committed to fostering the development of the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to be a leader in ecological issues.
 Table Tennis Intramurals - Competitive intramural program for high school


Employment History
 Math Tutor- (three years) Provided individual tutoring in Math Designed and implemented lesson plans to facilitate mathematics learning and assisted my students in becoming successful, independent math learners through the mastery of concepts.
 Bike Repairs Shop– (three years) Started my own bike repair business-Repair and replace: hubs, derailleur, brakes, shifters, tires, chain and seats.

There are so many people who know so much more than I -so I want to thanks you in advance.
 
Looking pretty good! You probably want to take the ACT again (raise that reading score) and take the SAT and see if you'll score better overall on that. As far as your other ACT subsections go, they look pretty good. You didn't mention your class rank, but make sure you're staying well within the top 10% of your class, if not <5% of your class. (Valedictorian and salutatorian are also acceptable! :thumb:)

Leadership seems kind of light other than Boys' State. I'm a boys stater myself, CA-2011, great week with some great people. You'll have fun and apparently it's held to the same level as class president and Eagle Scout in the eyes of west point. Now... that being said... if Boys' State wasn't there, your leadership section would be a hole.

Otherwise, you are on track. Train for and do well on the CFA, apply for SLS, and enjoy the ride!
 
. . . Leadership seems kind of light other than Boys' State. I'm a boys stater myself, CA-2011, great week with some great people. You'll have fun and apparently it's held to the same level as class president and Eagle Scout in the eyes of west point. Now... that being said... if Boys' State wasn't there, your leadership section would be a hole.

. . .

I don't mean to side track to conversation, but what is your source stating that West Point hold Boys State to the same level as class president and Eagle scout. Just curious and to me it doesn't sound right. I would say someone that is a class presidnet or Eagle scout will more than likely to get accpeted by Boys State program, but particiapting in Boys state alone will not get you elected class president or make you an Eagle scout.
 
I don't mean to side track to conversation, but what is your source stating that West Point hold Boys State to the same level as class president and Eagle scout. Just curious and to me it doesn't sound right. I would say someone that is a class presidnet or Eagle scout will more than likely to get accpeted by Boys State program, but particiapting in Boys state alone will not get you elected class president or make you an Eagle scout.

At his interview, my cadet's MALO told him that West Point values Boys' State as much as Eagle Scout. I've never heard the class president portion though.
 
I don't mean to side track to conversation, but what is your source stating that West Point hold Boys State to the same level as class president and Eagle scout. Just curious and to me it doesn't sound right. I would say someone that is a class presidnet or Eagle scout will more than likely to get accpeted by Boys State program, but particiapting in Boys state alone will not get you elected class president or make you an Eagle scout.

My MALO.

And then when I told my RC I'd be going to Boys State, he made sure to tell me (multiple times) to go to Boys State regardless of whatever else would be on my schedule (even if it was SLS).
 
missing leadership

USMA 2016, Thank you for responding. You obviously have it all together since you already have an LOA. Congrats!

I will take the ACT with my class in April (I already took it a a bunch of times) but for now I am going to follow your advice and switch to trying the SAT. My problem with the reading is that I plain run out of time. I took the PSAT with my class and did better so I think your point about switching to the SAT is very well taken. I am going to do that.

I am currently in the top 13 percent of my class-but our school will not post that even on college aps. We have 3,040 kids in my Highschool and the Highschool feels that because we are so huge class raking and percentiles work against us so under no circumstances will they report it. I already went to the college center at our school to ask.

I agree with your leadership assessment. Other than Club president, Varsity Hockey Captain, boys state, coaching a special needs baseball team and director of volunteers and the Hockey school I dont really have any other leadership. These things are not very special. I was hoping starting my own business would count towords leadership-but maybe it doesnt. During the school year I dont think I can add another club to the ones I am already in (hockey practice ice/dryland is every night of the week) and we are out of state for my travel team most wkends, but maybe I can figure something out over summer.Any suggestions would be great-but I am sure I can figure something out.

I have already met with my gym teacher regarding the CFA, I gave him the print out of it and after the holiday breaks he is going to meet with me once per week to run through the CFA.

I will apply to SLS-but I am worried my scores will keep me out from that. I already received my letter from the school for Boys state.

Again I am agreeing with you completely about the leadership. I think that keeps my resume from being more than enough. thank you for your suggestions.
 
I am currently in the top 13 percent of my class-but our school will not post that even on college aps. We have 3,040 kids in my Highschool and the Highschool feels that because we are so huge class raking and percentiles work against us so under no circumstances will they report it. I already went to the college center at our school to ask.
.

My son's high school has the same policy.

It is important to know that if USMA doesn't have a class rank to work with they will fall back on your standardized test scores (we were told this by a captain in the admissions dept, during an interview).

It may be worth doing extensive test preparation, whether individually, with a tutor, or in a class.

**I just went back and re-read your original post and your ACT looks really strong- so my point above doesn't apply so much to you- but may be useful for others reading this thread.
 
There are quite a few high schools that do not provide class rankings for various different reasons. Colleges will use the School Profile to help determine where a student is ranked relative to other students at that school. The School Profile shows information such as the number of students who attend the school, the grading system used, how many AP courses are available, AP test scores, the range of SAT scores, SAT subject test scores and National Merit and Distinguished Scholar numbers. With all that information they can figure out roughly where a student ranks.
 
I must tell everyone who is applying to west point. I received my appointment yesterday. When super-scored my ACT was 30. CFA was above average. Extra curricular activities were also good. However my GPA was less than 3.2 if you can believe it. My school does not rank. I am not an eagle scout nor did I attend SLS. I didn't know anyone at the admission office. All I had was a dream to go to west point. I spoke to my RC on a bi-weekly basis and his secretary more often. I made it very clear to USMA that I wanted to go there. As soon as I was asked for a piece of information, I sent it. I stayed on top of everything. This may not be true for everyone, but if USMA is your passion is as great as mine, then USMA will find its way into your life.
 
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