Q&A for application to USNA

Otter

5-Year Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2011
Messages
17
I've been through the gauntlet that is USNA applications and have been accepted for class of 2016. I interviewed for nominations, I completed summer seminar, I completed the cab database. I've done it all, and throughout all of it I had so many questions that I believe I am fairly well qualified to help those that are seeking to tackle the same obstacles I (and every other USNA applicant) have had to face. I will check this thread daily until I-Day, and will answer all questions asked.
 
will answer all questions asked.

Thanks for doing this.

My question right now is about the CFA:

I went to USMA SLS and took the CFA, next week I go to USNA NASS and will take the CFA again. assuming my scores are the same at USNA NASS-how do I know if I should retake the CFA again or not?

at USMA SLS I got:
B-Ball 62
PullUps 18-(max)
Shuttle run 9.0
Crunches 95-(max)
push ups 75-(max)
1 mile 6.26
score 672-No Risk
 
Is there a difference in submitting the majority of your application now or the end of August?
 
First to prep - your scores are good, you have to take the CFA again at NASS, but if they are similiar (and they should be) then you have no need to retake it. My scores were about the same as yours, with bit faster run and probably a little less on the throw. I only took it once.

Secondly to Rojo17 - I finished mine at the end of August, which is pretty early; however, I cannot stress the importance of finishing your application as early as possible. I recieved an LOA because I had my information in the first in my district, and the rest of my credentials were solid. If you can, get it in ASAP. I believe I deserve to go, but there are others in my district who were damn near as good, getting my application in early gave me the edge I needed. There are rolling admissions so the sooner you get your application in, the easier it is - not to sound redundant. One last thing Rojo. I got in contact with my B&G late, but only because he saw my application was nearing 100%. Talking to him has helped me enormously so if you can get in touch with your B&G or regional co-ordinator that is a relationship that will help you.

Lastly to LakeErie69 - I typically avoided the other remarks section unless I believed that something I said needed clarified. For example I participated in HMUN and NCMUN which is harvard model united nations and North country model united nations. Things like acronyms and clarity are what I used those sections for, don't sweat them.
 
what do you think made you stand out from everyone else applying?
 
Secondly to Rojo17 - I finished mine at the end of August, which is pretty early; however, I cannot stress the importance of finishing your application as early as possible. I recieved an LOA because I had my information in the first in my district, and the rest of my credentials were solid. If you can, get it in ASAP. I believe I deserve to go, but there are others in my district who were damn near as good, getting my application in early gave me the edge I needed. There are rolling admissions so the sooner you get your application in, the easier it is - not to sound redundant. One last thing Rojo. I got in contact with my B&G late, but only because he saw my application was nearing 100%. Talking to him has helped me enormously so if you can get in touch with your B&G or regional co-ordinator that is a relationship that will help you.
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As a parent of a former Midshipman that went through the entire process, NASS, Admission, 4 years, and graduation. I disagree with the emphasis to get the application in early at all costs. Generaly speaking, the admissions board does not start reviewing applications until somtime in late August. If you get your application in in late September or early October you are still in the "early" pool of applicants.

What is most important is to put forth the best application that you can:
- Essay - You have 500 words, each word has to count as to why you deserve to be considered for admission. Serious gramatical and spelling errors can be fatal to your prospects.
-References - Make sure your references know the importance of their words to your future. It's not a bad idea to ask them to write the reference and give you a copy. Don't be blindsideded by a mediocre or bad reference.
- Show passion and desire in your writeing. Yeah you are a smart kid. Guess what so are the majority of all the other applicants. Your writing skills can seperate you from others.

My point here is that you have one shot to get your application perfect. This takes time and that's ok. Take the time to get your application the best you can with no afterthoughts of wish i woulda -shouda.
 
LakeErie69 - I recieved my LOA at the end of september, but I didn't get a nomination until right before christmas.

Prep - I think what made me stand out from other people, I won't say everyone else, but what I think got me in was the diversity of my application. I'm not phenomenal at anything in all honesty, but I was first in my class, a decent athlete, and involved in many extra-curricular activities.

Midndad - I don't disagree with you. I had my essays checked by two english teachers, I also obsessed over every little part of the application. You should make them as good as possible - but as a student I know it can be appealing to put things off until the end of summer, and then before you know it, you've missed the first round. So yes, do not sacrifice quality for speed, but I believe it is much better to get the application done as soon as possible rather than wait. You also have to apply for every nomination source and presumably to other colleges. I have had several friends who applied that got everything done, but parts of it rely on people from school such as teachers and councelors; they may not be availible unless you talk to them before the end of the school year. Furthermore things like your SAT and ACT scores can be updated. The end of August early September at the latest should be your goal in my opinion. As midndad said though, make sure everything is perfect before you submit it, a mistake on your essay will probably hurt you more than the few extra days it would take to get it checked.
 
Otter, we are saying the same thing. To be succesfull, this is an extreemly proactive process that has to be worked every day. You chased your teachers and realized the importance of deadlines. I'm just concerned when I hear kids prioritizing getting it done fast rather than focusing on their application being the best it could.

Once you get to the Academy, you will find that as you compare stories they are all over the map. One person had the application done in July and another turned it in the very last day possible. The one common thread I heard from my DD's friends is none of them had a clue as to why they were accepted and someone else they knew was not.

You are in for the most interesting ride for the next 4 years.
 
Admittedly a large portion of what I know comes from my B&G regional co-ordinator and he says admissions are largely a mystery even to them.
 
I didn't proofread my essay, forgot to send in my stuff for nominations late, and did almost everything else last minute. My GPA wasn't great, my SATs were okay but not amazing, and my class rank probably left much to be desired. Granted, this was a different time as far as applicant numbers and competitiveness goes, but I still got in first time. Friends with much more impressive resumes did not. Friends who on paper looked "worse" than I did also got in first time and were very successful, in some cases moreso than kids whose applications looked "better."

Admissions works in mysterious ways. The "what are my chances" threads and stuff like this are sort of funny and frustrating to me because in a lot of cases who gets in and who doesn't is completely unpredictable. No one here really knows the answers.
 
Thank you MIDNDAD and Otter, I will be sure to do what you say.
 
Good perspective Hurricane.

I do think it is to one's advantage to get the application completed early, but accurately (as stated). This can be accomplished over the summer period without much sweat; just takes good coordination with the high school officials. Proofreading is important, but as long as grammer/spelling errors aren't the theme of the personal statement, it normally doesn't significantly degrade one's chances.

The type of wording matters a little, but not so much in the USNA application, where most of the free response data is limited. SAT/ACT scores, class rank, transcript, and activities can easily outweigh what one says.

Time can be of importance because when the firs Admissions Board convenes, there is no set standard. This means that as the records (competition) are reviewed throughout the cycle....someone who received an LOA or was determined to be scholastically qualified in early Septemeber might not enjoy the same standard in November (doesn't mean they won't be qualified, but the decision might be delayed).

Having your application looking as best as it can is important, given the stringent competition....word choice, spelling, gramar, and thoughoutful time put into your application could make a difference.

So MIDNDAD and Otter are both right in the sense to be accurate and timely.
 
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