Competitivity(worried)

amirbenhayon

5-Year Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2012
Messages
38
So I'm really freaking out the more I look into the Academy and the more I want to do it. Based on these forums, I've seen people with stats that destroy mine, and stats that are much lower than mine, but nobody around my level. I've completed my app(11/26) already and now I'm waiting on PFE, DoDMERB, and supplimental ACT scores(already took SAT), based on my stats below, I'm looking for any advice/information/admission stats/ piece of mind that I can use to calm down a bit.

unweighted GPA- 3.896
weighted- 4.57
(all honors and 4 APs, includng Calc 1 junior year)
im dual enrolling this year taking college algebra and calc 2 and comp 1 and 2

SAT(where I'm worried)- M 620, V 650, W 550 with 9 essay(I don't get the writing score either)

Everything else
Leadership & Extracurricular Activities
Marching Band 9th-12th grade Trumpet section Leader 11th and 12th grade, Asst. Drum Major 12th grade.
Concert Band- 9-12th grade 1st chair 10-12.
Wind Ensemble- 11-12th grade 1st chair all.
Jazz Band 1st chair 9-12th grade
Tampa Bay thunder Drum and Bugle Corps 2011 inaugural member (summer) (weekend tours)
Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps-Member 2012(summer) (87 day tour)
Relay For Life Committee Member 2012-2013
2012 Tennis individual and doubles tournament participant/ doubles finalist
Awards & Accomplishments
PRIDE award 5th grade-Math for South Ward Elementary
AP Scholar Award-2012 for earning a passing grade on 3+ AP exams
Doorways/Taking Stock in Children Scholarship Recipient (2007)
Dean’s List 10-12th grade uninterrupted
Community Activities
National Honor Society-Service projects and plastic and paper recycling
Pinellas Opportunity Counsel- Community Service project developed to supply food to homeless shelter
American Cancer Society Relay For Life 2012-2013 Team co-founder – “Cancer Opposition Corps”
Church Musician December 24th 2011
100+ National Honor Society and Pinellas Opportunity Council service hours

my essay 1 was about going from 216lbs to 156lbs and how that shows determination
essay 2 was about Band leadership
essay 3 was about being the leader of a group that was diverse

PFE practice i scored around a 220

thanks everyone.
 
First, don't use "competitivity" in any of your essays, because the word does not exist.


I was a trumpet guy in high school (except that I wasn't awesome). You're background is very heavy band. That's not bad, but it may also be helpful to highlight other things as well, like sports or athletic events.

Dropping 60 lbs is a very impressive feat, and I'm sure it will be an interesting read. I'm not sure of the timing of it. If it was a few years ago and you've kept it off, awesome. Would someone be concern that you could regain it? I have no idea. Either way, good on you, because that isn't easy.


So, keep doing well in classes. My recommendation is for you to diversify your resume, don't shy away from the band info, but include other information to round yourself out.

Good luck!
 
The weight has been off about year and I've kept working out since.
I don't know anything I could do now to diversitg or if I have anyway of adding anything to my package. Don't worry I didn't use that word in an essay :)
 
Just added Karate(Okinawan Shiri-Ryu) and Amateur weightlifting to my resume.
those were the only things that I could find that I have done other than what I have already submitted.
 
First, don't use "competitivity" in any of your essays, because the word does not exist.


I was a trumpet guy in high school (except that I wasn't awesome). You're background is very heavy band. That's not bad, but it may also be helpful to highlight other things as well, like sports or athletic events....
So, keep doing well in classes. My recommendation is for you to diversify your resume, don't shy away from the band info, but include other information to round yourself out.

Good luck!


We were told the same about band...nice to have and certainly offers leadership skills BUT to not over focus on it. It is also important to show sports involvement and ideally have a varsity letter in cross country, football, track, or any other physically demanding sport. This is NOT because band is not valuable and difficult in its own right, but because the physical and mental challenges and personalities you deal with in sports are very different from that of band.
This is from the outside looking in and solely based on what a recruiter pointed out, for what it is worth.
S
 
Just frustrating to know that the activity I chose in freshman year and wanted to stick with took all of my time I could have used to play a sport(which never seemed available to me because of my weight) until recently. I hope it hasn't doomed me... CGA is a dream.
 
Band

Don't think band will doom you. Just do as advised and emphasize more than just band, that would be my thought.
I will be interested to hear what others with acutual experience say.
S
 
my EC portion of my resume I resubmitted now reads...

Leadership & Extracurricular Activities
2012 Tennis individual and doubles tournament participant/ doubles finalist
Karate (Okinawan Shuri-Ryu) – 7-8th grades - Stopped for financial reasons
Amateur Weightlifting - 10-12th grades
Marching Band 9th-12th grade Trumpet section Leader 11th and 12th grade, Asst. Drum Major 12th grade.
Concert Band- 9-12th grade 1st chair 10-12.
Wind Ensemble- 11-12th grade 1st chair all.
Jazz Band 1st chair 9-12th grade
Tampa Bay thunder Drum and Bugle Corps 2011 inaugural member (summer) (weekend tours)
Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps-Member 2012(summer) (87 day tour)
Relay For Life Committee Member 2012-2013 - Team Development

that's about all I have going on and can be doing this year.
 
See, that's much more well-rounded.

Writing about youself is not easy. College applications, resumes, etc are the few times it is 100% appropriate to talk yourself up (provided it's accurate).

Never sell yourself should, you have a limited number of chances to sell yourself at all.
 
Perhaps, I can provide some perspective. My son applied last year and was not accepted. He was wait-listed and the final rejection did not come until mid-June. His GPA was higher than yours and his SATs were higher (all well over 700). He really did not have music but a lot of sports, and captain of all of his teams. He is also a weight-lifter and very fast. He would have performed well at CGA both mentally and physically.

However, contrary to what you might think this is not to discourage you; it is intended only to put the CGA into the proper perspective. You should be applying to a range of schools. With your grades and ECs you will get into the best schools in the country and many will provide you with money. My son is at a top ranked school with a four year scholarship. Just because of the numbers, CGA is a stretch school for everyone. Treat it like that and don’t get your hopes up.

The CGA has a lot to offer and is a very unique opportunity for anyone admitted. I strongly supported my son’s interest in applying, and I am still glad that he pursued that dream. However, they have thousands of qualified applicants that they cannot offer slots to. Do your best on the application but find other schools that you will be happy at. Good luck.
 
:/
I have backups, but none tug at me like CGA.
scored 214 on PFA today
i guess ill see what happens with ACTs this Saturday and everything else...
Im sorry about your son dogs... Im sure he deserved an appointment.
 
Just my two cents, but who really knows what tips the scales in one person's favor in any particular academy? When you look on all of these threads, it is obvious that many, many candidates are very well qualified and deserving. We live in an under-represented state for certain service academies. Most live in states that don't have this concern. Our DS is at USNA and DD is applying to both USNA and USAFA. She just finished her MOC nomination interviews and mentioned that all interviewing had stats similar to hers and outstanding individuals. Of course there was a moment of huge panic!! I would guess it would come down to many factors that are eventually out of your control once everything is submitted and all you have to do on your end is done except wait by the mailbox. Try not to stress. Apply to other places for your plan B, C, D...etc. Best of Luck!!!: biggrin:
 
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