What are my odds?

Emoen

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2013
Messages
6
I know there is already a post showing the profile of classes, but I wanted someone with experience to hopefully give me some feed back on my chances of getting into USMA.
I have received a nomination from my district representative. I also believe I am medically qualified (my medical exam is still being processed).

These are the results of my CFA:
BB Throw:71 ft, avg. is 67ft
Pull ups: 12, avg. is 9
Shuttle Run: 8.7, avg is 9.1
Sit ups: 95 (max), avg is 72
Push ups: 75 (max), avg is 54
Mile Run: 5:49, avg is 6:43

ACT sub scores: English-30, Math-27, Reading-29, Science-25, Writing-28
(I am taking the February ACT)
GPA: 3.84
Class Rank: 118 of 484 (my class is very competitive with a weighted grading scale, in my class the top 15% have higher than a 4.0)

Here is my current resume:
SCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES, AWARDS AND HONORS:
National Honor Society- 11th and 12th grades
-Chairperson for the NHS Juvenile Diabetes Foundation Fund-raiser- 11th and 12th grades
-Tutored students at Woodbury Middle School and Woodbury Lutheran Church- 11th grade
-Lettered in National Honor Society- 11th grade, I anticipate earning a letter my 12th grade year
Earned Academic Letters- 9th – 11th grades, I anticipate earning a letter my 12th grade year

BAND PARTICIPATION, AWARDS AND HONORS:
-Marching Band, Drum Line, Percussion Ensemble, Pep Band- 9th – 12th grades
-Varsity Band- 9th grade
-Symphonic Band- 10th grade
-Concert Band, Jazz Band- 11th and 12th grades
-Percussion Section Leader for All Bands- 11th and 12th grades
-Lettered in Band- 10th and 11th grades, I anticipate earning a letter my 12th grade year
-Earned “Superior” Rating for State Solo and Ensemble Contest in 11th grade
-Selected for the SEC All-Conference Band in 12th grade
-Selected to perform with the Encore Wind Ensemble-12th grade
INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS PARTICIPATION, AWARDS AND HONORS:
Boys Swim Team- 7th- 12th grades
-Voted “Most Spirited” in 10th and 11th grades
-Voted “Most Improved Swimmer” in 10th grade
-Earned Varsity Letters- 9th – 11th grades, I anticipate earning a letter for my 12th grade year
-Elected Team Captain for my 12th grade year

ADDITIONAL EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES PARTICIPATION, AWARDS AND HONORS:
Boy Scouts of America
-I earned my Eagle Rank plus Three Palms
-I have served as Master of Ceremonies, led the Opening Candle Ceremony as well as the Presentation of the Colors at several other Eagle Scout Courts of Honor
-Grey Wolf National Youth Leadership Program Training- I worked as a volunteer staff member in 2011, and was a senior staff member in 2012
-I am a Brotherhood Member of The Order of the Arrow
-I have served in many leadership positions throughout my scouting career; Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Asst. Patrol Leader, Scribe, Troop Guide and Quartermaster
-I am currently serving as an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 513 in Woodbury, MN
Southeast Area YMCA
- I am working as a Lifeguard and Swimming Instructor
- I also teach adapted swim lessons

I thank anyone in advance for reading this extremely long post and giving me any helpful advice!
 
My first impression is that you have a very competitive file.
I have seen people with your record get in and others not get in. The relative weaknesses in your record are your Math ACT score and class standing.
1.Take and retake the ACT until you get at least a 30 in the math ACT.
Take a course if necessary to improve that score.
2. Do your best to improve your class standing to at least top 20%.
3. Consider a "combat type" team sport such as wrestling or football
4. Look for more leadership events such as "Boy's State"
No person can say for sure what your chances are but based on my experience I would say 50-50. This would increase significally if you got your ACT Math to 30 or higher and improved your class standing to top 20%.
 
Thank you very much for your response and advice! I am a senior so I don't have time to join a combat sport or do boys state, but I can still possibly raise my GPA and I have one more chance on the act is I will have to make it count!
 
My first impression is that you have a very competitive file.
I have seen people with your record get in and others not get in. The relative weaknesses in your record are your Math ACT score and class standing.
1.Take and retake the ACT until you get at least a 30 in the math ACT.
Take a course if necessary to improve that score.
2. Do your best to improve your class standing to at least top 20%.
3. Consider a "combat type" team sport such as wrestling or football
4. Look for more leadership events such as "Boy's State"
No person can say for sure what your chances are but based on my experience I would say 50-50. This would increase significally if you got your ACT Math to 30 or higher and improved your class standing to top 20%.

This advice is the best you will get on this forum. Good luck to you!
 
A little insight...

Oddly enough, your resume is very similar to my DS. Some of his scores are slightly higher such as math ACT is 34 and SAT composite is 2050. His class rank was at 10%. However, we live in a very very completive area, last year 34 from our area received appointments to USMA. After he received a QNS he had a pity party for about a week, and was ready to go on with Plan B that was in full swing that he was working on simultaneously. Then he was offered a Civil Prep Scholarship that came directly from WP admissions. He postponed Plan B to give it another shot. Bottom line is have a Plan B, C but don’t forget about looking at Prep schools if this is truly your goal to attend WP. There are many paths to reach the top of the mountain.

Good Luck, really!

Its stunning to me the caliber of young people who have prepared so well and for half their lives for this one event in their lives. And it comes down to one thing, luck.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
....Then he was offered a Civil Prep Scholarship that came directly from WP admissions.....

Civil Prep Scholarships are not offered by West Point admissions but rather by the AOG and can be used to attend Greystone, NMMI, MMI or Valley Forge.
 
Scholarships...

The SA all offer scholarships to outstanding students in areas of athletics or scholar/leaders. For example the USAFA offers 50 to 60, depending on the year, Falcon Scholarship awards that are worth about $6000 to attend a Prep school of their choice or schools that may be outlined, outside of USAFAPS programs. USMA has similar programs to carefully selected students who show promise but may score too high for USMAPS. The Associates Of Graduates, AOG, selects promising students that have been recommended by WP admissions. Again, depending on the year 40 to 50 scholarships are awarded with a worth of $3000. There is also Civil Preparatory Scholarship that is very selective. These scholarships general are worth $3000 and the school that is selected mirrors the scholarship. The remaining amount is usually paid by the student or can apply for other scholarships to cover the remaining costs. Generally the Civil Scholarships are given to the school that makes contact to the student to see if they are interested in taking advantage of the offer. WP does not have much of budget for this and is very limited to about ten of these types of scholarships. In any of the above cases WP is very interested and is will to make an investment in that student. Generally the student needs to polish up his ACT/SAT scores a few points. This is how it was explained to my DS in detail.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
Follow up....

If you are not lucky enough, to receive and appointment in the next four weeks, I encourage you to investigate any of the Prep Schools. They all have their pros and cons and offer different programs that are all very successful. If you do decide to attend a Prep School always remember the directors of any of the schools are on the inside fence with the SAs and do monitor your progress or lack of. If you truly desire to attend WP and are not selected, take a look at this as a Plan B.

From my personal observations of my DS, it was a huge step forward. We will see, like everyone else, if he is successful. But I can say with full confidence he is better prepared for USMA or college.

Best of luck to all of you!

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
Civil Prep question

Does anyone know how many Civil Prep scholarships are awarded? My DS was put forth by RC, but don't know what his chances are.
 
Civil Prep

The Associates of Graduates (AOG) recieves a list of candidates from WP of those who are very promising and like would like them to receive a scholarship. Depending on the they years about 40 to 50 are awarded. This is completely different than USMAPS.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
Service Academy Prep School

If you are not lucky enough, to receive and appointment in the next four weeks, I encourage you to investigate any of the Prep Schools. They all have their pros and cons and offer different programs that are all very successful. If you do decide to attend a Prep School always remember the directors of any of the schools are on the inside fence with the SAs and do monitor your progress or lack of. If you truly desire to attend WP and are not selected, take a look at this as a Plan B.

From my personal observations of my DS, it was a huge step forward. We will see, like everyone else, if he is successful. But I can say with full confidence he is better prepared for USMA or college.

Best of luck to all of you!

Push Hard, Press Forward

Unfortunately I did not receive an appointment to West Point, but I am interested in prep school, but I am having trouble finding application information and I fear it might be too late, any insight?
 
Unfortunately I did not receive an appointment to West Point, but I am interested in prep school, but I am having trouble finding application information and I fear it might be too late, any insight?

Well two things. First, unless you received a letter that clearly states you have been rejected, you are still in the running for the class of 2017. Second, you do not apply to USMAPS. If admissions thinks you are a good candidate for the prep school then they will offer it to you.
 
The SA all offer scholarships to outstanding students in areas of athletics or scholar/leaders. For example the USAFA offers 50 to 60, depending on the year, Falcon Scholarship awards that are worth about $6000 to attend a Prep school of their choice or schools that may be outlined, outside of USAFAPS programs. USMA has similar programs to carefully selected students who show promise but may score too high for USMAPS. The Associates Of Graduates, AOG, selects promising students that have been recommended by WP admissions. Again, depending on the year 40 to 50 scholarships are awarded with a worth of $3000. There is also Civil Preparatory Scholarship that is very selective. These scholarships general are worth $3000 and the school that is selected mirrors the scholarship. The remaining amount is usually paid by the student or can apply for other scholarships to cover the remaining costs. Generally the Civil Scholarships are given to the school that makes contact to the student to see if they are interested in taking advantage of the offer. WP does not have much of budget for this and is very limited to about ten of these types of scholarships. In any of the above cases WP is very interested and is will to make an investment in that student. Generally the student needs to polish up his ACT/SAT scores a few points. This is how it was explained to my DS in detail.

Push Hard, Press Forward


Tug_Boat,
Just wondering if your DS received an appointment this time around? I hope so....he certainly sounds qualified and committed!
 
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