Advice for a future applicant to USNA

ethang22

USNAHopeful Class of 2020
5-Year Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2013
Messages
22
I am currently a sophomore in high school. I did pretty bad during freshman year earning only a 2.7 GPA. I'm wondering if my bad freshman year will affect my chances. My sophomore year is different, I am doing way better.

Sophomore Year
Current GPA: 3.58 weighted, 3.50 unweighted

Courses:
-Honors Geometry is my only honors/AP class this year
-I plan on taking AP Economics, AP Chemistry, Honors Algebra II and possibly a Honors english

E.Cs/Clubs:
-Harvard Model Congress
-Entrepreneurship Club
-Habitat for Humanity community service
-Veteran's Hospital community service
-C.R.O.S Ministries community service (soup kitchen)

Sports:
-Varsity Baseball

Extra Info:
-My dad was in the navy so I already have one nomination
-I will try and go through the process of getting a nomination from my congressman soon
-Already scheduled an appointment with my local BGO

If someone can evaluate me and maybe give some tips/advice on what I should do before I apply to the school that would be awesome. Also inform me if the freshman year will be a problem. I am extremely motivated to get into the USNA, I have a burning desire to pursue a career in serving my country.

Thanks
 
While I am no expert, I can give you my opinion based on my experience with my own son and spending a lot of time reading these boards:



I am currently a sophomore in high school. I did pretty bad during freshman year earning only a 2.7 GPA. I'm wondering if my bad freshman year will affect my chances. My sophomore year is different, I am doing way better.

Sophomore Year
Current GPA: 3.58 weighted, 3.50 unweighted


Glad you are starting early to look at yourself. I dont see your Freshman year as being a problem as long as you continue to improve, taking the most difficult course load you can. Also, start taking the ACT/SAT and take them as often as you can afford. Highest scores count!

Courses:
-Honors Geometry is my only honors/AP class this year
-I plan on taking AP Economics, AP Chemistry, Honors Algebra II and possibly a Honors english


E.Cs/Clubs:
-Harvard Model Congress
-Entrepreneurship Club
-Habitat for Humanity community service
-Veteran's Hospital community service
-C.R.O.S Ministries community service (soup kitchen)

Sports:
-Varsity Baseball


It is great you are playing Varsity Baseball. Work on getting leadership/team captain positions during your junior and senior year if possible. Run for a Student Government position. Try to get into Boys State/Girls State

Extra Info:
-My dad was in the navy so I already have one nomination
-I will try and go through the process of getting a nomination from my congressman soon
-Already scheduled an appointment with my local BGO


Not sure what you've been told but the simple fact that your Dad was in the Navy doesn't guarantee you a nomination (unless maybe he was a Medal of Honor winner). The applications for congressional nominations open up around May 1st of your Junior year (rising senior), and not before. Nothing you can do about that this early, but make sure you know what you need to do. I doubt your BGO will have much time for meeting with a Sophomore this time of year, but maybe. You would have an official BGO interview until you are an Official Candidate.

If someone can evaluate me and maybe give some tips/advice on what I should do before I apply to the school that would be awesome. Also inform me if the freshman year will be a problem. I am extremely motivated to get into the USNA, I have a burning desire to pursue a career in serving my country.

You should apply for NASS. That opens up on January 16th. Take that application seriously because they do. You should spend time reading through these boards as they are very helpful. Also read, read, read the USNA site as there is a great deal of information available to you about every step of the process. You should consider applying for the summer programs of the other academies that may interest you as well. They can be expensive, but they do offer scholarship opportunities to those who can prove a need.

Again, it is great that you are exploring your options this early. You are ahead of the game compared to many. Many that read these boards are very helpful and have "been down that road" so reach out to them. They have helped us tremendously.

Best of luck to you!
 
^^^^^
I assumed he was referring to a Presidential nomination. Nevertheless, you are correct that his merely being in the Navy is insufficient to qualify. There are restrictions that apply.
Sons and Daughters of "career military personnel" (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard)
The category "career military personnel" refers to members of an armed force (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard) who are on active duty (other than for training) and who have served continuously on active duty for at least eight years, or who are, or who died while they were, retired with pay or granted retired or retainer pay. Also included are service members currently serving in the reserve component who are credited with at least eight continuous years of service computed under section 12733 of Title 10, United States Code. Finally, reservists who would be, or who died while they would have been, entitled to retirement pay except for not having attained 60 years of age are also included in this category.
Must furnish a statement of service, retirement orders, or casualty report
A stepparent's military service is applicable for this category only if the applicant was adopted.
 
While I am no expert, I can give you my opinion based on my experience with my own son and spending a lot of time reading these boards:



I am currently a sophomore in high school. I did pretty bad during freshman year earning only a 2.7 GPA. I'm wondering if my bad freshman year will affect my chances. My sophomore year is different, I am doing way better.

Sophomore Year
Current GPA: 3.58 weighted, 3.50 unweighted


Glad you are starting early to look at yourself. I dont see your Freshman year as being a problem as long as you continue to improve, taking the most difficult course load you can. Also, start taking the ACT/SAT and take them as often as you can afford. Highest scores count!

Courses:
-Honors Geometry is my only honors/AP class this year
-I plan on taking AP Economics, AP Chemistry, Honors Algebra II and possibly a Honors english


E.Cs/Clubs:
-Harvard Model Congress
-Entrepreneurship Club
-Habitat for Humanity community service
-Veteran's Hospital community service
-C.R.O.S Ministries community service (soup kitchen)

Sports:
-Varsity Baseball


It is great you are playing Varsity Baseball. Work on getting leadership/team captain positions during your junior and senior year if possible. Run for a Student Government position. Try to get into Boys State/Girls State

Extra Info:
-My dad was in the navy so I already have one nomination
-I will try and go through the process of getting a nomination from my congressman soon
-Already scheduled an appointment with my local BGO


Not sure what you've been told but the simple fact that your Dad was in the Navy doesn't guarantee you a nomination (unless maybe he was a Medal of Honor winner). The applications for congressional nominations open up around May 1st of your Junior year (rising senior), and not before. Nothing you can do about that this early, but make sure you know what you need to do. I doubt your BGO will have much time for meeting with a Sophomore this time of year, but maybe. You would have an official BGO interview until you are an Official Candidate.

If someone can evaluate me and maybe give some tips/advice on what I should do before I apply to the school that would be awesome. Also inform me if the freshman year will be a problem. I am extremely motivated to get into the USNA, I have a burning desire to pursue a career in serving my country.

You should apply for NASS. That opens up on January 16th. Take that application seriously because they do. You should spend time reading through these boards as they are very helpful. Also read, read, read the USNA site as there is a great deal of information available to you about every step of the process. You should consider applying for the summer programs of the other academies that may interest you as well. They can be expensive, but they do offer scholarship opportunities to those who can prove a need.

Again, it is great that you are exploring your options this early. You are ahead of the game compared to many. Many that read these boards are very helpful and have "been down that road" so reach out to them. They have helped us tremendously.

Best of luck to you!


Thanks for the great answer! I will be pursuing more leadership opportunities
as they become available. I'm also going to be taking the hardest classes i can in the future and I am definitely working on raising my current GPA.

I doubt your BGO will have much time for meeting with a Sophomore this time of year, but maybe.

I actually contacted him yesterday and we scheduled an appointment for a meet with my parents this saturday afternoon


Anyway thanks for the info ill be sure to take your advice
 
You should apply for NASS. That opens up on January 16th. Take that application seriously because they do.

It seems it is only available for students who have finished junior year in high school. But i'll definitely apply junior year. I forgot to mention in my post that I recently took the PSAT and struggled greatly on the math section. I am fairly strong in math and it seems that the reason i found the PSAT hard mathematically was because I am only taking Geometry. I go to a private college preparatory school and most students are in algebra II in my grade. I am currently working with someone to see if I could take algebra II over the summer so I can catch up. I am also going to get a tutor for math for my junior year PSAT (seeing as NASS looks at that) and the official one.
 
NASS is for students that have completed their junior year but you have to apply after it opens up DURING your junior year.
 
NASS is for students that have completed their junior year but you have to apply after it opens up DURING your junior year.

Ah I phrased it wrong, should of said it was for juniors.
 
As others have said, your freshman year shouldn't be an issue if you keep your grades up -- and take challenging courses -- going forward.

With respect to sports, be sure you are doing something that requires running. This will help prepare you for the CFA and also for USNA.

Look for ways to lead. It's not so much about positions you hold but what you do. Run an activity, such as a fundraiser, prom, etc.

Be productive during the summer -- work, attend sports or science camps, do volunteer work, etc. Don't just sit around and play video games.:smile:

If you don't test well, take a course. If that's not financially possible, do it yourself. Take practice tests over and over and over.

You're definitely on the right track. Good luck!
 
As others have said, your freshman year shouldn't be an issue if you keep your grades up -- and take challenging courses -- going forward.

With respect to sports, be sure you are doing something that requires running. This will help prepare you for the CFA and also for USNA.

Look for ways to lead. It's not so much about positions you hold but what you do. Run an activity, such as a fundraiser, prom, etc.

Be productive during the summer -- work, attend sports or science camps, do volunteer work, etc. Don't just sit around and play video games.:smile:

If you don't test well, take a course. If that's not financially possible, do it yourself. Take practice tests over and over and over.

You're definitely on the right track. Good luck!

Thanks for the advice. Im going to make this coming summer very productive. I'm definitely going to try and squeeze in a lot of volunteer hours and get more into shape. I'm also most likely going to get a SAT tutor this summer. For my junior year I'm going to get a large course load of the most challenging classes I can get into, I think I'm motivated enough to excel in harder classes.

Thanks Again for the advice :smile:
 
Your mediocre academic performance your freshman year will affect your application insofar as it will have an affect over your overall GPA. But if your trend is upwards, that's a good always a good thing.

Geography is probably going to play a role for you, I'm guessing. The fact that your BGO has time to schedule an interview with a sophomore indicates one of two things to me:

1. You have a very energetic, proactive, conscientious BGO - which says much about the BGO but really won't help you that much with regards to gaining a nomination/appointment.

2. Or, you live in an area which has very few applicants (which may be why your BGO has a little time on his hands) - which, if true, is very good for you. It is much better to be from Boise, Idaho than Fairfax, Virginia.
 
Your mediocre academic performance your freshman year will affect your application insofar as it will have an affect over your overall GPA. But if your trend is upwards, that's a good always a good thing.

Geography is probably going to play a role for you, I'm guessing. The fact that your BGO has time to schedule an interview with a sophomore indicates one of two things to me:

1. You have a very energetic, proactive, conscientious BGO - which says much about the BGO but really won't help you that much with regards to gaining a nomination/appointment.

2. Or, you live in an area which has very few applicants (which may be why your BGO has a little time on his hands) - which, if true, is very good for you. It is much better to be from Boise, Idaho than Fairfax, Virginia.

Yea it seems like ill have to finish out with >3.9 at least every year so i can get my GPA up. I live in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. So i guess its not as busy for people trying to get appointments here. Or maybe it isn't.
 
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^^^^^
I assumed he was referring to a Presidential nomination. Nevertheless, you are correct that his merely being in the Navy is insufficient to qualify. There are restrictions that apply.

I never addressed this but he was in the reserve and completed his 8 years and is now working in Washington. So I guess he is qualified?
 
According to the USNA site, these are the qualifications for a Presidential Nom.

Active duty officers: statement of service signed by personnel officer specifying all periods of active duty.

Active duty enlisted: statement of service prepared by personnel officer specifying all periods of active duty and listing dates of enlistment and dates of expiration of enlistment.

Current Reserves: proof of current service, including a copy of most current annual statement of reserve points (minimum points required 2880) and valid identification card, or notice of eligibility (NOE) for retirement.

Retired with pay: copy of DD Form 214 (Member’s Copy 4)

Deceased or 100% disabled: Veterans Administration official determination of 100% disability or serviceconnected death.



Then of course there are Medal of Honor Winners...

I don't think serving 8 years in the reserves, and now working in Washington will qualify. Focus on getting the congressional noms. You have plenty of time, but good to know what you need to do.

Good Luck!
 
I never addressed this but he was in the reserve and completed his 8 years and is now working in Washington. So I guess he is qualified?

That's not how I read it, but I cannot claim to be an expert on this. Suggest you research it further, perhaps by calling admissions.

Edit: Just saw grevar's post and I think he has it right. Doesn't hurt to double check with admissions though. If you're entitled to it, get it. Every nomination helps.
 
That's not how I read it, but I cannot claim to be an expert on this. Suggest you research it further, perhaps by calling admissions.

Edit: Just saw grevar's post and I think he has it right. Doesn't hurt to double check with admissions though. If you're entitled to it, get it. Every nomination helps.

Alright well that clears that up. I'll focus on getting either a congressman non or senator. Towards the actual process of applying ill contact them and see if I'm eligible for presidential nom. Thanks for clearing this up for me.

I'm hoping Palm beach county isn't very competitive for applicants and that's why my BGO is so available haha :biggrin:
 
On another note, you should look into the other academies like the Coast Guard Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy. Very good, sometimes little known schools worth checking in to!
 
On another note, you should look into the other academies like the Coast Guard Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy. Very good, sometimes little known schools worth checking in to!

Will do :smile:
 
Ethan,

Great advice given here, don't count on your dad's reserve service for a Presidential route.

My DS did qualify for a Prez, but by the skin of our teeth. I am still a reservist, was actually a pretty active one serving several 30-180 day tours since 9/11. As Grevar pointed out from the USNA, you must have 2880 points or "days" of service. Do the math, that's nearly 8 years of everyday service, hardly obtainable by most reservists, but a few do. Think 4 years active duty (about half the points) then roughly 140 points/good year, and the years of service have to add up to fourteen years minimum, give or take for deployments.

The great majority of reservists would not meet this until about their 18th-20th year, but again, some now do qualify since 9/11.

Ask your dad how many points (or days) he did in those 8 years. This will guide your path. Best of luck!
 
As an update I am now a Sea Cadet and a Police Explorer
 
As an update I am now a Sea Cadet and a Police Explorer

To be more specific I joined these programs for there opportunities for leadership and to get a feel for navy life (sea cadet). My resume is lacking in leadership so I thought I would take some measures to get some leadership on their. My Police Explorers attend Leadership Academies and such.
 
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