Whats more important?

ethang22

USNAHopeful Class of 2020
5-Year Member
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Oct 23, 2013
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22
Overall GPA or standardized test scores (ACT, SAT) in the USNA admissions process? More specifically what do they want more, a fairly high GPA and phenomenal test scores or a high GPA and average test scores? Im in the position where Im most likely going to end up with a 3.6 overall GPA. I just want to see if I could make the low GPA up with great test scores. And does the admissions board take in to effect the course load with GPA?
 
Overall GPA or standardized test scores (ACT, SAT) in the USNA admissions process? More specifically what do they want more, a fairly high GPA and phenomenal test scores or a high GPA and average test scores? Im in the position where Im most likely going to end up with a 3.6 overall GPA. I just want to see if I could make the low GPA up with great test scores. And does the admissions board take in to effect the course load with GPA?

Yes on the course load being considered. Yes on the SAT/ACT scores "overcoming" a bit lower GPA.

You can't really say one is more important than another. They have a scoring system. If you can score higher in one area it can offset a lower score in another. Of course if someone on your slate is scoring higher in both areas that can be problematic.
 
Yes on the course load being considered. Yes on the SAT/ACT scores "overcoming" a bit lower GPA.

You can't really say one is more important than another. They have a scoring system. If you can score higher in one area it can offset a lower score in another. Of course if someone on your slate is scoring higher in both areas that can be problematic.

I see. I am in a tight spot with freshman year (you saw in my last thread) and Im hurrying to up my GPA to its max. I did some calculations and it doesn't look to good. Basically if I get 4.0's (unlikely as course load becomes heavier with APs) from soph to senior i will only end up with a 3.69 for my overall GPA. I realize how tons of applicants will have better GPAs so I want to try and get phenomenal SAT/ACT scores so that they overshadow the 3.6 a little bit.
 
I see. I am in a tight spot with freshman year (you saw in my last thread) and Im hurrying to up my GPA to its max. I did some calculations and it doesn't look to good. Basically if I get 4.0's (unlikely as course load becomes heavier with APs) from soph to senior i will only end up with a 3.69 for my overall GPA. I realize how tons of applicants will have better GPAs so I want to try and get phenomenal SAT/ACT scores so that they overshadow the 3.6 a little bit.

ethang22: You stand a chance of getting in if you apply. You have 100% of failing to get in if you don't apply.

Do the best you can with your classes, extra-curriculars, standardized tests, fitness test, interviews, and application. After that, it is in the school's hands.

Don't self impose "odds" on your chances. Don't eliminate yourself. Do your best and then apply.

In your given example, a student that did poorly freshman year and then pulled 4.0's the remainder of his high school years would be a great testament to the concept of self improvement and discipline. He would have a great story to tell on his application essays and would certainly make it into some fine schools.
 
I see. I am in a tight spot with freshman year (you saw in my last thread) and Im hurrying to up my GPA to its max. I did some calculations and it doesn't look to good. Basically if I get 4.0's (unlikely as course load becomes heavier with APs) from soph to senior i will only end up with a 3.69 for my overall GPA. I realize how tons of applicants will have better GPAs so I want to try and get phenomenal SAT/ACT scores so that they overshadow the 3.6 a little bit.

You have a plan. Execute. :thumb:
 
ethang22: You stand a chance of getting in if you apply. You have 100% of failing to get in if you don't apply.

Do the best you can with your classes, extra-curriculars, standardized tests, fitness test, interviews, and application. After that, it is in the school's hands.

Don't self impose "odds" on your chances. Don't eliminate yourself. Do your best and then apply.

In your given example, a student that did poorly freshman year and then pulled 4.0's the remainder of his high school years would be a great testament to the concept of self improvement and discipline. He would have a great story to tell on his application essays and would certainly make it into some fine schools.

Thanks for the answer. I certainly will do my upmost best I can, USNA is a huge dream for me.
 
not to be trite here, but get a 36 on your act (or as close to it as possible) and no need to worry. Just take your act over and over again until you get a 36 in Math and a 36 in English and your 3.6 GPA will be perfectly solid enough.
 
Ethang,
You have got to give yourself a break! You should be doing homework and then sleeping not recalculating all the ways to torture yourself for a bad year. You have set yourself on the path to your dreams, if you want it bad enough and don't make it to USNA out of high school then you can take this steller new work ethic and drive to college and apply again. If you spend all your energy on "I have to be perfect from here on out", you are gonna give yourself an ulcer or migraines...then you have to explain that to DoDMERB!
Work hard, be well-rounded, be in excellent shape, be a good person and be happy. You're ok, you're gonna make it. :thumb:
 
not to be trite here, but get a 36 on your act (or as close to it as possible) and no need to worry. Just take your act over and over again until you get a 36 in Math and a 36 in English and your 3.6 GPA will be perfectly solid enough.

Im definitely going to shoot for the highest possible test scores. Ill probably take both the SAT and ACT and see which one I do better in
 
Ethang,
You have got to give yourself a break! You should be doing homework and then sleeping not recalculating all the ways to torture yourself for a bad year. You have set yourself on the path to your dreams, if you want it bad enough and don't make it to USNA out of high school then you can take this steller new work ethic and drive to college and apply again. If you spend all your energy on "I have to be perfect from here on out", you are gonna give yourself an ulcer or migraines...then you have to explain that to DoDMERB!
Work hard, be well-rounded, be in excellent shape, be a good person and be happy. You're ok, you're gonna make it. :thumb:

Yea its pretty much getting to be an obsession. I really need to look at plan Bs and such. I need to be prepared to get a rejection letter if it doesn't all work out.
 
To answer the original question, USNA looks at both scores and "grades." Class rank is more important than GPA and, yes, the courses you take factor into the equation.

Standardized tests are used b/c they allow USNA to evaluate candidates from all over the country using a "standard" measurement. However, there is more to a candidate than great test scores. For example, if someone has really high test scores but is taking non-challenging courses and/or getting mostly Cs, USNA may wonder what's going on. Here, teacher recs can be critical.

To the OP: as already stated, you have a plan. You can't change the past; you can only do things going forward to better your chances and you seem to be on the right track in that regard.
 
To answer the original question, USNA looks at both scores and "grades." Class rank is more important than GPA and, yes, the courses you take factor into the equation.

Standardized tests are used b/c they allow USNA to evaluate candidates from all over the country using a "standard" measurement. However, there is more to a candidate than great test scores. For example, if someone has really high test scores but is taking non-challenging courses and/or getting mostly Cs, USNA may wonder what's going on. Here, teacher recs can be critical.

To the OP: as already stated, you have a plan. You can't change the past; you can only do things going forward to better your chances and you seem to be on the right track in that regard.

I go to a private college prep school. So the majority go off to a four year college, last year in the senior class around ten went to ivies. Im sure USNA will take this into account when calculating my class rank. Though I have a feeling that most of my class is not very competitive (kids don't seem to be very engaged in academics) but there is still some very smart kids in my class. I do not believe teacher recs are going to be a problem for me. Right now I could easily get a ecstatic rec from my math and english teachers. Also I forgot to mention that my low GPA is mainly due to a low grade in Spanish, Ive always struggled in that class and it brings me down greatly. Im going to take both the SAT and ACT until i can get the highest scores I can get.

All in all in Im going to keep fighting till I apply and hope for the best and prepare for the worse (rejection).
 
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