GPA

flightsurgeon

5-Year Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2014
Messages
60
Hey all,

I've always been on top of my game with my academics. Unfortunately, this semester has been the roughest with AP Biology and AP Calculus in one year. My question is, if I were to get three B's this semester because of these two classes (AP Biology is counted as two letter grades) and submit a final transcript with a cumulative UW gpa of 3.86 and W 4.2; how much will this affect my application? My class ranking should drop from 8.8% to about 14-15% (highly competitive school).

I plan on taking the ACT in June and plan on getting a 32-35 on it if that will compensate for any of the damages my GPA will cause to my application :frown:

Thanks!
 
GPA is not anywhere near as important as class rank and your ACT/SAT scores. But B's in AP classes are also better than A's in regular classes. You will be fine. Just keep working hard and pushing forward. Although the academics are very important in your application, there are many other factors that are considered as well (including competitiveness of school, geographical location, extracurriculars, etc.)

Good luck!
 
A couple of B's won't keep you out--depending of course on how competitive your congressional district is. It is your whole candidate score. The entire package, and where you live. I have seen stats posted on these threads that blow my mind and they received TWE. There APPEARS, to me, to be so much more in the selection process than stellar stats. Go back and read some of the threads from previous years where parents/candidates list their stats and cannot understand why the TWE. There is obviously more to it than impressive stats.

Best of luck, but have a really solid back-up plan. If what you want to accomplish is leadership in the navy the academy is NOT the only route!
 
Thank you so much for your input! :) USNA has been my dream since grade school and I'd hate to see my chances sabotaged because of these Bs.
 
Thank you so much for your input! :) USNA has been my dream since grade school and I'd hate to see my chances sabotaged because of these Bs.

I agree with the above comments. I just wanted to emphasize, it's not about what's good enough to get into USNA. It's about beating your competition. I know I'm preaching to the choir but you need to do everything necessary to put together the best application package possible.
 
I plan on taking the ACT in June and plan on getting a 32-35 on it if that will compensate for any of the damages my GPA will cause to my application :frown:

Thanks!

DS was planning on a similar score for his first ACT test in HS and didn't quite get it. With a 32-35 score, you are in the top 1-2% of test takers for that test, so obviously a lot of smart kids don't quite make it. If I were you, I would spend some time, the more the better, prepping for the test. If you are a good student, which it sounds like you are, that can make a big difference. If you don't make your target score on the June test, prep some more and retake. Also, USNA looks at Math and English with I think a higher weighting given to Math. The best to you.

bandad
 
I am not sure how any can 'plan on getting' a certain SAT/ACT score before taking the test, that sounds more like wishful thinking. There are a number of elements considered as part of your USNA application and things like your GPA or standardized test scores are only one part of that. Also good to remember that the NOM process is separate from the review done by admissions, so each has their own criteria.

Might also read here for a lot of good advice of the often asked 'what are my chances?' types of threads......

http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=6327

I agree with the prior poster who indicates that your competition tend to be those who are the BEST in most of what they do. I think that is what you should strive for instead of some arbitrary test score target.
 
Thanks to Kinnem, Bandad, and Time2 for their comments. Applicants to the service academy need to set aside the "good enough" mindset and move on to the "best I can become" approach. Too often, especially with grades and SAT/ACT scores, candidates tend to try to game the system - that, so far as I am concerned is a loser approach. Keep in mind that the median scores in the profile probably are tainted with RA scores which well could have been substandard. I have candidates this year with 30+ ACT scores who did not make the cut; if you are in even a reasonably competitive area you need to plan to take the SAT/ACT exams until you have maxed them or feel you have topped off - nothing less. What other part of your packet can you improve in the next few months more than these scores??? If you don't think they are important or the aim high approach is too much read over some of the postings of those who have been riding the fence for the last several weeks. Also, doing good enough is a bad attitude to take to any of the SA's unless you plan to leave early.
 
Thanks to Kinnem, Bandad, and Time2 for their comments. Applicants to the service academy need to set aside the "good enough" mindset and move on to the "best I can become" approach. Too often, especially with grades and SAT/ACT scores, candidates tend to try to game the system - that, so far as I am concerned is a loser approach. Keep in mind that the median scores in the profile probably are tainted with RA scores which well could have been substandard. I have candidates this year with 30+ ACT scores who did not make the cut; if you are in even a reasonably competitive area you need to plan to take the SAT/ACT exams until you have maxed them or feel you have topped off - nothing less. What other part of your packet can you improve in the next few months more than these scores??? If you don't think they are important or the aim high approach is too much read over some of the postings of those who have been riding the fence for the last several weeks. Also, doing good enough is a bad attitude to take to any of the SA's unless you plan to leave early.


Thank you so much for your response. I never was the type of person to settle for "good enough", and I apologize if my post displays that personality. I will and have been fighting for what I want and what I believe in all my life and I'm not ready to give up, especially with my life goal Of attending a service academy in clear view right now. I am not on a quest to be good enough but rather to be the best. I will continue to push for the grades I want this semester and will take and retake the ACTs until I max out my scores. I guess from time to time, the fear of a TWE gets to me and I just need to be reminded that this isn't an easy path and that I still need to fight on. Thanks so much for your suggestions and for taking your time to help me out!!
 
Driving my response is the fact that this cycle I had three candidates make the cut (two direct, one prep) out of a total of forty. I had at least four other candidates who were well qualified, but did not make the cut. Over the years I have had many more near misses than hits, and at least some of them were candidates who I recommended they keep taking the SAT/ACT, etc, and get their grades up. Most of the BGO's don't get any special information re the viability of a candidate, it is just what we have learned from observation. Best wishes, the SA's all represent great opportunities, take advantage of them.
 
Back
Top