GPA

Wildcat30

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I am a junior in high school and I have really become interested in USMMA. I took a tour of the campus with one of the football coaches over the summer (I think I can play football there), and I now really want to attend. The average GPA on a couple different websites was about 3.6. I have a 3.2 but can raise it to a 3.4 by the end of this year. I know that is low, but can my extracirriculars, 7 varsity letters and a good ACT score get me into the academy?
 
Nobody can give you a definite answer about getting appointed/accepted. Things change each year for GPA and test scores. You need to take the toughest courses that you can at your high school and you need to nail them. Thinks AP/IB Chem, same for Calc, and take Physics too along with getting the highest grade in all of your other classes.

You will also need to pass/impress your Senator(s) and Congressman/woman selection committee with your grades essay and interview. Without one of them nominating you, the academy will not consider you.

I can assure you that if you do not apply you will not get in.

Keep doing your best, get help to do better in your classes, and best of luck
 
I agree with BuckeyeGuy. Also, if you don't mind me asking, what state are you from? Someone with your stats would have a higher chance applying out of let's say Oklahoma rather than New York or California. A large portion of what ultimately decides your fate is how you rank up in your particular state.
 
If there are plenty of 4.0s and the average is 3.6 then there must be plenty of 3.2s also or the average would be higher. Don't discourage yourself before you even apply. Also what Usnavy2019 said, the "gene pool" of applicants is different every year and so the average for every incoming class is different.

BTW ... I got in with a 2.9 so it can be done.
 
Wildcat30: I agree with most of the advice being given to you here but for one item - re taking IB/Advance placement science and math courses. If you do well in math and science then yes take the AP courses, if you don't then absolutely be sure to take a full set of math and science courses for college bound students so you have a full solid curricula but as you indicate a better GPA at the end of your current academic year will likely help your application more than say a "C" in an AP course in my opinion. All that said Standardized Test scores also loom large in the evaluation of USMMA Prospective Candidate Application evaluations and taking the test another time or too can only help your application as only the best scores are used/evaluated. Finally as you indicate the USMMA PC Application includes a review that includes your extracurricular efforts and other leadership accomplishments.

Finally as indicated, don't get discouraged, put your best foot forward, work towards your goal here, and drive for it, and as you've made contact with the Football coach as you have, talk to him and ask him your chances based on the stats based on the last incoming class.

Good Luck!
 
My GPA in high school was a little above average and back then in California, we didn't have AP courses. . . I did take most of my math and science classes a year ahead, so I completed the most advanced math and science classes my junior year. . .my senior year was made up of typing, cooking, ceramics (and some other arts and crafts classes) oh, and mechanical drawing classes. That last one really helped. I would guess that easily 75% of my class was completely lost Plebe year when they sat down at the drafting table. . . What got me into KP was my SAT scores. . .
 
Your class rank is more important than your GPA. Keep an eye on that as your goal. It is something like 30% of your admissions score. Your SAT/ACT are also weighted heavily, especially math. Keep retaking both ACT and SAT as they superscore.
 
My advice would be not to get too hung up on GPA and go ahead and apply. Someone else said above that they had a 2.9 HS GPA, which is what my son also had. He applied more or less on a lark and surprised us by getting in. Go figure, he has managed to be around 3.0 through 5 terms at KP in ME.

I have no idea how they weight various factors but I'm guessing GPA matters a lot less than you'd think. Think about the variability in the quality of high schools. In private, Jesuit, Diocesan or blue ribbon public HS's "Honor Student" means something. In other places it just means you are enrolled and maybe don't have a felony record. Not to get too far into a screed, but social promotion and grade inflation is rampant.

Concentrate on improvement in the SAT/ACT. That has to be their primary screen, whether people like it or not. How else do they establish a floor for competence? The other factors you have little control over, e.g. your home state, among others.
 
Wow, maintaining that 3.0. Good deal. I could only do that for a couple of quarters (long time ago) during my 3rd class year. . . . but everyone above 2.0 graduates and gets the same license. . . . well if they pass THAT test. . .
 
Wow, maintaining that 3.0. Good deal. I could only do that for a couple of quarters (long time ago) during my 3rd class year. . . . but everyone above 2.0 graduates and gets the same license. . . . well if they pass THAT test. . .

Now that you mention it I need to qualify that... its allegedly 3.0 as far i know, never saw a report card. Since its essentially free we don't have the visibility we have with our other kids where you can tie rights to their academic record to writing a check or co-signing a loan.

I don't think he's been set back or kicked out and is still in NY, as he would've shown up to reoccupy my couch by now. He also is setting expectations by saying his cume will go down when "crapstone" starts.
 
The only time your KP GPA matters is if you are applying to grad school.

I would tell anyone, give up extracurricular stuff to get that plebe year GPA as high as you can. For Engineers 3rd and 2nd class year were/are the GPA killers. That's when you do the traditional Engineering classes and put that Calculus to work ... Materials Science, Strength of Materials, Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, Fluid Dynamics, Naval Architecture.

My head is hurting just typing those out.
 
Has he been to sea yet?
2X already-B split- just now completing his sea year. In reality, degree-wise he's not even halfway; he's going to learn what an engineering education is all about soon, with 5 straight academic terms.
 
Has he been to sea yet?
2X already-B split- just now completing his sea year. In reality, degree-wise he's not even halfway; he's going to learn what an engineering education is all about soon, with 5 straight academic terms.

Yeah, but if he likes the life, that is a huge carrot to have dangling out in front. It is what got me through it all. . .
 
Yeah, but if he likes the life, that is a huge carrot to have dangling out in front. It is what got me through it all. . .

Seems to like it. He has logged time with both CIVMAR and commercial and says he wants to ship out. It's nice to know that God willing by the time he's 26 or so, he could've already fulfilled his industry obligation, or done 5 years active duty in the Navy/Marines/CG perhaps, and have the respectable resume that goes with that. In this day and age its not uncommon for 26 year olds to still be marking time as undergrads.

For Wildcat30 and other young people even remotely interested in this profession and considering USMMA and/or for that matter the State Maritime schools, by all means run it to ground. If you're game to take on the rigor of the program you can come away with a degree, license and commission, and all the doors those quals open up for you. Very few 17 year olds know what they want to do with the rest of their lives but you can choose a lot worse than this. Certainly a significant number of kids for whatever reason fnd out while they're there that it isn't for them and leave. However I expect even those kids gain a lot from the experience and it helps them succeed on on another path,. Take the shot.
 
Yeah, but if he likes the life, that is a huge carrot to have dangling out in front. It is what got me through it all. . .

Seems to like it. He has logged time with both CIVMAR and commercial and says he wants to ship out. It's nice to know that God willing by the time he's 26 or so, he could've already fulfilled his industry obligation, or done 5 years active duty in the Navy/Marines/CG perhaps, and have the respectable resume that goes with that. In this day and age its not uncommon for 26 year olds to still be marking time as undergrads.

For Wildcat30 and other young people even remotely interested in this profession and considering USMMA and/or for that matter the State Maritime schools, by all means run it to ground. If you're game to take on the rigor of the program you can come away with a degree, license and commission, and all the doors those quals open up for you. Very few 17 year olds know what they want to do with the rest of their lives but you can choose a lot worse than this. Certainly a significant number of kids for whatever reason fnd out while they're there that it isn't for them and leave. However I expect even those kids gain a lot from the experience and it helps them succeed on on another path,. Take the shot.

Good. Even if he doesn't make it his life's work, it is a great place to start as a young man. I stayed at sea until I was 29 and came ashore to become a Class Society Surveyor. I did that for about 10 years and ended up becoming an Insurance Adjuster for the Energy/Offshore/Maritime industry and have been doing that for 18 years now. . . so, as I said, going to sea can be a great challenge, from the work itself to trying to get and maintain a job in an industry that is very dynamic, but I have found it to be quite rewarding and not just in the financial sense.
 
I am a junior in high school and I have really become interested in USMMA. I took a tour of the campus with one of the football coaches over the summer (I think I can play football there), and I now really want to attend. The average GPA on a couple different websites was about 3.6. I have a 3.2 but can raise it to a 3.4 by the end of this year. I know that is low, but can my extracirriculars, 7 varsity letters and a good ACT score get me into the academy?


It is not about your GPA. It is all about your class rank. Top 25% or better. I have seen kids with a 3.8 not get in cause they are ranked 65% in their class. I have seen it the other way as well.
 
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