Do I need a 4.0 for WP

EMMAB

EMMAB

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Joined
Jan 5, 2016
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Ok so Im not really worried about ACT/SAT testing too much as a Sophomore(I plan to take them in March).But GPA seems to play a huge role in getting accepted as well.But I feel like all of the people that I have talked to who have been admitted have a 4.0 GPA and above.How important is GPA?
 
They look at class rank not GPA, but having a higher GPA will lead to a higher class rank. Class rank is 30% of your WCS. The ACT/SAT is also 30% of your WCS.

http://www.usma.edu/oir/class profiles/class of 2017.pdf

30% of the class of 2017 wasn't in the top 20% of their class. That should tell you that at least 30% of them did not have perfect GPAs, probably even a lot more.
 
EMMAB, be careful. Be careful not to trip over the bar of mediocrity. Do the very best you can. you deserve it. I encourage you to also work on a Plan B at the same time in the event you are not selected. You'll be well prepared for your Plan B. Now keep in mind, in rough numbers, a third of every WP class is built on class composite goals, a third will be recruited athletes, a third will be prep-prior enlisted-second time applicants-under represented , a third are direct from high school. So the competition is stiff plus you're competing for a nomination from your area. There are a lot of gears turning and need to be tuned when the time comes for you. WP has a saying, "High School Hero, West Point Zero", which means you must be the close to the top of high school, but when you get to WP, everyone there was at the top of their game. Look at the guides on the USMA.edu and the above stickies.

They look for well rounded, the best well rounded. It can be done!

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
Thank you so much.With my history Ive been a little nervous but I know I can do it.Thanks again tug_boat you have been such a help.
 
frenzymando said:
They look at class rank not GPA, but having a higher GPA will lead to a higher class rank. Class rank is 30% of your WCS. The ACT/SAT is also 30% of your WCS.

http://www.usma.edu/oir/class profiles/class of 2017.pdf

30% of the class of 2017 wasn't in the top 20% of their class. That should tell you that at least 30% of them did not have perfect GPAs, probably even a lot more.
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The beauty of statistics is they make it easy to lie/mislead.

How many Soldiers or Division 1 athletes that had to go through the prep school that comprise on average 220 of the 1200 spots each year are outside of the top 20%? That is roughly 20% of the class right there. Throw in another 100 service connected candidates or in similar circumstance that have gone to 2 to 4 high schools, and there goes the other 10% that have a rank outside of the top 20%

There is no average candidate/cadet, just an average of candidates. If you think you are going to get in playing the odds, hope you have a good ace in the hole (or a solid plan B).
 
Don't stress. My son got an LOA with well below a 4.0. There are many things that factor in, rigor of your HS program among them.
 
EMMAB said:
Ok so Im not really worried about ACT/SAT testing too much as a Sophomore(I plan to take them in March).But GPA seems to play a huge role in getting accepted as well.But I feel like all of the people that I have talked to who have been admitted have a 4.0 GPA and above.How important is GPA?
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My sons high school does not rank so I think SA ranks him using his SAT score? Since he did very well on SAT his ranking was higher than his school ranking, don't know if this info helps, but just better to do best in everything and not set a certain #?
 
Blessedmom said:
My sons high school does not rank so I think SA ranks him using his SAT score? Since he did very well on SAT his ranking was higher than his school ranking
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I'm a bit confused, if his school does not rank how do you know that his SAT ranking/percentile is higher than is class rank?
 
frenzymando said:
I'm a bit confused, if his school does not rank how do you know that his SAT ranking/percentile is higher than is class rank?
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My DS got SAT math 800 Reading 760 so they compare score with national, kind of like PSAT national merit finalist which they also compare with everyone taking PSAT
 
Blessedmom said:
My DS got SAT math 800 Reading 760 so they compare score with national, kind of like PSAT national merit finalist which they also compare with everyone taking PSAT
Click to expand...
That's not really what I was confused about. You said that your DS's SAT rank was better than his school rank. Then you said his school doesn't rank. How can his SAT rank be better than his school rank if his school/class rank doesn't exist?
 
I have learned that many rigorous high schools do not rank anymore since a .00005 etc could be the difference between being #1 and #30. Both my sons go to different private schools, neither rank. With that they know their gpa right along so you know if you have a 3.5 your rank wouldn't be as high as one with a 3.9 when you guesstimate top 1/4,1/3 % in class. When you score a 31+ ACT you know you are a top 5 %nationwide or something close to it!
 
frenzymando said:
That's not really what I was confused about. You said that your DS's SAT rank was better than his school rank. Then you said his school doesn't rank. How can his SAT rank be better than his school rank if his school/class rank doesn't exist?
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I should hv been clear, my sons school does not rank but if it did his SAT ranking still would be higher cuz there are so many smart kids at his school?
 
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