How to improve my application?

wegiveaship

Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2015
Messages
77
Hello Service academy forums!
I am currently a junior at a competitive private high school, and was hoping you all would read over my application and give me some tips on how to improve it! (constructive criticism please). Sorry in advance, but I will be very thorough as to get the most help possible.

3.92 weighted GPA, top 20-15% of class. (Just an estimate as my school does not rank, but probably a more conservative than ambitious estimate)

ACT-
Superscore- 33 English, 32 Reading, 28 Math, 25 Science - 30 Composite

1st attempt: 32 English, 29 Reading, 25 Math, 25 Science - 28 composite (this is the one I was accepted to SLE with)
2nd attempt: 33 English, 32 Reading, 28 Math, 24 Science (low I know) - 29 composite
-Will be taking again in April


Athletics: (big sports school even though not many kids, per the many JV teams)
-Varsity Soccer 9,10,11. Captain Junior year
-Jv lacrosse 9, 10 (moved up to Varsity but no letter)
-Cross country 11
-Black Belt in Taekwondo: National Champion, gold in Junior Olympics, multiple state championships (did not participate in high school but still feel is important)
- I was also on a travel soccer team for a couple of years both before and in high school (2nd in state)


EC's:
-Member: National Honors Society 9,10,11
-Vice President: California scholarship Federation. Running for president next year 9,10,11(vp)
-Member: Mock Trial (debate) 10,11
-Co-founded a sports babysitting company- made over $1000 profit in under a year

-Was just chosen as the delegate to Boys State

Volunteer:
Over 200 service hours. 130 of the 200 are for people in need


Accepted to SLE in February

Thank you for reading this far!
-wegiveaship
 
Don't sweat it. You're doing very well so far! Keep doing what you're doing and you'll earn it. The only thing think will really help you out, is if you have your usma application done in august as well as your congressional nomination applications. Honestly, there's really no excuse not to have it done by then but nearly nobody does. You have about 4 months to compete it if you have it done in august. Very feasible. If you have your app done on August, you'll have your dodmerb done and all you'll have to do is the interviews! You have strong credentials, now get that app done in august, and you're on a high road
 
Don't sweat it. You're doing very well so far! Keep doing what you're doing and you'll earn it. The only thing think will really help you out, is if you have your usma application done in august as well as your congressional nomination applications. Honestly, there's really no excuse not to have it done by then but nearly nobody does. You have about 4 months to compete it if you have it done in august. Very feasible. If you have your app done on August, you'll have your dodmerb done and all you'll have to do is the interviews! You have strong credentials, now get that app done in august, and you're on a high road

Thank you!! I appreciate the help. The one question I have is that my portal has opened for the SLE application, but not fully opened for the actual application as it says it opens in July. Nonetheless that is great advice and I will get the app done as soon as possible; but also very thoroughly and to the best of my ability.
 
Keep taking ACT. Could really boost your chances if you can improve math particularly. I would run for president of NHS, or student council. You look reasonably competitive though, so keep pushing forward.
 
Thank you!! I appreciate the help. The one question I have is that my portal has opened for the SLE application, but not fully opened for the actual application as it says it opens in July. Nonetheless that is great advice and I will get the app done as soon as possible; but also very thoroughly and to the best of my ability.

If it does open in july, still push for august. I got the entire app done in less than 10 days. It's really not as long as we all make it out to be. Also, you'll probably receive more awards or do something else after August so it'll benefit you to send in updates after completion of the app. And I can't remember if you said so, but your ACT had top include the writing portion.
 
Your file look very well rounded. My recommendation would be to improve both your math and science standardized test scores. If you're just struggling with the format of the ACT, try the SAT out, as West Point will consider the highest of the two (after converting them to be equal). A good score would be around a 30 for either section and a 700 on the SAT Math. With the new SAT format no one knows how the academy will weigh them next year, but it doesn't hurt to try both, and the cost of repetitively taking the test is diminutive compared to the education you'll receive from the academy.
Good luck.
 
My advice is to take the ACT and score better on it, or like @Grunt2020 said, try out the SAT and see how you do on it.

Also, if you could get more leadership positions in the EC's you're involved in, that would benefit you greatly.
 
I took the ACT every available day. It takes a long time and can mess up a Saturday but it's worth it even if you only go up by a point in one or two of the sub-test
 
Your file look very well rounded. My recommendation would be to improve both your math and science standardized test scores. If you're just struggling with the format of the ACT, try the SAT out, as West Point will consider the highest of the two (after converting them to be equal). A good score would be around a 30 for either section and a 700 on the SAT Math. With the new SAT format no one knows how the academy will weigh them next year, but it doesn't hurt to try both, and the cost of repetitively taking the test is diminutive compared to the education you'll receive from the academy.
Good luck.

Very true. I took a practice SAT (new one) and didn't really like the formatting, so I will be sticking with the ACT. But thank you, I will work to improve both the Math and Science scores.
 
My advice is to take the ACT and score better on it, or like @Grunt2020 said, try out the SAT and see how you do on it.

Also, if you could get more leadership positions in the EC's you're involved in, that would benefit you greatly.

This is spot on. Unfortunately, my school does not offer officer positions for NHS as kids in the past would be elected and not do their part. But I have been talking with the teachers who run NHS and am asking if they could allow me to run, and I would promise to do the work. They are still considering it, but have been focusing on the freshman applications for now. Thank you for the help though!
 
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