USNA Preliminary Application: SAT and ACT Scores?

USNADaGOAL

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Hello everyone,
I know this may have been answered previously, but have not yet been able to find the exact answer I have been searching for. So, I am a junior in H.S and and ready to send in my preliminary application to the Naval Academy. The app asks for my highest SAT and ACT scores. What do I do if my SAT and ACT scores aren't strong enough yet? The other dates I'm taking my sat and act are in mid June and that's when candidates are notified they are "official". Also what are the minimum scores/GPA are they looking for? Do I get to update my scores if I send the preliminary app in?
Please help
Thank you
 
Your scores can be updated. My DS who is an incoming Plebe for Class of 2020 took ACT twice. You just have to request from the College Board to send your test score to USNA. I think there is a fee for this.

As for the test scores, I can share with you the requirements given to my son when he applied for a Congressional Nomination in our district.

The minimum requirement scores to be considered for a nomination in our district are the following:
SAT-600 Reading & 600 Math or
ACT - 27 ave. of Reading & English score; and 27 Math.

GPA of 3.5 or higher

I am not sure if these requirements are the same for USNA but this was established by the SA Advisory Board for our District in choosing their candidates for nomination.
 
There are a lot of steps in the nomination and appointment processes.

One of the first steps is to become an official candidate at USNA

If your SAT/ACT scores aren't high enough to get you to 'candidate' status for USNA Admissions then I would wait on the USNA application process. There is probably no penalty for starting the application with scores too low, but I don't see any advantage to it either. My recommendation is to fill it out but not hit the submit button.

If your scores are good enough to become a candidate but maybe not good enough for an Appointment, it is to your advantage to submit the scores you have as this (becoming a candidate) will initiate other activities such as DoDMERB and the BGO interview. Getting these done early takes some pressure off scheduling during your senior year.

Then hopefully your act/sat scores can simply be updated as they improve. There is no penalty for taking the ACT/SAT exams multiple times. USNA super scores.

I don't know if there is a hard floor on the standardized tests, but the scores Lukieboy06 shared from the nomination source are probably good guidelines for USNA as well

These are general rules as something truly unique and outstanding in one part of your resume might offset a weakness in other areas

Good luck
 
There are two levels: candidate and qualified. To be a candidate I'm pretty sure there is no act minimum so if you submitted the application and don't have kids or are married you'll become a candidate. To be academically qualified, (which is required for direct admission) you need above a 26 from what I've heard if you have a great GPA, but the farther from 4.0 the higher the ACT will need to be to be deemed academically qualified.
 
Thank you to all who have replied so far! So I want to bang out all of the steps in the application, but the one thing I nee to do first is the the preliminary application correct? Can you be denied from becoming an "official" candidate if SAT or ACT are not high enough or not even recorded yet? Also if my school does not take class rankings how should I guessimate?
thank you
 
SAT, ACT, PSAT and PLAN tests are all acceptable for your preliminary candidate questionnaire. If you have taken any of those, you can submit them. I don't think the website will allow you to even submit a PCQ without scores...if you don't have any scores, you can't become an official candidate. For class rank, see if the H.S. can approximate it. In other words, if your H.S. senior class will have ~400 and you are estimated to be in the top 10% --- then 35-40 isn't a bad estimate (however, don't just guess where you think you are...actually find out). If your H.S. can't ballpark it or won't do it, then you might need to ask the Admissions office on how to proceed.
There is no harm in submitting the PCQ now. The worst case is you get a letter/email saying you need to improve scores and next semester's grades. Achieving higher SAT/ACT scores is normally the most significant factor in candidacy.

The general consensus is that at or above 600 or 26 (per section) is in the "arena." There is no "minimum" standard per se -- that is why they have an Admissions Board.
 
Since new the SAT the test was just administered in March, there are no averages established yet. I am sure that might serve as rationale for not superscoring SAT? Will USNA continue to superstore ACT? Some testers of the new SAT have indicated it was harder than the old SAT due to taking more time. New applicants might want to be aware that new SAT scores for any colleges do not yet fit into any national averages. I wonder if that means new applicants wanting to retest should consider the ACT based on the "unknowns" yet with respect to the new SAT? Clearly a new applicant with a new SAT scores could not yet compare that to the old scores. It doesn't apply to my daughter now in class of 2020. However am curious how new applicants should approach this? I have read some colleges are accepting all 3: ACT, old SAT, new SAT (and not superscoring SAT). For new applicants, does anyone know how USNA will be approaching this? It would also be interesting to hear from new applicants who have taken the new SAT regarding their thoughts. (I also have a HS Junior son who will be testing new format).
 
Clearly a new applicant with a new SAT scores could not yet compare that to the old scores...does anyone know how USNA will be approaching this?

The admissions counselor gave a brief for the USNA Alumni Association Greater Washington Chapter at the Army Navy Country Club last Tuesday. When answering a parent's question, she said "the new scores are being converted to the old scores". I do not have the details or a formula to share.
 
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