Work over Athletics?

Hello,

I'm going to apply for class of 2015 and I was wondering how my work experience stacks up against everything else. I spent most of my time as a freelance programmer and artists and have traveled around the world to work on projects for galleries and the like. Because of this I haven't participated in many sports or ECA's. Would my work tarnish my record because I have little to no athletic participation? I'm also finishing my senior year.

Thank you!

Greetings ArtemT

NOTE: I would just like to remind you that the VP Nomination is now done online and currently accepting applications:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/vice-president-biden/academy-nominations

That being said, IMHO, I believe the academy is looking for people that have time management skills. So balancing work and study definitely qualifies in that category. Also if you are in charge of a design team in the work place, then definitely highlight that fact (leadership quality...). I am sure that the SA is broadminded and takes everything into consideration and not just pigeon hole candidates into nice little preset groups. That is why the admission process takes so long. As an added tip...get involved in the community and volunteer for some worthwhile activities. Even just helping out in the local YMCA, library or hospitals would be significant. You can even channel your work talents to benefit those organizations. Keep it real and I am sure you will be rewarded...

Goodluck!

ArtemT said:

Would my work tarnish my record because I have little to no athletic participation? I'm also finishing my senior year.

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Participation (and leadership) in sports is HUGE.

There is a reason that 95% of all appointments go to those with Varsity letters and 65% were team captains.

Forget about doing additional volunteer work at the local YMCA or other community-based organization.

Instead, join a sports team.

Yes, it's that important. Not saying it's impossible to get an appointment without sports participation, but you are fighting a much tougher battle without them.

Sports is not for everyone...

Don't knock down the volunteer work scenario just yet. Not everybody is gung-ho about Varsity or maybe it is just not important to them. A lot of SA appointees are USNA graduates now, not because they excel in sports, but because they have a desire and the ability to lead people. That does not mean that they are not physically fit. They still need to be healthy and participate in sports and work out, but it is just not their primary thing. So each candidate does what he is good at and brings to the diversity pool his unique talents and capabilities. Some do it via Athletics and some do it via Scholastic means. So it does not help an applicant to cajole him/her to join a Sports Team and suck at it only to satisfy a perceived application requirement.

Remember it is the overall package that matters and that is as different as the number of candidates that gets an appointment...no set formula is in play here...only the Admissions Board knows for sure and they have definitely more experience in this than anyone of us out here. My advise here is to just keep it real and do what your honest heart tells you to do!

2014-scada said:

So it does not help an applicant to cajole him/her to join a Sports Team and suck at it only to satisfy a perceived application requirement.

Remember it is the overall package that matters and that is as different as the number of candidates that gets an appointment...

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The world is full of competent, physically fit, academically first-rate USNA applicants who did not receive appointments due to lack of participation in sports.

Participation in sports is valued for much more than the physical fitness aspects.

You can believe whatever you wish, but the truth is that over 90% (average) of appointments go to those with varsity sports letters.

Don't take my word for it - talk to a USNA BGO or someone from the CGO to confirm the importance of sports participation in an applicant's file.

ArtemT said:

Hello,

I'm going to apply for class of 2015 and I was wondering how my work experience stacks up against everything else. I spent most of my time as a freelance programmer and artists and have traveled around the world to work on projects for galleries and the like. Because of this I haven't participated in many sports or ECA's. Would my work tarnish my record because I have little to no athletic participation? I'm also finishing my senior year.

Thank you!

Click to expand...

Sports are important indicators for success as a Midshipman and as a military officer (and hence good markers for candidacy).

We're told by USNA that if you're working to help support your family that the lack of sports and captaincies becomes less important because of "special circumstances". I had a candidate who had limited sports experience because of a family situation where he needed to work. He got an appointment. He was also very fit from the work he did, so the CFA was not an issue for him.

I'm not sure if that's your case, or if it's because you're especially talented, but the work you do and success you've had may outweigh the lack of sports on your resume. You can't be a couch potato, though.

Thank you very much for the information! I'm going to spend this year participating in more athletics as well as doing more community service. Hopefully this will look good to the board, though I don't know how a sudden burst of activity will appear in their eyes. Once again, thank you for your replies!

Athletic participation is important for a number of reasons: leadership opportunities, physical fitness, teamwork development, competitive drive - considered important by the SA's. If you don't have significant organized athletic experience, be prepared to be questioned about it in your interview and have a well-developed rationale for not having participated in sports as well as a strong case for how you used that time otherwise in a beneficial way. Also, be certain you are physically fit!

One of the reasons USNA prizes sports while in h.s. is that sports are very important at USNA. If you haven't tried sports, you may not like them. And if you don't like them, you'll have a hard time at USNA.

Of course, there are people every year who obtain appointments w/o participating in organized sports. However, as the above posters note, it's <10% of applicants. Working to support your family is one excellent reason for lack of participation.

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I am at USNA currently and after seeing many of my classmates come in it isn't about one thing or another it is about a wide variety of things, if you just play sports but aren't spectacular you aren't getting in, if you are just an average student with no sports you aren't getting in. Basically you need to be well rounded in an a multitude of areas, unless you are just a prodigy even then the Navy is looking for future line officers not necessarily super geniuses