Advice on my current credentials

TexanFutureSoldier

TexanFutureSoldier

5-Year Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2010
Messages
21
Hey everyone,
I'm new here, but I wanted to basically post my current resumé and see if y'all have any suggestions. I've just started my junior year, and I want to know what to improve on this year. So here goes

Weighted GPA: 5.3 on a 5.0 scale (regular classes are weighted 5.0, AP classes are weighted 6.0)
Class Rank: 2
Captain, Debate Team
National Forensic League member (Degree: Special Distinction)
President, Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society)
NHS member
PSAT score: 233 (I'm taking my SAT in 2 weeks)
Civil Air Patrol: Flight Commander, C/MSgt (I should have my Mitchell award by the end of next summer)
Member of local Congressional Youth Advisory Council

Now my concern is athletics. I'm enrolled in weightlifting this year not as a competitive sport, but just to stay in shape and get stronger. I did JV tennis my sophomore year, but I didn't really do well. I don't have time for any competitive sports this year, and I'm concerned about how this will look to the Academies. Will taking 5 AP classes Junior year, and even more senior year, outweigh my lack of any Varsity sports for 3-4 years? On a side note, I might do Cross Country senior year, if my schedule allows it.

I thank everyone who replies in advance for you input. :thumb:
 
1. Did you happen to look at the dozens of other threads just like this, which contain a wealth of information?

2. No, your AP classes will not "make up" for athletics. Think about the whole package. Somewhere out there in your district is a kid with every academic credential you have. He/she also has a few varsity letters. The sports, or lack thereof, should concern you.
 
I bet you could squeeze some athletic thing in there. Plus alot of activities/clubs will understand that sometimes you will have other commitments to attend to.
 
@scoutpilot: Yes, I did look at some of the other threads. However, I did not see a thread with someone in my position, with relatively solid academics but a sport deficiency. Second, if I took up cross country, even if I didn't make Varsity, do you think that would noticeably improve my prospects?

@McCoy: Yeah, I'll probably try. I'm worried about being able to keep up with AP coursework though.
 
@McCoy: Yeah, I'll probably try. I'm worried about being able to keep up with AP coursework though
Click to expand...

But that's what you have to do everyday at West Point, balance academics, athletics, and many other duties.
 
You really need to find a competitive sport THIS year to participate in. Can you still pick up Cross Country this fall or how about Indoor Track this winter or Outdoor Track this Fall? Those are good endurance sports that will help prepare you for West Point. Admissions recommends that you have your file complete by the end of October your Senior year, therefore your application will mostly reflect your 9th - 11th grade grades and activities.

West Point looks for the well rounded individual. West Point is not only demanding academically but physically. Take a look at the CFA on the USMA website. You will have to pass that to get an appointment. To emphasize: you can have a 5.3 GPA, a zillion AP with 5s on the test, NHS, President of MAT, Mitchell award, etc, and get a LOA and 5 nominations, BUT if you fail the CFA then NO appointment. Try to find a video/youtube/DVD about West Point and you will get an idea of the physical demands. Like Scout said, stellar academics will not replace a void in athletics. Every cadet an athlete. You will participate in a sport at West Point. You don't go to classes and then spend the rest of the day and evening studying. To echo Dixieland, you have to learn to balance tough academics with athletics and duties.

Your achievements so far are impressive and commendable but lack of sports will be a big hole in your file. 5 APs is demanding (sounds like a killer to me :eek:) so I understand that time is tight, but you really need to find a sport to participate in this year to make your file more competitive.

Good luck and keep asking questions!
 
buff81 said:
You really need to find a competitive sport THIS year to participate in. Can you still pick up Cross Country this fall or how about Indoor Track this winter or Outdoor Track this Fall? Those are good endurance sports that will help prepare you for West Point. Admissions recommends that you have your file complete by the end of October your Senior year, therefore your application will mostly reflect your 9th - 11th grade grades and activities.

West Point looks for the well rounded individual. West Point is not only demanding academically but physically. Take a look at the CFA on the USMA website. You will have to pass that to get an appointment. To emphasize: you can have a 5.3 GPA, a zillion AP with 5s on the test, NHS, President of MAT, Mitchell award, etc, and get a LOA and 5 nominations, BUT if you fail the CFA then NO appointment. Try to find a video/youtube/DVD about West Point and you will get an idea of the physical demands. Like Scout said, stellar academics will not replace a void in athletics. Every cadet an athlete. You will participate in a sport at West Point. You don't go to classes and then spend the rest of the day and evening studying. To echo Dixieland, you have to learn to balance tough academics with athletics and duties.

Your achievements so far are impressive and commendable but lack of sports will be a big hole in your file. 5 APs is demanding (sounds like a killer to me :eek:) so I understand that time is tight, but you really need to find a sport to participate in this year to make your file more competitive.

Good luck and keep asking questions!
Click to expand...

I talked to one of my friends today who is in XC, and he says that it's not too late to join. I'm going to see if I can fit it in. I'm not worried about the CFA, I'm in rather good shape. But judging from the replies on this thread, if I don't have a competitive sport, I won't do well in front of the board. And Dixieland has a point. So I'll see what I can do. Thank you all for your advice here! :shake:

One more question: If I don't make Varsity, will being in JV be noticeably worse to the academies?
 
Varsity, of course, is preferable but being on JV is better than not being on a team at all.

On your West Point application, you will be asked what sport(s) you played, years played, varsity letters, years as team captain and years of special recognition. In your case, if you ran XC this year and next (even if JV), you will be able to list XC as your sport for 2 years. Even though not on Varsity, you will still have a sport for 2 years which is better than no sport at all.

Hope that helps !
 
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