Chance me?

[beepybeetle]

I'm not quite sure how competitive I am for NROTC or the Naval Academy and I just wanted some opinions.

Currently a Junior.
Weaker aspects:
Not many sports-
>Not much involvement in church (not really religious)
>No boy scouts, or club involvement (I was in DECA, and then left. Got turned down for NHS for some reason...)
>RAA (local swim teams) swimmer from 5th to 9th grade
>Tennis - Varsity sub on high school team (Not sure if that's varsity or JV, my school has a really weird system of determining that stuff)
>33 on ACT (36 on Science, 32 on math, 31 on English and reading)
>2170 SAT
>Asian

Stronger aspects:
>Ranked 33 out of 790 or so students
>3.7 unweighted GPA, 4.4 weighted
>5s on AP Euro, AP Chinese
>Hopefully will get a 5 on AP Calculus AB, AP Chemistry, AP US history
>Hopefully pass AP Physics I (Well I suppose this is a weakness)
>Will be taking AP Calc BC, Bio, Enviromental Science, Art history, US Gov., Macroecon.
>Multiple national youth awards from the Navy League, American Legion, Military order of the purple heart etc.
>Technically a class officer, but our ASB is very bad and we never hold any actual meetings
>A ton of community service
>AFA and CFA are EZPZ
>JROTC battalion commander as a junior
>Live in a good congressional district for academies

Is there anything I can do to really beef up my resume? I'm not doing tennis anymore because I had to make room for my classes. If I had done tennis for longer, I probably could have easily made regular starting varsity, but it is what it is I guess. Outside of my decent academics and ROTC, I don't really know what else I have going for myself.

 

[brovol]

Not as sure about NROTC, but for USNA it think athletics and leadership could use a boost. And im not certain I understand whether you are saying you are in a very competitive district, or a very uncompetitive district. Obviously that is significant, as your status is clearly relative to your competition as far as USNA goes.

You should involve yourself in student government and seek officer position. Also, competing in varsity athletics, particularly team sports, would put you in a much better spot.

Your academics are certainly decent, but not so high that they will carry the day, at least in my estimation (which is worth only price you have paid).

 

[Sneak]

Keep in mind that ROTC does not care where you are from. You could be in a district that's not very competitive and that might help you as far as service academies go. However, this means nothing for ROTC. ROTC cadets are chosen from one big national pool.

 

[beepybeetle]

Not as sure about NROTC, but for USNA it think athletics and leadership could use a boost. And im not certain I understand whether you are saying you are in a very competitive district, or a very uncompetitive district. Obviously that is significant, as your status is clearly relative to your competition as far as USNA goes.

You should involve yourself in student government and seek officer position. Also, competing in varsity athletics, particularly team sports, would put you in a much better spot.

Your academics are certainly decent, but not so high that they will carry the day, at least in my estimation (which is worth only price you have paid).

Well I am in student government, but we never have any meetings, so I don't really do anything. As for my congressional district, it's extremely noncompetitive. For I think 3 years now, my congressman has been unable to fill his 10 nomination spots... soooo I'm pretty much guaranteed a nomination to the service academies at least.

 

[Kronk]

You know where you stand, with leadership/athletics being the weakness.

I'm not sure if I'm reading this very wrong but it seems almost as if you're entitled to something, and even your poll is derogatory toward OCS. Just be careful with wording in the future as it may anger some NCOs or scary others.

 

[time2]

^^ I agree, much of your resume lists excuses or things you haven't done. Since your junior yr of h.s. is nearly complete, the opportunity to do much to improve your resume is nearly over.

 

[beepybeetle]

You know where you stand, with leadership/athletics being the weakness.

I'm not sure if I'm reading this very wrong but it seems almost as if you're entitled to something, and even your poll is derogatory toward OCS. Just be careful with wording in the future as it may anger some NCOs or scary others.

Ah I see what you mean. I listed 'No try OCS' as a choice simply because I can't apply to OCS right now as a high schooler and that option would become available to me later on.

^^ I agree, much of your resume lists excuses or things you haven't done. Since your junior yr of h.s. is nearly complete, the opportunity to do much to improve your resume is nearly over.

What? I listed two excuses...

 

[brovol]

Well I am in student government, but we never have any meetings, so I don't really do anything. As for my congressional district, it's extremely noncompetitive. For I think 3 years now, my congressman has been unable to fill his 10 nomination spots... soooo I'm pretty much guaranteed a nomination to the service academies at least.

It won't matter that you don't have meetings. As long as your school can confirm you are an officer on student council that will help.

 

[No1Fanof2]

Seems as though you have some follow through issues and have little understanding of how clubs work.

Tennis but quit to balance class schedule. Many students take summer classes to fit in the extra curricular classes. Probably could have is not the same as doing it.

So were you awarded a Varsity letter or not? Many times you can play up for x amount of games but not awarded the letter.

JROTC battalion commander as a junior what are you doing this year for them?

Swim stopped after 9th grade?

You were in DECA but left???

Not selected for NHS but not sure why you were not selected? NHS requirements are pretty cut and dry.

Student council you are either an officer or a general member. We're you voted in as an officer? Student council officers do lots of things for the school. My DD not only did so much before and after school, but she was often pulled from class to do other things for the school.

Your grades are decent and so are test scores, I just see some red flags in your brief description for a "chance me." I only see one thing for leadership and its your JROTC. It may be enough but there are so many others with maybe a better WCS.

 

[zachcleigh]

I'm going to be cautious with this post and try not to spark any argument/debate.

Getting an ROTC scholarship from any branch has a pretty concrete list of things the board wants to see.
SAL
Scholar, Athlete, Leader
Every candidate should do their best to max each individual category. However, many of us didn't do to hot our freshman year, we just aren't very good test takers, or we aren't athletically gifted. Therefore, some categories begin lacking what the boards are looking for.

If we break it down.
Your scholar section looks excellent. I have no comments other than great job. You're a bright kid.
Your leadership section.... Being a batt commander for jrotc is a great check box on the application, Especially as a junior (and I would assume also your senior year). It would be nice though, if you could get some more leadership positions. Student government is probably out of the question, because it was decided freshman year like many schools. Next best thing is club leadership. However you aren't in any clubs. We'll come back to this in a minute.
Now for athletics. If you can count the tennis varsity sub as a varsity letter... Great. Otherwise it looks pretty bad athletics wise. How do we fix this?

This is the part were I need to be careful haha.
This process is very concrete. It has check boxes. If you can check off the most/most important boxes, you win.
What if you can't check off many boxes? Plan and make every action from now until the application deadline creating boxes.

Some way through your school administration/counseling, you will be able to create a club.
Let's say you got some friends and did this. What does it mean?
Well 1. You're now involved in club activity.
2. You'd have founded a club in highschool.
3. You'd be club president***
4. What if the club was athletic? Like an ultimate frisbee club?

Through this one action which might take a week or 2 to set up, you could create leadership position EC activities and athletics.

You're a smart kid. When you realize that life kinda boned you... Manipulate it to go your way. Create positions make your own teams.

Just make sure that if anyone ever double checks to make sure your application information is accurate, that they'll be able to confirm everything you put down.

Best of luck in your journey.

 

[beepybeetle]

Seems as though you have some follow through issues and have little understanding of how clubs work.

Tennis but quit to balance class schedule. Many students take summer classes to fit in the extra curricular classes. Probably could have is not the same as doing it.

So were you awarded a Varsity letter or not? Many times you can play up for x amount of games but not awarded the letter.

JROTC battalion commander as a junior what are you doing this year for them?

Swim stopped after 9th grade?

You were in DECA but left???

Not selected for NHS but not sure why you were not selected? NHS requirements are pretty cut and dry.

Student council you are either an officer or a general member. We're you voted in as an officer? Student council officers do lots of things for the school. My DD not only did so much before and after school, but she was often pulled from class to do other things for the school.

Your grades are decent and so are test scores, I just see some red flags in your brief description for a "chance me." I only see one thing for leadership and its your JROTC. It may be enough but there are so many others with maybe a better WCS.

Yeah, I know I kind of made some questionable decisions regarding my extracurricular activities. But I'm still the batt. Commander this year for JROTC at least? hahaha

I'm going to be cautious with this post and try not to spark any argument/debate.

Getting an ROTC scholarship from any branch has a pretty concrete list of things the board wants to see.
SAL
Scholar, Athlete, Leader
Every candidate should do their best to max each individual category. However, many of us didn't do to hot our freshman year, we just aren't very good test takers, or we aren't athletically gifted. Therefore, some categories begin lacking what the boards are looking for.

If we break it down.
Your scholar section looks excellent. I have no comments other than great job. You're a bright kid.
Your leadership section.... Being a batt commander for jrotc is a great check box on the application, Especially as a junior (and I would assume also your senior year). It would be nice though, if you could get some more leadership positions. Student government is probably out of the question, because it was decided freshman year like many schools. Next best thing is club leadership. However you aren't in any clubs. We'll come back to this in a minute.
Now for athletics. If you can count the tennis varsity sub as a varsity letter... Great. Otherwise it looks pretty bad athletics wise. How do we fix this?

This is the part were I need to be careful haha.
This process is very concrete. It has check boxes. If you can check off the most/most important boxes, you win.
What if you can't check off many boxes? Plan and make every action from now until the application deadline creating boxes.

Some way through your school administration/counseling, you will be able to create a club.
Let's say you got some friends and did this. What does it mean?
Well 1. You're now involved in club activity.
2. You'd have founded a club in highschool.
3. You'd be club president***
4. What if the club was athletic? Like an ultimate frisbee club?

Through this one action which might take a week or 2 to set up, you could create leadership position EC activities and athletics.

You're a smart kid. When you realize that life kinda boned you... Manipulate it to go your way. Create positions make your own teams.

Just make sure that if anyone ever double checks to make sure your application information is accurate, that they'll be able to confirm everything you put down.

Best of luck in your journey.

Interesting... I guess I could just create a world of tanks club. I dunno how the varsity tennis stuff will play out, our old coach has since left. I have lettered in activities, but maybe it'd be a good idea to ask about tennis.

 

[Dckc88]

I'm going to be cautious with this post and try not to spark any argument/debate.

Getting an ROTC scholarship from any branch has a pretty concrete list of things the board wants to see.
SAL
Scholar, Athlete, Leader
Every candidate should do their best to max each individual category. However, many of us didn't do to hot our freshman year, we just aren't very good test takers, or we aren't athletically gifted. Therefore, some categories begin lacking what the boards are looking for.

If we break it down.
Your scholar section looks excellent. I have no comments other than great job. You're a bright kid.
Your leadership section.... Being a batt commander for jrotc is a great check box on the application, Especially as a junior (and I would assume also your senior year). It would be nice though, if you could get some more leadership positions. Student government is probably out of the question, because it was decided freshman year like many schools. Next best thing is club leadership. However you aren't in any clubs. We'll come back to this in a minute.
Now for athletics. If you can count the tennis varsity sub as a varsity letter... Great. Otherwise it looks pretty bad athletics wise. How do we fix this?

This is the part were I need to be careful haha.
This process is very concrete. It has check boxes. If you can check off the most/most important boxes, you win.
What if you can't check off many boxes? Plan and make every action from now until the application deadline creating boxes.

Some way through your school administration/counseling, you will be able to create a club.
Let's say you got some friends and did this. What does it mean?
Well 1. You're now involved in club activity.
2. You'd have founded a club in highschool.
3. You'd be club president***
4. What if the club was athletic? Like an ultimate frisbee club?

Through this one action which might take a week or 2 to set up, you could create leadership position EC activities and athletics.

You're a smart kid. When you realize that life kinda boned you... Manipulate it to go your way. Create positions make your own teams.

Just make sure that if anyone ever double checks to make sure your application information is accurate, that they'll be able to confirm everything you put down.

Best of luck in your journey.

One thing to keep in mind is there is also an "other" box. My daughter received a 3 year AROTC schoalrship and most of her items fit into other. She had varsity sports and church group member and leader, and working as "boxes checked". All of her volunteer work and other activities were under the "other". Then she listed everything in the additional.information box.

Sometimes what you do doesn't fit into a box, and that is okay, list everything anyway.

 

[1mom]

You should check with your JROTC instructor and counselor about helping to get you a spot at Boys State, if it is not too late. Once there, you should run for an office to gain more leadership experience. That is a plus on any resume.

 

[beepybeetle]

ayy ranking changed to 23.
Not sure if that matters...

 

[Renegade13]

Have you done any JROTC activities? The application considers Rifle, Drill, and Orienteering as varsity sports. If you have competed in these events, check with your Instructor and see if they can/will award you a varsity letter. He/she may have to check with the administration/athletic director but it is an option. I know I award varsity letters to my rifle and orienteering teams.

 

[beepybeetle]

Have you done any JROTC activities? The application considers Rifle, Drill, and Orienteering as varsity sports. If you have competed in these events, check with your Instructor and see if they can/will award you a varsity letter. He/she may have to check with the administration/athletic director but it is an option. I know I award varsity letters to my rifle and orienteering teams.

Whoa really? I don't recall seeing that on the application. In that case I think I can get a couple more checks since I have 4 letters for varsity drill and color guard