Chances for College Applicants?

U

united7

5-Year Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2011
Messages
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Hey guys-new to the forum. I have browsed the threads here in the past months quite often for advice and answers. I was wondering if i provided some statistics as a sophomore in college if anyone could give me some advice on where to improve or how i can go the extra mile to secure an appointment. I can also provide my high school stats if needed. ANYTHING in terms of advice is greatly appreciated.
-Donnie
 
High School:
3.4 GPA
AP/Honors Courses (4 on AP Env. Science Exam, # on AP World History)
Newspaper Editor
NJROTC Officer
Varsity Mens Soccer 4 years, (captain)
Wrestling 3 years
Enviro-thon Team
Best Buddies
Extras:
Volunteer Soccer Coach
4th Ranked Club Soccer Team in MD
Full Time job all high school summers

** these are just a few things off of my profile**

Test Scores:
Math-480
CR-590
**I already know I am going to get crucified for these**

College:
3.5 GPA
Mens Soccer Team-freshman year, sophomore year (18th ranked team in the nation)
Volunteer Soccer Coach
Full time employment in summer, part time during the off season

Notes:
My BGO stressed that actually having an in home interview was a massive deal? Also once my current season is over I'll take the CFA- I lift and run literally everyday and do mock CFA's after my workouts so getting a perfect score is no big deal. I cleared DODMERB in August. USNA's Mens coach is interested in me but I only have so much NCAA eligibility left. I viewed the NA's 2015 profile and saw that 84 College applicants were admitted. - I did however write a letter to CGO in August stressing my strong desire to attend NAPS, and made it very clear to my BGO

any advice or info on college applicants is extremely helpful
 
I think that the NA will be much more interested in your college transcripts than anything you did in HS. What classes did you take? How did you do in them?

If your Freshman year curriculum doesn't reflect what a typical plebe would have taken or if you didn't do so well, then I think you've got a tough hill to climb.

As far as NAPS - one factor is how old you are now. If you're a typical Soph you're 19/20 so adding a year at NAPS makes you 20/21. That's OK but

"You must be:
--at least 17 years of age and must not have passed your 23rd birthday on July 1st of the year of admission;"
Click to expand...
 
I just turned 20 actually. As far as my classes are concerned-obviously judging by my SAT scores math is my weak area, Currently in Pre-Calc. Science wise I should take my first Chemistry class next semester. Due to my AP Score I did not have to take a Bio/Env course. I got a 3.0 Freshman year-while on a collegiate team. Its gone up since then- however I wrote that letter to CGO awhile back hoping it would display some sort of extra effort and desire to attend NAPS to help academically
 
At this point in time, yours would appear to be a monumentally challenging objective. You might want to wait another year when you've had calc and chem under your belt. It does not appear that you've significantly enhanced your status in year #1 of college. And being from Maryland makes it even tougher in the nominations process. Not to be discouraged, but to be realistic right now. Keep working and always be mindful in the USNA pursuit of plan B to both appointment and commissioning. And that is the primary target, or should be.
 
Thank you WhistlePig for being realistic- I knew back in May when I started this process all over again it would indeed be monumental. But like I told my BGO in my interview I firmly believe this is attainable and plan to keep trying until I'm 23-then obviously plan B (OCS,etc.) becomes an option. I'm considering taking classes year round (winter term) in order to possibly get ahead or at least on par with where I should be. I retook the SAT's October 1st and will take them again in December.
 
can you better explain what you meant about " home interview"? in your BGO statement.
 
Enigma- for my BGO interview mine stressed during the interview (held at my house) that I should take this as a good thing. My BGO told me that they either "CC" (contact/counsel) or they come and conduct an actual interview in person. My BGO said that I should take the fact that I got an in home interview as a good sign versus a phone or CC. Not sure what to make of any of that but I just went with it.
 
If you are not taking plebe courses during your first semester (or, for longer tenured students, before you apply to USNA), things are going to be tough. Those courses are Calc, Chem (w/lab), English, History. There are some courses that can substitute, such as Physics. And you need to get mostly As with maybe the occasional B.

I'm not saying that there aren't college students admitted who haven't done the above, but it is not the recommended path and will be more difficult. The number one thing USNA looks for in college students is how well they did in plebe classes.
 
USNA1985- thank you!! I have taken everything except Chem and Calc-however I am taking them in the spring this year. Anything else that might help? I know the CFA score doesn't make up for much but it could help...
 
Just to let you know..they wont see your spring grades.
They review college applicants after fall grades are in.
 
There is a reason you have avoided Calculus and Chemistry... you clearly don't like math, or math heavy courses! Why would you want to attend the Academy if you don't like (or aren't that naturally good at) math/science? Calculus and Chemistry are really important to the USNA... to give you an idea, Navy ROTC has an 85% quota for Engineering or Math/Science majors in allocating scholarships. Only 15% of scholarships are awarded outside STEM, and you cannot change from STEM to non-stem while in NROTC without a couple of layers of approval. That emphasis on science is found at the Academy as well.

Have you considered NROTC at your current college, as a non-scholarship midshipman? That is called "College Programmer". The issue is that you must be participating in NROTC already and selected to continue into Advance Course in the spring of your sophomore year in college, usually. If I were you I would not have only the Academy or OCS as objectives for commissioning paths. I would add NROTC College Programmer to the mix. Speak with the Professor of Naval Science (if there is a Program at all) at the school you currently attend.

For your reading pleasure, I googled and found a nice description of the NROTC "College Progam" http://www.navy.iastate.edu/prospective/collegeprogram/nrotc.html
 
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OP, I am in a similar situation. I am a freshman in college applying to USNA as well. I agree with the advice given by others: consider NROTC as well. I am a college programmer in my college's NROTC program and I am learning a great deal about being an officer.

My biggest concern: USNA recommends I take calc/chem/physics/history/english my freshman year. However, I got a 5 on AP physics, chem, U.S. government, american history(just a 4 on this one), and calculus in high school, thus giving me college credit. Therefore, as a freshman I am taking more major-specific courses, which I feel might hurt me. My BGO said USNA does not consider AP scores as part of your admissions package, which means USNA will not even consider the fact that I have already mastered those basic-lever courses.
 
HiMyNameisNick said:
OP, I am in a similar situation. I am a freshman in college applying to USNA as well. I agree with the advice given by others: consider NROTC as well. I am a college programmer in my college's NROTC program and I am learning a great deal about being an officer.

My biggest concern: USNA recommends I take calc/chem/physics/history/english my freshman year. However, I got a 5 on AP physics, chem, U.S. government, american history(just a 4 on this one), and calculus in high school, thus giving me college credit. Therefore, as a freshman I am taking more major-specific courses, which I feel might hurt me. My BGO said USNA does not consider AP scores as part of your admissions package, which means USNA will not even consider the fact that I have already mastered those basic-lever courses.
Click to expand...

Not sure what you're asking. USNA does consider grades in AP courses for h.s. students. For better or worse, USNA wants to see college students taking plebe courses. If you "validate" out of the "basic level" courses, then you should take the next level. IOW, if you place out of Calc I, take Calc II.

The fact you "master" something at the h.s. level does not mean you've mastered it at the college level. If you don't believe me, ask the plebes who got As in h.s. math and science and are getting Cs, Ds, and Fs, in plebe courses.
 
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