Countryboy24
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2012
- Messages
- 19
I understand that USMAPS is for students who are not academically qualified, but what exactly would they consider for that? Poor SAT/ACTand low class rank?
Chances/Suggestions?
- Thread starter Countryboy24
- Start date
Vista123
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2011
- Messages
- 1,179
Cfa,act, lor, bs, sls, loa
CFA
One thing that you can do your junior year is begin your CFA practice. I would suggest that you approach your high school PE teacher with a print out of the CFA instructions. http://www.usna.edu/admissions/cfainstructions.htm. Explain to them that your goal is to become an officer in the military (be prepared to explain why). Ask them if they will help you. Starting now-or at least no later than right after winter break try to meet with them once per week after school, or before school or they may even allow it during your actual PE class. You can then run through a mock CFA --this will only be about 10-12 minutes weekly. The days in between the mock CFA you can practice whatever you are not able to max. Since you on xcountry your run time should be good. This way if you get into SLS you can check that off immediately and not need to worry about it next summer.
ACT/SAT
As you are aware the Service Academies super score. It is ONLY to your benefit to take the ACT/SAT as many times as possible. If you take the ACT for example, they offer it September, October, December, February, April, June. You should be signed up for all of them. Shoot for top quartile in each as your lowest acceptable personal goal. If you are not in the top quartile (ACT:32 in each area or SAT: 710 in each area ) take it again (and again).
TEACHER BUY IN JUNIOR YEAR
You will need the very active support of your Sceince, Math and English teachers throughout this process. Believe it or not they will have to do a lot of work for you. They will have to fill out on-line evaluations of you over their summer vacations. The will have to write a letter for you as part of your member of congress nomination packet. The will have to write a letter for you as part of your ROTC application packet. The will have to write a letter for you as you apply to the colleges or universities that will direct your ROTC scholarship. The will have to write a letter for you to square away your Plan B and Plan C colleges or universities. They will have to evaluate your: Cooperation, Dependability, Productivity, Attitude, Leadership Ability, Consideration for others, Initiative, Ability to Plan and Organize work, Attendance and Punctuality, Drive and Character. You will NEED to get their buy in. This does not mean simply being nice to them. Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because they want to do it. This means 1.) Working hard for them in their class 2.) Going above and beyond to demonstrate the above characteristics 3.)Explaining articulately what you are trying to accomplish and why 4.) Showing your appreciation for them throughout this process by writing hand written thank you notes. One important thing to know is that 99% of teachers became a teacher because they enjoy kids and sincerely want to help them. Many (most) high school students have not yet formulated their goals. You have. Share that with the teachers early on and ask for tips and suggestions. Their tips and suggestions may not be 100% helpful but you may get a nugget in there. More importantly, they will be glad that you are sharing with them and are asking for their help and guidance, and then will buy into your plans.
BOYS/GIRLS STATE
Find out when your Boys/Girls State is. Learn about the process to being chosen to represent your high school. In some states it is extremely competitive. It is also very fun.
APPLY TO ALL OF THE SUMMER LEADERSHIPS
Apply to all of the summer leaderships, see where you get in, chose your favorite. Getting into one of the summer leadership programs will not give you extra points and will not be reflective of what a school year will look like. Having said that, attending one of the summer leadership programs will help you during your interview process and essay writing. When asked a question in an interview it is nice to be able to say something like, “when I went to USMA I was impressed with all of the equipment they had –do you know they have a piece of equipment that cuts through titanium with a stream of water.…” While writing your essay you may be able to reflect on your week there. While there you will also be able to check off your CFA. There isn’t a need to go to more than one, however, if you don’t get into your preferred summer leadership program there is still value in going to another. Apply to each within a couple of days of the program application opening. However, don’t be counter productive-don’t go to too many!!! If you are gone too much over summer you wont be able to dedicate time to your application.
ACT LIKE THERE ARE STILL LOAs
If you are reading this than you probably have scoured this forum for information. You will know that for most applicants LOAs are a thing-of-the-past or at least a rarity. If you were before striving to have your file reviewed for a possible LOA than you were trying to complete every step perfectly AND quickly. Even if there are no LOAs it is still to your advantage to endeavor to get your entire packet completed during the summer before senior year. First, the Dodmerb process can be quick or it can be as slow as molasses. You may need a lot of time to get through it. Dodmerb isn’t triggered (the process started) until you have a certain percentage of your application completed. Additionally, medical waivers will not typically be requested unless your file is complete. The further along in the process the longer DODmerb seems to take as more applicants are in the system (it takes longer the later you wait due to increasing file volume). Second, many FFR officers will not interview you until you have a certain percentage of your application completed. Third, you're more likely to get an authorization for a CFA retest if test was failed sooner rather than later. If you wait until the end it may be too late if you do poorly on your CFA. Finally, senior year is already hard and time consuming. Between trying to keep up your grades and trying to live the “life of a senior” that doesn’t leave a lot of time to get your packet in.
Good Luck!
CFA
One thing that you can do your junior year is begin your CFA practice. I would suggest that you approach your high school PE teacher with a print out of the CFA instructions. http://www.usna.edu/admissions/cfainstructions.htm. Explain to them that your goal is to become an officer in the military (be prepared to explain why). Ask them if they will help you. Starting now-or at least no later than right after winter break try to meet with them once per week after school, or before school or they may even allow it during your actual PE class. You can then run through a mock CFA --this will only be about 10-12 minutes weekly. The days in between the mock CFA you can practice whatever you are not able to max. Since you on xcountry your run time should be good. This way if you get into SLS you can check that off immediately and not need to worry about it next summer.
ACT/SAT
As you are aware the Service Academies super score. It is ONLY to your benefit to take the ACT/SAT as many times as possible. If you take the ACT for example, they offer it September, October, December, February, April, June. You should be signed up for all of them. Shoot for top quartile in each as your lowest acceptable personal goal. If you are not in the top quartile (ACT:32 in each area or SAT: 710 in each area ) take it again (and again).
TEACHER BUY IN JUNIOR YEAR
You will need the very active support of your Sceince, Math and English teachers throughout this process. Believe it or not they will have to do a lot of work for you. They will have to fill out on-line evaluations of you over their summer vacations. The will have to write a letter for you as part of your member of congress nomination packet. The will have to write a letter for you as part of your ROTC application packet. The will have to write a letter for you as you apply to the colleges or universities that will direct your ROTC scholarship. The will have to write a letter for you to square away your Plan B and Plan C colleges or universities. They will have to evaluate your: Cooperation, Dependability, Productivity, Attitude, Leadership Ability, Consideration for others, Initiative, Ability to Plan and Organize work, Attendance and Punctuality, Drive and Character. You will NEED to get their buy in. This does not mean simply being nice to them. Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because they want to do it. This means 1.) Working hard for them in their class 2.) Going above and beyond to demonstrate the above characteristics 3.)Explaining articulately what you are trying to accomplish and why 4.) Showing your appreciation for them throughout this process by writing hand written thank you notes. One important thing to know is that 99% of teachers became a teacher because they enjoy kids and sincerely want to help them. Many (most) high school students have not yet formulated their goals. You have. Share that with the teachers early on and ask for tips and suggestions. Their tips and suggestions may not be 100% helpful but you may get a nugget in there. More importantly, they will be glad that you are sharing with them and are asking for their help and guidance, and then will buy into your plans.
BOYS/GIRLS STATE
Find out when your Boys/Girls State is. Learn about the process to being chosen to represent your high school. In some states it is extremely competitive. It is also very fun.
APPLY TO ALL OF THE SUMMER LEADERSHIPS
Apply to all of the summer leaderships, see where you get in, chose your favorite. Getting into one of the summer leadership programs will not give you extra points and will not be reflective of what a school year will look like. Having said that, attending one of the summer leadership programs will help you during your interview process and essay writing. When asked a question in an interview it is nice to be able to say something like, “when I went to USMA I was impressed with all of the equipment they had –do you know they have a piece of equipment that cuts through titanium with a stream of water.…” While writing your essay you may be able to reflect on your week there. While there you will also be able to check off your CFA. There isn’t a need to go to more than one, however, if you don’t get into your preferred summer leadership program there is still value in going to another. Apply to each within a couple of days of the program application opening. However, don’t be counter productive-don’t go to too many!!! If you are gone too much over summer you wont be able to dedicate time to your application.
ACT LIKE THERE ARE STILL LOAs
If you are reading this than you probably have scoured this forum for information. You will know that for most applicants LOAs are a thing-of-the-past or at least a rarity. If you were before striving to have your file reviewed for a possible LOA than you were trying to complete every step perfectly AND quickly. Even if there are no LOAs it is still to your advantage to endeavor to get your entire packet completed during the summer before senior year. First, the Dodmerb process can be quick or it can be as slow as molasses. You may need a lot of time to get through it. Dodmerb isn’t triggered (the process started) until you have a certain percentage of your application completed. Additionally, medical waivers will not typically be requested unless your file is complete. The further along in the process the longer DODmerb seems to take as more applicants are in the system (it takes longer the later you wait due to increasing file volume). Second, many FFR officers will not interview you until you have a certain percentage of your application completed. Third, you're more likely to get an authorization for a CFA retest if test was failed sooner rather than later. If you wait until the end it may be too late if you do poorly on your CFA. Finally, senior year is already hard and time consuming. Between trying to keep up your grades and trying to live the “life of a senior” that doesn’t leave a lot of time to get your packet in.
Good Luck!
Countryboy24
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2012
- Messages
- 19
Thank you! I appreciate this info greatly. I plan on applying to the Naval Academy as well, will this hurt my chances with West Point?
Vista123
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2011
- Messages
- 1,179
Not at all.
