College Freshman Applicant

uscga2018

5-Year Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2013
Messages
5
I applied to the Academy last year, and was unfortunately denied an appointment. I have been improving my application over the past few months with new achievements and will continue to improve it this fall semester.

I will be attending a large, highly ranked state university this fall and will be majoring in Political Science. Is there any advice for a college freshman looking to re-apply to the Academy?

I will be taking 4 classes (12 credits), including 2 major specific classes, Intro to oceanography (physical science), and intro to statistics.

I have also received my IB diploma.
 
I applied to the Academy last year, and was unfortunately denied an appointment. I have been improving my application over the past few months with new achievements and will continue to improve it this fall semester.

I will be attending a large, highly ranked state university this fall and will be majoring in Political Science. Is there any advice for a college freshman looking to re-apply to the Academy?

I will be taking 4 classes (12 credits), including 2 major specific classes, Intro to oceanography (physical science), and intro to statistics.

I have also received my IB diploma.

Yeah, you need to take calculus, physics and chemistry. Mimic the freshman year at the academies.
 
Agree with kinnem, I did a year of college before entering the Academy after my first medical disenrollment. You need to take courses similar to those taken by freshman at the Academy. Most likely, you're taking the Gen Ed. requirements for your major. Keep up with those but go the extra mile and take Calculus and Chemistry instead of oceanography and statistics. You won't take statistics until your 3/c year if you become a Government major here and you'll never take oceanography.

12 credits isn't going to cut it, I've had classmates take twice as many as that in one semester. You should have at least 15, maybe even 18 if your school will let you overload. If you can switch into Chemistry and Calculus, make that last 3 credit course something you'll enjoy. I took a couple of classes that my school required as General Ed. courses and had a blast. Just make sure you're challenging yourself in other courses.

Also, try to get involved in some kind of intramural/club sport, on campus job (tours, dorm projects, admissions, etc), or community service. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that just doing well academically will cut it. Good luck!
 
Agree with kinnem, I did a year of college before entering the Academy after my first medical disenrollment. You need to take courses similar to those taken by freshman at the Academy. Most likely, you're taking the Gen Ed. requirements for your major. Keep up with those but go the extra mile and take Calculus and Chemistry instead of oceanography and statistics. You won't take statistics until your 3/c year if you become a Government major here and you'll never take oceanography.

12 credits isn't going to cut it, I've had classmates take twice as many as that in one semester. You should have at least 15, maybe even 18 if your school will let you overload. If you can switch into Chemistry and Calculus, make that last 3 credit course something you'll enjoy. I took a couple of classes that my school required as General Ed. courses and had a blast. Just make sure you're challenging yourself in other courses.

Also, try to get involved in some kind of intramural/club sport, on campus job (tours, dorm projects, admissions, etc), or community service. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that just doing well academically will cut it. Good luck!

Definitely echo T&F here, but we do take an intro to oceanography class here at the Academy. It's called Atmospheric and Marine Sciences (typically take it in our senior year), so I can see it being useful.

I'd say take Calculus, Chemistry, an English Composition course, Macroeconomics, and maybe intro to oceanography or some other course that interests you if you're seriously looking into going to the Academy. If you do well in those it's going to help you not only get accepted, but also excel if you receive an appointment for the class of 2018.
 
Thank you for all of the advice!

I have validated most of my gen ed requirements from AP and IB credits, therefore I am trying to fulfill my critical tracking courses for my major right now. Oceanography is fulfilling my physical science credit, statistics is fulfilling my math credit, but also a critical tracking course requirement, and the two major specific classes, American federal government and International Relations are also critical tracking required courses. Calculus and Chemistry are not required for my major, therefore the University strongly suggested against taking them. Instead, they would rather me stay on track, or get ahead for my major.

The university prefers that freshman take no more than 15 credits the first semester. When registering for classes with an advisor, I was stopped as soon as I reached 12 credits. They do this because they say the transition from high school to a college freshman is the equivalent to a 3 credit class.

I plan on getting involved in student government and other organizations, including one planning one of the biggest student run pep rallies in the country. I also plan on participating in intramural sports.

I would like to note that I am not attending this university this year for the sole purpose of preparing myself to attend the academy, but also to allow me to be in a very good position to continue my education here if I am not accepted to the academy. Therefore, I am focusing on doing very well academically in the courses I have selected and continuing my extracurricular involvement at the college level.

Basically, I suppose I am asking how to stand out to the academy admissions board as a college student with the current course load I am taking. There is very little chance that I will be able to change my classes before the fall semester.
 
I would like to note that I am not attending this university this year for the sole purpose of preparing myself to attend the academy, but also to allow me to be in a very good position to continue my education here if I am not accepted to the academy. Therefore, I am focusing on doing very well academically in the courses I have selected and continuing my extracurricular involvement at the college level.

Excellent! Very good planning. If it happens, great! If it doesn't, you're still in a good position.
 
Fair enough, your explanation gave me some answers that I was looking for! I would just make it clear to Admissions why you're taking some of those classes then, maybe email your Admissions Officer. I definitely understand wanting to stay on track just in case. Who knows, you may be accepted and then choose to stay at your current school, crazier things have happened :thumb:

It sounds like you have a very solid Plan B being put into action. Like I said before, good luck with everything and definitely enjoy this year! Looking back, I am so glad I had the extra year.
 
My son was in your shoes in 2008....he was denied the first time around after languishing on the dreaded wait (and wait...and wait....and wait some more) list until June 6th. He then was told he would not be given an appointment. He had decided long before he even applied to CGA, that it was CGA or nothing. He used the year following high school graduation at a JC. Yes, a JC. He took Calc, English, Astronomy, and Art History. He retook the SAT, improved his score, learned and excelled in a new sport (coach made a point to talk with the CGA coach to recommend), and continued in his community service efforts and worked a 20 hr a week job.

So, for my son, the formula was a bit different in that his classes weren't really typical for the academy, aside from Calc and English. Bottom line is he did well. Not perfect...but well.

Good luck, and I hope to read that you are given an appointment in the spring!
 
Does anyone know if I have to create a new Bear's Den account, or can I use my old one? and when are Cadet for a Day sign ups?
 
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