Freshman in Highschool

Cameron Knudstrup

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2015
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5
I'm a freshman in High School right now and I would like to know what are the best things i could do raise my chances to get into usna. I am in NJROTC right now and have 60 something community service hours with JROTC (I've heard that that community service helps a lot). I am thinking about joining track next year as i've heard that being on teams really helps with getting in. My grades are eh compared to what most applicants on here. I had no honors classes this year (i have 2 next year) and right now my UW GPA is probably going to be 3.5 and W GPA is probably going to be 3 maybe 3.25. I know i can get that up with my next three years in high school but i would like to know what i can do to put the odds more in my favor of getting accepted.
 
Take all Honors and Ap classes also run track so you can get a letter. As far as Nrotc try to work your way up to an Officer position..and make National Honor Society. Your on the right track!!! good luck!
 
Take all Honors and Ap classes also run track so you can get a letter. As far as Nrotc try to work your way up to an Officer position..and make National Honor Society. Your on the right track!!! good luck!
All of my classes right now have been decided for sophomore year there is no changing them. That is also the reason I wanted to try join track was so i could get a letter. Thanks the reply SAMom!
 
Cameron,

Have you shared your college goals with your high school staff and counselors?

At my daughter's school, they changed her schedule several times after the "you can't change DEADLINE." And once they found out she was interested in the academies, they also asked her if she needed some additional leadership opportunities, which I thought was very cool. I'm pretty sure she was selected as a delegate for Girl's State because she initiated the conversations with the Principal and the Counselors about her goals.

I'd say good luck... but as Zig Ziglar liked to say "LUCK is Labor Under Correct Knowledge."
 
Cameron,

Have you shared your college goals with your high school staff and counselors?

At my daughter's school, they changed her schedule several times after the "you can't change DEADLINE." And once they found out she was interested in the academies, they also asked her if she needed some additional leadership opportunities, which I thought was very cool. I'm pretty sure she was selected as a delegate for Girl's State because she initiated the conversations with the Principal and the Counselors about her goals.

I'd say good luck... but as Zig Ziglar liked to say "LUCK is Labor Under Correct Knowledge."
No I haven't done that. But that does sound pretty cool. I'll set up an appointment with my councellor.
 
OP it's probably in your best interest to change you username.

OT study for the SAT/ACT and do well in your classes. Academics is the biggest part of the application.
 
All of my classes right now have been decided for sophomore year there is no changing them.

I would go to your counselors and talk with them about your plan to apply to USNA. You need to advocate for yourself, and push to get harder classes. I can't believe that schedules are already locked in and can't be changed to work with a perspective service academy candidate. If your sophomore courses are indeed locked in, then you could be limiting your academic record. Since your senior year grades won't have as much impact as your sophomore and junior year grades. Your application will go in, and a decision to accept you will be made before your senior grades are ever known. Also your counselors can be a really big help with letting you know about leadership opportunities, and community award programs.
 
I'm a freshman in High School right now and I would like to know what are the best things i could do raise my chances to get into usna. I am in NJROTC right now and have 60 something community service hours with JROTC (I've heard that that community service helps a lot). I am thinking about joining track next year as i've heard that being on teams really helps with getting in. My grades are eh compared to what most applicants on here. I had no honors classes this year (i have 2 next year) and right now my UW GPA is probably going to be 3.5 and W GPA is probably going to be 3 maybe 3.25. I know i can get that up with my next three years in high school but i would like to know what i can do to put the odds more in my favor of getting accepted.

Cameron,
After attending a few Congressional and Academy briefings, as well as working through this process with my DS (who was accepted into a prep spot this year), here's my advice:

1) Take challenging classes. They don't all have to be AP/IB/Honors, but your math and science should be. (My DS took regular English, history, and electives) Don't kill yourself with too tough of a course load, but put in the work and bring your GPA up.
2) EARN a VARSITY LETTER! This was hit hard at the briefings. Of all the demographics, 80% of all appointees had a varsity letter. (the biggest factor of all demographics...ie. NJROTC, volunteerism, types of classes, etc.)
3) Show leadership. Be a team captain or president of a club.
4) All of this equals being a well rounded student/person. This was especially important when my DS had his congressional nomination interviews.

Good luck.

P.s. Don't limit yourself to only USNA. Do some research on the USCGA and USMMA. It's always good to have multiple options.
 
Be sure to get involved in the community. Do things that YOU personally are interested in, not just for the sake of getting into USNA. This is also important in writing your essays.
 
I believe earning the rank of Eagle Scout through BSA and being chosen for Boys State are both highly looked upon by Admissions.
 
Well just to update you all. I talked to my counselor today, and they said that today was the last day to change classes. So previously I had Honors analytic geometry and honors world history (I wanted to have at least 2 honors classes this year and friends had told me that the chances of getting a terrible teacher for H Chemistry wasn't worth it), but hearing how the sophomore and Junior years matter the most, I will switch out Honors world history for H chemistry. But should I start early for trying to talk to people for nominations (when i was doing research before about it, I heard that was a good idea but i cant find much about it right now). I also believe that ROTC instructors can write nominations, are these nominations less regarded when they're accepting people? Either way I would assume that having more than just 1 nomination ought to help out.
 
@Cameron Knudstrup - Have you read the stickies in the "Nominations" Forum? There is a ton of useful information in there to help you think about nominations. A few thoughts - each of your MOCs (2 Senators + Congressional Rep.) will have a write-up on their process for applying for a nomination. You don't do that until the summer after your Junior year or later. MOCs usually have a "Service Academy Coordinator" or similar on their staff (could be same person as "Constituent Services", etc.). Most MOCs have a panel or committee of 3 to 7 people that do the interviews and make final selection of nominees so you may or may not actually ever meet your MOC (meeting your MOC has no bearing on getting a nom, in any case).

And the 'type' of nomination makes no difference - try to get as many as you can - MOC, VP, Presidential, ROTC, etc. In some states the MOCs communicate with each other to spread the wealth so that as many people as possible get nominations and that could limit you to one in those states.

It's great that you are learning the ropes now. Good luck.
 
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