Grades-Junior Year

[EagleScout13]

I've made straight A's all through high school but now, during my junior year, I think I will make my first B for a semester this year. It will probably drop my GPA down to a 3.96 or so. How bad is that? My ACT score is a 32 (Math-35, English-28, Reading-35, Science-30) and I'm in 3 honors, 2 AP classes. I just want to know what some of the others who have gotten an appointment or better yet an LOA as well have made in high school grades. Also, would anyone know how competitive the Memphis, Tennesse area is on appointments.

 

[USMA 2016]

EagleScout13,
I think you will be in very good shape academically with 32 ACT and 3.96 GPA (assume it is out of 4.0). If possible, continue to re-take ACT and SAT a number of times to submit the best scores as possible. As you know, it is not just about academics and the Whole Candidate Score includes Academics (60%), Leadership/Athletics(30%) and CFA(10%).

Compare your current statistics to USMA Class of 2015 profile: http://admissions.westpoint.edu/pdf/Profile.pdf

Also, this forum board is full of information. Conduct a search and you will find a ton of information on this site!

Best of luck and Go ARMY!

 

[cisco]

I'm a little curious to know, would being Armed Drill Team Commander for your JROTC be considered under Team Captain?

 

[jlwilkes101]

After my junior year, my gpa dropped from a 3.8 to a 3.5 (unweighted). I stopped posting on these forums for a while, stopped even looking at them, because I essentially gave up all hope of getting into USMA and having any kind of future that would involve success in the army. Some other stuff was going on then too that kind of made everything worse; a concussion that kept me from taking my finals until september and finalizing my transcript is just one example. Anyway, one day I sent a frantic email to my MALO apologizing for how far I'd fallen behind and how much I'd messed up. Her response was simple: the past doesn't matter, just get back on track. And somehow I did. At my first nomination interview, they congratulated me on my leadership experiences and sat scores (2320). As they flipped through my file, however, I noticed they had circled the two C's i had recieved junior year. Immediately I started to explain them, but they cut me off and said that they'd read the letter of rec from the teachers of one of those classes, and they understood. The day after the interview I found out I got the nomination. Do I have an appointment yet? No, but so far my junior year hasn't bumped me off entirely. Basically, don't let one grade you wish was better discourage you. Lifes all about getting knocked down and getting back up. I honestly believe that if I went to West Point having recieved straight A's in high school (like I basically did before junior year), i would crack. I wouldn't know how to handle the inevitable stress and failure, and it would have broken me. Now, I believe I really am ready for west point. I hope I get in this time around, but even if I don't, I still wouldn't trade my bad experiences last year for anything.

 

[EagleScout13]

Thanks for the reassurance jlwilkes101. I have a cadet coming to my school tomorrow to talk to me becuase my MALO sent in a request because he really wants me 100% commited. Now I only need to get my mom interested...