hello from high school

[Academyhopeful791]

I'm a 14 year old freshman in high school hoping to one day make it into the naval academy.

I'm pretty new to forums in general so I suppose I'll just wing this...

I'm a girl, and as I said I'm a freshman in high school. I'm a c/SrA in my schools AFJROTC program and I'm on the drill team. it's a relatively new program so we're still working to get it off the ground.

I was on my schools Varsity, co-ed swim team in the fall (from which i have a varsity letter) and i'll be trying out for track this coming season. my GPA is somewhere between 3.8 and 3.9... I've been a girl-scout since I was little and am currently making planes for my gold award project (I've already earned bronze and silver) and I'm testing for black belt in karate this spring.

I have no immediate family in the Navy, though my great uncle (referred to as 'grandpa spears' by my parents) was an officer in the navy. I have a cousin who's a captain in the air-force, my grandfather was in the army and my brother is going up for sergeant in the national guard.

any advice I can get on improving my chances of getting into the Naval Academy would be much appreciated.

 

[nuensis]

Work hard in high school. It's great that you're starting early. Straight As and no less from now on. Get tutoring, summer school, whatever you need.

Take challenging math and science courses, AP and Honors whenever possible. Try to get Chemistry, Physics, and Calculus over your four years.

Letter in sports. Shoot for captain (though, I myself am part of the 10% of appointees without varsity letters).

Participate in a few leadership programs that you're truly passionate about, and do great things in those programs. JROTC and Girl Scouts are great. Aim high and do as much as you can to be a proactive, contributing member. Take initiative and innovate. Make something. Do something.

When you hit your junior year, start the application as early as you can, and finish it as early as you can. There is a ridiculous difference as far as chances and competition go between a candidate that completes the application in August and a candidate that completes the application in December. I'm definitely glad I finished nice and early, and I definitely feel that getting everything done early was a factor in receiving an LOA.

 

[Into-the-Blue]

@ Academy Hopeful

Hi Academy Hopeful,

You are definitely on the right track (being only a freshman in high school). Keep doing what you are doing, focus on grades, and in particular AP class (if that applies).

Another major aspect which Academies love is leadership. Join Student Council/Student Government if possible, and perhaps do Girl's State.

While Academics, Sports, Leadership, and Community Service are essential to a well-rounded applicant, also focus on getting a steady job once you turn 16. Just a part-time job is great. Do as much as you can, and you will achieve what you want in the end.

Good luck!

~Into-the-Blue