Help with admissions for USNA?

navvybound

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 10, 2014
Messages
3
I'm considering applying for USNA, and I'm wondering what I can do in my areas of consideration to help ensure acceptance. I received a pamphlet for the USNA Summer Seminar recently and I'm going to apply to get in, and apply to go to school itself in the future. I'm definitely up for the challenge of USNA despite my obvious weaknesses, but please tell me what you all think I can do to make my chances greater. Please know that I am a girl, a junior in high school, and live in VA.

My step-dad attended USNA decades ago and was sadly killed shortly after while in training as a pilot. I'm also wondering how that may impact my acceptance.

Academics:
GPA: 3.56 unweighted (this might be inaccurate because I calculated it myself because my school does not give out unweighted scores)
GPA: 4.11 weighted
PSAT: 213 (I haven't taken my SAT yet, but I my projected score is a 2130/2400)
I will have taken 10 AP classes by the end of my senior year.
I rank in the top 10% of my very large public school

Extracurricular:
National Honor Society (I plan on applying for co-president next year)
Congressional Debate Team (going to metrofinals in March)
Extemp -- Speech
UNICEF Club Member (I plan on being on the executive board for this next year)
Sigma Tau Sigma (Executive Board Member)
French Club
Secular Student Alliance

Athletics (This is by far my weakest area):
Cross Country (JV freshman and sophomore year)
Track (JV freshman and sophomore year)
I cannot do push-ups/sit-ups/pull-ups well. Please, please, please help me in this area. I think it might be too late to get into a Varsity sport... I'm well aware of the 90% of students who have Varsity letters at USNA, and I have no clue what to do. I have no idea where to even begin. Will my extensive academic and volunteering portfolio alleviate this issue? How severely is athleticism judged for candidates?

Outside of School/Extra stuff:
Member of Girls in Technology, a selective program for girls interested in STEAM fields
Girl Scout Ambassador
Raising a service dog for Guiding Eyes for the Blind (for my Gold Award Project)
I'm a confirmed Catholic and a member of my church CCD class
Camp counselor-in-training for two years at Girl Scout camp
I am planning on attending Gov School for Humanities over the summer
 
First off, I am sorry about the passing of your step-father. I thank him for his service.

So far your academics, extracurriculars, and leadership roles look promising, just keep up the good work and make sure to prep for the SAT/ACT tests accordingly to get the score you need.

However, in the event that you can't make varsity, I wouldn't stress out about it. Definitely don't lose hope over a varsity letter. It's only one small portion of your overall application and it won't be considered a serious detriment overall. Besides, it's not like you didn't do any athletics right? Strive to do the best you can on your JV team and hopefully varsity will come with the hard work!

Also, have you considered applying to Girls' State for this coming summer? USNA looks favorably upon it and gives greater weight to it over NASS.

To finish off, I can't say how USNA will view your step-father's service. This is way out of my realm of experience. Hopefully other members have some experience with these kinds of situations.

Anyways, I wish you the best of luck! :thumb:
 
dlee96,

Thank you for your help! I will definitely continue running Track and XC. I'm really hoping you're right about the Varsity letter. It is my weakest point :(

Also, have you considered applying to Girls' State for this coming summer? USNA looks favorably upon it and gives greater weight to it over NASS.
:
I actually don't know what Girls' State is. Could you explain that to me?
 
dlee96,

Thank you for your help! I will definitely continue running Track and XC. I'm really hoping you're right about the Varsity letter. It is my weakest point :(


I actually don't know what Girls' State is. Could you explain that to me?
Girls/Boys State is a one-week summer activity program for students, held during summer between Junior and Senior year (only!). You have to apply to get in. It's not hard to get in, it's just that there's limited amount of people the program could take in.

As for the program, imagine a club like Model UN or speech and debate... except this is a mock-state government simulation. Literally that's what the program is all about.

Google it... like search for "(your state) Girl's state". They should have their website.

I participated in Oregon Boys State. Fun stuff. You will enjoy lots and make good friends.
 
Your record appears competitive. Agree with above poster re varsity sports. Continue to participate in organized sports at whatever level you can achieve. Consider doing a sports camp during the summer as a way to improve.

Sit ups and push ups are a matter of repetition. I guarantee that if you start doing them regularly and keep up with it, you will improve. If you want help in designing a "program," consult a coach at your school. But basically, it's repetition, repetition, repetition.

As for your step-father . . . honestly, it won't have any impact in the admissions process. If his situation was a motivator in your applying to USNA, you may want to mention it in your essay or to your BGO.

Best of luck.
 
Girls/Boys State is ... not hard to get in, it's just that there's limited amount of people the program could take in.

Some states it is extremtly compettive and hard to get into. each state is different. Both of my kids who participated in it LOVED it.

I agree with usna1985. One thing that you can do your junior year is begin your CFA practice. A great CFA score may possibly offset lower participation records. 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-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.

Indoor track season is just starting, is it too late to join? You may not be a starter but you can list it and it will be a great work out.
 
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Google it... like search for "(your state) Girl's state". They should have their website.

I googled Virginia Girls State and the website, girlsstate-va.org , does not work for me. It's giving me an error message. Does it work for anyone else?
 
I googled Virginia Girls State and the website, girlsstate-va.org , does not work for me. It's giving me an error message. Does it work for anyone else?

I had the same problem with Google Chrome, IE, and Safari. They seem to have an error in their HTML somewhere. This was true even when I used Vista's link. I could get to the page Vista listed, but not to (at least some) of the state pages, including VA and NC.

You might try accessing it through some American Legion web sites. many have girl's and boy's state links in them. YMMV.
 
Stay consistent with the strength (push ups, sit ups, pull ups). As stated in previous responses, it's all a matter of repetition. Anyone can get good at them, it's just a matter of how often you do it. There are plenty of programs out there to help you start.
 
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