My chances and what to do?

M

mrbriguy11

5-Year Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2013
Messages
9
Hi,
I am a high school freshman who has been extremely interested into USMA for a few years now. It is my dream to go there, and I know I have to work harder to be competitive for admission. I was just hoping for some help in increasing my competitiveness and some great advice on what other things to do.

Sports: cross country, track
Academics: Honors As and Bs
Extra Curricular: Key Club, hoping to join more service clubs. Was a tenderfoot in BSA a few years ago, but my troop disbanded.

I am not too stellar at any team sports, so I need alternative ways to show my teamwork abilities. I need to do a lot more in teamwork and leadership, and I could really use some advice on what others did and are doing to get into the academy.
I really appreciate all of the advice, thanks!
 
Get a varsity letter, even if it means joining an obscure sport. That's a big one.
 
find a troop and get that eagle! you have time and you can do it--it's a HUGE mark on your resume for leadership. Start a club, find other leadership opportunities.
 
Getting Ready

jm123 said:
find a troop and get that eagle! you have time and you can do it--it's a HUGE mark on your resume for leadership. Start a club, find other leadership opportunities.
Click to expand...

Not sure that you could get from tenderfoot to Eagle by application time...that would be just 2 1/2 years away. Might be possible if you join another troop NOW and get to scout camp this summer, where you can finish a few badges. Our troop tends to move kids up slowly and most take a few years to get Eagle, but I am sure others move much faster!
But, there are other ways to get leadership. As a freshman, look now to start a club or to find a club you are interested in where you could be VERY active this year and next, with an eye on leadership in 11th. Another option would be leadership outside of school with a youth group of some sort.
Also, are there service activities you are involved in (aside from key club)? If so, keep them up. Show commitment to things that matter to you.
Finally, I agree about the athletics. My kids were told to get sports and stick with them. With track, you have the field options too. If they don't have someone for a certain event this spring, consider taking it on and really working at it.

My kids were advised to have a few things (a sport or two, a long term service, a leadership activity, perhaps band or orchestra) they work to be good at AND enjoy rather than loading on a bunch of random stuff. As for grades, they were told take the most challenging courses they believed they could master.

HTH--
S
 
mrbriguy11 said:
Hi,
I am a high school freshman who has been extremely interested into USMA for a few years now. It is my dream to go there, and I know I have to work harder to be competitive for admission. I was just hoping for some help in increasing my competitiveness and some great advice on what other things to do.

Sports: cross country, track
Academics: Honors As and Bs
Extra Curricular: Key Club, hoping to join more service clubs. Was a tenderfoot in BSA a few years ago, but my troop disbanded.

I am not too stellar at any team sports, so I need alternative ways to show my teamwork abilities. I need to do a lot more in teamwork and leadership, and I could really use some advice on what others did and are doing to get into the academy.
I really appreciate all of the advice, thanks!
Click to expand...
Check out CAP and JROTC. I am going to do CAP if I can talk my mom into it. As for team sports, I personally just haven't been in sports, although I do a lot working out, so I am in the same place there. Work at it, and keep up the good grades. I hope I can get mine there. Keep working!

Ashleigh
 
Whole Candidate Score WCS

In the past the WCS was graded on something like the following. But this year things are much different with no rolling admissions, very few LOAs and the introduction of LOEs. This is why it is difficult to predict.

Academics (60%)
Class rank (15 points)
SAT score (35)
High School Grades (10)
Extra points for Valedictorian/National Honor Society/National Merit Scholar

Leadership (30%)
School Leadership – extra points for class or student body president
Eagle Scout/Gold Star Girls Scout
Boys and Girls State
Athletic Participation – Team Captain Status
Team sports

Fitness CFA (10%)

Being a recruited athlete /Under Represented Minority/Active Service can fall in to different category pertaining to WP Class compositions.

The standardized testing is a huge part of WCS and it is important to do your very very best and take the tests multiply times. My DS has taken ACT/SAT 8 times.

This is how WP breaks it down.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
Obtaining a varsity letter would help you out. Also seek leadership positions within the clubs and activities you are involved with (i.e. team captain, president, VP, etc). As far as fitness goes, make sure you are in good shape so you can do well on the CFA. You should also try to become a member of the NHS if you have that at your school. Another great program is the Boys/Girls State program run by the American Legion. That looks great on an application.
 
Honestly my approach to my west point application was very different from the cookie-cutter do all the leadership things you can. Take what I say with a grain of salt because I'm probably a minority... and there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing as much as you can. Just don't sit on your bum and watch television or play video games all day. I hope my approach reflected well (because I was accepted in 2016 and have a tentative LOA for 2017 due to medical disqualification. Currently looking good so far... fingers crossed)

I loved my swim team. It wasn't a team sport, but we were a team. I invested all of my extra time in them, I invested in my team members. I was part of other organizations, but I WAS and breathed my team. Extra swimming at laps afterwards, drill work, it was my passion. I found people I loved and I stuck with them, led them as best as I could to grow as a team and developed memories that I'll always have. I wasn't the fastest swimmer, but I was the captain. I did get my varsity letter however it was somewhat late.

I invested time in my church's youth group as well as part of a leadership team and was part of the worship band. Events that happened with my church were very important and I willingly wanted to work with the middle-school students as a positive role model for them, leading a Godly life.

If I spread myself out too thin, I don't think I would have been very effective in leading these two primary areas of my life in high school. It might not have been the best way to accrue points for the west point application, but I figured they'd take me for who I am not the number of clubs I joined and awards I achieved.
 
Thanks guys for all the info,
I will look into leadership roles in my school because there is literally no CAP or JROTC within forty miles of me. I'm gonna strive for varsity in track and keep up my grades. I feel like I can ace the CFA, because I work out every day. I'm not sure about trying for Eagle Scout, because I am cut for time as a freshman in high school already. You don't know how much I appreciate all the advice guys, thanks!
 
Definitely do Boys/Girls State summer of you junior year when you are going to be a senior. Looks great on the application, WP I know for a fact has that on the portal.
Taking it one step further try and get to Boys/ Girls Nation from Boys/Girls state, this looks phenomenal on the application and its a great experience. Shows a great deal of leadership and you can learn a lot.
 
I would focus on one or two extra activities, and excel within them. why? USMA isn't looking for the kid who can participate in 25 clubs, 4 sports, and have 3 jobs..they stress dedication and loyalty. So if there is something, a club, music, community service.. that you really enjoy..do it. Get into it, and put in your effort. Become a leader, and expand and grow from it. Now keep in mind the "well rounded" perspective. they also don't want someone with a 5.0 gpa and no athletics or activities because they are too busy.

Obtain a balance. For me, it was

Cross country
Community service
School

each of those three things were equally important to me. I know it's not the answer you are looking for, but some questions you'll be asked will be:
" What has developed your leadership?"
" What are your weaknesses?"
"What are your strengths?"
From those questions..you will reference your activities. Focus on those 3 pillars.. Academic, Community, Athletic. Here at the academy, our GPA is calculated from 3 pillars...academic, military (like community) and athletic..sound familiar?

Look up the class profile for 2016, strive to meet or exceed the averages posted.

And finally, don't do an activity because "it will get me into the academy". all this talk of looking great on applications is nice, but think of why you want to go to an academy. Do it for yourself, not because "admissions will like this". Do it because you genuinely care. Going to boys state for admissions, or adding on that extra club you don't like because it looks good..takes away someone elses shot to do it because they truely care. Just remember that.

Anyways, I hope this helped. PM me or ask here if I can answer anything else!

Stephanie
 
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