Preparing as a sophomore? Local college, Event list, mailing list?

E

ESLGuy

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Well, I was looking through another thread and saw suggestions like:

•Consider courses at a local/junior college
•Contact the Area Coordinator to get into the local event list
•Contact your Congressman's office to get onto the mailing list

Can someone explain these to me? There is a community college I think I could take classes at (I'm getting dual-credit for comp. servicing classes) but the rest of the stuff I am clueless about. Is there anything else I should do as a sophomore that isn't commonly known? (good grades, varsity sports,etc)?
 
Take math classes during the summer. Take calculus by senior year. Take physics and chemistry by senior year too. AP if possible. If you're taking IB, make sure it's HL.

An opinion I've seen floating around here and other places is that it's better to take easier classes or less of a courseload so you can keep the high GPA than to take Bs and Cs in difficult courses.

In my opinion it's far better in the long run to challenge yourself. A B in AP Chemistry is better than an A in AP Psychology. Figure out how to seek help, manage time, and make the grades in a packed schedule of difficult AP classes while in high school. Take AP Physics, AP Calc, AP English, AP Chemistry. Figure out how to make As in all of them while balancing sports and social commitments.

Why? Your first semester at USNA will be like taking six AP classes (except the classes will move twice as fast) with a PE class, while participating in your sport/ECA, along with your plebe/military commitments.

Build solid study habits in high school. Learn to be humble and be able to seek help when you know you should.

Some great people that excelled during plebe summer dropped during the ac year for academics. Start pushing your limits now so you can get used to the feeling.
 
Matas said:
Well, I was looking through another thread and saw suggestions like:

•Consider courses at a local/junior college
•Contact the Area Coordinator to get into the local event list
•Contact your Congressman's office to get onto the mailing list

Can someone explain these to me? . . . Is there anything else I should do as a sophomore that isn't commonly known? (good grades, varsity sports,etc)?
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I assume you're a h.s. sophomore? If so, you don't need to take classes at a college unless you've already taken the max level in a course in h.s. For example, if you take calc as a junior and need another math class as a senior, a higher level calc at college your senior year makes sense. Otherwise, stick with your h.s. courses.

You don't need to contact the AC for an event mailing list -- most ACs don't have mailing lists for candidates. Local events are for YOUR benefit -- you don't get brownie points for attending. Check with your h.s. counselor re events in your area.

Ditto with your MOC. Some MOC's hold an event each year for interested applicants. Your MOC likely will post this info on his/her website. I don't think most have "mailing lists" although some might. You don't apply to your MOC for a nom until at least spring of your junior year.

There is no "secret" in terms of getting in. You have it down -- good grades in tough classes, sports, and leadership/work, etc.
 
Well, I brought it up because the SNSI of my NJROTC unit (who went to USNA) said that he can nominate 3 cadets. He said my junior year there will be 5/6 people that will be candidates for different SA's. He said he would tell the MoC of our district (or, "suggest") to nominate the ones he couldn't, haha. Politics, right? ;)

I think it would be interesting to attend local events to see what they say during them, I will ask my counselor. Thanks.

I will look into the events. Thanks for that too.

Can't I take some classes at a local jr college that I did bad in at h.s.? We have summer school at our HS, but I'm willing to do whatever else that helps.
 
Matas said:
Can't I take some classes at a local jr college that I did bad in at h.s.?
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College classes are oftentimes tougher than high school classes, and they are usually taken by students who want to get ahead, not catch up. At my school, we can take dual enrollment classes junior and senior year to get high school and college credit. I don't know how your school's policies are though, so you should talk to your guidance counselor to see what you can do at your school.

Something I don't think anyone's suggested on this specific thread yet is to go ahead and contact your BGO just to introduce yourself and show you're interested in USNA. They also might have some advice for you too.
 
Matas said:
Well, I brought it up because the SNSI of my NJROTC unit (who went to USNA) said that he can nominate 3 cadets. He said my junior year there will be 5/6 people that will be candidates for different SA's. He said he would tell the MoC of our district (or, "suggest") to nominate the ones he couldn't, haha. Politics, right? ;)

I think it would be interesting to attend local events to see what they say during them, I will ask my counselor. Thanks.

I will look into the events. Thanks for that too.

Can't I take some classes at a local jr college that I did bad in at h.s.? We have summer school at our HS, but I'm willing to do whatever else that helps.
Click to expand...

While your SNSI can nominate three, they don't have three NOMINATIONS, to a Service Academy. They are nominating to the greater NJROTC pool which will select the NJROTC "NOMINATIONS". There are far few of those than three per NJROTC unit. It is highly probable that none of the NJROTC candidates will get a NOMINATION. What should you take from that? Only that you should take care of what you control. Excellent grades in the tough classes, Leadership in ECA, and a Varsity sport. Take the ACT and SAT seriously and be prepared. Score your best. Talk to your Math and Science teachers your Junior year. They are the ones who will write your recommendations. Get recommendations from a variety of sources, not two from the NJROTC instructors. Have a job? A standing volunteer gig? Use them. Show breadth of skills.

College classes? Only if, as the BGO above said, you have taken everything else your HS has to offer. Frankly my DD took AP classes and honors classes. We didn't pay for the "dual-enrollment" because frankly, most top-notch schools (unless they are the ones offering the class) won't accept them anyway.

Assume your NJROTC doesn't help you. Plan to make it without any help from them and let it be the "bonus" that puts you over the edge. As nunesis said take the full schedule, a sport, ECAs etc because your competition isn't the person only taking 6 classes and one is PE and Band with a study hall. Your competition is taking 6 AP/Honors classes, lettered in a varsity sport and still has a 3.7 or higher GPA. Set your expectations high for what you do and it will give you options later. For USNA, ROTC or any other highly competitive school.
 
Alright, I understand. I am working on what I can control, but I was just wondering about that. Thanks for clearing that up.
 
mdrob214 said:
While your SNSI can nominate three, they don't have three NOMINATIONS, to a Service Academy. They are nominating to the greater NJROTC pool which will select the NJROTC "NOMINATIONS". There are far few of those than three per NJROTC unit. It is highly probable that none of the NJROTC candidates will get a NOMINATION. What should you take from that? Only that you should take care of what you control. Excellent grades in the tough classes, Leadership in ECA, and a Varsity sport. Take the ACT and SAT seriously and be prepared. Score your best. Talk to your Math and Science teachers your Junior year. They are the ones who will write your recommendations. Get recommendations from a variety of sources, not two from the NJROTC instructors. Have a job? A standing volunteer gig? Use them. Show breadth of skills.

College classes? Only if, as the BGO above said, you have taken everything else your HS has to offer. Frankly my DD took AP classes and honors classes. We didn't pay for the "dual-enrollment" because frankly, most top-notch schools (unless they are the ones offering the class) won't accept them anyway.

Assume your NJROTC doesn't help you. Plan to make it without any help from them and let it be the "bonus" that puts you over the edge. As nunesis said take the full schedule, a sport, ECAs etc because your competition isn't the person only taking 6 classes and one is PE and Band with a study hall. Your competition is taking 6 AP/Honors classes, lettered in a varsity sport and still has a 3.7 or higher GPA. Set your expectations high for what you do and it will give you options later. For USNA, ROTC or any other highly competitive school.
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Technical point, but the NJROTC units actually DO have three nominations to the U.S. Naval Academy (only USNA, USMA and USAFA handle JROTC in a much more reasonable way, imo). NJROTC units that have earned the Distinguished Unit Award have six. Yes, six. Ridiculous, no?

The chokepoint comes in the appointment quota. Only 20 appointments on the NROTC/NJROTC nomination. So while hundreds of thousands of NJROTC/NROTC cadets/midshipmen have nominations, only twenty of them can be appointed on the NROTC/NJROTC nom.

The NJROTC nomination is an absolute potshot. Do not expect an appointment to come out of it. So the point still stands and is very valid. Do your absolute best in everything you do. Get numerous nominations.
 
Oh alright. Still, like you said there is a very small chance. I was going to apply anyway.


Also, getting in contact with my future BGO this year like an above poster mentioned?
 
No harm in contacting your BGO to get their advice and express interest.

Also do not overlook the PSAT which is coming up for you next fall. Good scores can help if you have any desire to attend NASS or one of the other summer sessions. Get a Prep book this summer and prepare. And of course SAT/ACT afterwards.

Lastly, seek out Boys State/Girls State. That will happen between Jr/Sr year in High School. Since it is not always pushed, you may have to push for it.
 
Leadership

Start working now to position yourself for leadership positions for next year. Plan to run for a student office if you are active at school...or be President of a club or band or...the options are many. You can lead also with things you are involved in outside of school.
If you wait until junior year to start considering leadership, you may miss the boat of some things. Look to lead next year or at least be vp of something you are interested in and already involved in.

Work on your gold/eagle for scouts.

Grow with things are you involved in if you can, to show commitment.

If there is someone at your school now who gains an appointment to a SA, be sure to meet them and congratulate them...and pick his or her brain a bit about the process and things he or she did.

Good Luck!
S
 
I am the only sophomore Officer in my NJROTC unit (rest are juniors and seniors), and president of Avaiation Club. I'm doing all the things I should, and I just hope it will be enough. When I think of it, I haven't failed to achieve anything that I tried to.

I will contact my BGO soon.
 
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