Preparing to get into the Naval Academy

DictatorDom14

5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 16, 2012
Messages
17
Hello! I just joined the forums. I'm 14 and currently in the eighth grade. I know, I sound too young to be caring about college, but I'm nerdy and I do care :p. A couple of months ago, my friend's sister got accepted into the naval acacemy, and since I knew nothing about it, I looked it up. Since then, I have read more things about the Naval Academy, the Navy itself, and the military itself then I could dream of remembering. I love everything about the Navy and it is no doubt what I want to do with my life as a career. And, since I am (not to be concieted) smart, and over the summer I got a personal trainer and began going to the gym, I figured, if I can try and be an officer, and get a great education, I should! I know that I should try and take as many AP and Honors classes as I should (I meet with my high schools guidance counsler in a few months, and I can no doubt take Honors classes for stuff under the Social Studies wing), I should have a great GPA and be in the top quarter of my class, plus I plan on running Cross Country and Track. But, I wan't to know if there's anything else that can improve my chances of getting in. I've heard that the USNA likes volunteer work; my mom works for a hospice company so I know some hospitals, retirnment homes and such where I can volunteer. If any of you know of anything that can improve my chances of getting in, please post it here. Thanks in advance :D.
 
My .02 (Which Isn`t Much, but...)

Some random things I've learned over the past couple of years/some good things to look up:

-Read USNA's catalog, it will answer some of your questions: http://usna.edu/Catalog/

-Read the stickies posted in the USNA forum, particularly the "What are my Chances" one.

-Look at the C/O 2016 class portrait: http://www.usna.edu/admissions/documents/ClassPortrait.pdf

-For more about the Naval Academy, I really recommend watching this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_6PLATuS_Y

-Consider going to STEM or a sports camp at the Naval Academy to visit it, also apply to Summer Seminar in 11th grade

-Take the SAT/ACT as many times as possible

-Science and Math classes: Take advanced ones if possible

-Quality> quantity as far as extracurriculars go. 3 clubs and 2 sports with being the captain of a sport and president of a club is much better than 9 clubs and 5 sports that you just belong to.

-Read this thread (specifically, Vista's post, but the whole thing too): http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=29277. I recommend getting the book that is suggested there; I've read it cover to cover....three times! :shake:

-Work hard: keep your eye on the prize. I really wished I had worked harder last year (9th grade), but I didn't work as hard as I should have and what could've been a perfect 4.0 year, wasn't. But I just told myself to work harder.

-Do your best and don't put a ton of pressure on yourself. Do well, but don't convince yourself it will be the end of the world if you are not accepted. (Some students spend their whole high school career prepping for a service academy, and it can be a bit intimidating, because service academy candidates start application before most applying to colleges do.) There are always others ways to become an officer and you can always reapply. Sometimes I put a little too much pressure on myself to do well and it only hurts my performance in school.

Hope that helps. :thumb:
 
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You are really lucky to be able to start putting together a profile now. There are some simple things you can do:

Soon you will sign up for freshman year classes. Take the hardest math and science (and English) you can take. If you think it may be hard get a tutor at the start to help you with the foundations. There is a ton of ways to get great free tutoring- message me if you need tips.

Taking one sport that you can really excellent at (in my opinion) would be better than three only ok. My sons friend got an Letter Of Assurance because he can run a mile in just over 4 minutes. Woot! Woot! Try some other sports if you dare.

Join a club. Find ones that are of interest and then work your way up to leadership. Most freshman don't join clubs so you will have a huge advantage. If interested try out some engineering, math or science clubs.

Mostly though BGDGS (be good dont get suspended) you will meet new friends in high school choose wisely.

Good luck!
 
Thanks all of you! 97133M, I'll get on all of that now, and thanks for the tips! And Vista123, thanks for you're help :D
 
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