SAT Scores and NAPS

J

josieallred

Midshipman Candidate- NAPS
Joined
Mar 22, 2021
Messages
15
I heard that most midshipmen that get into NAPS have demonstrated great leadership, athletic ability, etc. but have either a low SAT/ACT or GPA. Is this true?

If so, I am in the boat of having a really high GPA (4.5) but a low SAT score (only 1210). I've taken the SAT and the ACT (super score composite 26) multiple times, but honestly I'm just not great at testing. Since I'm below average, I'm really hoping that if I don't get into the Academy I at least get sent to NAPS. If anybody has any more info on what gets you sent to NAPS, how to be considered seriously for NAPS, etc, can they please put it below?

It is too late to take the SAT/ACT again for me. The deadline to submit scores is past the next test date, so I can't improve my score anymore. I scored in the top 20% of the CFA for females, have a strong resume (class president, team captain of a state championship team, club president and founder, and VP of another club) and have taken 10 APs and maintained a 4.5 GPA. I still feel that my SAT score is simply not high enough to get in. What are my chances of NAPS?
 
I know my class at the Academy pretty well, and the mids who were sent to NAPS were typically either recruited athletes, people from underrepresented demographics, or enlisted sailors. Keyword there is typically. It’s also true that candidates may be admitted to NAPS if Admissions really likes them for other reasons but believes they’d benefit from a year of academic prep prior to coming. So don’t give up hope, but also know that scenario isn’t super common. It certainly doesn't hurt to give it a shot. True, a 1200 SAT is not a very good score, but if you did well in AP courses, perhaps you’ve demonstrated that you can handle rigorous coursework (Depends what the classes were in—hopefully calculus, physics, english composition for example). Our 25th percentile for the ACT is 27, so there are people with your score here. This is a layman’s opinion, but I think there’s a chance Admissions would blink at the test score IF they’re convinced that you have the chops to succeed in the academic program and possess the kind of leadership potential that they are looking for. Take all my words with a grain of salt, but I think you should apply and see what happens.
 
josieallred said:
I heard that most midshipmen that get into NAPS have demonstrated great leadership, athletic ability, etc. but have either a low SAT/ACT or GPA. Is this true?

If so, I am in the boat of having a really high GPA (4.5) but a low SAT score (only 1210). I've taken the SAT and the ACT (super score composite 26) multiple times, but honestly I'm just not great at testing. Since I'm below average, I'm really hoping that if I don't get into the Academy I at least get sent to NAPS. If anybody has any more info on what gets you sent to NAPS, how to be considered seriously for NAPS, etc, can they please put it below?

It is too late to take the SAT/ACT again for me. The deadline to submit scores is past the next test date, so I can't improve my score anymore. I scored in the top 20% of the CFA for females, have a strong resume (class president, team captain of a state championship team, club president and founder, and VP of another club) and have taken 10 APs and maintained a 4.5 GPA. I still feel that my SAT score is simply not high enough to get in. What are my chances of NAPS?
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Suggestions:
Keep retaking the SAT until your superscore is at least 1500. My DS retook the SAT 5x last cycle during the height of the Covid pandemic. Each time his scores increased by 40 points (GPA 3.65 by the 7th semester). USNA offered the Foundation Scholarship.
 
Buy a copy of “The Black Book for SAT Prep”. It covers test-taking strategy more than subjects. They have one for ACT too.
Khan Academy site is great (and free).
 
Kierkegaard said:
I know my class at the Academy pretty well, and the mids who were sent to NAPS were typically either recruited athletes, people from underrepresented demographics, or enlisted sailors. Keyword there is typically. It’s also true that candidates may be admitted to NAPS if Admissions really likes them for other reasons but believes they’d benefit from a year of academic prep prior to coming. So don’t give up hope, but also know that scenario isn’t super common. It certainly doesn't hurt to give it a shot. True, a 1200 SAT is not a very good score, but if you did well in AP courses, perhaps you’ve demonstrated that you can handle rigorous coursework (Depends what the classes were in—hopefully calculus, physics, english composition for example). Our 25th percentile for the ACT is 27, so there are people with your score here. This is a layman’s opinion, but I think there’s a chance Admissions would blink at the test score IF they’re convinced that you have the chops to succeed in the academic program and possess the kind of leadership potential that they are looking for. Take all my words with a grain of salt, but I think you should apply and see what happens.
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I think what @Kierkegaard said is on point. While the SAT score is not spectacular you may still be in the running for an appointment with all the other things you have going for you. Don’t give up, make them say no. Best of luck !
 
Team captain of a state championship team

Can you be a good judge as to how good you might be? Would you be at least good enough to be recruited or wanted by D2 schools?

Even if the varsity coaches at USNA see you as a maybe possible walk on type, that could be enough to tip the scales toward naps

. I’d talk to your club or HS coach and possibly have a plan to contact the USNA coaches direct if this seems like a worth while try. And you have 0 to lose by trying.

years ago I saw a young lady , not recruited for sports, sent to naps not because of grades or test scores, but because of push ups. She was sent there to get stronger.

Good Luck
 
It could also be a ‘no’ this cycle…so have a plan for that. Taking classes and following instructions on the admissions website. Following advice here on the SAF. Joining the NROTC unit and performing well. That also gives you another nomination source.

You really cannot make a blanket statement about how anything works. It all depends on too many variables: your competition, nominations, how you interview, etc. So GO FOR IT all in. You will either receive (eventually) a yes, no, or not yet. And maybe a NAPS/prep offer.

Good luck to you!!
 
DS was in a very similar situation a few years back, high GPA and low test scores. He tested 12 times on ACT and 2x on SAT, his first ACT was a 21 composite. It took him awhile to figure out the strategies and nuances of the test but he eventually raised his score to 33. He was rejected from USNA and USMA twice but he was accepted on his 3rd try to USMA (he did not apply to USNA the 3rd time, he completed 2 years of a 4 year University and was on scholarship in NROTC and decided to go that route if not accepted to Army). My point is that if a Service Academy is your absolute goal it will take hard work and possibly a couple of years after high school to achieve. The experience that DS gained in the civilian college was a tremendous benefit, taking calculus, chemistry and physics was huge for him. Learning how to study and manage time has gotten him off to a very solid start at West Point, he is a plebe in the Class of 2025, in fact he has been asked by WP to lead plebe chemistry tutoring sessions before the most recent exam. He also had hopes each year of being selected for the Prep school or Foundation scholarship but that never happened, I almost think it's harder to be selected for Prep than the actual Academy. I may be off in my reasoning but to me it seems that there are a tremendous amount applicants that might benefit from Prep but only 300 slots. Good luck to you!
 
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Our daughter took the SAT only 1 time in May of 2018 of her Junior year, and got 1410 or 1420 … and she was sent to NAPS because her Calculus, Physics, and Chem grades in HS were all mid C grades, and GPA was around 3.4 …. Wife and me are not so hung up on grades (wife is teacher and I am PhD EE).

She is a gifted writer and musician, a lot of writing awards and piano guild awards, and she didn’t need to study for the Verbal section of the SAT. On the other hand, I knew that she would need a lot of practice on the Math. I had her work daily for 2 months on the KahnAcademy Math section, and also do all of the Old Math sections from the 2018 version of the College board test. I also helped her see different ways to a solution on many of the Math problems.

Following this regimen, she got a 690 on the math section … again, she didn’t need to study the Verbal section, and got a 730 or 740 there.

She chose NAPS over a Music Arts and Humanities scholarship offer from UVA (UVA is my Alma Mater). She wanted USNA above all. She was Ok with the NAPS extra year to bolster her So-So energy for the Math and Sciences.

Btw … Many people on this Forum know that I am not a big fan of Super-Scoring, or combining Math and Verbal scores from different test sessions …. The College Board Exams are supposed to be a Marathon … not sleep on the Verbal or Math section so that you can Game the thing.

And as far as I am concerned, a combined SAT score, on a single test date, at or above 1400 is a “Perfect” score … also, you would prefer to have the Math and Verbal equally weighted … say roughly 700 Math and 700 Vrrbal.
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josieallred said:
I heard that most midshipmen that get into NAPS have demonstrated great leadership, athletic ability, etc. but have either a low SAT/ACT or GPA. Is this true?

If so, I am in the boat of having a really high GPA (4.5) but a low SAT score (only 1210). I've taken the SAT and the ACT (super score composite 26) multiple times, but honestly I'm just not great at testing. Since I'm below average, I'm really hoping that if I don't get into the Academy I at least get sent to NAPS. If anybody has any more info on what gets you sent to NAPS, how to be considered seriously for NAPS, etc, can they please put it below?

It is too late to take the SAT/ACT again for me. The deadline to submit scores is past the next test date, so I can't improve my score anymore. I scored in the top 20% of the CFA for females, have a strong resume (class president, team captain of a state championship team, club president and founder, and VP of another club) and have taken 10 APs and maintained a 4.5 GPA. I still feel that my SAT score is simply not high enough to get in. What are my chances of NAPS?
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You give overall scores, but not a breakdown. Not needed here, but Math is very much looked at. Not that English is not, but USNA is a STEM curriculum, and math scores being a huge indicator of success handling that curriculum.
 
@josieallred - 10 AP classes. Did you take the associated exams? How did you do on the AP exams? 3's? 4's? Some 5's? We don't need the answers here. If you've done well on the AP exams, then figure out a new study strategy for the ACT or SAT and take them again in preparation for USNA next cycle.
 
josieallred said:
I heard that most midshipmen that get into NAPS have demonstrated great leadership, athletic ability, etc. but have either a low SAT/ACT or GPA. Is this true?
If so, I am in the boat of having a really high GPA (4.5) but a low SAT score (only 1210). I've taken the SAT and the ACT (super score composite 26) multiple times, but honestly I'm just not great at testing. Since I'm below average, I'm really hoping that if I don't get into the Academy I at least get sent to NAPS. If anybody has any more info on what gets you sent to NAPS, how to be considered seriously for NAPS, etc, can they please put it below?

It is too late to take the SAT/ACT again for me. The deadline to submit scores is past the next test date, so I can't improve my score anymore. I scored in the top 20% of the CFA for females, have a strong resume (class president, team captain of a state championship team, club president and founder, and VP of another club) and have taken 10 APs and maintained a 4.5 GPA. I still feel that my SAT score is simply not high enough to get in. What are my chances of NAPS?
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The last SAT test for the current admission cycle is going to be on Dec. 4 and the scores will be posted on Dec. 19. Why don't you try the last test ?
 
nell5878 said:
The last SAT test for the current admission cycle is going to be on Dec. 4 and the scores will be posted on Dec. 19. Why don't you try the last test ?
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Also if the seats are full, request standby status. I remember last cycle with COVID cancellations on a massive scale, my DS was on several standbys mode… took 5x at the end of cycle.
 
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