Summer Seminar

Dairybrat

5-Year Member
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Sep 26, 2014
Messages
2
Hey everyone!

I'm a junior in high school and I want to apply for the summer seminar. I'm a 4.0 student, taking a rigorous class load, varsity track and cross country, I work 20 hours a week, plus I am very involved in the arts- our school musical, state honor band, forensics, and the music program at school, among many other activities. I've been working hard to prepare myself for to meed the Academies admissions standards since freshman year.

I'm concerned about whether I will be competitive for the summer seminar. I will be able to send in my PLAN and PSAT scores from last year, plus the PSAT from this year (which I have not gotten back), and my ACT scores from October. I got a 32 English, 32 reading, 27 science and 21 in math. I am planning on taking it again in January after semester exams are over. I got a low score in math partly because I forgot my calculator :yllol:

Will the low math score affect my seminar application? Should I take the ACT again before I submit my application? Or will my low math score minimally affect my application?
 
You're kidding me right? You're willing to take a chance on whether your low math score will minimally affect your application for summer seminar? For all your upcoming applications - summer seminar, academy, civilian college, never stop until you've achieved the max score that's theoretically possible. Your competition isn't going to rest, you shouldn't either.
 
Realize that the next ACT test date is December, and applications are due Jan 31. Scores might not be in by then.

Good luck! I'm applying too. :smile:
 
If you PLAN and/or PSAT test are better than your ACT score, only report those on the Summer Seminar application and start working hard to get your Math Score up.
 
This may be the wrong place to post this but I did not think a new thread was necessary. Do any of you know whether you could submit an ASVAB score for the summer seminar application? Thanks
 
This may be the wrong place to post this but I did not think a new thread was necessary. Do any of you know whether you could submit an ASVAB score for the summer seminar application? Thanks

ASVAB is for enlisting, it's not considered for the SAs. You need either PLAN or ACT/SAT scores.
 
Don't worry about your low math score because it will hurt your application, worry about your low math score because you will absolutely struggle here unless you can make that one of your strengths.

You obviously have the ability to read and interpret information very quickly, which will be helpful here. Get a tutor, take practice tests, and keep pushing that math score up. Trust me-having a solid understanding of algebra and trig will enable you to perform well in the calculus classes here and will directly help you in a few other classes.

Besides, bringing any particular section of the ACT up 5+ points is a fantastic exercise in time management and study skills, which I know can be quite helpful here as well :thumb:
 
Realize that the next ACT test date is December, and applications are due Jan 31. Scores might not be in by then.

Good luck! I'm applying too. :smile:

All ACT scores are reported within 2 weeks of taking it. I would sign up for the December ACT + writing. I went to summer seminar last year, and there were many people that had less than stellar test scores. Your application is more than a test score, however, the ACT is a good way for the Academy to predict if you will be a competitive applicant. If you are a junior this year, I would stress that you try to get your best scores this year, as senior year is very hectic and I am very grateful that I don't have to worry about taking the ACT.

Other than math, your other scores are competitive. Work to hit that 30 benchmark though. Good luck.
 
It can take anywhere from 2-8 weeks, from what it says on the website, and what I've experienced with my siblings.

Do you have a general idea of what a competitive score for SS would be?


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All ACT scores are reported within 2 weeks of taking it.

My experience has been that the ACT results were available each time within 7-10 days, except for the ACT with Writing. The other scores were available online in 7 days, but the writing scores took an extra 2 weeks.
 
It can take anywhere from 2-8 weeks, from what it says on the website, and what I've experienced with my siblings.

Do you have a general idea of what a competitive score for SS would be?


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I met people that had 26's and there were people like my friend who had 34s. There is a large range of scores, but I would say 28+ is competitive.
 
My experience has been that the ACT results were available each time within 7-10 days, except for the ACT with Writing. The other scores were available online in 7 days, but the writing scores took an extra 2 weeks.

That's really good to hear then! Thanks!
 
Please remember that SS is a recruiting tool to attract those who may not
Know much about USAFA. Don't get discouraged if you don't get into SS. My DS did not get into SS but is currently a C4C and doing well.
 
I met people that had 26's and there were people like my friend who had 34s. There is a large range of scores, but I would say 28+ is competitive.

Great, thank you!

With your experience, do you know if we can submit the SS application in early December, and then resubmit updated ACT/SATs before Jan 31? Also, do they have places for you to put in leadership positions/sports on top of academics, or is it mostly based off GPA/test scores?
 
DS was not accepted to SS with a 31 ACT/4+ GPA - but we live within 50 miles of Annapolis and he had been on overnight visits already. He has taken the ACT twice since then (and SAT twice) and got up to a 35 composite...it's definitely worth taking multiple times!


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I think you will get in. There were lots of kids last year when I went that werent nearly as competitive as you, even with the low math score. For sure wait on the application though. As long as you have it in by the deadline you will be fine. As far as I know last year they did not inform anyone of their status until Feb 15 or so regardless of when they turned in the app
 
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