Test Scores

Raptor22

5-Year Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2013
Messages
114
Academically, I had a rough freshman and sophomore year but my junior grades definitely got a lot better. If I can get my test scores high, do I have a shot at getting a direct appointment?
 
My grades freshman year were definitely not as good as I would have liked. I had some family issues and other things going on in my personal life that made it difficult for me to succeed, but my grades improved every year after that and I did pretty well on the SAT. I also explained what caused my grades to be not so great in many of my essays and interviews.

Do everything you can to show improvement and definitely get your SAT/ACT scores as high as you can. Besides that, make yourself look as strong as possible in all the other areas that admissions looks at. It is definitely possible.
 
Now now Raptor...

How can we know? What were the circumstances of these bad grades? What other factors influenced you then that you've conquered? How bad exactly were your grades? Do you have a hook?

In a short answer: Sure! You've got a chance.

In the truer answer: you've given us almost zero information. How can we judge anything?
 
I have a very similar situation. Freshmen year I was very unmotivated and alot less mature than I am now. I achieved a 3.1 GPA which made me realize that I have to get myself in gear if I want to achieve my goals, I just finished junior year with a 4.31 weighted and 3.93 unweighted, sadly my cumulative gpa is still only a 3.73 weighted and 3.6 un weighted due to this, I have been worrying these last couple years that my freshmen year killed my chances of attending USNA.
 
My son was admitted to both USAFA and USMA with a 3.8 GPA. He was only 19 of 139 in class rank. Those numbers aren't terrible, but by SA standards for a white male non-athlete they are below the curve. The admissions people at each Academy said so too. But they also said he could make up the difference with test scores, so he worked on his ACT scores and got those comfortably above the curve. It is very doable.

Study hard in school and get your grades, and more importantly your class standing as high as you can. Then take the ACT/SAT every time that it is offered, and study that hard too. That is all you can do; work hard. It will either be good enough or it won't. Same as every other kid who is applying.
 
I would advise you speak with an ALO but...they're not going to be able to tell you anything other than "from my experience, you would fit in this category of my history..."

I've seen candidates that were stellar...that didn't get in. I've seen candidates that had HORRIFYING fresh/soph years...and turned around in a huge way...and it didn't help....and it did help; it really depended upon the candidate, the alignment of the stars, etc.

That's my "cute" way of saying this: do NOT let anyone tell you that you CAN or CAN NOT achieve your goals! ONLY YOU can make that call. If this is something you desire, then go after it with everything you have! If it's not, then press ahead with whatever fuels your passion.

Others can assist, suggest, mentor...but only you can do the work.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
+1 USAFretired

Again and again we try to tell the kids we are not the Admissions Board. We can only guess, sometimes educated in our guesses, and give the advice that is worth what they've paid for it.
 
+1 USAFretired

Again and again we try to tell the kids we are not the Admissions Board. We can only guess, sometimes educated in our guesses, and give the advice that is worth what they've paid for it.
True, but all "guessers" are not equal. Some guess correctly at a high rate of frequency. Lol.

Actually, it is absolutely amazing how much you learn about the process having gone through it with your child. Speaking to so many admissions people from three accademies, reading the books and articles regarding SA admissions, liaison officers, and then also the very knowledgeable folks on these forums, you get an education and a perspective that otherwise would be difficult to understand. Honestly, it is like a chalanging game puzzle, that once you have figured out you feel like an expert; even if you aren't. But only one who has gone through the whole process can understand.
 
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