Too low for being Qualifed?

GSKeziah

5-Year Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2010
Messages
129
I was wondering if 570 SAT math and 24 ACT English were too low to be QUALIFIED for admission? (Qualified is capitalized because I know in a normal scenario this usually wouldn't be good enough for an Appointment.)
 
An 'at risk' Math score is below 560 SAT and 22 ACT.
 
Wow I always knew I was cutting it close. Does having calculus (with As)make a difference?
 
I have a 660 in math so I am academically qualified...but I never quite understood how 560 could be considered 'at risk' when the middle 50 range for the school is 580-670 in math. The published average SAT scores always stump me. I know that many in the lower tiers of the school academically are the recruited athletes and prior service members, but I still don't understand why with this range, it still seems that my 660 is not good enough..
 
Yuh I know exactly what you mean. I suppose its all relative to the situation be it nomination type, prior service, unpopular congressional district (meaning easy primary nomination). I personally am hoping that my highschool curriculum and in my opinion excellent leadership positions and extra curricular activities can make up for my stumble in my scores even though I am one of those special scenarios I mention.

In the end I may end up getting admitted (just barely being qualified SAT and ACT score wise) because of my situation. I've been thinking about this and in a way I am embarrassed because there will be hundreds of people MUCH better qualified then I but still wont get admitted. For me the only way to make up for this embarrassment is to be an Engineer and not a Goat come the time that I would graduate (even though I will always shoot for top 25% of the class).
 
560 could be "at risk" because West Point is not a regular college. For most colleges, if you are a English major, you don't have to take two years of math starting from Cacalus. Not like other colleges, you can't say I am dropping this course because it's too hard or I am not doing drills or play intramural sports so I could study.

Without a good academic foundation, a cadet is at risk of falling behind and never catching up, then failing out. I believe the # 1 reason for separation is academic failure.
 
MemeberLG makes a very good point.
The academic standards for admission are high, not because West Point is trying to be elitist, but because West Point is tough academically.

You don't have a lot of non-class time to yourself. You have duties, athletics, drill, formation, required meetings, mandatory meals, etc. You have study time x hours/day. You have more than you can do in 24 hours. Priorities have to be made. Decisions on what can slide for today and what can't.

Every cadet graduates with a BS. So no matter what your major is - you will still have 2 semesters of Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, History, English and Foreign language each. You will take about 18 hours or more a semester. A heavier load than most of your civilian college friends. Did I mention that West Point is academically tough?

This is not meant to scare anyone. If you are offered an appointment, West Point is saying that based on your application, you can handle the academic rigors. The way you prove that to them is through your test scores, GPA and class rank.
 
I see do you figure the top of the westpoint class is basically just the ones who try the hardest? I've always told myself that GPA wasn't really based on how smart you are but really how hard you try. Now this is obviously true for highschool but does the same thing apply to West Point?
 
I see do you figure the top of the westpoint class is basically just the ones who try the hardest? I've always told myself that GPA wasn't really based on how smart you are but really how hard you try. Now this is obviously true for highschool but does the same thing apply to West Point?

It depends on the person. There are plenty of people who struggle with things like Physics while trying their hardest while some math oriented people breeze through it. While your effort plays a large role in how well you do, it doesn't guarantee the best grades. A lot of my friends who are at the top of my class go out on weekends frequently while others study every chance they get.
 
I see do you figure the top of the westpoint class is basically just the ones who try the hardest? I've always told myself that GPA wasn't really based on how smart you are but really how hard you try. Now this is obviously true for highschool but does the same thing apply to West Point?

My personal opinion is not the smartest or not the hardest working, rather ones that understand how West Point system works. You could be the smartest but if you can't manage your time not a chance. One of my friend had almost perfect SAT scores, but he struggled. You could be the hardest, but if you don't have the basic tools not a chance. It seemed like a friend of mine studied all the time, but he struggled academically.

An analogy I will make is high school football vs college footballl vs NFL football. If you are 6' 5" 300 lbs offensive lineman in high school football, you should be very good. Perhaps not in college, and less so in NFL.
 
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