West Point-Help-Austin Johnson

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Austin Johnson

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2012
Messages
13
Hello all, my name is Austin Johnson, I am 17 years old and very interested in attending USMA or USMAPS.

Here is a layout of what I have done so far:

1. 4.0 GPA since 8th grade and ranked number one-No study halls-in 2 AP classes this year and 2 next year-no “fluff” classes
2. Class President since freshman year
3. 3 sports:
a. Cross Country-major letter 3 years-state competition- Invited to be part of WI state XC team-Most improved player (MIP)-2nd team all conference-team conference champs
b. Wrestling-major letter 3 years
c. Track-major letter 3 years-state competition-2nd team all conference-team conference champs

4. Student council (Vice President + voted most valuable member- 3 years of service
5. Forensics (speech) (state competitor 3 times)-team conference champs-3 years of competition
6. FCCLA (similar to student council)-We take part in many service projects around town-3 years of service
7. Math league-3 years of competition
8. Quiz bowl (captain)
9. I have been selected out of the state for a couple organizations:
a. RYLA- Top 72 out of the state. This was a 4 day leadership camp, I have to write an application and be interviewed/evaluated to receive acceptance.
b. WI youth board member-This was a conference in which I was nominated by my school. The top 130 teens out of the state were sent to a conference in which I attended, and one of six out of the 136 who were selected to be a part of the youth board.
c. TLPC- (Teen Leadership Portage County) This is an organization than ran all through my sophomore year, one day out of the month I would gather with 25 other teens from around the county.
d. Invited to take part in YLC (Youth Leadership Congress) last year and attended. And for this coming summer I was selected to be one of the six youth board members as mentioned before. These 6 kids lead the original 130 top teens of WI.
e. Taking part in NRECA. This is a leadership trip in Washington DC that is 6 days long. Taking place this summer June 15-21.
10. Volunteerism in Special Olympics (11 times), and I started an organization through student council that volunteers where needed once a moth (like a soup kitchen).
11. I will be joining the National Guard this summer at the age of 17
12.I will have completed basic training by the start of the upcoming school year.(While in the same summer have completed SLS and the NRECA trip as mentioned before)
13. I am a part of the National Honor Society. Believe it or not, I was actually denied an officer position because the advisor said I was involved in too many things. In NHS we have done many service projects including many hours at the veteran’s hospital
14. STEM career day. This is a day long course-Six of the freshmen and sophomores who are advanced in science and math in teachers’ eyes were invited to attend this event. I went last year.
15. SLS (Will be going for the first session)
16. A part of my school’s Gifted and Talented Program
17. Scholar athlete award every year in high school
18. I don’t know if this one matters, but I was a part of the 2012 Prom Court
19. A part of the National Academic Achievement Society
20. I have had several papers and poems posted into my school’s literary magazine. I have 2 pieces published.

But...heres the bad part: my ACT scores
My super score is as follows:
Math: 24
Reading:20
English: 21
Science: 30
I know these scores are pretty bad and no where near what USMA is looking for in regards to direct admission.


I wanted to get your guidance on where/what to do next. Everybody who I have talked to that is in/or went to West Point have said I am excellent in both the leadership and physical part of the application and part of the academic portion. It is just my ACT scores that are holding me back. There is another opportunity to retake the ACT June 9th, but I have SLS from June 2-8. I will sign up for this test date and try my hardest to raise my ACT scores. If my scores are once again not proficient, I will try next year (September or October is when the test dates are to my understanding) and study as best as I can while at basic training.

I will try my hardest to get my scores up, but if I do not improve, will West Point even be a realistic goal? I know West Point breaks down the admissions process being Academic 60%, Leadership 30% and Physical 10% and looks at the cadet as a whole, but will what I have done be enough to compensate with my ACT results.

Also, will I be a strong canidate for USMAPS?

Very respectfully:
Austin Johnson
 
my dd found a tutor who helped her prep for the act on craigslist. she took the test 3 times and was able to get a good score this way.
 
@Austin_Johnson Try taking the SAT a couple times as well. Some folks do better on that than on the ACT. I say a couple times because most people do better the second time around.

I would submit your application anyway and submit it early but try to get the SAT/ACT scores up before you do so. Frankly (and I'm just a parent so take with with a grain of salt) I would think you are LOA material. WP looks at the whole person so its possible you might get accepted with your current ACT scores, but its also possible you may not. Also, although GPA and class placement are important the only standardized scoring that WP can rely on to compare you with others is the SAT/ACT which is why they are so important. I don't recall what percentage of the whole person score they represent, but its large.

Hang in there. I'm sure anyone with your accomplishments can get their SAT/ACT scores up. :thumb:
 
Thank you very much for your time. I just found this website a couple of days ago and it is a huge help. I sure hope I can get that LOA. USMA and USAFA have been my dream since I was 10 years old. Hopefully, I can my dream a reality!
 
Hi Austin

My son took his first ACT test in Sept.-and then has taken one each month including a local and national one in April.
(He has taken two sats as well)

What helped him was:

1. SCIENCE: he met with his science teacher who game him tips on the science section.
2. READING: His English teacher analyzed where his reading mistakes were and made him read "Female Friendly" books (at least that's how I jokingly referred to it). He consistently scored poorly on the prose fiction and humanities reading sections. His English teacher told him for every extra heavy literate book he read (IE: To the Lighthouse: Virginia Woolf---PAINFUL) he would score one point higher on his ACT reading section.
3. READING: His pacing was a problem-I taught him the old pencil under the line you are reading trick. this helped his eyes stay focused and sped up his reading.
4. ENGLISH: He went through the English section of the Princeton Review taking the ACT Guide.
5. He took 17 practice tests. Honestly I think he is now a test taking junkie. He has the SAT this weekend. His FFR told him take every single test until you get an appintment.

Kinmen is right take the SAT multiple times.

You have to raise your act scores for USMA...it is what it is...right now your lower act scores will make you academically ineligible for USMA (each subsection must be 24+) I don't know how UMAPS works though so maybe that's a possibility

My sons scores
(low score------> superscore)

English: 30---->34
Math: 33---->34
Reading: 21---->31
Science: 26---->30


good luck! You clearly want it bad enough-so you will find a way!
 
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Austin - you may want to contact me directly. Our state coordinator gave you my email a couple days ago as I'm your field force representative for West Point. I believe our RC also gave you my contact info. I'd be glad to offer some insights on your file - both in terms of the ACT and more importantly the effect the National Guard training will play on your admissions. :thumb:
 
Just a question, why are you enlisting in the national guard if you want to be an officer?
 
Thank you for the help again.
To answer the question about the NG-I want to join for many reasons. I love the military culture, and it would be awsome to get a head start; I am very eager. I also have always wanted to join at a younger age-going in stright as a officer, sometimes enlisted men (mostly high Sgt's like 1st and 1st class) see you as inexperienced..which all new officers are-Sgt (s) have been doing this a whole heck of a time more than a officer fresh out of USMA has. For example my ex-step dad (who I consider my dad...my family situation is pretty messed up) has been a NCO (1st Sgt. now) for almost 23 years now and has had 6 combat tours. He had a Lt. a few years ago from USMA that was terrible. He saw himself as high and mighty and better than everyone around him-joining the National Guard would allow me to at least experience what a private, or lower rank has to go through to a certain degree. I would at least show my future men that I kind of know what it is like in thier shoes. I am very humble and never want to be that USMA graduate with a big head and no resepct from his men (hopefully that made sence, it was hard to put into writing). Also, the NG has a lot of other benefits for me-including the USMA nomination, automatic consideration for the prep school and a sence of independence. I am ready to start my carrer in the military-I have been waiting for these years since I was four. And the challenge...I always love a good challenge! :biggrin:
Sorry, I got kind of carried away threre
 
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