USNA was my son's dream. He had a 2250 SAT (800 Math, 750 Verbal, 700 Writing), 4.5 gpa, lots of ECs, and sports. Took advantage of leadership opportunities (NOLS, Outward Bound, Lead America), but did not have "leadership positions" in school clubs (except co-captain of football team). Got the TWE anyway. Only thing we were told was that he had a weak reference from his 11th grade honors pre-calculus teacher. She did not like that he occasionally fell asleep, yet he had a 98 in the class. When we see kids getting appointments with SATs in the sub 1800 range, we realize that it was not meant to be, ever. He will not be applying again. If our kid does not pass the "whole person" concept, I'm not sure who does. They certainly do not want the brightest anymore at USNA. Son is off to plan B, a top tier college, who appreciates his intellect, physical skills, well rounded interests (guitar, master scuba diver, runs marathons, etc.). Son has gotten over the disappointment; I'm still working on that....
Obviously, you know your son better than anybody. I'm sure he is a great kid.
But, what you have said here is quite revealing. The recommendations from the Math and English teacher are critical elements of the admissions process. If your son got a negative recommendation from a teacher, that can certainly shoot him down. Despite one's grades, sleeping in class is almost always going to be an unimpressive attribute. The Academy is looking for something MORE than smart kids; they are looking for polite, well-behaved, motivated kids that have a sense or propriety. They're looking for leaders who lead by example.
I'm guessing that most of the candidates get very positive recommendations from the Math and English teacher. The fact that your son did
not makes him "stand out" in kind of a negative way. As competitive as it is - that could very well be the nail in the proverbial coffin as for as admissions is concerned.
I wouldn't be blaming the Academy. I would blame the teacher for not seeing your son as the outstanding future leader despite his propensity to sleep in class.
I was advising a local friend of my sons' on the admissions process to the service academies. He was trying to get into the Class of 2014 at the Air Force Academy. He came over to the house and we talked. He seemed to have it all. I asked him, "Are you in the National Honor Society?" I was a little bit stunned when he said, "No." Why not? How could he
not be? With outstanding grades and credentials as he had, it begged the question - Why not? Well, the answer, as it turned out is that he got a very negative review from his Spanish teacher. She didn't like him because he seldom paid attention in class and was always talking. Not good. Needless to say, he is not going to the U.S. Air Force Academy this summer. I could see that coming, too.
The Academy is not looking for kids who are so naturally smart that they can sleep in class and
still excel. Quite frankly, those are the ones who struggle once they get to the Academy because they are shocked that their natural intellectual abilities are often not enough. For the
first time, they are going to actually have to work hard and pay attention.
As I've often said, the Academy is famous for converting 3.9 GPA students into 2.5 GPA students. It happens with regularity. Where do you think the midshipman who graduate in the bottom 20% of the class come from? For the most part, they were all in the
upper 20% of their high school class. They are the ones who get overwhelmed with the pace of academy life. They never seem to catch up. They are shocked by the level of effort that they now need to put forth. Some make that adjustment, some do not.
As Vice Admiral Fowler (Superintendent) told the Class of 2013 on Induction Day, "The level of excellence that got you here today is not good enough to get you though the next four years of the Naval Academy." Truer words were never spoken.