How Do I Compare?

Szpieg

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2010
Messages
273
Hey guys, I am a candidate to the USMA class of 2015, and I would like to share my profile to see what you guys think or recommend...

Well my GPA is around a 90%

Classes I took 1st semester (im a junior in high school):
English 5 - 92%
Spanish 5 - 86%
Physics 1 - 98%
U.S. History 1 - 87%
Calculus 1 - 93%
2D Design - 93%

Second Semester (Current Grades As of Now):
English 6 - 95%
Spanish 6 - 88%
Physics 2 - 95%
U.S. History 2 - 98%
Calculus 2 - 86%
Digital Design 96%

Next year Im taking AP Calculus BC and AP Physics for sure

I took the SATs and I got a crappy 1680 but when I took practice tests I got 1850-1890,

PSAT I got
MATH - 64
Verbal - 63
Writing - 50

PACT I got Composite 25 (Estimated ACT Composite = 26-30)
Math - 28
Reading - 23
Writing - 21
Science - 26


My Extra Circulars Are:
Officer Non-School Club
Other Extracurricular Activities
School Club Officer
Scouting Member
2 Years Varsity Soccer


As a side note, I have been studying the Polish language for 11 years now and will finish the 12 year next year to take the SATII in this language.

Also I plan to attend Model UN next year...

Comment what you think please, and I hope to see some of you at this years SLS Week 1!!!
 
Patience, Grasshopper, patience.

OK, since noone else has done so, I'll take a crack at it.

First off, if you look through this forum, you will see very few "bumps" and those that are there are done by senior posters and moderators to make sure that particularly valuable information is seen by as many as possible.

Second, noone here is on the admissions committee. All we can give you is a more-or-less educated guess based on past experience, which varies widely. A note to new posters, though,to read the forum rules about providing accurate information. A wild guess can be worse than no response, as others look to this forum for information.

Given those, what is a big plus is your fluency in a foreign language.
What works against you are your standardized test scores. Take them several times, practice, look at the admissions information on the class medians.

Any particular community service?
Leadership - hard to tell - depends what you did as president of the club.

All this is, of course, worth what you've paid for it. The only way you will find out is to apply. Good luck!
 
Thank you Mars for your reply and apologize for the bump...I am just used to it, I'm sorry for stepping out of line. Also, I was looking for opinions, I do not expect any certain answers.

My Officer Non-School Club is that I was coach for a sports club/team/league...I will try to add more but my school and area dont have much to offer...
 
Coaching is great - that's leadership. How about Scouts - lots of leadership opportunities - Eagle is a huge plus, but Senior Patrol Leader is also great if you can do it.
 
I think your grades are great! Your test scores seem pretty good too, but of course you can always improve your scores :D What's your class rank like? Class rank is very very important, maybe even more important than your actual GPA itself!

Try to look for more leadership positions, maybe try for a captain spot in soccer?

Good luck!

Did you apply to SLS btw?
 
Coaching is great - that's leadership. How about Scouts - lots of leadership opportunities - Eagle is a huge plus, but Senior Patrol Leader is also great if you can do it.

I dont do scouting anymore and when I was a scout I was just a member

I think your grades are great! Your test scores seem pretty good too, but of course you can always improve your scores :D What's your class rank like? Class rank is very very important, maybe even more important than your actual GPA itself!

Try to look for more leadership positions, maybe try for a captain spot in soccer?

Good luck!

Did you apply to SLS btw?

Yeah Im retaking the SAT and my school doesnt do class rank so ill have to figure that out...Ill try for captain spot next year and I am in this years SLS week 1
 
Your grades seem good. I would focus on the Standardized Testing. I presume you are in National Honor Society with those grades? If so that is a major plus, both scholastically and with leadership-quality.
 
Grades look good, but the scores might not get it done. A 1680 is a 560 average on the three parts. Take a class, if possible, to get those up. Don't let the scores be the reason they say no. Seems like you might have the abiltiy to raise them based on the PSAT results.
 
Yeah my advice would be for sure to work on your test scores. They play a heavy role in admissions.
 
I have no idea if I am in the National Honors Society or not I dont even know if my school has it but I should definatley find out right now, and try to become a member...and yes my sat scores must go up!!!

Thanks you all for sharing your thoughts and constructive critisism hope there will be more so I can get more guidelines.

Two Questions...varsity letters, what are they exactly?How do you get them? And what activities should I join or participate in to show more leadership?
 
Varsity "letters" are awards showing participation on a varsity athletic team, often with some kind of skill and/or attendance requirement set by the school.

As for what kinds of activities -- my opinion - pick what you like, and be a leader in it. There are some things that we know the service academies know and like - scouts, Boys and Girls State for example, because they're known quantities and somewhat consistent acrossthe country. But don't put that much of your life into an activity just because you think it will build your resume. Pick a group activity that you really enjoy and find a way to be a leader in it -- be elected, or run a service project or blood drive, or start a club. As you can see from this website, academy admission is too uncertain to spend that much time doing something you don't enjoy becuase you think it might look good.
 
Varsity "letters" are awards showing participation on a varsity athletic team, often with some kind of skill and/or attendance requirement set by the school.

As for what kinds of activities -- my opinion - pick what you like, and be a leader in it. There are some things that we know the service academies know and like - scouts, Boys and Girls State for example, because they're known quantities and somewhat consistent acrossthe country. But don't put that much of your life into an activity just because you think it will build your resume. Pick a group activity that you really enjoy and find a way to be a leader in it -- be elected, or run a service project or blood drive, or start a club. As you can see from this website, academy admission is too uncertain to spend that much time doing something you don't enjoy becuase you think it might look good.

Thanks for your input...but about the varsity letters, if I was in varsity soccer for 2 years, is that 2 varsity letters from that sport?
 
Szpieg said....I have no idea if I am in the National Honors Society or not I dont even know if my school has it but I should definatley find out right now, and try to become a member...and yes my sat scores must go up!!!


If you do not know your guidance counselor, please schedule a meeting very soon. GCs are very helpful in answering all of your questions and pointing you in the right direction. DS's guidance counselor has been invaluable and helped us navigate lots of college stuff. Your guidance counselor also makes a statement to West Point about you.
 
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Cool thanks...Ill talk to him, and if there isnt a charter set up at my school, I will trry to set one up for next year...
 
Varsity letters are not the same at every school, but I think most issue them in one of two ways. Some issue them to every player on a varsity team, others have some sort of playing time or number of games you need to be on the field participating requirement. I would check with your coach or athletic director before putting that on your resume. Hopefully you have 2!
 
Sadly my school does not habe the National Honors Society...I am also worried about my class rank beacue I have around 100 kids in my grades, and I am not the best..
 
Just noticed I forgot to add something...is class rank really important? My school has around 350-400 kids and around 100 kids in my grade. Will a like not so great class rank hurt ,my chances? Or does west point take into account the school and what is provided and how things are run...we are not even ranked in classes so idk how that will work...
 
Class rank and test scores are the two main factors the admissions committee looks at regarding academics. No one here is on the admissions committee. Obviously a better class rank would improve your chances. No one knows how much a certain rank will hurt your chances.
 
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