Naval Academy Applications

Just a few quick questions regarding the Naval Academy and their academics/ admissions processes.

First off, when will I be able to send my preliminary application into the academy? I am a junior in high school right now hoping to apply for the USNA class of 2017. Likewise, when is the general time frame for applying for congressional, vice presidential, etc. nominations?

Secondly, I am in the IB program at my high school. I am a straight A student with one or two B's sprinkled in on my transcript. Will the fact that I am in the IB program give me advantages in the eyes of the admissions board at the Academy?

Lastly, I am being recruited to run at the Academy. How much does this affect the application process?

Just a few quick details, I have taken the SAT once without studying and got an 1840. 610 in reading, 620 in math, and 610 in writing. I am also taking IB HL Math, IB SL Physics, and have already taken everything else that needs to be done classwise for the academy. Any advice would be great.

napxc16 said:

Just a few quick questions regarding the Naval Academy and their academics/ admissions processes.

First off, when will I be able to send my preliminary application into the academy? I am a junior in high school right now hoping to apply for the USNA class of 2017. Likewise, when is the general time frame for applying for congressional, vice presidential, etc. nominations?

Secondly, I am in the IB program at my high school. I am a straight A student with one or two B's sprinkled in on my transcript. Will the fact that I am in the IB program give me advantages in the eyes of the admissions board at the Academy?

Lastly, I am being recruited to run at the Academy. How much does this affect the application process?

Just a few quick details, I have taken the SAT once without studying and got an 1840. 610 in reading, 620 in math, and 610 in writing. I am also taking IB HL Math, IB SL Physics, and have already taken everything else that needs to be done classwise for the academy. Any advice would be great.

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I'm not the right person to answer all of your questions, but I can help with a few:

1. how to open a prelim application -- if you apply for USNA's summer seminar called NASS (which you absolutely should) -- that application serves as your preliminary application to the Academy. The app is open now http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/nass.htm and from reading this forum, quite a few people have already applied so try to do ASAP.
2. re the nomination process -- each state will have different timing for submitting your application (some have summer deadlines, others like our state have November deadlines). Often, your senators and congressman/woman will have a page on their websites with info about the service academy nomination process. The key is to get on their mailing lists ASAP (with our senators, it was easy to request the app; unfortunately with our congressman, it took almost six months of DS contacting by phone, fax, e-mail to finally get the application). You can also Google (or look on the USNA website I think too) for info/links to the VP nom application.
   
3. re your competitiveness academically (GPA and test scores), be sure to look at the Class Profile for 2015 http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/USNA%202015%20Class%20Portrait.pdf. It is very important to have strong test scores (in addition to GPA/class rank, extra-curriculars, etc.). Prep for and keep taking the SAT; also try the ACT (which my DS scored significantly higher in than the SAT).

Finally, this forum puts tons of helpful information right at your fingertips -- look at the "stickies" at the top of the page and also scroll down thru the posts and you will see plenty of people asking for info on how competitive they are and lots of advice.

Good luck!

There's a wealth of information on this forum. Get to know the search function.

HERE's a link to the academy's admissions page. It does a pretty good job of explaining the process. Your Senators and Congressperson will have their process linked on their web pages (if not call their office). You need to understand all of these completely and follow them exactly.

My Youngster made a spreadsheet with all of the requirements and deadlines so she was sure not to omit anything or miss a date. Do this now. As you'll be doing most of it this spring.

One key step is to get started. If you haven't already, sign up to attend Summer Seminar NASS LINK do so now. Even if you don't get in, that will start the application process.

I just noticed that you're being recruited...get in touch with the coach immediately. The rules are even more complicated for recruited athletes and you need to know those too.

Regarding your academics - you seem to be on the right path. (Is IB HL Math calculus? If not you'll want to take that next year.) You should plan on studing for and retaking the SAT (and ACT too) untill you're satisfied with the result. As of now your scores are low.

Remember: the one sure way to not get in = don't apply.

Good luck.

HL Math is a 2 year math class that is optional amongst the 3 other math classes in the IB Diploma Program. The first year is AP Calculus with Proofs and other IB stuff later in the year and the second year is all IB Math. Thanks for the replies.

My previous semester I just received a 4.87 GPA also. Hopefully that will be high enough.

USNA focuses more on class rank than GPA. Thus, if you have a 4.5 but you're only in the top 40% of your class, not as good as a 3.8 that puts you in the top 10%. If your school doesn't rank, USNA has ways of approximating your rank.

USNA of course also looks at the courses you are taking. High rank/grades with lots of "core" courses (math, science, English, history, language) is better than the same scores with courses such as music, psychology, sociology, art history, etc. I'm not suggesting those aren't worthwhile subjects -- just that USNA doesn't really care about them. Also, having those courses sprinkled throughout your h.s. term isn't fatal -- IOW, feel free to take the OCCASIONAL art or music course -- just don't load up on them at the expense of the core courses.

And finally, AP, honors and the like are better, if you can handle them.

'85's good point is important for several reasons. The immediate obvious is providing competitive perspective, i.e. where the candidate "stands" relative to one's at hand, local competition. In addition factors like AP, SAT, Boys/Girls State and Nation, Eagle Scouts, and ACT lend regional, state and national perspective and insight. Finally ranking introduces candidates to the reality that in the military, contrary to the culture, moves on the basis of competition within and externally.

My current class rank is either tied for 2nd overall or third overall out of my entire class which is roughly 420-450 kids. IB is weighted the exact same as AP courses in my school and are actually viewed as more rigorous than the AP program in certain colleges. I believe Navy views IB pretty highly if I can recall the speech the Dean of Admissions gave at our school correctly.

usna1985 said:

If your school doesn't rank, USNA has ways of approximating your rank.

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If I may ask, how does USNA approximate class rank?

Rojo17 said:

If I may ask, how does USNA approximate class rank?

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Much like any college they look at the school's Profile which allows them to roughly rank a student vs. their peers at the school. The School Profile can provide a whole host of information such as the number of students who attend, the number that graduate, the number that attend college, how many National Merit finalist or semi-finalists the school has, the grading system used, the curriculum required, the range of SAT and/or ACT scores, how many AP and Honors course are available, etc. Non of the high schools in our county rank students but many of the schools will include a grade point range, both weighted and un-weighted, that shows the percentage of students who fall into the various grade ranges. I am not sure that all high schools provide the same detail of information as our local schools do on their profiles but if they do it is pretty easy to determine where a student ranks.