Changed my mind. KP is my first choice.

ESLGuy

5-Year Member
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Nov 16, 2012
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USMMA is truly the "best kept secret," haha. I looked into it, and I decided I will put it as my first choice for a nomination, instead of USNA. Some of my stats:


(NOTE: I only have freshman info, but I'm a sophomore)

Weighted Cumulative GPA: 4.571 out of 5.0
Class Rank: 23 or 26 (can't remember) out of 463
Honors/AP: 4 honors classes
Grades: A in every class except Honors Algebra 1 (C).

Sports: No school sports, I did MMA/Ju-Jitsu and swimming out of school

Extracurricular: Aviation Club
+NJROTC
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Sophomore stats (incomplete):
WCGPA: N/A
Class Rank: N/A
Honors/AP: 3 honors classes (max I could take, because no electives I chose had "honors" options)
Grades: A in every class except Honors Geometry 1 (F).
I know, an F. It can't get any worse.

Sports: JV swimming, and next semester probably JV tennis/track.

Extracirricular: President of Aviation Club
NJROTC, I will be an Ensign next semester, and C.O. senior year ;)

Now about that F, at first I was really sad, because I thought it ruined my chances of going to USNA (fun facts: I'm first generation American, Lithuanian is the primary language spoken at home, dad served in U.S.S.R. Navy). I'm also white, and I am not a superhuman athlete (decent/average). However, I want to fly. Preferably Navy, but I'm not that picky. Pilots aren't just pilots, they do other stuff to, so I'm not 100% sure if I will be a pilot. I might find another fun job in the military. I want to go active duty. I think I would really enjoy the year at sea at USMMA. I heard USMMA is smaller, and not as selective or competitive, so I think I have a shot, unlike USNA. I want to experience a SA, and especially Sea Year, so I'd prefer KP to ROTC. I understand that failing a class is really bad, but maybe next semester when I take regular geometry and ace it, or when I take AP classes next year, they will see that honors math is just a bit challenging. Well, I want to hear some feedback, but the bottom line is: I'm incredibly excited about applying to KP, because I believe I have a good shot, and I might find an awesome opportunity there I couldn't get at any other SA.
 
Watch out, some people on here will get on you for saying KP is not as selective or competitive...

Anyways, I think you have a good start, but KP is just as competitive as some of the other academies because it is still a service academy. Your math grades are going to really bring you down when you are looking at SAs. I would recommend finding help in math, either through a private tutor, tutoring from your teacher after school, or from peers. In order to succeed in any SA, especially in an engineering major, you have to be proficient at math. Also, try to work hard and get onto the varsity team for your sports. Once there, you can work for the captain spot. Since you're in your sophomore year, you still have a lot of time to decide what you want to do and build yourself up to be the best applicant you can be. Hard work pays off. Remember that.
 
Well, for that I looked at facts. The acception rate is around 20% (or so I've heard), compared to USNA's 7%. However, the difference between class size is 3k mids.

My parents hired a private tutor, and I've had a few sessions. I spend lunch getting help from tutors that get paid by the school, and in the mornings I go to my teacher for math help. I know varsity sports/captain is important. I don't think I want to do an engineering major, but I'm really good at science...
 
Well, for that I looked at facts. The acception rate is around 20% (or so I've heard), compared to USNA's 7%.

USNA's "acceptance rate" is nowhere near 7%, unless you count every singe person who typed their name on a website.

When you count "completed applications" their number is very similar to the other academies.
 
test score?

matas- what was your ACT/ SAT Math score? That is what they will loook at. Math needs to be 600+ (SAT)- I can't recall the ACT score but I do know that they can convert the ACT score (not sure how they do that) so if you did "better" on ACT's, that can convert over to the SAT number.
also, Calc 1 and Calc 2 seem to be two of the hardest courses at KP (whether you are an Engine major or a Deck major). Some just don't make it because of those classes. Should you get in, I strongly advise you to tutor BIG TIME in Math prior to school starting.
finally, my DS chose USMMA over USNA.
USMMA is as competitive as the other schools.
you have less options with "majors" at KP, but more options with "career choices" after school... it is the best kept secret for sure.
best of luck to you!
 
I think that I had more trouble with Electrical Circuit Theory (most of my class did) and Material Science than I did with Calc2. This isn't to say that the latter was easy. I never in my life worked harder for a C+.

During the last couple of weeks of that class, I reached the limit of my mathematical understanding. There was an elective for Differential Equations that I didn't even think of trying to take. . . . .
 
In the past they also Superscored the tests. Check with admissions to see if that is still the case. If you retake the ACT or the SAT your best result in each category will be used. As they say, test early and test often. Superstores and converted test scores take away some of the test stress I think. We thought one test would be better suited for DS than the other. Actually first time through he did better on the SAT, second time the ACT. Go figure.
I also want to add my DS was not in AP math classes. We could have pushed the issue but at the time we really didn't understand the significance of the higher classes. Hey, it was our first run with teenagers, it was all new to us. Little dd is doomed for now we have learned. I have become a Tiger Mom when it comes to her, lol. I digress.
Also a well informed math teacher explained in DS's case a better back ground in algebra was needed to fill in some blanks to better understand the algebra based Calc to come at KP ( if he got in) and it would help him with the SAT and ACT as well. DS was willing to do everything he could to prepare.
After getting the LOA DS signed up for a Calc tutor using the book for the Calc one course at KP. If was sort of pricey for us at 25 a session a couple times of week but it was worthwhile investment. I now understand that is not pricey at all but we were noobs.( sp?) They made it through a good portion of the book as a preview. All that carried him about three weeks in. Still it was worth every penny. :thumb:
 
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I forgot to mention, I'm a sophomore, and we take the SAT/ACT our junior year. I've decided to do my best while I can, and hope it's good enough.
 
I forgot to mention, I'm a sophomore, and we take the SAT/ACT our junior year. I've decided to do my best while I can, and hope it's good enough.

It is good that you are making plans for an academy this early in high school.
 
Mitas,

My DS received a LOA to USMMA in November of this year. From his experience, I can say it is not too early to take your SAT/ACT. In my son's case, he took his first SAT/ACT in his sophomore year mainly to guage where he was in the college prep process and to get a handle on where he needed to work the most. Turns out, he did ok for a 10th grader on both, but also learned he needed to take more challenging courses in his junior and senior years to improve his scores and chances on getting into an academy.

In addition to his regular high school classes, DS took College Algebra and Pre Calculus in his junior year at a local community college. This year he stepped it up a bit more; honors pre-calculus (attempting to get a better foundation of the concept) and two other courses at a local, yet large state university as well as the highest math courses offered at his smallish school. He has always been an A student in math, but he has been challenged quite a bit over the past two years and even had to STUDY some.

He ultimately scored a 35 on his ACT which converted to a 800 SAT score according to his USMMA portal. By the time he finished taking his SAT/ACT scores this month, he had taken them both many times; and improved his scores by more than 200-250 points from his first attempt.

As a earlier post recommended....take them early and take them often.

Good luck on your journey.
 
You mean the PSAT, I think. It was optional, and I didn't take it, because the SAT is for juniors, and it probably has stuff we haven't learned yet. Well, congrats to your son.
 
PSAT is usually given in Oct of your jr yr. I would def take it because everyone that has gone through the SA process will tell you to have a plan B in place, and that is typically traditional colleges, going for ROTC or merit scholarships. You want a plan B for many reasons that can range from receiving a TWE to being medically DQ'd. It is great to start working to an appointment, but at the same time have a safety net in place.

The PSAT is the only way you can qualify for the National Merit Scholarship. Not only do you have a chance for a great scholarship as an NMSF, but colleges love to accept these students. If you look at college websites, you will usually see somewhere in their boasting that X % are NMSF or NMFs. It is also an academic award to place on your resume from a national level of your yr group.

PSATs cannot be taken more than 1x, so it gives admissions a different perspective even if they superscore.
 
"PSATs cannot be taken more than 1x, so it gives admissions a different perspective even if they superscore."

I am a senior in high school and took the PSATs twice, in the fall of sophmore and junior year. My sister is a year younger then me and also took them twice. Unless they have changed the rules you can take them twice, but only your junior year scores are considered for a National Merit Scholarship as far as I am aware.
 
"PSATs cannot be taken more than 1x, so it gives admissions a different perspective even if they superscore."

I am a senior in high school and took the PSATs twice, in the fall of sophmore and junior year. My sister is a year younger then me and also took them twice. Unless they have changed the rules you can take them twice, but only your junior year scores are considered for a National Merit Scholarship as far as I am aware.

I have taken them three times. I believe it depends on the school district. I believe our district had a donor pay for the tests for all 3 years(Freshman-Junior).
 
Update: I got an A in every class, except Honors Geometry, which I failed. My CGPA went down from 4.571 to 4.333, and my semester CGPA(?) was 3.85 something. wow. I will only make varsity senior year for 2/3 sports. I feel down, really down, because I feel I screwed myself over. Next semester I will have straight A's, because I will take regular Geometry.

I thought I had a chance... But nope, not anymore.... (not a decent chance, because I failed a class, and I'm not superathletic).
 
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