No Sports or ECs

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LTSackett

5-Year Member
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Dec 25, 2010
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51
Hi all,
Passing this along for a friend of mine. Her son is almost finished with his junior year of high school, has a very high GPA - 4.0 unweighted / 4.7 weighted, 240 on the PSAT, 2400 on the SAT, 36's on the ACT, National AP scholar (all 5's on 10 AP exams so far, including Calculus BC last year (as a sophomore), taking AP Physics this May, and AP chem next year. He peaks Japanese and Chinese fluently and Spanish and Tagalog well. However, since his father, a GSgt, was KIA in Afghanistan, he has been working several jobs to help support his mother and sister. He hasn't done any extracurricular activities or school sports, though he teaches Karate. Finances are an issue, and several people have suggested he apply to the USNA, but he looked at the academy web site and through this forum, and seems convinced he'd never get in without sports, leadership and ECA's.

It seems likely he can pull down scholarships to other schools, and in fact MIT seems to already be interested in him, through his HS math teacher. However, he's always wanted to be a Marine like his dad, and I know he'd love to go to the Academy. Given a complete lack of sports, ECA's, etc., should we encourage him to apply and go for it, or is he likely doomed to disappointment?

Two other things - he should be eligible for a Presidential nomination, since his father was KIA, and he's half Native American - his dad was half Navaho, and his mom is half Hawaiian. Not sure whether that matters or not.

Thoughts?
 
I believe as long as his jobs are 10+ hours a week, the academy looks at them like a ECA. Also teaching Karate should look very good on his application.
 
He can explain his family situation to the BGO or in the application. USNA understands that not everyone has the free time to participate in school ECAs and sports.

Karate and excellent CFA scores will help.

With such a flawless academic record, I think Admissions would give him a good hard look, at least. Definitely worth a shot.

10 AP exams in the first two years of high school? That's unbelievable. I took 10 tests during my entire high school career.
 
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Agree with above. Plus he has nothing to lose by applying and can still pursue his alternate plans.
 
No reason why this kid is not golden. KIA Dad plus this performance? He's good. Anything he can add will be great but he should not be worried.
 
Need to do well on CFA. This kid should qualify for SDVE nomination, which will put him in a different category for competition.
 
I had a candidate several years ago whose father was a geographic bachelor so this kid basically was the dad for his siblings. His only ECA was a particular sport. He got in. So, yes, it's doable.

Given that there is still a summer and first semester senior year, the person to whom the OP is referring might think creatively about things he could do to demonstrate leadership, etc. in his current activities. Does his job offer opportunities to take something to the next level? Might he have time over the summer to participate in a sports league or volunteer for an organization, if only briefly? And agree with doing very well on CFA.

He should also take the time to explore USNA. Yes, it's "free," but as those of us who've been there know, that's not exactly true in that there's a price for everything. He could also apply for NASS (there are some scholarship funds available) and ask for a CVW if it's at all possible financially.

As for noms, there is a special category for children of veterans KIA. You use the Pres nom application to apply. There are details on the usna.edu website under Admissions and "Apply for a Nomination."
 
Thanks, everyone for the input. I thought I'd get this kind of feedback, but wanted to make sure. I know he'd do well on the CFA - we've run together and he has no problem maintaining a six minute pace. I've also seen him do over 100 pushups and crunches and 40+ pull-ups in his martial arts classes.

I think the hardest part will be getting him to apply anywhere - he has a very strong sense of responsibility to keep his promise to his father, to take care of his mom and his sister. Fortunately, I have a very similar background, and can be the example of what not to do and why. I'm encouraging his mom to try going back to work, and encouraging them both to stop spoiling the daughter (he pays for her clothes, and for school activities, which she takes for granted). I'm hoping that if this succeeds, he'll be less uncomfortable about leaving them without support. At a guess, I'd say he's currently working 30+ hours a week in several different jobs, and I know he worked more than full time all last summer.

Encouraging him to apply to USNA isn't about a 'free' education, it's because his dream since age 8 has been to be a Marine like his dad. He could equally well get a full scholarship to MIT and do NROTC or even OCS afterwards and accomplish the same thing, but they visited the Academy several times while his dad was stationed at Quantico, and he's spoken of it often ever since. His mom supports him applying, and I'm hoping between us we can convince him to go for his dream.
 
If this kid doesn't get in I think that Navy needs to change their criteria of admission. This is the kind of kid who needs to be a midshipman.
 
In the long run he would be better able to help if he were to receive a high quality education, and a solid career. Both of which can be achieved at USNA!
 
LTSackett said:
Thanks, everyone for the input. I thought I'd get this kind of feedback, but wanted to make sure. I know he'd do well on the CFA - we've run together and he has no problem maintaining a six minute pace. I've also seen him do over 100 pushups and crunches and 40+ pull-ups in his martial arts classes.

I think the hardest part will be getting him to apply anywhere - he has a very strong sense of responsibility to keep his promise to his father, to take care of his mom and his sister. Fortunately, I have a very similar background, and can be the example of what not to do and why. I'm encouraging his mom to try going back to work, and encouraging them both to stop spoiling the daughter (he pays for her clothes, and for school activities, which she takes for granted). I'm hoping that if this succeeds, he'll be less uncomfortable about leaving them without support. At a guess, I'd say he's currently working 30+ hours a week in several different jobs, and I know he worked more than full time all last summer.

Encouraging him to apply to USNA isn't about a 'free' education, it's because his dream since age 8 has been to be a Marine like his dad. He could equally well get a full scholarship to MIT and do NROTC or even OCS afterwards and accomplish the same thing, but they visited the Academy several times while his dad was stationed at Quantico, and he's spoken of it often ever since. His mom supports him applying, and I'm hoping between us we can convince him to go for his dream.
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He sounds like a truly exceptional young man. Not only the academics, but the sense of responsibility that you mention, which has clearly been acted upon - working 30+ hrs/week during school! and more in the summer. IMHO, given those particulars, added to the fact that to be a Marine "has been his dream" for so many years, this is just the kind of person the USNA wants. I imagine - though others on this forum, bgo's, etc., would probably know better - the teaching Karate, and holding down more than one job to support his mom & sister, would count for quite a bit in the scoring of leadership.

If you are trying to encourage him to apply at all, the element of the stipend might help. I don't want this to sound mercenary; it just seems that if one of the sticking points is his concern about supporting his mom & sister, the monthly stipend at USNA would certainly help a little bit. More than NROTC at MIT (not that he shouldn't try for that, too!). That might be a helpful angle to take. Just a thought.

Best of luck to him!
 
Those are incredible scores! Couple that with all he's gone through and you have a truly rare individual. 10 AP tests in two years???? Wow! I can't see USNA denying him.

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He'll probably have more problems getting in to MIT honestly. MIT rejects perfect academic records all the time and they scrutinize activities. Based on the 2400 and 36, I think Navy will make room :)
 
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