Give one piece of advice

Sheaisland

Sheaisland

5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2013
Messages
68
I'm sure there is a thread for this already, nut for those who have gotten in to any of the Service academies or ROTC( or Nrotc or afrotc), what is one piece of advice you would have liked to know or would like to give to aspiring candidates like me?
Thanks,
Sheaisland
 
two pieces.....

1. get your applications done early
2. do whatever you have to do to get the highest math ACT you can
 
2 pieces of advice I use:
1. Know your deadlines
2. Not everyone who gives advice is an expert on the subject matter you are researching. Check and recheck...your future is at stake!
 
+1 navymomwannabe I think these two things helped my DS be successful. ACT/SAT early and often.
 
1. Focus a lot on ACT and SAT scores.

2. Lace up your boot straps for a long year of deadlines, news and waiting.

3. Always have a plan B through Z. All your eggs in one basket doesn't make for good odds.

4. Trust in god that he has a plan for you. You just don't know it yet.
 
In my opinion

They key to the entire process (whether you are applying or re-applying), in my humble opinion, is to not be satisfied with "probably good enough" or "may be good enough" try to capitalize on every single point that you can get. Consider this your first mission. Your mission is to get a BFE. If you were in charge of a mission, would you like your chances to "probably be good enough" or "may be good enough" NO! There is always something you can be doing to improve your chances. Make it so they cant possibly not give you a BFE

In order...

1. Take the act/sat over and over and over until BFE. Why leave ANY ACT points on the table? A 30 on your Math ACT may be good enough. But don't be satisfied with may be good enough.

2. LOR from your MATH and ENGLISH teachers are weighted far heavier than most people realize. Talk to them earnestly about what you want and why.

3. Get your application FINISHED before the start of senior year. You can always add to it, but getting it done earlier gets dodmerb kicked in...and generally just looks good.

4. Ace the CFA at a summer seminar (whether it is usma or usna...they transfer)

5. Practice interviewing with a real person before your interviews (my son did NOT listen to that one...this did not go well...)


Ooooops, sorry I was supposed to stop at one tip...
 
Be aware that, even if your vision is correctable with glasses/contacts to 20/20, USNA limits the percentage of the incoming class without near-perfect vision (uncorrected with glasses or contacts) to 30%. Coast Guard also has a similar standard for vision. If you need glasses, your odds improve by applying to USMA and USAFA. Really wish we had known that! We would have applied to different academies and improved our chances. This info was not readily available and we were well into the nomination process by the time we found that out.
 
Sportsmom4 said:
Be aware that, even if your vision is correctable with glasses/contacts to 20/20, USNA limits the percentage of the incoming class without near-perfect vision (uncorrected with glasses or contacts) to 30%. Coast Guard also has a similar standard for vision. If you need glasses, your odds improve by applying to USMA and USAFA. Really wish we had known that! We would have applied to different academies and improved our chances. This info was not readily available and we were well into the nomination process by the time we found that out.
Click to expand...


Can you clarify. Are you saying that USNA allows on 30% of its incoming class to require glasses?
 
1. When you attend BGO events or other similiar events regardless of who you are talking to, be professional. I help our local BGO out at events and because I am not a BGO, alot of candidates think they say what they want. Trust me, we (and others like me) communicate. I had a kid with near perfect SATs who thought he could say anything. The kid didn't stand a chance after his poor showing that day. Those letters that BGOs write carry weight. It might not be alot in the WCS, but it can hurt you.

2. Don't worry about what is happening to others around you. You can only control your future. If you see someone in your district get an LOA or appointment, keep pushing along. The final charge slates won't happen until summer time. USNA moves things around to best round out the classes.

3. Own the application process. In my opinion, if Mom and Dad are calling for things and filling out your paperwork, this is wrong. Others may disagree, but you need to own the decision and process. The process is meant to challenge you, to build you, to grow you. In my opinion that means communicating with MOC offices, BGOs, officers, alumni, etc. Yes, we all know you are busy. But you have lunch, free periods, in between classes (check with your guidance counselors, most weill excuse you for 10 minutes to make a call, this is the beginning of extreme time management).

4. Enjoy the ride. They say April 15th, as many are realizing, it can mean April 15th. Learn patience. If you truely want to be a military officer, this is the first of many hurry up and waits in your future.

5. If you make it in, check the ego at the door. Most have never failed, you will Plebe Summer and Plebe Year. Its hard. None of it singularly is hard, its the culmination of it all. No one cares how impressive your resume was to get in. On the other hand, use the ego when you need it. When you fail or struggle, your classmates will be there for you and you will need to pick yourself up and tell yourself you can do it. Some days you will have to take it minute by minute to make it. Just break it down in little chunks. Remember, thousands have made it through. If you are accepted, you can make it, or you wouldn't be there.
 
I am with you Vista123...I never knew about the vision issue...since both of our DSs wear contacts/glasses...so glad I did not know this!

My tip of advice is to work on your class rank. SA academies are looking more at how you are ranked among your peers than your overall GPA (since some schools inflate their GPAs). Yes...take as many AP classes as you can...if you cannot handle these classes...how are you going to handle SA classes...
 
Thanks for all this great advice. I'm a sophomore but I've already contacted my area BGO, my guidance counselor, a current national guard member, a teacher who went to the USNA. Not really sure how to approach the whole coating a MOC thing yet. Also, as of now, unsure of who else to contact besides the listed above and you awesome people on here :). Also, I contact all of these people not my parents because I want to be a midshipman with a burning passion.
But, thanks for all of the advice, very insightful,many more advice is definitely useful.
Thanks,
Sheaisland
 
1. If you suspect you have a medical condition that may DQ you or require remedials, get that DoDMERB exam as early as possible. That means way before November. By November, the waiver authority is deluged with waiver requests.
2. Start training TODAY at the gym and run, run, run.
 
CFA CFA CFA
DS was told by his admissions counselor that he was holding his application back for a couple of the first boards (app was completed including DoDMERB and interviews by the end of June) because his application was so strong, that his mediocre CFA scores would actually hurt him. He said, it was clear that he had been prepering for years to put himself in this position, but that with the average scores, the board could be concerned that he may not be physically fit enough...

And so we wait...

The CFA is not just a thing that can be thrown together as an after thought. Some say it doesn't carry much weight, or as much weight as other things...but our experience shows that it can be a deal breaker in its own way.
 
Leadership is important. There are many avenues. To name a few, participate in Student Council, be an Officer in a club, Captain of a sport, Team Leader at your Church, if in Scouting attain the rank of Eagle Scout. Find out how your school selects Boy's/Girl's State Representatives and apply, this is after Jr year. Take advantage of any leadership experience you can get.

If they have seminars for the academy in your area, plan to attend and bring a resume. Ask them for areas you need to address/strengthen.

First impressions are important, pick your attire appropriately.
 
Things aren't always going to work out the way you planned that first time around. Embrace it. Everything happens for a reason and failure will make you stronger.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top