Could very well be the least 'qualified' candidate

O

ochoac2

5-Year Member
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Sep 24, 2014
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I'm in the final stretch: received my 3'Q letter and 2 nominations. I've read a lot of peoples 'profiles': JROTC champion, eagle scout, 500 hrs community service, 4.5 gpa's, 34's on the ACT, 3 varsity sports, captain on two, the works.
This made me go--oh, maybe i'm not as qualified as i thought i was...
I definatly thought my CFA would be a fail :40 push ups. 7 pull ups, 60 sit ups, 8.5 shuttle run, 61 ft basketball throw, 6:59 mile. I thought my ACT scores wouldn't be enough: 27 composite. 24 math, 29 english, 28 writing, 26 science, 27 reading. GPA is only 3.86.
I havent been in too many things other than normal stuff: student council, NHS, varsity sport (one year captain), a lot of theater leading roles, crew coordinates and a year of chorus director. I work part time at a factory. some other school stuff. No one in my close family is military other than 2 cousins. I'm also half mexican, if that means anything.
Anyway, the reason why im posting this is so people (like me) who thought they would be DQ'ed or that they failed their CFA can see that there's a chance. I probably won't survive the NWL, but there's a pretty good chance I win one of my representatives vacancies, since it's 4 of us competing for the 2. I'm also applying to coast guard academy. Anyway, I feel pretty proud that I made it this far. Just wanted to share some info that I looked for and couldn't find earlier in this admission process. Sorry for spelling and grammar, not at an ideal place to write this.
 
Ochoac, I echo your post. When I started looking around at what other people were bringing to the table, I thought my hopes of attending USMA would've ended months ago. Yet, here I am today, in the almost exact same situation as you are: Triple qualified with two nominations.

Lesson for the class of 2020 and beyond: Give it your best. You never know what may happen.

Best of luck to you Ochoac! Hope to see you on R-Day.
 
Ochoac2 good luck to you. It sounds like you have solid credentials and attitude to succeed in life. There is an interesting book called Last in Their Class about Generals Custer, Pickett and others who did well (relatively speaking) without academic success. Inner character and strength can carry a person a long way. I have seen students achieve great success in high school but doing so with their parent's thumbs on their back and seen them implode when they had freedom in college. Also the opposite, under achievers (lower GPA SATs) blossom and rise high when they find their calling in college. Physical tests can be improved with practice, same with academic studies. SAs and ROTC battalions do not want you to fail and will give you the opportunities to get help and improve. Good quote seen often here is you can only fail if you do not try.
 
When you are on this forum realize that those who go the extra mile to go on a forum and look for help in any area they can get are most likely the upper end candidates. You are one, we all are one in some way or another. Those who are willing to post their achievements feel comfortable and are most likely high end candidates as well. Just finishing the process cuts out half the candidates. Qualifying and nominating cuts out another chunk. Of those few go above and beyond to seek outside help in a forum. Remember there is always a quiet minority that is just observing, probably this post, who have scores lower than yours and will get in. 2 months or earlier from now we will see those "eagerly waiting" or even candidates you think of as having low scores, getting picked up left and right. Just wait for now. I hate it too. Don't worry.


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ochoac2 said:
I thought my ACT scores wouldn't be enough: 27 composite. 24 math, 29 english, 28 writing, 26 science, 27 reading. GPA is only 3.86.
Click to expand...

Your math ACT score is on the low side. How much math have you taken in high school? If you have not had calculus you may struggle with math Plebe year. You will take 3-5 semesters of math as a cadet, depending on how much you've had and how well you've tested. Here's a better explanation of the math program -- http://www.usma.edu/math/SitePages/Core Math.aspx -- and if you click on the Core Math Book it gives a description of each course.

Your other ACT scores are well above average. I don't know if a 24 in math qualifies for the prep school. However, if you do receive an appointment, make sure you take advantage of all additional help offered, in math as well as any other class. Math and chemistry seem to be the downfall for a lot of Plebes first semester, and it's heartbreaking to hear about cadets being separated after only one semester.

Getting in to a SA is only the beginning. Staying in good standing will take a lot of hard work.
 
The most the can do is say no. They can't say yes unless you apply. Good luck!
 
thanks for the kind words everybody. I don't really struggle too much with math, so long as i can take notes. I just tested poorly and didnt prep. I do not intend to have a math/engineering major though. but i'm aware of the curriculum, since it's a BS degree. I think I could do it and apparently so does my RC. My school is really poor in standardized tests; our school average was an 18 on the ACT.
 
I have a 3Q and 2 nominations as well. Hoping to get an appointment, but I don't know.


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Wilco said:
Ochoac2 good luck to you. It sounds like you have solid credentials and attitude to succeed in life. There is an interesting book called Last in Their Class about Generals Custer, Pickett and others who did well (relatively speaking) without academic success. Inner character and strength can carry a person a long way. I have seen students achieve great success in high school but doing so with their parent's thumbs on their back and seen them implode when they had freedom in college. Also the opposite, under achievers (lower GPA SATs) blossom and rise high when they find their calling in college. Physical tests can be improved with practice, same with academic studies. SAs and ROTC battalions do not want you to fail and will give you the opportunities to get help and improve. Good quote seen often here is you can only fail if you do not try.
Click to expand...
I am actually a distant cousin of General Custer. Such a history buff!


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I know for a fact that I was not a slate winner nor was I in the top 150 of the NWL. No other nominations besides district.
 
I hate being that guy but do you know what might have really helped you? Essay? FFR notes? Anything? What made you stand out?
 
No slated declined. I barely spoke to my FFR. I'm confident that it was my essays.
 
So I wonder, because you said you are half Mexican, are you first generation American, or perhaps first generation college student? Those types of statistics also help round out class composition goals. If your school has low test scores and you are on the high end of things, you are overcoming a tough academic atmosphere. Congrats to you!
 
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