USNA2023

USMMA '23
Joined
Apr 15, 2016
Messages
85
Hi, I am a freshman in high school and have been considering applying to the USNA in my junior year. I do have some setbacks though. I am homeschooled, and have been for 4 years. While that may make my chances harder to get in, I am ahead in math (wrapping up algebra 2 for the year), English (reading senior level books and writing essays), science (taking AP Biology), social studies (taking AP American Gov't, and doing world and US history combined). For extra curricular activities, I take guitar, have about 20 hrs in volunteer hours at my church, I do horseback riding, have taken 1 year of Russian, archery, guns, bb guns, and also I do a lot of volunteering and competitions at my local 4H. I am also second vice president of my 4H club, and will be 1st vice my sophomore year. I have taken the SAT and got a 1490 (this was last year before they changed the scoring system) and I've taken the ACT in 7th grade and got a 18 composite score. What else should I be doing to make myself seem more desirable to the USNA?
 
Your test scores are very low. Understandable for your age. Are you a male or female? 20 volunteer hours is low. Your sports are minor and lacking. Low scores plus low ECA's make for an uphill battle. My own personal opinion is that being homeschooled will not hurt you as far as academics go... unless after completing all of those impressive courses your standardized test scores are low. 4H is good, but if you read the resume's of the applicants turned down on this forum it will be easy for you to get discouraged. There are many super-impressive kids with TWE's. Those are the rejection letters for our prestigious service academies. You have a long time to improve, and a long way to go. The time will fly, so don't procrastinate.
 
You have no setbacks at all and I don't know where you got that idea. Homeschooling is fine but you need some sports to play all through high school. Pick a couple of team sports you like and play hard. If you pick individual sports, make sure it is a gut-busting one like track, swimming, or wrestling.
 
Hi, I am a freshman in high school and have been considering applying to the USNA in my junior year. I do have some setbacks though. I am homeschooled, and have been for 4 years. While that may make my chances harder to get in, I am ahead in math (wrapping up algebra 2 for the year), English (reading senior level books and writing essays), science (taking AP Biology), social studies (taking AP American Gov't, and doing world and US history combined). For extra curricular activities, I take guitar, have about 20 hrs in volunteer hours at my church, I do horseback riding, have taken 1 year of Russian, archery, guns, bb guns, and also I do a lot of volunteering and competitions at my local 4H. I am also second vice president of my 4H club, and will be 1st vice my sophomore year. I have taken the SAT and got a 1490 (this was last year before they changed the scoring system) and I've taken the ACT in 7th grade and got a 18 composite score. What else should I be doing to make myself seem more desirable to the USNA?
I would like to chime in here. My DS was homeschooled until 9th grade. He will begin plebe summer this year. I realize your time schedule gives you flexibility, so use this to your advantage. Do something (or things) REALLY WELL. State and national winners are the norm for USNA, whether it be in a sport or a hobby. Take what you love and find out how to get better. I believe your Duke Tip ACT in 7th grade was the same as my DS's at that age. You have time to raise it to a competitive score by senior year if you work hard. I would be willing to guess that most kids with appointments in hand worked really hard on everything they did with the goal in mind to make their application outstanding. You need to think about all your curriculum and activities that way. You have a flexible schedule, so get more serious about what you do with the time you have left. Good luck!
 
I would like to chime in here. My DS was homeschooled until 9th grade. He will begin plebe summer this year. I realize your time schedule gives you flexibility, so use this to your advantage. Do something (or things) REALLY WELL. State and national winners are the norm for USNA, whether it be in a sport or a hobby. Take what you love and find out how to get better. I believe your Duke Tip ACT in 7th grade was the same as my DS's at that age. You have time to raise it to a competitive score by senior year if you work hard. I would be willing to guess that most kids with appointments in hand worked really hard on everything they did with the goal in mind to make their application outstanding. You need to think about all your curriculum and activities that way. You have a flexible schedule, so get more serious about what you do with the time you have left. Good luck!

That actually wasn't my duke tips ACT grade, that was the actual ACT. I don't remember my duke tips grade, but I know I got 100% in all three English sections. And thanks for the tips, I'm possibly going to start volunteering at my local govt and I'm going to get involved in some sort of track I think. Thank you!
 
You have no setbacks at all and I don't know where you got that idea. Homeschooling is fine but you need some sports to play all through high school. Pick a couple of team sports you like and play hard. If you pick individual sports, make sure it is a gut-busting one like track, swimming, or wrestling.

Ok, I'm possibly getting involved with track soon. I live out in the middle of nowhere, so team sports are hard to come by
 
Your test scores are very low. Understandable for your age. Are you a male or female? 20 volunteer hours is low. Your sports are minor and lacking. Low scores plus low ECA's make for an uphill battle. My own personal opinion is that being homeschooled will not hurt you as far as academics go... unless after completing all of those impressive courses your standardized test scores are low. 4H is good, but if you read the resume's of the applicants turned down on this forum it will be easy for you to get discouraged. There are many super-impressive kids with TWE's. Those are the rejection letters for our prestigious service academies. You have a long time to improve, and a long way to go. The time will fly, so don't procrastinate.

I am male. Im probably going to start track soon, and volunteering at church, local gov't, etc over the summer. I'm also taking the SAT in June this year
 
Most importantly for you - you have time to put a plan in place and execute it.

Too often the posters are late in the process and time won't allow them to make a difference in their resume. You are in a position to define what that resume will look like

If PrestonHorowitz is your name, ask a moderator how to change your username to something less identifiable
 
Most importantly for you - you have time to put a plan in place and execute it.

Too often the posters are late in the process and time won't allow them to make a difference in their resume. You are in a position to define what that resume will look like

If PrestonHorowitz is your name, ask a moderator how to change your username to something less identifiable

I've noticed that a lot, that's why I'm on here pretty early so I can shape myself into something more desirable to the the USNA. And will change my user name
 
The tests are always more important for home schoolers because they know grades are probably skewed.

Get prep material for ACT/SAT and study the test., make that part of your home school day. Not just more math etc, but actual tips on solving questions more quickly. There really are ways to improve your scores without more knowledge. Take test often, Then during different testing sessions just focus on one or two parts of the test and rest through the balance. They are looking at Super score. Best score in each section from different tests. (Remember, don't get carried away with this because some of your regular colleges are going to want Composite score(the best score of all the areas in only one sitting)
 
The tests are always more important for home schoolers because they know grades are probably skewed.

Get prep material for ACT/SAT and study the test., make that part of your home school day. Not just more math etc, but actual tips on solving questions more quickly. There really are ways to improve your scores without more knowledge. Take test often, Then during different testing sessions just focus on one or two parts of the test and rest through the balance. They are looking at Super score. Best score in each section from different tests. (Remember, don't get carried away with this because some of your regular colleges are going to want Composite score(the best score of all the areas in only one sitting)

Yeah I learned that the hard way when I got back my SAT scores. I forgot that on the SAT, unlike the ACT, they count against wrong answers and not blank answers so I answered EVERY question. It would've been a lot higher if I knew only to answer the ones I know
 
Yeah I learned that the hard way when I got back my SAT scores. I forgot that on the SAT, unlike the ACT, they count against wrong answers and not blank answers so I answered EVERY question. It would've been a lot higher if I knew only to answer the ones I know
SAT just came out with a new test this month in fact, it is more like the ACT in that respect. Does not penalize for wrong answers. That is all I know about it, but be sure you are studying for the correct test. You can sign up at the SAT website and they will send you Question of the day and makes practice tests available.
 
SAT just came out with a new test this month in fact, it is more like the ACT in that respect. Does not penalize for wrong answers. That is all I know about it, but be sure you are studying for the correct test. You can sign up at the SAT website and they will send you Question of the day and makes practice tests available.

Just found that out a week ago. I'm also glad they took out a lot of the useless English stuff and brought back the the 1600 point scale. And I didn't know you could sign up and get practice tests and things like that, thanks for telling me!
 
Hi, I am a freshman in high school and have been considering applying to the USNA in my junior year. I do have some setbacks though. I am homeschooled, and have been for 4 years. While that may make my chances harder to get in, I am ahead in math (wrapping up algebra 2 for the year), English (reading senior level books and writing essays), science (taking AP Biology), social studies (taking AP American Gov't, and doing world and US history combined). For extra curricular activities, I take guitar, have about 20 hrs in volunteer hours at my church, I do horseback riding, have taken 1 year of Russian, archery, guns, bb guns, and also I do a lot of volunteering and competitions at my local 4H. I am also second vice president of my 4H club, and will be 1st vice my sophomore year. I have taken the SAT and got a 1490 (this was last year before they changed the scoring system) and I've taken the ACT in 7th grade and got a 18 composite score. What else should I be doing to make myself seem more desirable to the USNA?[/QUOTE

Are there any local colleges near you that offer dual enrollment classes? This would show that you are capable of handling higher-level classes.
 
Along with your ACT/SAT score, look up your state's academic recognition program (i.e. Governor's Scholars) and work on your application to that. My son was homeschooled until high school and is now an incoming plebe. (We didn't send him to school so that he could apply to USNA, but so that he could participate on athletic teams. Our rural area did not have travel ball. But as a homeschooled student, you do have to switch your mindset from one of independence to one of collaboration...Not saying *you* personally, but in general. This is a general observation I have of being in homeschooling circles since 1990.) Get state recognition academically and athletically. Also, enter and win a gold medal at Science Olympiad. Every state participates in Science Olympiad.
 
Don't worry about the ACT, I had a 16 in 7th grade and had a 35 by senior year. However, i still have a TWE, and I am reapplying. All I can tell you is don't compare yourself to others applying it'll drive you mad.
 
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