Advice on how I can improve my application? SLE chances?

prospective2019

USMA 2023
5-Year Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2017
Messages
782
Hello!

I am currently a junior and am aiming at West Point admission (Class of 2023) as a goal over the next year and a half or so. I'm wondering if any of you have any advice on how I can improve my chances.

Academically, I take all honors and AP classes, and have about a 3.8 unweighted and 4.35 weighted. I'm taking all the most challenging courses my school has to offer, including AP Physics, AP U.S. History, AP Lang, etc this year and I am on track to take AP Chemistry and AP Calculus next year. We do not know our class ranks but I am likely in the top 10%.

I've taken the ACT twice, my scores are...
- Math: 30
- Science: 29
- English: 34
- Reading: 33
- Composite: 32

I've also only taken the SAT once; I got a 1400 (700 for both sections).

For my extracurriculars...
- Student government (hoping to be President next year, but if not I will have a high position)
- Lettered all through high school in soccer, indoor track, and lacrosse
- Track captain and will likely be a lacrosse captain come spring
- All-Conference honors in soccer and lacrosse, All-State in lacrosse
- President/founder of a politics and civics club
- Volunteer in Unified Sports
- Spanish Honors Society
- Percussion Section Leader for school band, drummer in school Jazz Ensemble
- Music Honors Society
- Robotics Team
- Math Team
- Freshman Class President
- Hugh O'Brian Leadership Conference & START Leadership Conference (I was faculty nominated for both as the only attendee from our school)
- Not current, but I will most likely be inducted into National Honors Society in the spring.

I have started training for my CFA, but I haven't officially taken it yet. I do not know if it matters, but I have spoken with my Field Force Representative, my Regional Admissions official, and have done a day visit to USMA. I'm also working on getting a nomination for Girls' State, which I know USMA likes to see.

I'm looking for some advice on what I can improve on to make myself more competitive for admissions. My academics are pretty much set in stone at this point, but any other extracurriculars, tips, or other things I should know about would be very helpful. I will also be applying to SLE in the coming weeks.

At this point, what are my chances both for SLE and for admission?

Thank you!
 
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Keep taking standardized tests. That's all the SLE Application really is. It can't hurt--they'll be selecting kids to SLE even in April, and some updated scores can be the difference between SELECTED and NOT SELECTED (the status update that will show up in the SLE section of your portal)

Keep in mind that your application to West Point is much more important than your SLE app, though SLE is, from what I hear, a worthwhile experience. Even upon going to SLE, it's wise to visit West Point cadets in their "natural habitats:" the academic setting. That's what will make you really decide whether or not it is for you.

Apply to your Girls State program. I wound up going to Girls Nation--it's unforgettable and the leadership experience is worth more than the points you'll earn on your SA apps for going (though those sure are nice)!

Continue to challenge yourself academically, but don't kill yourself with classes because you will have your leadership and athletic experiences to focus on, too!

Start preparing for the CFA. The kids at SLE take one. You don't want to be a "barfer!" My friend who went told me that a lot of the kids there are not yet physically qualified (the key word is yet. That can change with training!) to enter West Point since SLE's application doesn't have physical requirements.

Don't be discouraged if you get rejected from SLE. I did. I now have an LOA, 3Q, and 2 Nominations for the USMA class of 2022. Just because you don't get into SLE doesn't mean you won't get into West Point. Failure should be an experience that shows you how to work, not an excuse to quit.

Good luck and go Army!
 
Keep taking standardized tests. That's all the SLE Application really is. It can't hurt--they'll be selecting kids to SLE even in April, and some updated scores can be the difference between SELECTED and NOT SELECTED (the status update that will show up in the SLE section of your portal)

Keep in mind that your application to West Point is much more important than your SLE app, though SLE is, from what I hear, a worthwhile experience. Even upon going to SLE, it's wise to visit West Point cadets in their "natural habitats:" the academic setting. That's what will make you really decide whether or not it is for you.

Apply to your Girls State program. I wound up going to Girls Nation--it's unforgettable and the leadership experience is worth more than the points you'll earn on your SA apps for going (though those sure are nice)!

Continue to challenge yourself academically, but don't kill yourself with classes because you will have your leadership and athletic experiences to focus on, too!

Start preparing for the CFA. The kids at SLE take one. You don't want to be a "barfer!" My friend who went told me that a lot of the kids there are not yet physically qualified (the key word is yet. That can change with training!) to enter West Point since SLE's application doesn't have physical requirements.

Don't be discouraged if you get rejected from SLE. I did. I now have an LOA, 3Q, and 2 Nominations for the USMA class of 2022. Just because you don't get into SLE doesn't mean you won't get into West Point. Failure should be an experience that shows you how to work, not an excuse to quit.

Good luck and go Army!

Thank you for the tips! Do you have any suggestions for training for the CFA, specifically for push ups and pull ups? For women especially I’ve been told these are the most difficult on the test.
 
Thank you for the tips! Do you have any suggestions for training for the CFA, specifically for push ups and pull ups? For women especially I’ve been told these are the most difficult on the test.

I'm female as well, so perhaps I can help you additionally because I had a similar experience. I passed the CFA in August, so about as early as you can do it (being rejected from SLE).

First of all, read the CFA test packet and watch the guide on how to take the videos if that's available to you. The test packet will instruct you on specific form regulations. It is imperative that you practice the basketball throw the correct way. Consult YouTube for examples after reading the packet.

Here's a YouTube video that has helped me tremendously. I used it leading up to the CFA (scored 39 push-ups on it), and can now do 70+ of the same kind. Of course, I do other things in my chest and triceps routine but push-ups are the best thing to perform when you have to excecute them on a test...


For pull-ups, do assisted ones until you can do one on your own. My gym doesn't have an assisted pull-up machine, but it has a bar and a band. Those work. Do lat workouts like batwings and pull-downs.

Most importantly, make sure you're getting enough food and rest. Lifting and undereating won't produce results, nor will lifting and being sleep-deprived. Eat lots of protein. Do push-ups every other day, and do pull-ups on the days in between. Take one day off. Practice the basketball throw when you can, and make sure you're running more than a mile a couple of times a week!

Good luck and go Army!
 
You should really try to go to their lax camp since you're all-State. They recruit kids from that camp and you'll get contact with the coach!
 
Hello!

I am currently a junior and am aiming at West Point admission (Class of 2023) as a goal over the next year and a half or so. I'm wondering if any of you have any advice on how I can improve my chances.

Academically, I take all honors and AP classes, and have about a 3.8 unweighted and 4.35 weighted. I'm taking all the most challenging courses my school has to offer, including AP Physics, AP U.S. History, AP Lang, etc this year and I am on track to take AP Chemistry and AP Calculus next year. We do not know our class ranks but I am likely in the top 10%.

I've taken the ACT twice, my scores are...
- Math: 30
- Science: 29
- English: 34
- Reading: 33
- Composite: 32

I've also only taken the SAT once; I got a 1400 (700 for both sections).

For my extracurriculars...
- Student government (hoping to be President next year, but if not I will have a high position)
- Lettered all through high school in soccer, indoor track, and lacrosse
- Track captain and will likely be a lacrosse captain come spring
- All-Conference honors in soccer and lacrosse, All-State in lacrosse
- President/founder of a politics and civics club
- Volunteer in Unified Sports
- Spanish Honors Society
- Percussion Section Leader for school band, drummer in school Jazz Ensemble
- Music Honors Society
- Robotics Team
- Math Team
- Freshman Class President
- Hugh O'Brian Leadership Conference & START Leadership Conference (I was faculty nominated for both as the only attendee from our school)
- Not current, but I will most likely be inducted into National Honors Society in the spring.

I have started training for my CFA, but I haven't officially taken it yet. I do not know if it matters, but I have spoken with my Field Force Representative, my Regional Admissions official, and have done a day visit to USMA. I'm also working on getting a nomination for Girls' State, which I know USMA likes to see.

I'm looking for some advice on what I can improve on to make myself more competitive for admissions. My academics are pretty much set in stone at this point, but any other extracurriculars, tips, or other things I should know about would be very helpful. I will also be applying to SLE in the coming weeks.

At this point, what are my chances both for SLE and for admission?

Thank you!

Keep in mind, the majority of USMA cadets didn’t attend SLE. As it was explained to me by my USNA BGO, programs like SLE and Summer Seminar are geared more towards candidates in underrepresented districts. Being from a small rural town in Arkansas, I got the opportunity to attend. The goal for SLE is to spread the word about the SA’s. If the candidates enjoyed it, they’ll tell people. If they don’t, they’ll tell people. Unlike the actual admissions process, it’s more of a marketing game.
 
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