MitchWalk

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Nov 17, 2019
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Hello there Ladies and Gents! I’m going into my senior year of high school in South Dakota this year and I have applied to the United States Military Academy at West Point. I’d like some advice on how my stats look/compare in my quest for getting an appointment. Thank you in advance for your help!

CFA: Passed with above average scores
Medical: Taken my medical exam and I take my eye exam on 18 Aug

Stats:
- 31 Super scored ACT
-10 ACT writing score
- 4.03 GPA weighted and 4.00 Unweighted, 1 AP Class my junior year
-AP Classes my senior year
- 4 Year varsity letter winner in football ( won our team’s unsung hero award my Freshman and sophomore years)
-Captain of our football team during my senior year
- 5 year varsity letter winner in track (All-state and all-conference my sophomore year)
- Played freshman and JV basketball my freshman year
- Member of NHS, my church’s youth group and weekly praise team, my school’s math competition club (3 years)
- 150 Volunteer hours my freshman year
- 140 volunteer hours my sophomore year
- 170 volunteer hours My junior year

JROTC
- Cadet Captain in my high school’s Marine Corps JROTC Program (Member of our unit drill team, our company staff)
- Was the team captain of our Unit Academic bowl team this year
- I’ve been a member of our unit’s admin team and public affairs team since my sophomore year (I’m the admin team commander this year)
- Won three National Marine corps JROTC awards for leadership
-Legion of Valor Bronze Medal (National Jrotc Award) nominee (still
- Won a meritorious promotion my freshman year
- Was an officer in our JROTC unit when we were awarded the title of Naval Honor School my sophomore year

Leadership positions
-Company commander for my JROTC Unit during my senior year
-Student Body President of my high school during my senior year
-Team Captain of our football team during my senior year
-Team Captain of my JROTC unit’s Academic Team during my junior year

Work
- Have been running my own pet and home business constantly since 6th grade (Dog walking/watching, mowing etc)
- Worked summer jobs every summer
 
Looks like good stats to me. Not sure how you can be a "5-year varsity letter winner in track". I would make sure your math ACT score is good within your 31 super score. Best of luck!
 
There is no way to tell without knowing the competition, but the fact that you are from South Dakota dramatically increases the chances of getting a nomination and possibly competing on 3 or more MOC slates - a distinct advantage compared to candidates competing in large states.
 
Looks like good stats to me. Not sure how you can be a "5-year varsity letter winner in track". I would make sure your math ACT score is good within your 31 super score. Best of luck!
I got pulled up to varsity as a middle schooler (I go to a K-12 private school). Thanks!
 
There is no way to tell without knowing the competition, but the fact that you are from South Dakota dramatically increases the chances of getting a nomination and possibly competing on 3 or more MOC slates - a distinct advantage compared to candidates competing in large states.
What do you mean by MOC slates?
 
What do you mean by MOC slates?
Member of Congress.

“Slate” is the informal term for the elected official’s list of up to 10 nominees for each vacancy they have at the Service Academies that use the nomination process. If you haven’t read the Sticky post at the very top of the Nominations Forum, I recommend it.

Additionally, the elected officials in some states collaborate so as to “spread the wealth.” Their staffs may coordinate so that no applicant gets duplicate noms. Or they may not give a candidate a nom to more than 1 academy. Or, it may be different in your state. The service academies have no control over this.

Is your JROTC unit eligible to give you a nom and have you applied for it?
 
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Member of Congress.

“Slate” is the informal term for the elected official’s list of up to 10 nominees for each vacancy they have at the Service Academies that use the nomination process. If you haven’t read the Sticky post at the very top of the Nominations Forum, I recommend it.

Additionally, the elected officials in some states collaborate so as to “spread the wealth.” Their staffs may coordinate so that no applicant gets duplicate noms. Or they may not give a candidate a nom to more than 1 academy. Or, it may be different in your state. The service academies have no control over this.

Is your JROTC unit eligible to give you a nom and have you applied for it?
My JROTC unit is eligible to give me a service related nomination to the USNA, which I will also be applying to. Unfortunately we came up just short this past school year on being named a Naval Honor School so I am ineligible for noms to the USMA and the USAFA through my JROTC unit.
 
What do you mean by MOC slates?
South Dakota has a population of about 860,000 with one congressional district and two Senators. Therefore, you are competing for Senatorial nominations from the same pool of candidates as your congressional district - essentially at least 30 nominations per SA for candidates from one district.

In comparison, California has a population of 40 million with 53 congressional districts. Senatorial nominations are extremely competitive - many more candidates competing for the same 30 nominations.

Some candidate families wonder if they should establish residence in S. Dakota, Wyoming, Delaware, etc. Not really a good bet. Nominations may be easier to come by, but that is like going to Vegas and betting on the roulette - if three candidates in the state have higher WCS scores, you lose.
 
Make sure you apply to all nomination sources available to you. ALL. No candidate knows what their competition looks like. Even in small districts you may run into the same candidates at events, you may know them. But regardless of stats (yours look very good) you will not be able to gauge the intangibles such as how you and they interview, both in front of nomination panels and with Field Force Officers, you won't know the strength of their personal statements or essays. In addition, the academies are trying to put an approximately 1200 (less for USCGA and USMMA) piece puzzle together. You will never know if you are the piece that fits just right, they know what they are looking for. That being said, focus on what you control- staying healthy, your applications, your academics and prepping for interviews and fitness tests.

Also, if pursuing a career as an officer is paramount to you, are you also applying to ROTC, NROTC etc? That question will likely be asked during interviews. Being able to successfully complete SA applications as well as ROTC/NROTC/AFROTC applications is a feat in itself, watching my son do it last year about wore me out, truthfully it wore him out even more, but it was worth it.

Good luck to you!
 
Make sure you apply to all nomination sources available to you. ALL. No candidate knows what their competition looks like. Even in small districts you may run into the same candidates at events, you may know them. But regardless of stats (yours look very good) you will not be able to gauge the intangibles such as how you and they interview, both in front of nomination panels and with Field Force Officers, you won't know the strength of their personal statements or essays. In addition, the academies are trying to put an approximately 1200 (less for USCGA and USMMA) piece puzzle together. You will never know if you are the piece that fits just right, they know what they are looking for. That being said, focus on what you control- staying healthy, your applications, your academics and prepping for interviews and fitness tests.

Also, if pursuing a career as an officer is paramount to you, are you also applying to ROTC, NROTC etc? That question will likely be asked during interviews. Being able to successfully complete SA applications as well as ROTC/NROTC/AFROTC applications is a feat in itself, watching my son do it last year about wore me out, truthfully it wore him out even more, but it was worth it.

Good luck to you!
I am applying for at least the Army ROTC scholarship in addition to the SA’s. I have my entire application completed along with fitness tests and interview. Waiting for the first board in October.
 
I am applying for at least the Army ROTC scholarship in addition to the SA’s. I have my entire application completed along with fitness tests and interview. Waiting for the first board in October.
That is awesome. Make sure you prep for interview if possible. I am sure you have already researched all career paths etc. My son said of all the interviews, his NROTC was one of the toughest. And he competed in interview. Best of luck to you!
 
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