USNA Candidates Class of 2023

Totally agree with Capt MJ - "The application process in itself is a test of YOUR perseverance, attention to detail, planning and execution skills. "
 
Hello to all. First post ever on the site, just joined today. Very informative site I must say.
DS received his candidate package about three weeks ago and is currently at NASS enjoying himself. He completed the CFA today and is looking forward to the rest of the week.
We have been involved in this process for several years now so we are just taking it one day at a time. Wish all the best to everyone in this process and like my son's Scoutmaster says have plan B,C, & D!
 
While USNA superscores mixing your SAT/ACT English and Math, I recommend be mindful of your Plan B colleges that probably are not so “generous”.

I agree with many SAFers who suggest trying the other test because you may score higher than the one you have repeatedly taken. If you can afford, and your school or local community offers, consider taking a prep course.

For the future candidate of Class of 2024 and beyond, I recommend start preparing during/after summer break BEFORE your junior year. Set a goal to FINISH your second or third SAT/ACT with your highest scores by spring of Junior Year. You will free your time (and your mind) late spring/early summer through your Senior Year to work on other aspects of your application.

Best of luck to everyone!
 
One more piece of advice ...(Not sure if it will get read or buried in what may become a long thread), but FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL.

This forum can be interesting, but in many cases contains more information than you really need. As CAPT MJ said, read the USNA website carefully. That is the only official source of information, and should be 100% reliable. The truth is, that is all that you really need. Everything else on here may give you insight into the process, is of varying degrees of relevance and/or reliability, and probably creates unnecessary angst.

Nobody here can tell you how competitive you are, how good is good enough on the CFA, whether your ACT/SAT's are good enough. There are a lot of variables in the Admission process, and all you can do is 1) Start your preparation early in your HS career, taking the right courses, getting involved in sports and activities so you have an opportunity to work into a leadership position by your junior and senior years.

The bottom line is that you need to establish your record of Academic, Athletic, Activities, and Leadership, then complete the application (100% of those that don't complete the application don't get in), presenting your record as best you can, then sit back and wait. You can spend a lot of effort worrying about things outside your control, and you will see a lot of these discussions here.

On a final note, always have a Plan B, maybe C and D. Each year, outstanding candidates get the TWE. Rejection is difficult, but keep in mind that its usually not a reflection of what the Candidate did or didn't do, but rather the fact that somebody else did more.

Good luck to the the group of Candidates...
 
Does anyone have advice about taking a gap year before applying to the SAs?
I was actually planning on taking a gap year this year too, until I realized that i could take a gap year after 3/c year for religious reasons, reapply (a much easier application where you’re almost guaranteed your spot back), and join the next year’s class to continue my education at USNA. If you’re planning on taking the gap year right after high school, you don’t need to apply until this time next year.
 
Does anyone have advice about taking a gap year before applying to the SAs?
I was actually planning on taking a gap year this year too, until I realized that i could take a gap year after 3/c year for religious reasons, reapply (a much easier application where you’re almost guaranteed your spot back), and join the next year’s class to continue my education at USNA. If you’re planning on taking the gap year right after high school, you don’t need to apply until this time next year.
If you take a gap year right after high school..do they use your high school grades when applying?
 
Does anyone have advice about taking a gap year before applying to the SAs?
I was actually planning on taking a gap year this year too, until I realized that i could take a gap year after 3/c year for religious reasons, reapply (a much easier application where you’re almost guaranteed your spot back), and join the next year’s class to continue my education at USNA. If you’re planning on taking the gap year right after high school, you don’t need to apply until this time next year.
If you take a gap year right after high school..do they use your high school grades when applying?
Yes!
 
Thank you, I will have to research as to what they want to see what you do during the gap year....
 
Gap year takers should continue to develop, grow and achieve outside a schoolhouse. A big fat lazy goof-off year is not going to impress anyone. Meaty volunteer work at home or abroad, immersion program in another country, an unusual job - something that allows you to enthusiastically and substantively respond to an interviewer’s question, “so, what did you do/learn/accomplish” during your after high school?” If the answer is “ummmmm,” that could be problematic.
 
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In the coming year, as you dive into the application process and go deeper into this forum, you’ll see a lot of stats and credentials: GPAs, SATs, ACTs, extra-curriculars, leadership, sports, and so on. Do your very best to not play the comparison game. Don’t look at others’ information and think, “I’ll never get in” or “Yeah, I’m in.” As many here have said, no one can “chance” you and you certainly can’t “chance” yourself by just reading posts.

Above all, don’t settle for “good enough” on any aspect of the process. (This seems especially prevalent with the CFA.) The only “good enough” is if you’ve achieved your very best, based on you’re very best preparation. If you’re confident that you can’t do any better by preparing more and trying again, then that’s good enough. You set the bar, not the stuff you read on this forum. Best wishes to the Class of 2023 aspirants.
 
The application process takes time. There are no awards for getting your application in ahead of everyone else, and your application will mean very little without a nomination. All Members of Congress (MOC) have different dates at which they open up their nomination application process (sometime in the Summer), and those nominations aren't typically handed out until November or December.

I disagree wholeheartedly. As a BGO and MOC interview panel for many years, one of the things that we look for is motivation and a measure of motivation is speed/diligance in getting the application completed. When candidates pop up on my BGO portal (usually May), I send them an intro/welcome email and I stress the need to get things started before the end of the school year so that they can get their completed application to the Admissions Board soon after it starts up. Why? Because at that point they are fresh and there is an empty class to fill. As soon as they start, they will begin slotting candidates to the piles of Yes, Maybe and No along with some LOAs. It is true that actual offers will not be made until there is a nomination but getting into the right "pile" is key to getting through THIS part of the admissions process. If you want to push closer to a due date, do that with the nomination packages because all of the MOCs that I know of process them at one time, generally after the due date. The USNA Admissions Board begins meeting in Late Aug or early Sept and will continue up till the spring. I've seen many hear recommend candidates to keep working to improve CFAs and keep retaking the SAT. Getting the application done in a timely manner makes a candidate stand out to he BGO and will not hurt with the board.
 
Getting the application done in a timely manner makes a candidate stand out to he BGO and will not hurt with the board.
> Agree, key being "timely manner" . I think the original comment was to deter the "race" to be first - I don't think there is any benefit to rushing it to be first, but there is certainly a benefit to being "timely." If you want to demonstrate interest and motivation, call your BGO early, introduce yourself, and tell him/her your plan of action.

Does anyone have advice about taking a gap year before applying to the SAs?
I was actually planning on taking a gap year this year too, until I realized that i could take a gap year after 3/c year for religious reasons, reapply (a much easier application where you’re almost guaranteed your spot back), and join the next year’s class to continue my education at USNA
> I've never had a candidate apply from a "gap year," but don't think I would recommend it unless there was a really good reason. I've also never heard of anyone voluntarily leaving USNA and reapplying and graduating with another class. Again, I would think it would have to be a very good reason (I suspect that USNA would be receptive to a religious mission but not a year as a beach bum). Even if USNA readmits, I think it would be very awkward starting with one class and ending with another... everything revolves around you Class identity , starting with Plebe Summer and continuing through Reunions. We had a guy in my Company that was separated during 2nd Class year, went to the fleet for a year, and rejoined our Class for First Class Year. He was really never part of the Class, the Company, and I don't think anyone has seen him since graduation.
 
I disagree wholeheartedly. As a BGO and MOC interview panel for many years, one of the things that we look for is motivation and a measure of motivation is speed/diligance in getting the application completed. When candidates pop up on my BGO portal (usually May), I send them an intro/welcome email and I stress the need to get things started before the end of the school year so that they can get their completed application to the Admissions Board soon after it starts up. Why? Because at that point they are fresh and there is an empty class to fill. As soon as they start, they will begin slotting candidates to the piles of Yes, Maybe and No along with some LOAs. It is true that actual offers will not be made until there is a nomination but getting into the right "pile" is key to getting through THIS part of the admissions process. If you want to push closer to a due date, do that with the nomination packages because all of the MOCs that I know of process them at one time, generally after the due date. The USNA Admissions Board begins meeting in Late Aug or early Sept and will continue up till the spring. I've seen many hear recommend candidates to keep working to improve CFAs and keep retaking the SAT. Getting the application done in a timely manner makes a candidate stand out to he BGO and will not hurt with the board.
^^^ +100
It is only our limited experience, but our #2 and #3 set a goal to show motivation and diligence to admissions (and MoC) by getting ready to be reviewed by the beginning of September (see my post about finishing SAT/ACT by early spring of junior year above) with CFA prepared and finished during NASS and DoDMERB completed, and were “rewarded” with offer of appointments around New Year Day.

Edit: offer of appointment received within 2 weeks after MoC nom received. If your MoC submits noms by deadline of 31 Jan your timeline will be different.
 
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There’s a balancing act, I believe, between timely submission and optimal package. Certainly, earlier submission is better than later submission. But not if there’s room to improve significantly, whether it’s SAT/ACT or CFA. I’d argue that submitting an application with a 50-point improvement on SAT in October is fine, or waiting until December to submit CFA because it allowed the candidate to push performance to above average.
 
There’s a balancing act, I believe, between timely submission and optimal package. Certainly, earlier submission is better than later submission. But not if there’s room to improve significantly, whether it’s SAT/ACT or CFA. I’d argue that submitting an application with a 50-point improvement on SAT in October is fine, or waiting until December to submit CFA because it allowed the candidate to push performance to above average.
Agree wholeheartedly. Hence my suggestion to prepare early and be done with SAT/ACT before summer prior to senior year, and prepare for CFA early as well. Get your “optimal” package in early. Sure, many kids do not know they want to apply to USNA till their senior year. For those who do know early on, I see everything to gain by starting and getting ready early. From reading this forum, you already know what may give you a better chance. Don’t wait to be at your best before the deadline.

Edit: Don’t we always say “when you are on time, you are late”? Try to apply that thinking here. Best of luck to all future candidates!
 
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Getting the application done in a timely manner makes a candidate stand out to he BGO and will not hurt with the board.
> Agree, key being "timely manner" . I think the original comment was to deter the "race" to be first - I don't think there is any benefit to rushing it to be first, but there is certainly a benefit to being "timely." If you want to demonstrate interest and motivation, call your BGO early, introduce yourself, and tell him/her your plan of action.

Does anyone have advice about taking a gap year before applying to the SAs?
I was actually planning on taking a gap year this year too, until I realized that i could take a gap year after 3/c year for religious reasons, reapply (a much easier application where you’re almost guaranteed your spot back), and join the next year’s class to continue my education at USNA
> I've never had a candidate apply from a "gap year," but don't think I would recommend it unless there was a really good reason. I've also never heard of anyone voluntarily leaving USNA and reapplying and graduating with another class. Again, I would think it would have to be a very good reason (I suspect that USNA would be receptive to a religious mission but not a year as a beach bum). Even if USNA readmits, I think it would be very awkward starting with one class and ending with another... everything revolves around you Class identity , starting with Plebe Summer and continuing through Reunions. We had a guy in my Company that was separated during 2nd Class year, went to the fleet for a year, and rejoined our Class for First Class Year. He was really never part of the Class, the Company, and I don't think anyone has seen him since graduation.
I know this because I’ve spoken to several mids at USNA who have done this for religious reasons. Not every situation is the same, and so while someone who has taken a gap year may not “be a part of the class”, someone else who does may very well integrate smoothly with the new class. Two years is more than enough time.
 
Does anyone have advice about taking a gap year before applying to the SAs?

As a general rule, I advise against it as whatever you do is not likely to strengthen your application.

Someone could probably list some activities in a gap year that would actually be considered beneficial -- can't think of any (other than religious) at the moment, but might be convinced. A gap year of "traveling the world" or similar pursuits isn't going to help with USNA, though it might with other colleges. Also, you'll have plenty of time to travel the world in the USN/USMC.:)

I assume the religious gap would be for a Mormon mission. If doing that, I would suggest going prior to attending USNA. The two years (for males) of maturity and living on one's own would be a plus -- much like those who are prior enlisted or attended civilian college before USNA. I personally would think twice about taking off 2 years during one's tenure at USNA, even though I assume it's permitted. The ties to one's class are very strong -- hard to explain if you aren't a grad. Not saying it wouldn't work, but if you can do it before you attend USNA, it seems to be a preferable approach.
 
Thank you all for your help as always, I was just curious and not in the same thought process as "freshavocado".
 
DD class had a young man who took off 2 yrs for Morman Mission. Yes it was awkward for him to be with another class but USNA held his place and he will graduated with the class of 2021.

Does anyone have advice about taking a gap year before applying to the SAs?
I was actually planning on taking a gap year this year too, until I realized that i could take a gap year after 3/c year for religious reasons, reapply (a much easier application where you’re almost guaranteed your spot back), and join the next year’s class to continue my education at USNA
> I've never had a candidate apply from a "gap year," but don't think I would recommend it unless there was a really good reason. I've also never heard of anyone voluntarily leaving USNA and reapplying and graduating with another class. Again, I would think it would have to be a very good reason (I suspect that USNA would be receptive to a religious mission but not a year as a beach bum). Even if USNA readmits, I think it would be very awkward starting with one class and ending with another... everything revolves around you Class identity , starting with Plebe Summer and continuing through Reunions. We had a guy in my Company that was separated during 2nd Class year, went to the fleet for a year, and rejoined our Class for First Class Year. He was really never part of the Class, the Company, and I don't think anyone has seen him since graduation.[/QUOTE]
 
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