Academically competitive?

ptechz

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
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Oct 26, 2008
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Hello i'm currently a junior in high school and i've taken serious interest in attending the U.S. Naval Academy, i'm pretty scared though at the fact that I may not be academically qualified.
My stats: 3.5 GPA with 1 AP, 1 Honors and 6 Accelerated classes from my Freshman and Sophomore year
This year im currently enrolled in AP English AP U.S. History AP Biology Honors Physics Honors Math Analysis and an ASB prep period.
Currently I have As in all classes except AP English which is picking up pretty well, if all goes well I should be able to get around a 3.7 GPA (unweighted) around the time where NASS applications are due, I understand that SAT/ACT scores are very important in the academic aspect of admission but in terms of GPA performance I would like to know if I even have a shot.
 
It's somewhat difficult to answer your question because GPA is not evaluated in a vaccuum. Equally important is your class rank. If you have a 3.5 but 80% of your class has better than a 3.5, it doesn't look so good. If, on the other hand, you are in the top 10% with your 3.5, that looks a lot better.

The strength of your school can also make a difference. This can generally only help you -- if your school is locally or nationally known as being very competitive.

Finally, the courses you take are important. USNA likes to see you take Chemistry and Calculus (as a senior). Physics, Biology, advanced language are also good. Taking AP in any or all of the above, or IB courses, is another bonus. Getting As -- priceless.:smile:

The above said, not every student who gets an appointment earns all As in all AP courses. Certainly, from what you say in your post, you have a decent shot from an academic standpoint, depending on the various factors I've outlined above. Finally, as you know, leadership and athletics are important as well.

One other thing: NASS is intended primarily as a recruiting tool. Thus, USNA strives to take students from schools and geographic areas that are traditionally underrepresented at USNA. Thus, even highly qualified students may not get an offer for NASS. Thus, if you don't get accepted to NASS, it does NOT necessarily mean you are not competitive for USNA. Conversely, getting accepted to NASS is no guarantee of an appointment.
 
It's somewhat difficult to answer your question because GPA is not evaluated in a vaccuum. Equally important is your class rank. If you have a 3.5 but 80% of your class has better than a 3.5, it doesn't look so good. If, on the other hand, you are in the top 10% with your 3.5, that looks a lot better.

The strength of your school can also make a difference. This can generally only help you -- if your school is locally or nationally known as being very competitive.

Finally, the courses you take are important. USNA likes to see you take Chemistry and Calculus (as a senior). Physics, Biology, advanced language are also good. Taking AP in any or all of the above, or IB courses, is another bonus. Getting As -- priceless.:smile:

The above said, not every student who gets an appointment earns all As in all AP courses. Certainly, from what you say in your post, you have a decent shot from an academic standpoint, depending on the various factors I've outlined above. Finally, as you know, leadership and athletics are important as well.

One other thing: NASS is intended primarily as a recruiting tool. Thus, USNA strives to take students from schools and geographic areas that are traditionally underrepresented at USNA. Thus, even highly qualified students may not get an offer for NASS. Thus, if you don't get accepted to NASS, it does NOT necessarily mean you are not competitive for USNA. Conversely, getting accepted to NASS is no guarantee of an appointment.

Oh wow thank you so much for the NASS = USNA? clarification. Another question though, I read somewhere on the USNA site that preapplications are required to be sent in before a real packet of applications come in from the admissions department and the preapplications are due spring of my junior year. In that packet are only my grades, classes, and extra curriculars examined or do I have to have my CFA and medical tests done by that time as well?
 
You do not have to submit your pre-application questionnaire in the spring -- it can be done later. However, best to do it early.

No, you do not have to have your CFA and/or medical done. CFA can be submitted up to (I believe) March 1, although most students try to get it done over the summer or early fall. If you attend NASS, you will take the test there. If you're happy with your score, you're done as far as the CFA goes.

As a general rule, once you have 50% of your application packet submitted, you will receive an invitation to schedule your medical appointment. I would schedule it as soon thereafter as humanly possible as many candidates require some form of "remedials," which can take time.
 
NASS

Although USNA does not need to recruit from suburban MD and NOVA, being from there has one advantage for summer seminar: when that slot opens up on Friday afternoon, for the session that starts at 1100 hrs. on Saturday morning, they are not calling the candidate in Montana, they will call the person who can reasonably drop everything that they had to do and get themselves to the gate the next morning. So apply for the summer seminar. if you don't get it straight away, send them a letter letting them know that you are very interested/committed and willing to go if something opens up. Finally, it doesn't take too much imagination to figure that out of 300 kids someone will change their mind, or someone may injure themselves on the Friday they were to leave, or someone may miss their flight, etc. so being "available" at the gate with your bags packed, papers signed and fees in hand may work for you. If not, there are worse places to spend a Saturday with nothing to do--Highland Falls, NY:smile:
 
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