Admissions chances (Again)

OrionVII

OrionVII

Aspiring USAFA, USNA, or USMA Cadet
Joined
Oct 9, 2023
Messages
49
Hello y'all,

I do this once a year, but this is where I list my various activities/Extracurriculars to get a sense where I am. I DO REALIZE THAT NO ONE CAN GIVE ME ACCURATE CHANCES. I do this just to get a vague look at my chances. By the way, I am a sophomore from Alabama at ~2,000 student school.

Academics:
4.3 GPA
No ACT/SAT (Sophomore)
My school does not publish class rank, but estimating top third of the class.

Extracurriculars:
Volunteer at O'Neal Library
Captain of a State Qualified Mock Trial Team
Member of the Young Politicians club
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Eagle Scout
Member of a Bagpipe Band

Sports:
JV or Varsity Swim Team (We have not gotten news on Letters yet)
Varsity equivalent Fencer (E-rated)

Considering/planning to join:
National Honor Society
National German Honor Society
Attempting to create a Mock United Nations team
Planning to do Alabama Youth Legislature in the Spring

Do any former/current Cadets, parents, or other members of the military have any advice for what I should be doing better? Is there anything that I should stop doing?
 
I think you look like a great candidate so far (I went a USCGA years ago, have a son waiting to hear on USMA).
I would say, work hard for great testing scores (SAT or ACT).
My son didn't decide he wanted to go to USMA until attending SLE after Junior year. He's a varsity athlete (cross country/track) but had to train all summer for the fitness test in order to pass it. Had he known (like you do) that he wanted to apply earlier, he would have been training for it much earlier. He passed, but could have done MUCH better with more time to train! So that would be my advice - as a swimmer, I bet maybe you aren't as great at the running? For my son, he excelled at the running, but had to work hard for the pushups. And the basketball throw....that's just something that needs a lot of practice!
Oh, try for Boys State after Junior year! My son had a great time, and it's great for Leadership points.
 
wonder2024 said:
I think you look like a great candidate so far (I went a USCGA years ago, have a son waiting to hear on USMA).
I would say, work hard for great testing scores (SAT or ACT).
My son didn't decide he wanted to go to USMA until attending SLE after Junior year. He's a varsity athlete (cross country/track) but had to train all summer for the fitness test in order to pass it. Had he known (like you do) that he wanted to apply earlier, he would have been training for it much earlier. He passed, but could have done MUCH better with more time to train! So that would be my advice - as a swimmer, I bet maybe you aren't as great at the running? For my son, he excelled at the running, but had to work hard for the pushups. And the basketball throw....that's just something that needs a lot of practice!
Oh, try for Boys State after Junior year! My son had a great time, and it's great for Leadership points.
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Thank you do much for the input. My best wishes for your son in his pursuit of an appointment.
 
I'm not an expert, but it'd be doable to max the CFA if you start taking training seriously now. Also I second go to Boys State. Not just for application but because it's awesome. In my state they allow rising Sophomores as well as rising Juniors to attend, so I would see if you can go next summer. Great opportunity, and the guys who went twice usually end up with the upper hand for Executive Office elections. Plus its so fun I wish I'd known to go twice.
 
OrionVII said:
Unfortunately, in my state, only rising seniors may attend. Thank you for the advice though!
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That is how the governing organization says the program should be run - just rising seniors. I'm not challenging the poster's comment
but I'm pretty familiar with a lot of Boys State programs and none of the ones that I work with allow rising Juniors / two time attendees.

That said - your comment about SAT/ACT does not have to be that way because you're a Sophomore. Freshmen can and do take the the test. You just go online and sign up. Your school and guidance team don't have a say in it. My standard advice is to start early - Freshman year if you can.
 
OldRetSWO said:
That is how the governing organization says the program should be run - just rising seniors. I'm not challenging the poster's comment
but I'm pretty familiar with a lot of Boys State programs and none of the ones that I work with allow rising Juniors / two time attendees.

That said - your comment about SAT/ACT does not have to be that way because you're a Sophomore. Freshmen can and do take the the test. You just go online and sign up. Your school and guidance team don't have a say in it. My standard advice is to start early - Freshman year if you can.
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Thank you for the advice. I will make sure to check it out.
 
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