Admissions Chances and Improvement

[Dalton_Scott29]

I am interested in applying to the US Merchant Marine Academy and would like to know how competitive my profile is. I am an applicant for the class of 29 and I have already reached out to my regional representative as well as the head sailing coaches. I have achieved a 1270 SAT score, with a 4.4 weighted GPA and a 3.95 unweighted GPA. I'm ranked 38 out of 312 students at my school. In addition to my academic achievements, I have been actively involved in various extracurricular activities including serving as captain of the tennis team, president and founder of the chess club, and holding the position of JROTC Battalion operations officer. I am also a certified rescue diver, participate in swim and musical theater, engage in sailing and rock climbing, and volunteer extensively. I am a member of both the National Honor Society and the Science National Honor Society. this is not a comprehensive list. Considering these accomplishments, what are my chances of gaining admission to the USMMA? Any advice on strengthening my application would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and guidance!

 

[kpmom2013]

It sounds like you are a very well-rounded applicant. I would definitely work on your SAT score, especially your math. These scores are heavily weighted in the admissions process. I would take it multiple times to make sure you reach your potential. Good luck.

 

[Dalton_Scott29]

It sounds like you are a very well-rounded applicant. I would definitely work on your SAT score, especially your math. These scores are heavily weighted in the admissions process. I would take it multiple times to make sure you reach your potential. Good luck.

Thank you very much for the advice and reassurance. I have been studying all summer for the math portion of the SAT my current math score is a 570 so I'm trying to get it raised as much as possible. Thank you again it means a lot!

 

[tankercaptain]

I am interested in applying to the US Merchant Marine Academy and would like to know how competitive my profile is. I am an applicant for the class of 29 and I have already reached out to my regional representative as well as the head sailing coaches. I have achieved a 1270 SAT score, with a 4.4 weighted GPA and a 3.95 unweighted GPA. I'm ranked 38 out of 312 students at my school. In addition to my academic achievements, I have been actively involved in various extracurricular activities including serving as captain of the tennis team, president and founder of the chess club, and holding the position of JROTC Battalion operations officer. I am also a certified rescue diver, participate in swim and musical theater, engage in sailing and rock climbing, and volunteer extensively. I am a member of both the National Honor Society and the Science National Honor Society. this is not a comprehensive list. Considering these accomplishments, what are my chances of gaining admission to the USMMA? Any advice on strengthening my application would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and guidance!

Federal regulation 46 CFR 310.57 requires the Academy to select midshipmen based on a State's allotted vacancies. Admissions utilize order of merit determined by SAT/ACT scores, academic background, and other factors determined by the Academy.

Strive to be the top candidate in your state.

If you cannot receive an appointment for the state vacancy, get your profile as competitive as possible for a vacancy in your geographical area. Admissions use the order of merit to fill geographical area vacancies.

46 CFR 310,53 details the number of vacancies allocated to each State, geographical area, and national alternates.

46 CFR § 310.53 - Nominations and vacancies.

www.law.cornell.edu

 

[Dalton_Scott29]

Federal regulation 46 CFR 310.57 requires the Academy to select midshipmen based on a State's allotted vacancies. Admissions utilize order of merit determined by SAT/ACT scores, academic background, and other factors determined by the Academy.

Strive to be the top candidate in your state.

If you cannot receive an appointment for the state vacancy, get your profile as competitive as possible for a vacancy in your geographical area. Admissions use the order of merit to fill geographical area vacancies.

46 CFR 310,53 details the number of vacancies allocated to each State, geographical area, and national alternates.

46 CFR § 310.53 - Nominations and vacancies.

www.law.cornell.edu

Thank you for this, I had no idea that was how it worked. So does SAT weigh the most in the ranking?

 

[tankercaptain]

Thank you for this, I had no idea that was how it worked. So does SAT weigh the most in the ranking?

The admissions department breaks down the evaluation into 65% academics, including transcript review, high school class rank, and ACT/SAT scores, and 35% leadership, including school official evaluations, extracurricular activities, and essays.

Recommend taking an ACT/SAT prep course. You should plan for 1400 on the SATs with a math over 650.

Also recommend taking physics and calculus.

 

[Dalton_Scott29]

The admissions department breaks down the evaluation into 65% academics, including transcript review, high school class rank, and ACT/SAT scores, and 35% leadership, including school official evaluations, extracurricular activities, and essays.

Recommend taking an ACT/SAT prep course. You should plan for 1400 on the SATs with a math over 650.

Also recommend taking physics and calculus.

Understood Thank you for the insight

 

[JohnPAKP65]

Good advice from all; take heed especially from those telling you to improve on the math score. That will help you get in and more importantly stay in! In that regard, keeping in mind it is a sample ACT math problem, tell me your thought processes on how you would solve the problem below. Note the ACT I believe is 60 questions in 60 minutes.

 

[Dalton_Scott29]

after quickly reading the problem I would find the total distance traveled and divide it by the average MPG. 2,727/27, would give me 101 and that would be the gallons necessary. Multiplying the gallons necessary by the gas cost would leave me at $408.04

 

[JohnPAKP65]

Great job, but the key to solving the problem in your head and thus saving time, is to recognize that 2727 is exactly divisible by 27 (101) so the answer, again done in your head is the solution of $408.04 Did you think it through, or did you pull out a calculator?

 

[Dalton_Scott29]

Great job, but the key to solving the problem in your head and thus saving time, is to recognize that 2727 is exactly divisible by 27 (101) so the answer, again done in your head is the solution of $408.04 Did you think it through, or did you pull out a calculator?

The first part of the question where I had to divide by 27 I did in my head, on the second part where I multiplied by 4.04 I double checked myself with a calculator.

 

[flieger83]

I did it in my head in a couple of seconds...

The students I teach at a VERY good high school...most...would reach for their phone or calculator...

I get asked all the time..."How'd you do that?"

 

[Dalton_Scott29]

I did it in my head in a couple of seconds...

The students I teach at a VERY good high school...most...would reach for their phone or calculator...

I get asked all the time..."How'd you do that?"

View attachment 16427

For a lot of students mental math is becoming more and more challenging as virtually all classes have immediate access to calculators

 

[JohnPAKP65]

For a lot of students mental math is becoming more and more challenging as virtually all classes have immediate access to calculators

I agree, but students need to recognize patterns within the test problems and use a strategy to solve the problmes in the most expedious manner. The sample I gave you earlier had a key pattern; 2727 miles and 27 mpg. A good strategy would have been to recognize that early on, do the problem in your head, and “bank” 30 seconds for a harder problem. How would you do this problem?

 

[Dalton_Scott29]

I agree, but students need to recognize patterns within the test problems and use a strategy to solve the problmes in the most expedious manner. The sample I gave you earlier had a key pattern; 2727 miles and 27 mpg. A good strategy would have been to recognize that early on, do the problem in your head, and “bank” 30 seconds for a harder problem. How would you do this problem?

Sorry i just got to this now i was working on some homework, but as soon as i saw this I recognized that 210 was divisible by 42 and the same for 126. So the greatest common factor is 42