Advice on my resume?

[cestlavie_33]

Hi, I'm new here. Any advice on my application is greatly appreciated. I know even qualified applicants sometimes don't get accepted but I just would feel better if I had an idea of my potential standing at getting into USNA or any service academy for that matter.

I am currently a Junior
SAT: 1440
GPA Unweighted: 3.86
GPA Weighted: (School doesn't provide but I took all honors and the few AP classes my school offers)

Junior Years Core Classes (Year averages so far):

AP Physics - 92
Engineering - 96
College Algebra/Trig - 91
D.C English - 94
D.C US History - 96

AP Scores: (I'm taking these soon)

Leadership
Band: Section Leader (Sophomore) Woodwind Captain (Junior), and Junior Representative
Co-founder/speaker of my school's Mental Health Club (Still Active)
Saxophone tutoring (Not sure if considered leadership)

Extracurriculars:
Marching Band (Lettered) - 4 years
Varsity Speech and Debate (Extemp and Cross-Examination) (Lettered) - 3 Years
Boxing - 3 years
Robotics Build Team (Lettered) - 3 Years

Achievements:
Top 12, State Alto Sax Jazz
Solo & Ensemble: State Qualifier: 2023 and 2024
Texas Music Scholar Award
Debate, All-Region Extemporaneous Speaking: 2023 and 2024
All Area Band: 2022 and 2023
All Area Jazz Band: 2022 and 2023
GDYO (Competetive Youth Orchestra Program)

Volunteering: National Library of Congress and various school events

Yeah, no varsity sports. I keep myself in shape through a local boxing gym and personal fitness but that's really about it. Thank you!

 

[Don't Give Up the Ship]

Your resume is competitive...just how much, no one on this site can say. You will be competing on the Nomination Slates that you earn a spot on. Your lack of team sports jumps out, however, you have the boxing. I would keep the boxing activity and try to do more in that aspect. Boxing is a required class at USNA. A couple of thoughts:

1. Many, many, very qualified candidates do not get Appointed.
2. Plan on applying for all Nomination sources you qualify for (lots of threads on that subject)'
3. Try to increase SAT scores. It matters. Take both if you can.
4. About 90% (9 of every 10) of those appointed, have played one or more varsity sports-you can overcome this but its tough
5. Leadership: you have some leadership ...try to build on that and get more if possible
6. Have a strong plan B on becoming a Naval Officer
7. Nail Pre-Calculus next year.
8. Get some time helping / mentoring other students (tutoring or similar)
9. Get working on talking to Math & English teachers for evaluations NOW. Capture their home e mails (you may need to contact them in the summer and sometimes they change schools.
10. Believe it ...time to start a CFA preparation program.

Good luck,

 

[Academician]

Great advice from @Don't Give Up the Ship. Keep up the good work! I think my students in Texas are still applying for Boys State, so I would recommend looking into it. I also recommend to my students to put together a Plan A - B - C. "A" is USNA (and the SAs), Plan "B" is one or several ROTC scholarships, and then "C" is the set of civilian universities that you apply to as part of the ROTC application process. The latter will allow you to re-apply to the USNA as a college freshman. Best of luck!

 

[Waitandsee]

Also, the USNA seems less concerned about the overall composite score and, due to the heavy stem focus of the majors at the academy, are mainly just looking at Math score for ACT and SAT and English ACT and Reading/Verbal SAT. But, math is obviously king.

 

[Just Dad]

You're a junior, you have the “Luxury of Time” in improving your SAT/ACT scores.

Take both tests; pick the one you get the best scores with. Then re-take that test, re-take, and re-take until taking that test becomes “just another day at the office”. While you are re-taking tests, look around for the best SAT/ACT prep course you can afford. If you can swing it, an in-person test prep course is much better than getting a book or taking a course on-line. These courses teach the test and how to take it ; that's how to improve a score significantly, not re-studying course content you’ve already had.

In his excellent post, 'Don’t Give Up The Ship’ advises that you're “scores matter”. Yup, they do, and not just for the USNA, for any school you apply to, scholarships, aid programs Etc. Invest some time, energy, assets here.

Note: You have a decent SAT Score, but if you haven't taken the steps described above, I’m confident you can bump it up significantly.

Good Luck

PS: Start talking about your desire to attend the USNA, USAFA, USMA, USMMA with parents, teachers, friends, coaches NOW. In your case maybe draft up a speech (oratory or expository) that relates to service academies, military service, Etc and present it competition or class. As you move through the application process you will talking with B&G Officers, MOC Nom boards, and writing up personal statements for your application. Every conversation, debate, speech competition that touches upon or tests your thinking about attending a service academy will improve your responses in important conversations/writtings down the road.

much

 

[blinkus]

Aside from the rest of the suggestions made, curing cancer can help!

Seriously, you have the luxury of time. Get a better CFA score, SAT score, GPA, ect! Work on your essays early, apps early, get recommendation letters early.

Godspeed!

 

[Boeingaircraft767]

Hi, I'm new here. Any advice on my application is greatly appreciated. I know even qualified applicants sometimes don't get accepted but I just would feel better if I had an idea of my potential standing at getting into USNA or any service academy for that matter.

I am currently a Junior
SAT: 1440
GPA Unweighted: 3.86
GPA Weighted: (School doesn't provide but I took all honors and the few AP classes my school offers)

Junior Years Core Classes (Year averages so far):

AP Physics - 92
Engineering - 96
College Algebra/Trig - 91
D.C English - 94
D.C US History - 96

AP Scores: (I'm taking these soon)

Leadership
Band: Section Leader (Sophomore) Woodwind Captain (Junior), and Junior Representative
Co-founder/speaker of my school's Mental Health Club (Still Active)
Saxophone tutoring (Not sure if considered leadership)

Extracurriculars:
Marching Band (Lettered) - 4 years
Varsity Speech and Debate (Extemp and Cross-Examination) (Lettered) - 3 Years
Boxing - 3 years
Robotics Build Team (Lettered) - 3 Years

Achievements:
Top 12, State Alto Sax Jazz
Solo & Ensemble: State Qualifier: 2023 and 2024
Texas Music Scholar Award
Debate, All-Region Extemporaneous Speaking: 2023 and 2024
All Area Band: 2022 and 2023
All Area Jazz Band: 2022 and 2023
GDYO (Competetive Youth Orchestra Program)

Volunteering: National Library of Congress and various school events

Yeah, no varsity sports. I keep myself in shape through a local boxing gym and personal fitness but that's really about it. Thank you!

Policy debater!!!!! You an FJG or UBI person? (Or SSA) I ran Tcherneva FJG this year.