Any advice?

[go.merica907]

Hello all,

It's been my lifelong dream to attend Navy (or really any Service academy), and I'm starting to get a little more serious about it as I am getting older.

I am currently a sophomore in high school. So far, I am an Eagle Scout, I have staffed the National Youth Leadership Training (with the Boy Scouts), I am the Senior Patrol Leader of my Scout troop, I have roughly 200 service hours, I was a coxswain on the Atlanta Junior Rowing team all last year, and I will be running track in the spring, and hopefully golf too if I can fit it in with my schedule. I am in the Dodgeball club at my school, and another unique thing (that I think will boost my chances) is that I take Chinese in school. Personally, I think I'm qualified with my extracurricular. My school performance hasn't been the best. My school doesn't use the GPA scale, and instead uses the Cumulative Numeric Average (the average of all my number grades) My CNA is a 92(out of 100), but I take all honors classes this year, and I took one AP last year. I haven't taken the SAT yet, but I scored a 162 on the PSAT. I still have a good 3 semesters before I apply to get my CNA up, and take the SAT.

Any suggestions on how I should approach this? I know most of the state universities really like course rigor, but at the same time, CNA is everything. So should I take more APs (sacrificing a high CNA) or take easier classes with the hopes of getting a better CNA?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[bandad]

Well for starters, look here - http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=6327

Secondly, here - http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/documents/ClassPortrait.pdf

A few thoughts:

1. Class ranking is important - shoot for the top 10% or better
2. SAT/ACT scores are important - take several times and superscore. I suggest you take ACT or SAT in the first half of 2014 and get a baseline and then study and retake from there. My DS took the ACT 2 times his freshman and sophomore years, and once his Jr year. Some kids take it more. Math and English are the two scores that are used (and a heard that Math was worth more than English).
3. Most appointees have Varsity letters in athletics - 90%
4. leadership positions are more important than club participation
5. Read the CFA and start working on it
6. Lastly, take tough classes. I would say my plebe has benefited most from AP Calc, AP Chem, AP Physics. The other AP courses he took didn't hurt either.
7. Apply to NASS

There are a lot of variables. You can only control variables related to yourself so if you really want to go to USNA, make your application the best it can be. Don't worry about things outside of your control. Talk to parents who have kids in the academies, go to Academy nights, and visit the academies if you can. Find out the Blue and Gold officer (USNA contact) from your high school.

The best to you,

bandad
DS USNA '17

 

[2018midmom]

Take both the ACT and SAT early and often. They use your best scores so this can only help. Also start training for the CFA. A great score helps. Great luck. My newly appointed DS started building for this freshman year and it has paid off. Also, if you can get to know your representative personally that can help.