Application Questions

D

DCHillin

5-Year Member
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May 11, 2012
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I have only taken the ACT once as a practice run, and while the scores were not the highest (mid/low 20's,) will I have to wait until my scores improve to move further on in completing an application?

I've been told by multiple officers, and midshipmen to get my app in asap. My concern is that will have to wait till the fall to retake the ACT/SAT, and by that time school will have and it will tak me a little longer to get it done.
 
Results on practice tests may/may not correlate with the real thing.

There is no need to race to get the application in early. The admissions criteria is the same whether yours is the first or the last to be submitted. Better to submit a complete and well prepared application then one done hastily that leaves things our or is incomplete.
 
as you correctly guessed low to mid 20's will be problematic. However, you can raise those scores!

My son took the ACT/SAT EIGHT times and this was the variance (lowest out of 8/highest out of 8):

English 30/34
Math 33/36
Reading 21/33
Science 26/30

regarding your application-there is a lot you can do from now until BFEs are sent out. work on the other stuff (besides ACT scores) in the meantime. You can make changes until the deadline which I think was February.
 
There actually can be a benefit to starting the process early - the medical exam will not be scheduled until a certain percentage of your file has been submitted, and you are seen as a viable candidate (these exams are paid for by the military, so it's understandable that they want to make sure you're not just casually "checking it out" before they pay for you to have one). I agree that you'll want to put your best package out there, but if you begin the process, and can get your medical qualification taken care of over the summer, that's a major hurdle to get behind you. Plus, if there are any medical issues that need additional information, you will have plenty of time to submit documentation, or wait for a waiver if necessary.

While you might have been "practicing" the ACT the first time, the scores are recorded and are probably not high enough to show you as a competitive candidate right now - I would take it again ASAP (there's another one on June 8th), and then continue to take it as many times as you need to. You might also consider the SAT - each of our 3 children scored much better on the ACT, but I'm sure there are many stories that go the other way. Bottom line, the tests are different, and USNA doesn't care which one you do better in - but you will need high scores in one or the other.
 
There is certainly a value in getting as much of your application done over the summer as possible between junior/senior year when you most likely have more free time. In the past when this has been discussed, people tend to imply that submitting your application early somehow increases your chances of getting an appointment, which is not correct.
 
SC2015 said:
There actually can be a benefit to starting the process early - the medical exam will not be scheduled until a certain percentage of your file has been submitted, and you are seen as a viable candidate (these exams are paid for by the military, so it's understandable that they want to make sure you're not just casually "checking it out" before they pay for you to have one). I agree that you'll want to put your best package out there, but if you begin the process, and can get your medical qualification taken care of over the summer, that's a major hurdle to get behind you. Plus, if there are any medical issues that need additional information, you will have plenty of time to submit documentation, or wait for a waiver if necessary.
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This is somewhat my main concern, becuase I have a fear that my asthma which was cleared about 2 years ago would possibly slow down the process.
THANKS FOR THE TIPS.
 
time2 said:
There is certainly a value in getting as much of your application done over the summer as possible between junior/senior year when you most likely have more free time. In the past when this has been discussed, people tend to imply that submitting your application early somehow increases your chances of getting an appointment, which is not correct.
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Yes I was more focused on trying to complete a good portion of the application before time constraints would limit the amount of attentoin I could pay to the application during the academic year.
 
You can start your application process now.
You should take the SAT and ACT. You might do better on one than the other.
Standardized test scores are huge- but you still are going to have to get the rest out of the way.
You have the summer to study and to plan out your Senior year.
 
The application process is daunting, consuming and fraught with peril, especially those with medical waivers. No such thing as auto-pilot here.

Listen to these folks and get as much done early. You'd be surprised at the amount of personal decision strife throughout your senior year - which is supposed to be...fun?

Looking back, Plan A, B, C turned into:

A - received full scholarship/s, failed final acceptance (dad floored)
B - BINGO! (painful mentally)
C - Accepted, funding not pretty (dad refused to wear colors)
D - died on vine (mom and dad still scratching heads)
E - failed to launch
F - pipe dream, but killer basketball!

Does Hogwarts have an alma mater??? Anyone? :yllol:
 
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