Application Strength

OrionVII

OrionVII

Aspiring USAFA or USMA Cadet
Joined
Oct 9, 2023
Messages
9
Hey Y'all,

I'm a Freshman in Alabama at a Technical Vocational High School. I am a Fencer (E rated), currently getting certified as a referee, a member of a library Teen Advisory Board, about two months away from getting my Eagle Scout, have a 4.0 unweighted GPA, play a musical instrument, and I am taking classes in Mandarin and German. Are there any areas that I need to work on? Also, what summer programs are best to attend?
 
I’m not an admission expert, just another Candidate, but keep up the work and get a good ACT, and take the hardest classes possible and go to boys state
 
Parent of appointee here.

What tlaw28 said, hardest classes possible. Take ACT/SAT multiple times to get best score possible. For technical vocational high school, what kind of courses are you taking? Perhaps your vocational school has different classes than what I normally associate w/ a vocational high school, but if not taking good math and science classes at advanced levels, that may hinder your ability to get fully qualified.
 
All of the advice above is good. Continue looking for ways to engage and lead in Scouting and other programs. Be an SPL, join the summer camp staff, be part of the Order of the Arrow, etc. Find a sport or two, and I recommend starting your preparations for the CFA. I direct my students to the academic outline on this page at USAFA admissions: https://www.academyadmissions.com/requirements/academic/

Especially look at the need for four years of math (geometry, algebra, trigonometry and precalculus), English, and science (lab-based and should include biology, chemistry and physics) -- I assume your school can provide a college-preparatory regime as vocational-oriented schools typically do not.

Good luck with your preparations!
 
Which should I focus more on, AP or Dual Enrollment?
 
OrionVII said:
Hey Y'all,

I'm a Freshman in Alabama at a Technical Vocational High School. I am a Fencer (E rated), currently getting certified as a referee, a member of a library Teen Advisory Board, about two months away from getting my Eagle Scout, have a 4.0 unweighted GPA, play a musical instrument, and I am taking classes in Mandarin and German. Are there any areas that I need to work on? Also, what summer programs are best to attend?
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Is fencing offered as a sport at your school (i.e access to letters + captaincies)? If not, maybe consider another sport like XC that your school does offer.

Everything else looks very competitive, but remember that you want high level STEM classes (especially in math and lab science courses), so plan your future years around that.

good luck :)
 
My school does not have fencing, it is a club level sport. Otherwise, my school only offers Dual Enrollment, due to the fact that we are a small school (about 180 students). I will gain some specialized technical training (I.e. Pilots and Drone licenses).
 
OrionVII said:
My school does not have fencing, it is a club level sport. Otherwise, my school only offers Dual Enrollment, due to the fact that we are a small school (about 180 students). I will gain some specialized technical training (I.e. Pilots and Drone licenses).
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SAT is very important. As high as possible. For essay and interviews, prepare stories to show why you want to go to service academy?
 
I am a parent of a USMA cadet—

ACADEMICS—
4.0 is good. Try to keep that up.
Do a study program starting now for the SAT or ACT (Khan Academy is free and good) to get the best score you can.
Why did you choose the small technical vocational school? I am not telling you to change schools, but that is different than usual.

ATHLETICS—
They typically look for varsity sports and varsity team captain, which you don’t have an option for. Getting a high score on the CFA would be very helpful.
USMA has a fencing team, which is good. I don’t know if fencing would give you an advantage in admissions, but it may.

SERVICE/CHARACTER—
Eagle Scout is very good.
Continue finding other ways to be involved in meaningful service in your community, not just to check it off the list but to serve in areas where you enjoy being engaged.

LEADERSHIP—
This is one area I think you should focus on. Perhaps working toward Eagle Scout has given you leadership roles(?).
Find other ways to develop your leadership skills. Being an officer in the military involves leading teams of people to accomplish missions, so try to find opportunities to practice this.
 
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