Attempting to introduce myself

T

ThePizzaMan

New Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2023
Messages
5
Hello, hi - I don't really know how to do introductions on forums, so I'm basically just winging it here.

I'm a High School Freshman which has been interested in service academies (USMA and USNA mostly) who is motivated to get appointed to West Point. I've been in school for about three to four weeks and so far I'm trying to lay down a great foundation to get started by taking an AP math class and two JROTC classes - in which I joined the air rifle team. Outside of school I work in my family's business during the weekend and one of my hobbies is writing. I joined this forum to learn more about the service academies.

And just for a random fact, I had to retake the first grade as I didn't do any of the work - which now in High School I can't slack off, if I hope to getting into West Point. How the tables have turned.
 
Welcome!! Make sure and check each SA’s primary .edu website. Familiarize yourself. There you will find information about what to focus on through your next 4 yrs of high school.

Consider attending summer opportunities, including sports camps, STEM, and/or NASS/SLE.

Good job on the introduction! And welcome!
 
Welcome to the Forums. You are definitely in the right window to start mapping out your plan for applications to the service academies. Mine through the information here first and then start posing questions that you might have.
 
Welcome! You are definitely starting at the right time to schedule the courses you should take. Scour the SA websites to see what courses you should be taking. Then, make an appointment with your guidance counselor and share your goal with them. Enlist them in your goal and ask them to look at the courses you should be taking, and ask them to help you make sure they can be scheduled accordingly. I would suggest you take the PSAT (Potential for National Merit Scholar), a great baseline for you to see what that test will look like. Taking advanced math courses is important, but taking them as early as you are able to (and doing well in them) is key in terms of tests. Many students take the SAT in their junior year in the fall, and portions of the test involve math most students haven't even taken yet.

@justdoit19 is right, check out the various camps available.

In your junior year, I would suggest that you apply for Boys/Girls State.
 
I dont see anything about organized HS sports. Even if you are not good at sports I’d pick one or two that don’t make cuts. Maybe cross country and T&F.

You will greatly standout from others applying to a SA if you don’t have varsity sports on your resume

Is air rifle jrrotc seen as a varsity sport? If so IMO still find another to do.
 
Adding to the previous notes, it is not too early to start preparing for the fitness assessments, both the CFA and the ROTC fitness tests too. Overall, start building your résumé and aim not only to be a good 'team' member, but to become part of the leadership of the different clubs, sports, etc. that you join. JROTC is a good one so 'lean into' it and that should be a great experience. Best of luck with your journey!
 
justdoit19 said:
Welcome!! Make sure and check each SA’s primary .edu website. Familiarize yourself. There you will find information about what to focus on through your next 4 yrs of high school.

Consider attending summer opportunities, including sports camps, STEM, and/or NASS/SLE.

Good job on the introduction! And welcome!
Click to expand...
Hello! Believe me, these past few days I've been taking your advice and consuming just about anything on those websites. The USMA's "Start Young to Gain Admission" brochure is very helpful. USNA's website provided some helpful academic advice as well.

Sadly I've aged out of my old summer camp, so I will be on the look-out for new camps! Maybe I'll even become a kitchen-aide to my old summer camp. I definitely have my eyes set on NASS/SLE.

Heatherg21 said:
Welcome! You are definitely starting at the right time to schedule the courses you should take. Scour the SA websites to see what courses you should be taking. Then, make an appointment with your guidance counselor and share your goal with them. Enlist them in your goal and ask them to look at the courses you should be taking, and ask them to help you make sure they can be scheduled accordingly. I would suggest you take the PSAT (Potential for National Merit Scholar), a great baseline for you to see what that test will look like. Taking advanced math courses is important, but taking them as early as you are able to (and doing well in them) is key in terms of tests. Many students take the SAT in their junior year in the fall, and portions of the test involve math most students haven't even taken yet.

@justdoit19 is right, check out the various camps available.

In your junior year, I would suggest that you apply for Boys/Girls State.
Click to expand...
My guidance counselor already helped me once by putting a JROTC class in my schedule, so I'll have no trouble in making that appointment.

I will find out more about what the PSAT is, especially Boys State. From what I've seen Boys State will be helpful.

Small Team Bacsi said:
I dont see anything about organized HS sports. Even if you are not good at sports I’d pick one or two that don’t make cuts. Maybe cross country and T&F.

You will greatly standout from others applying to a SA if you don’t have varsity sports on your resume

Is air rifle jrrotc seen as a varsity sport? If so IMO still find another to do.
Click to expand...
I don't want to bite off more than I can chew at the moment, but I do have my eyes on cross country. I also did ask around today and Air Rifle JROTC is apparently seen as a varsity sport.
 
ThePizzaMan said:
Hello! Believe me, these past few days I've been taking your advice and consuming just about anything on those websites. The USMA's "Start Young to Gain Admission" brochure is very helpful. USNA's website provided some helpful academic advice as well.

Sadly I've aged out of my old summer camp, so I will be on the look-out for new camps! Maybe I'll even become a kitchen-aide to my old summer camp. I definitely have my eyes set on NASS/SLE.


My guidance counselor already helped me once by putting a JROTC class in my schedule, so I'll have no trouble in making that appointment.

I will find out more about what the PSAT is, especially Boys State. From what I've seen Boys State will be helpful.


I don't want to bite off more than I can chew at the moment, but I do have my eyes on cross country. I also did ask around today and Air Rifle JROTC is apparently seen as a varsity sport.
Click to expand...
You are considering being a kitchen aid at a camp or search out new camps to attend but do not have time for a HS sport?

because you don’t want to bite off more than you can deal with?

This is the wrong way to go about this.

Academics. True leadership positions. Sports.

I assume cc has already started? Most successful applicants will be playing 2-4 sports. Most will earn varsity letters. Most will be captains.

you will have air rifle and Jrrotc.
 
Small Team Bacsi said:
You are considering being a kitchen aid at a camp or search out new camps to attend but do not have time for a HS sport?

because you don’t want to bite off more than you can deal with?

This is the wrong way to go about this.

Academics. True leadership positions. Sports.

I assume cc has already started? Most successful applicants will be playing 2-4 sports. Most will earn varsity letters. Most will be captains.

you will have air rifle and Jrrotc.
Click to expand...
Because the camps happen during summer, not during the school year - unless the camps happen during school breaks, but I haven’t heard of anything like that.

I do want to be a successful applicant, and if sports will help I’ll take them. I’ll find one (or two) that is the fun and appealing to me.

Too bad competitive board games aren’t a thing, I am a fiend at Axis & Allies.
 
One thing I've learned from my DD's experience is that applying to a SA isn't a decision, it's a journey. We had to lay out a plan from the 8th grade for each year of school (classes, goals, testing, etc). People where we live (rural Oklahoma) simply don't understand how difficult it is to even be considered for a SA let alone know what they are. Good luck moving forward and enjoy "the journey"!
 
@Small Team Bacsi has it right. Sports (and especially sports leadership) can be very important with regard to a WP application. Your academic strength and leadership are generally very important. Attention to fitness will be extremely important as well.

ThePizzaMan said:
I don't want to bite off more than I can chew at the moment, but I do have my eyes on cross country. I also did ask around today and Air Rifle JROTC is apparently seen as a varsity sport.
Click to expand...
I don't think my kids were focused on a SA as early as you. But, they were involved in lots of activities, including competitive sports, and taking very challenging courses. The bottom line is that you will only know if you have bitten off more than you can chew when you are taking those bites. So, go for it. Put a little more stress on yourself than is comfortable. Work hard and your goals will become more achievable and you will be much more prepared for WP. Good luck!
 
I am curious if you have not played sports which ones you think you can play at the HS level that will be fun and appealing.

Having ran myself I never once heard anyone suggest that a 15 mile training run in the heat or cold was fun or appealing. Sports done right may be fun but they are also a grind. They test your will. And they take a lot of time that you could be doing other things like study or board games.

This is IMO a real issue for you.
 
The SAs place a lot of emphasis on sports participation, because they see it as an indicator of military leadership potential, involving skills and traits such as: teamwork, commitment, time management, determination, mental stamina/adaptability/agility, goal-setting, strategic thinking, fast reactions, decision-making, situational awareness, training discipline, prioritization, working through discomfort and many others - and importantly, peer leadership.

Ditto the advice to scour individual SA websites - read every page, link, drop-down menu item. You’ll find things like this:

www.usna.edu

General Advice for Grades 9-12

General Advice for Grades 9-12 page for Admissions at USNA.edu. Updated Fri Apr 12 05:31:35 EDT 2024.
www.usna.edu
 
Small Team Bacsi said:
I am curious if you have not played sports which ones you think you can play at the HS level that will be fun and appealing.

Having ran myself I never once heard anyone suggest that a 15 mile training run in the heat or cold was fun or appealing. Sports done right may be fun but they are also a grind. They test your will. And they take a lot of time that you could be doing other things like study or board games.

This is IMO a real issue for you.
Click to expand...
I will echo this as well. My oldest ran XC, indoor, and outdoor track. He is a sports junkie but hating running everyday with a passion. Talking a kid that played sports since he was 4. He is in the sports business now, but he will tell you this time of his HS life was terrible.

I will add on about JROTC. Don't view it as a class. That's probably what half of folks do. Its an easy A. As a LET 1 you can't do much. Show up and help out. You will be noticed. The LET 3/4S talk trust me. ;-)

As you work your find through the program you can identify chances for leadership whether that's the Air Rifle team or not. Leadership hopefully is offering to you in your junior and senior year.
 
TBVADAD said:
I will echo this as well. My oldest ran XC, indoor, and outdoor track. He is a sports junkie but hating running everyday with a passion. Talking a kid that played sports since he was 4. He is in the sports business now, but he will tell you this time of his HS life was terrible.

I will add on about JROTC. Don't view it as a class. That's probably what half of folks do. Its an easy A. As a LET 1 you can't do much. Show up and help out. You will be noticed. The LET 3/4S talk trust me. ;-)

As you work your find through the program you can identify chances for leadership whether that's the Air Rifle team or not. Leadership hopefully is offering to you in your junior and senior year.
Click to expand...
Echo the importance of HS sports mentioned here and in several posts above. My DD does crew and said that being accustomed to “communal suffering” has mentally prepared her for SA life.
 
In addition to all the other great above advice, I would like to echo the importance of high school sports participation is HUGE. 4yrs of HS athletic participation is VERY important to all the SA's. Quitting a sports team is HIGHLY frowned upon. In addition to demonstrating your physical fitness, it shows you are learning teamwork, comradery and leadership skills You don't have to be a gifted athlete to compete in cross-country, track & field, etc. Find at least 2 sports and stick with them for the entire 4yrs!
 
With regard to other leadership, you should also consider becoming a Junior Volunteer Firefighter. Almost every town has that program.
With regard to camps, obviously, USNA Summer STEM and USMA SLE would be HUGE and if you are very interested in USNA, the summer after your junior year, you should attend the USNA Summer Seminar. Gaining admission to USNA Summer Seminar and USMA SLE, is HIGHLY competitive. The application windows for these programs usually opens in early January and you should have your application and essays ready to go as soon as the window opens. If you search this forum, you will find plenty of discussions on these specific programs. In late December and early January check the websites daily to see when they open

Another good one is the USCGA Summer AIM program. As a HS freshman, in addition to JROTC (if available) you might consider the USCG Auxiliary Sea Scouts program. Another good summer camp for your rising sophomore or junior summer is Norwich University's Future Leaders Camp.

Here are some links:
www.usna.edu

Summer Programs

Summer Programs page for Admissions at USNA.edu. Updated Fri Apr 05 05:09:24 EDT 2024.
www.usna.edu

Summer Leaders Experience | United States Military Academy West Point

West Point Military Academy
www.westpoint.edu www.westpoint.edu
uscga.edu

AIM - United States Coast Guard Academy

AIM Summer Program Lazy summers are for lazy people, not you. You’re driven to do something greater. The Academy Introduction Mission (AIM) is a one-week summer program where you’ll immerse yourself in Academy life. AIM is exclusively for students entering their senior year of high school and is...
uscga.edu uscga.edu
seascout.org

US Coast Guard Auxiliary Partnership - Sea Scouts BSA

seascout.org seascout.org

Future Leader Camp - FLC - Summer Camps | Norwich University

Norwich University, offering undergraduate, graduate degrees and professional education in Vermont and online, is the oldest U.S. private military college and the birthplace of ROTC.
www.norwich.edu www.norwich.edu
 
I will add a bit of data to the discussion about participating in sports. Out of 1255 cadets admitted for the class of 2027, 1239 participated in varsity sports and nearly 1100 were varsity letter winners (directly from the class profile on the West Point website). So clearly the Academy highly values athletic participation.
 
Small Team Bacsi said:
I am curious if you have not played sports which ones you think you can play at the HS level that will be fun and appealing.
Click to expand...
From what I saw, I think swimming. I hope I'm not too naive.

Also, wow!! I didn't expect varsity sports to be THIS important! Really makes me glad to have joined this forum or else I would've not figured out this oversight for a while (or if I did, I wouldn't think about how important HS sports are). I'll take the advice that has been sent.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top