Average Admitted Midshipmen

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Kazakh93

5-Year Member
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USNA1985's thread for "What Are My Chances" clearly states that no one know's the chances of someone who posts info about themselves to see how they stack up. But I was wondering what would you guys think would be the average person (i.e. GPA, athletics, extracurriculars, etc.) who would get into the Academy? I realize there is a profile of the Class of 2014 on the USNA Admissions website (http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/USNA 2014 Class Portrait.pdf) but it is limited on what stats are laid out. Is there always something extraordinary on a candidate's application, such as starting a successful service organization, for them to get accepted? Or can it range from merely being a top student and a varsity athlete?
 
I think what is stressed on this forum is the "Whole Candidate Score" (at least,this is what I have taken out of the advice given to me.

The academies do not want someone that splits their efforts like this:
90% Academics (perfect grades/sats)
5% leadership
2.5 % sports
2.5 % extra curriculars

or
90% Sports
10% school
0% in all other areas

Does that make sense a little? If i am correct, they are looking for someone who can balance it.
25% sports (varsity letter, but a good team sport)
25% academics (not a 4.0,but a 3.8)
25% leadership
25% extras

now those percentages are not accurate,but just an idea. You do not have to be the varsity team captian,or president of the mathletes. Strive for your absolute best, push yourself to your limits. That is what I am doing, and I have found new strengths i never knew i had.

btw, with those statistics, take with a grain of salt. Just because it says that 25% of those admitted were in drama,don't just join drama (especially if you hate it!) do something meaningful to you, add a new hobby..sport,whatever your interests are in. :)

Just the mentality of a candidate going through the process herself. Good luck!:smile:
 
robinhood17 said:
25% sports (varsity letter, but a good team sport)
25% academics (not a 4.0,but a 3.8)
25% leadership
25% extras
:
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Yeah, like Stephanie said, I think the academies are interested in a well rounded candidate. However, just a little change to Stephanie's numbers, the Air Force Academy at the very least says the they devide the admission criteria like this.

20% Extracurricular (Athletics, leadership, community involvement)
20% Admissions Panel (Factulty and staff review, CFT, Admissions Officer (BGO), and writing sample)
60% Academic Composite (GPA, SAT, ACT)

Hope that helps. Good luck all! Oh, are you guys going to the SS, and if so, which session?
 
btw, there are NO "average" Mids. Like Lake Wobegone, ALL the Mid-kids are above average! :confused:

And similarly, all the women are strong:eek:, all the men are good looking.:wink:

Honest!:thumb::rolleyes:
 
Whistle pig has it correct. The academies want the best of the best to be our future military officers.
 
Yes, I am attending USAFASS session A, and NASS session 2..then girls state. one fun summer! :)
 
Kazakh93 said:
Is there always something extraordinary on a candidate's application, such as starting a successful service organization, for them to get accepted? Or can it range from merely being a top student and a varsity athlete?
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Yes it can be "merely" being a good student, athlete and leader. The ability to juggle demanding classes (and good grades in those classes) with playing sports and other extracurricular actives is a good (but not perfect) indicator that the candidate is a hard working focused organized person who can handle the stresses of military leadership. I would say all the young men and women selected are extraordinary but you don't necessarily have to have something extraordinary on your resume outside of being a well-rounded candidate. There is no secret ingredient that will guarantee you admission but striving to be the best you can in all aspects of your life will serve you well regardless of where you ultimately land.
 
At any one time on this site there are probably 5 different applicants who are asking some variation of the 'what are my chances?' question. Other than looking at the information posted on the official academy website (see the link in the first reply to this section) as a general reference, there is no point in asking anyone to answer that question since the reality is no one here can really answer that for you.

For example, while 90% of the class typically are varsity athletes, it also means that 10% were not. The actual formula for WCS varies by academy and unless you have access to non-public information about what the current formula is, you can only guess on how your resume will stack up.

As someone else pointed out in a prior thread on a similar topic, no one here can look at your resume and assess your chances. Additionally, factors such as how well you will come across in your BGO or MOC interviews cannot be assessed by those who won't ever be interviewing you. Some individuals may have stellar resumes but perform poorly during the interviews.....we simply have no way to determine that.
 
I would surmise that your two required teacher rec's (11 grade math and English) better say that you're one of the best they've had the pleasure to teach. (If they can add that they've been teaching for 25 years - all the better).

Anything that separates you from the other stellar candidates is worthwhile.

Note: I don't know what the instructions the teachers get from the USNA. I do recall the questionnaire from MIT asked them to rank the candidate into top 5%, top 10% top 25% of all students they've EVER taught. Have to assume USNA does something similar.
 
osdad said:
I would surmise that your two required teacher rec's (11 grade math and English) better say that you're one of the best they've had the pleasure to teach. (If they can add that they've been teaching for 25 years - all the better).

Anything that separates you from the other stellar candidates is worthwhile.

Note: I don't know what the instructions the teachers get from the USNA. I do recall the questionnaire from MIT asked them to rank the candidate into top 5%, top 10% top 25% of all students they've EVER taught. Have to assume USNA does something similar.
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I had a hard year in AP BC Cal (struggling to maintain a B). Out of my class of 9 students, I had the second lowest average and not expecting to pass the AP exam. I felt like I tried pretty hard (only missed 2 after school review sessions due to soccer games). Should I try to get my math teacher to mention this? How could I make this request in a respectful manner?
 
Navy2016 - is it possible to use a tutor to help you get through what is hopefully just a rough patch in math? I don't know if this is financially feasible or how much time you have (what grade you are in) but sometimes even very good overall math students struggle with certain types of math - sometimes it is the material, sometimes the teaching style. Having a discussion with your math teacher is the first step. They are there to help you succeed (most of them at least) and appreciate students who are interested and engaged in what they are teaching. Ask them what you can do to improve - then do it. Take a summer course or get a tutor, self study books, whatever it takes to improve. If this is the teacher you want (or need) to use for a recommendation maybe showing that sort of effort, hard work and marked improvement over the summer or next semester could make for a good recommendation letter.
 
Further Clarification

time2 said:
At any one time on this site there are probably 5 different applicants who are asking some variation of the 'what are my chances?' question.
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To further clarify, respectfully, the original post did not ask about my own personal chances. I wanted to compare myself with admitted mids, not only to say that I was going to see how I stacked up, but primarily as a reference source.
 
AikiBudo said:
Navy2016 - is it possible to use a tutor to help you get through what is hopefully just a rough patch in math? I don't know if this is financially feasible or how much time you have (what grade you are in) but sometimes even very good overall math students struggle with certain types of math - sometimes it is the material, sometimes the teaching style. Having a discussion with your math teacher is the first step. They are there to help you succeed (most of them at least) and appreciate students who are interested and engaged in what they are teaching. Ask them what you can do to improve - then do it. Take a summer course or get a tutor, self study books, whatever it takes to improve. If this is the teacher you want (or need) to use for a recommendation maybe showing that sort of effort, hard work and marked improvement over the summer or next semester could make for a good recommendation letter.
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I am a rising senior and done with calculus for HS. Next year I am taking IB Math SL (math application course, 6th math course of my HS career). I do think self studying just to review those calculus weaknesses would be something I should do. A tutor isn't financially feasible. I am just hoping USNA can balance out between my not so great Cal grade and my 35 on ACT math.
 
I'd venture to say, your top-shelf score (which carries THE most weight in WP scoring) will go a long way IF your calc teacher provides a very thorough, thoughtful recommendation. I'd have a very substantial, serious conversation with that person, inkling at the possibility that he/she holds your future in the palm of the hand. This might be a very important bridge you need to cross right now.
 
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