Can I get into USMA with these stats?

P

poolpal

New Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2023
Messages
4
Academics:
3.2 GPA (87.2) + upward trend from 75 GPA freshman year (family problems I will explain in the essay)
6 APs, 2 college classes (scores all 3, 4, 5)
Over an 80 on all NYS Regents
1280 SAT

Extracurriculars:
Junior Class President
Student Government President
FBLA founder and president
2 Internships
1 job outside of school
Manager of JV baseball team
750 Hours of community service
Student mentor/ambassador
Member of 2 clubs
(Possibly wrestling, idk if I want to do it next year)

Awards:
NYS Advanced Regents Diploma
AP Capstone Diploma
AP Scholar
Community Service Recognition Award

Other:
  • Rec Letters from War History Through Film Teacher (who was an alum of USMA), Advisor of the Student Government, and the nomination letter which I have not received yet since I am only a sophomore. Also, a rec letter from the principal, maybe my guidance counselor.
  • Will write an essay about how my struggles shaped me and the upward trend (I am a good writer, so I know I have this part down)
  • Upward trend from 75 GPA to 87 due to out-of-the-ordinary personal issues.
Physical:
- 200 Pounds
- 6ft 1in
-Good vision
-No disabilities, illnesses, allergies
Let's hope I can pass the physical test!

Demographics:
Middle class
Jewish, Eastern Europe
From New York City
Both parents are college graduates
Male
White
Straight

I am worried USMA won't accept me because of my past and they won't see how much I grew. I am also worried that if I do not end up playing a sport, I won't get in... Please help me. Also, my parents won't let me to JROTC, so that is out of the picture. The West Point program for high school students as well...
 
To receive an appointment you will need to be triple qualified. (1) academically qualified, (2) physically qualified, and (3) medically qualified. So, passing the CFA - candidate fitness assessment - is one key. Start preparing today. Athletics tends to be something USMA looks for. Even a single Varsity letter/sport will be important, but not necessarily disqualifying if not obtained. The academic piece - grades and SAT scores look borderline, but certainly not disqualifying. A good story can help, but competition in NY can be stiff. The leadership looks pretty good. Go for it and good luck!
 
poolpal said:
Academics:
3.2 GPA (87.2) + upward trend from 75 GPA freshman year (family problems I will explain in the essay)
6 APs, 2 college classes (scores all 3, 4, 5)
Over an 80 on all NYS Regents
1280 SAT

Extracurriculars:
Junior Class President
Student Government President
FBLA founder and president
2 Internships
1 job outside of school
Manager of JV baseball team
750 Hours of community service
Student mentor/ambassador
Member of 2 clubs
(Possibly wrestling, idk if I want to do it next year)

Awards:
NYS Advanced Regents Diploma
AP Capstone Diploma
AP Scholar
Community Service Recognition Award

Other:
  • Rec Letters from War History Through Film Teacher (who was an alum of USMA), Advisor of the Student Government, and the nomination letter which I have not received yet since I am only a sophomore. Also, a rec letter from the principal, maybe my guidance counselor.
  • Will write an essay about how my struggles shaped me and the upward trend (I am a good writer, so I know I have this part down)
  • Upward trend from 75 GPA to 87 due to out-of-the-ordinary personal issues.
Physical:
- 200 Pounds
- 6ft 1in
-Good vision
-No disabilities, illnesses, allergies
Let's hope I can pass the physical test!

Demographics:
Middle class
Jewish, Eastern Europe
From New York City
Both parents are college graduates
Male
White
Straight

I am worried USMA won't accept me because if my past and they won't see how much I grew. I am also worried that if I do not end up playing a sport, I won't get in... Please help me. Also, my parents won't let me to JROTC, so that is out of the picture. The West Point program for high school students as well...
Click to expand...
Suggestions:
Academics. Retake SAT---> 1350
GPA--->3.65
Extra Curricular. Wrestling ---> do it
Physical. Weight ---> 195 lbs

Provide CFA / Fitness Status...
 
severn said:
Physical. Weight ---> 195 lbs
Click to expand...

Not necessarily... I'd say a healthy body composition is more important than any arbitrary weight number, especially given that waivers for weight are apparently fairly easy to come by if you have an acceptable body fat percentage. Per AR 600-9, weight standards by height are merely to expedite the process of screening for high body fat-- as I understand it, being over the weight limit for your height bracket doesn't mean anything as long as the tape test is fine.

So instead of focusing on getting under 200 (and, honestly, I have a 10 lb range every time I weigh in, so OP very well might be there depending on water weight) it would perhaps be more sensible to focus on leaning out and getting to, say, 10-15% body fat (DOD goal is 18% for males) if OP isn't already there. Overall prioritize maintaining plenty of muscle (weightlifting is a great way to recomp) while keeping excess fat at a minimum. You can be in good shape while being heavy and in terrible shape while being light.

And, honestly, you'd probably be more valuable to your comrades if you're bigger and have more muscle (and hence can carry more weight) than if you're smaller. Might lose some friends if you have to practice buddy carries, though.

My only real point is that five pounds isn't that much, and it seems to me that, if you must focus on a number, focus on body fat percentage.

As usual, I'm merely a teenaged cadet candidate, so take everything I say with a grain of salt! I apologize for any misinformation I may spread in this post.
 
Charlie W said:
Not necessarily... I'd say a healthy body composition is more important than any arbitrary weight number, especially given that waivers for weight are apparently fairly easy to come by if you have an acceptable body fat percentage. Per AR 600-9, weight standards by height are merely to expedite the process of screening for high body fat-- as I understand it, being over the weight limit for your height bracket doesn't mean anything as long as the tape test is fine.

So instead of focusing on getting under 200 (and, honestly, I have a 10 lb range every time I weigh in, so OP very well might be there depending on water weight) it would perhaps be more sensible to focus on leaning out and getting to, say, 10-15% body fat (DOD goal is 18% for males) if OP isn't already there. Overall prioritize maintaining plenty of muscle (weightlifting is a great way to recomp) while keeping excess fat at a minimum. You can be in good shape while being heavy and in terrible shape while being light.

And, honestly, you'd probably be more valuable to your comrades if you're bigger and have more muscle (and hence can carry more weight) than if you're smaller. Might lose some friends if you have to practice buddy carries, though.

My only real point is that five pounds isn't that much, and it seems to me that, if you must focus on a number, focus on body fat percentage.

As usual, I'm merely a teenaged cadet candidate, so take everything I say with a grain of salt! I apologize for any misinformation I may spread in this post.
Click to expand...
Anything helps especially in running... The 200 is overweight and there's no input regarding cfa status nor fitness level.
 
You have no way of knowing who your competition is, so there is no way of knowing whether you can get in with those stats. There are three things you can do:
  1. Apply
  2. Contact your RC and FFR for feedback on how you can improve your application
  3. Continually work at improving your WCS score - from what you posted it looks like you might consider attending Boys State, retake SAT/ACT as many times as possible, get top grades in upcoming courses (especially math and science), try to get a sport. However, your RC is your best source for specifically how you can improve your score.
  4. Get in excellent physical condition
If you are not a recruited athlete or minority candidate, the WCS score is all that matters for almost all other candidates - the candidate with the highest WCS score gets the appointment in each appointment category. There are a few exceptions (such as Principal Nominee), but you can not count on them applying to you.
 
jl123 said:
You have no way of knowing who your competition is, so there is no way of knowing whether you can get in with those stats. There are three things you can do:
  1. Apply
  2. Contact your RC and FFR for feedback on how you can improve your application
  3. Continually work at improving your WCS score - from what you posted it looks like you might consider attending Boys State, retake SAT/ACT as many times as possible, get top grades in upcoming courses (especially math and science), try to get a sport. However, your RC is your best source for specifically how you can improve your score.
  4. Get in excellent physical condition
If you are not a recruited athlete or minority candidate, the WCS score is all that matters for almost all other candidates - the candidate with the highest WCS score gets the appointment in each appointment category. There are a few exceptions (such as Principal Nominee), but you can not count on them applying to you.
Click to expand...
Original post did not include sports and fitness status. I'm just responding with my suggestions.
 
poolpal said:
Academics:
3.2 GPA (87.2) + upward trend from 75 GPA freshman year (family problems I will explain in the essay)
6 APs, 2 college classes (scores all 3, 4, 5)
Over an 80 on all NYS Regents
1280 SAT

Extracurriculars:
Junior Class President
Student Government President
FBLA founder and president
2 Internships
1 job outside of school
Manager of JV baseball team
750 Hours of community service
Student mentor/ambassador
Member of 2 clubs
(Possibly wrestling, idk if I want to do it next year)

Awards:
NYS Advanced Regents Diploma
AP Capstone Diploma
AP Scholar
Community Service Recognition Award

Other:
  • Rec Letters from War History Through Film Teacher (who was an alum of USMA), Advisor of the Student Government, and the nomination letter which I have not received yet since I am only a sophomore. Also, a rec letter from the principal, maybe my guidance counselor.
  • Will write an essay about how my struggles shaped me and the upward trend (I am a good writer, so I know I have this part down)
  • Upward trend from 75 GPA to 87 due to out-of-the-ordinary personal issues.
Physical:
- 200 Pounds
- 6ft 1in
-Good vision
-No disabilities, illnesses, allergies
Let's hope I can pass the physical test!

Demographics:
Middle class
Jewish, Eastern Europe
From New York City
Both parents are college graduates
Male
White
Straight

I am worried USMA won't accept me because of my past and they won't see how much I grew. I am also worried that if I do not end up playing a sport, I won't get in... Please help me. Also, my parents won't let me to JROTC, so that is out of the picture. The West Point program for high school students as well...
Click to expand...
GPA is probably on the lower side. Retake SAT or ACT to show that you are still an academically qualified candidate. Athletics is very important. Join wrestling and try to get a varsity letter. Try to max everything on your CFA so you don't have to worry about that portion. Start working on receiving your nomination from your representative or senator.
 
Praying777 said:
GPA is probably on the lower side. Retake SAT or ACT to show that you are still an academically qualified candidate. Athletics is very important. Join wrestling and try to get a varsity letter. Try to max everything on your CFA so you don't have to worry about that portion. Start working on receiving your nomination from your representative or senator.
Click to expand...
Thank you.
 
I'd say that you have an okay chance at getting academically qualified, assuming you keep improving your grades.
I would highly recommend retaking the SAT and aim for ~1400, but of course, higher is better. Start studying / practicing for it now. Khan Academy is a really good resource.
Keep in mind that you need to be physically (athletically) AND medically qualified in addition to being academically qualified in order to receive an appointment.
Start getting into the best shape of your life now: sooner is always better. Planet Fitness has free memberships for teens! Make sure to stretch and drink plenty of water to avoid injury and dehydration.
One thing to know about USMA's application is that it's different from your regular college application:
There is no singular college essay / personal statement. Assuming nothing changes from the past few years, you will write three essays (the prompts may change but mine asked why I wanted to attend USMA and be an officer in the Army, a challenge I faced and how I overcame it, and the last one asked about how I could work with a diverse group of people).
Another difference is that USMA wants School Official Evaluations (SOE, essentially recommendations) from teachers that teach specific subjects (Math, English, Physical sciences, and PHYS-ED / athletic coach) so, although it's great that you could be recommended by a USMA alum, they may not accept it since that teacher may not teach one of the above subjects, though I don't know if they really check that. You could use those recommendations for when you apply for nominations from your House representative and both senators, though.
I don't know which congressional district you're from, but as a fellow New Yorker, I would argue that competition for a service academy nomination is nowhere near as stiff as it is outside of the city. It sounds weird since we're so close to USMA and other historic, military-related sites, but the military just doesn't really appeal to that many kids here in the city. Regardless, as someone else has mentioned, you really don't have any way of knowing your competition and there still will be applicants that you will compete with so, put in the work to make yourself the no-brainer option.
As for the last thing you mentioned, USMA really wants to see growth. I think that you should still explain your freshman year experience and show what you have learned and how you've grown, and, most importantly, why you'd be a good fit for USMA and the Army.

I really hope you find this useful. Please continue to use the service academy forums as this really is a great source to have as you begin to work on your application.
 
poolpal said:
Academics:
3.2 GPA (87.2) + upward trend from 75 GPA freshman year (family problems I will explain in the essay)
6 APs, 2 college classes (scores all 3, 4, 5)
Over an 80 on all NYS Regents
1280 SAT

Extracurriculars:
Junior Class President
Student Government President
FBLA founder and president
2 Internships
1 job outside of school
Manager of JV baseball team
750 Hours of community service
Student mentor/ambassador
Member of 2 clubs
(Possibly wrestling, idk if I want to do it next year)

Awards:
NYS Advanced Regents Diploma
AP Capstone Diploma
AP Scholar
Community Service Recognition Award

Other:
  • Rec Letters from War History Through Film Teacher (who was an alum of USMA), Advisor of the Student Government, and the nomination letter which I have not received yet since I am only a sophomore. Also, a rec letter from the principal, maybe my guidance counselor.
  • Will write an essay about how my struggles shaped me and the upward trend (I am a good writer, so I know I have this part down)
  • Upward trend from 75 GPA to 87 due to out-of-the-ordinary personal issues.
Physical:
- 200 Pounds
- 6ft 1in
-Good vision
-No disabilities, illnesses, allergies
Let's hope I can pass the physical test!

Demographics:
Middle class
Jewish, Eastern Europe
From New York City
Both parents are college graduates
Male
White
Straight

I am worried USMA won't accept me because of my past and they won't see how much I grew. I am also worried that if I do not end up playing a sport, I won't get in... Please help me. Also, my parents won't let me to JROTC, so that is out of the picture. The West Point program for high school students as well...
Click to expand...
A bit on the heavy side, unless you are a body builder.
 
severn said:
Anything helps especially in running... The 200 is overweight and there's no input regarding cfa status nor fitness level.
Click to expand...
My BMI is more than okay. I have tons of muscle mass, but not a high body fat percentage. I am more than physically fit.
 
JuiceBox said:
I'd say that you have an okay chance at getting academically qualified, assuming you keep improving your grades.
I would highly recommend retaking the SAT and aim for ~1400, but of course, higher is better. Start studying / practicing for it now. Khan Academy is a really good resource.
Keep in mind that you need to be physically (athletically) AND medically qualified in addition to being academically qualified in order to receive an appointment.
Start getting into the best shape of your life now: sooner is always better. Planet Fitness has free memberships for teens! Make sure to stretch and drink plenty of water to avoid injury and dehydration.
One thing to know about USMA's application is that it's different from your regular college application:
There is no singular college essay / personal statement. Assuming nothing changes from the past few years, you will write three essays (the prompts may change but mine asked why I wanted to attend USMA and be an officer in the Army, a challenge I faced and how I overcame it, and the last one asked about how I could work with a diverse group of people).
Another difference is that USMA wants School Official Evaluations (SOE, essentially recommendations) from teachers that teach specific subjects (Math, English, Physical sciences, and PHYS-ED / athletic coach) so, although it's great that you could be recommended by a USMA alum, they may not accept it since that teacher may not teach one of the above subjects, though I don't know if they really check that. You could use those recommendations for when you apply for nominations from your House representative and both senators, though.
I don't know which congressional district you're from, but as a fellow New Yorker, I would argue that competition for a service academy nomination is nowhere near as stiff as it is outside of the city. It sounds weird since we're so close to USMA and other historic, military-related sites, but the military just doesn't really appeal to that many kids here in the city. Regardless, as someone else has mentioned, you really don't have any way of knowing your competition and there still will be applicants that you will compete with so, put in the work to make yourself the no-brainer option.
As for the last thing you mentioned, USMA really wants to see growth. I think that you should still explain your freshman year experience and show what you have learned and how you've grown, and, most importantly, why you'd be a good fit for USMA and the Army.

I really hope you find this useful. Please continue to use the service academy forums as this really is a great source to have as you begin to work on your application.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I would like to add, a 3.3 is the max GPA I can get if I stay on the track I am now (I have a 4.0 GPA this semester). I would also like to add that other than my GPA, I am sound everywhere else. And for people that mention my weight, I am working on it, but it is mostly muscle mass, not body fat.
 
Not an academy grad, but I have known quite a few as a career Army Officer. I think a glaring issue is the lack of a varsity sport. The other accolades are good (I was a FBLA state winner by the way), but almost every USMA grad I ever knew was at least a HS varsity athlete.

Obviously not all are but with your lower-end GPA it would certainly help a lot...
 
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