Chance for NAPS?

[Kanogo]

Greetings! I am finally done with my application. I also have a nomination and am now waiting.

The only problem at this point is my low SAT and ACT score. When I say low I mean like the minimum score (1100s) (low 20s). I am trying to retake the ACT this weekend and hopefully I can get it up a few points. I really tried with the standardized testing, but I am just not a good test taker. For that reason, I am prepared for a “no” this admissions cycle and I have many backup plans ready in place.

Everything else, however, is really solid including great ECs, excellent CFA score (99th percentile), all around leadership, (hopefully) decent enough essay, and top grades with over 10 AP classes.

I am aware that NAPS is mainly full of recruited athletes, but i am still curious if I have a shot of at least getting into NAPS or getting a foundation scholarship.

Please let me know what you think from previous experiences! Thanks

 

[IronmanDaremo]

If you put together a great package, and have solid backing (to include a nomination), there is no reason they won't consider you in the mix. Your test scores are merely a part of the big picture for evaluation. If you have a lot of the other qualities the admissions team is looking for, they with take those into account when choosing.

With that said, everyone is considered in some form or another in how the admissions group is putting together this upcoming, and future (for NAPS and Foundation awards) classes.

And while people will often say NAPS is for recruited athletes and priors, I routinely say that was not my case while there. There were many who were brought in for sports (only a couple on my cross country team there), and a decent amount of Navy priors (many from the nuke school), a few Marines, and one Army (me). But it is my recollection that there were many kids who the Academy just wanted to see improvements in some area.

If you do get a NAPS slot, I believe they still make you take the SAT again. When I was there (c/o' 92 from NAPS), we all took it again. As a reference, I improved my score from high school nearly 200 points. (from 1160 to 1320 ..... on the old test standard where they dinged you for wrong answers). So, in my case, NAPS definitely improved a lower score.

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

NAPS indeed has a lot of recruited sports types. But it’s also a lot more than that. Students , many who don’t play sports , end up at NAPS for a variety of reasons.

All those reasons can be boiled down to this:

You may not be ready now but we really want you at the USNA next year so we will give you a year on our dime to prepare.

Sports recruits, woman, minorities, priors, do make up a good % of NAPS students. But that % is not 100%.

Good Luck