Chance of getting accepted to USNA?

S

serviceacademyg

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Feb 23, 2018
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So I’m in a predicament. On one hand, I really want to go to USNA or any SA (other than USMMA). On the other hand, there’s this 6 month long internship program at my church (not really an internship; it’s just like an elongated church conference/training) that I also plan on going to. However, in order to go to the internship program, I would either have to graduate early or take a gap year. I don’t want to take a gap year so i’m planning on my graduating early. With this comes many problems. First, I wouldn’t be able to finish a lot of my core classes (ie. AP Calc, AP Physics 2) and I would have to drop certain extracurriculars to leave space for other classes (ie. Orchestra and Honors Latin 4). Essentially Id end up going to college starting at Calc 1 and having learned half of the physics curriculum. I don’t know what i plan on majoring in but i’m leaning toward political science currently. Second, I wouldn’t be able to run for any leadership positions in things like NHS because i won’t be there the whole school year.

My point is, if going to the 6 month internship was unavoidable, how much would that affect my chances of admissions into SAs? (I really don’t have a passion to attend any other colleges). I got a 35 on my first ACT and an 11 on the writing section, and i currently have a 4.0 UW GPA and a ~4.5 weighted GPA. I’m in track and cross country (not varsity) and am taking weights next year. I’m in NHS, Science NHS, Math NHS, Latin NHS, JMST (a math and science tutoring club), and am a boy scout among other things. I don’t have any leadership positions in any of these (not because i don’t want to, but because i can’t, other than having been a quartermaster for BSA). Im a leader of a church/bible study group. I’m also planning on attending Boys State and SLE this summer.

Thanks!
 
Why would taking the internship be unavoidable? In the end you must decide what's more important to you. Not completing the courses in calculus and physics in favor of church will leave you as a weaker candidate than you would be otherwise. That said, based on your other info you seem like a reasonably competitive candidate already. It's certainly possible that you could get accepted if you take the internship, but your application would be more competitive if you had strong grades in those technical courses.

On the other hand if you elect not to pursue the church program in order to focus on your Academy application only to get rejected, that would really suck. You could then re-apply but that would entail attending a traditional college first which you don't want to do. Consider all the what-ifs carefully when making your decision. Admissions outcomes are very hard to predict even for qualified candidates. It's tough to estimate how much of an effect this could have. You may want to consult your admissions counselor about this.
 
USMMA:
Highest ROI on education---------- by far (per US News)
More flexible serivce obligation
Better pay
Better Digs onboard ship
If we find our selves in a full on military contest USMMA grades will be right there in the middle of things running in the "Fleet Train"
I guess they don't make many movies about them, so what?

I've wondered why USMMA doesn't get more props. Serioulsy, from a carreer earnings prospective USMMA might be the best oportunity in the country.
 
Just Dad said:
USMMA:
Highest ROI on education---------- by far (per US News)
More flexible serivce obligation
Better pay
Better Digs onboard ship
If we find our selves in a full on military contest USMMA grades will be right there in the middle of things running in the "Fleet Train"
I guess they don't make many movies about them, so what?

I've wondered why USMMA doesn't get more props. Serioulsy, from a carreer earnings prospective USMMA might be the best oportunity in the country.
Click to expand...

USMMA might just be the best kept secret as far as academies go. It's a great school with plenty of neat opportunities, but one reason I think it isn't as popular as the others is that its curriculum is much more narrow and vocational, being focused solely on training mids for maritime careers. Conversely USNA and the other 3 academies offer an elite liberal arts education on top of the professional development program, which for some is preferable.
 
Serviceacademyg. I think you heard it all. Here’s one more. Your relationship with God is not to be negotiated nor over analyzed. Your relationship with God is trust and faith. And because of your intimate relationship with God and because you also want what the world is offering you, you feel torn between the two. I’m a man of faith too and God has taught me that I cannot choose between him and the world. God always want us to put him first before all else.

So that is my advise to you. If you want to go to the church camp to seek God that is where my priority would be. I would not complicate my relationship with God with what I might get in this world. Your church camp is guaranteed. But your Appointment is not. You can still do your SLE Boys State take all strong classes go to your church camp 6 months with a clear conscious you took God first. And it seems that’s where your heart is first. And that’s great.

And then you will have more time to prep for all your needs in Scouting which seems like you need more time to make Eagle Scout and get more leadership positions in Scouting and throughout your ECs. Honestly your ECs appear weak. But your 6 months of church camp and leadership may just give you the right cocktail to make you stronger and give college admissions a very interesting story for you to tell with what you did at the camp and what you did to take another year to prep for college. It is compelling and not many will have the same chance to tell a same story. So it is already very unique.

Your academics looks good but we don’t have the details. Honestly, your academics sounds more like my DS. But we are not naive and take no comfort that strong academics is going to get you into places you want to go. There are many kids like you with strong academics applying to the SAs and the Ivies Stanford Chicago MIT. In fact, the Ivies acknowledge every year that they have to reject 24,000 Unweighted 4.0s and perfect SAT/ACT every year. And the SAs also reject many too with strong grades like that. SAs have CFA DODMERB Noms, few other things you cannot control in addition to.

I don’t know what awoke me at 0400 to write this message to you. But it must have been urgent and important for me to tell you. My advise to you as a fellow Christian and Dad who cares to see other fine young adults do well, my sincere advise to you is to ask you to choose God first in all you do and more will be given to you in this world. My DS grew up with this belief and he tries very hard to place God first in his life. He reminds us at every meals leading prayers. He is doing just fine and he will likely report at one of the SAs this summer over the Ivies to be a Cadet or a Midshipman.

Best Wishes!
 
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