Competitive district tips?

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handymann124

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Feb 27, 2020
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I live in extremely competitive district outside of DC and in my town are 2 very good public high schools (one of which I attend) and numerous excellent private schools. I have only 3 nom sources and I want to go to USNA.
Counselor told me I have a strong app for a service academy (c/o 2025) but apparently in my school my class is most competitive in 15+ years. It is the same in nearby schools. Lots of incredibly great and diverse students but I am not a minority ethnicity and have not participated in Jrotc (some do, AF if it matters) so I know that it will be hard for me to stand out. Any tips?
 
Lay it all out on the line! Honesty is the best policy. You got this! Do not think about other candidates during this process. It is about you. Do everything you can. Find something else that might be similar to JROTC ethics: community service, COVID 19 service, awareness to things, etc...
Find something unique about you or that you are passionate about. Be confident and show your passion through your words:)
 
To stand out in a competitive district, you must...wait for it...do exactly as you would for any district! Deliver the absolutely best application package you possibly can, using all the awesome advice you find here. Not trying to be flip, but that's really all there is to it. Focus on what you can control, don't worry about what you can't control.
 
Hey OP, I was in a similar situation. I go to a small but very competitive private school near Annapolis. Anne Arundel County(In my estimate) has at least 250 applicants. I've never really even did anything military before. My congressman said he had 100 applicants from his district-almost all were from AAco.

However, I concentrated on my leadership and how I used my leadership. Best thing you could do is just full send it. Interviews will be hard and getting a nomination will be extremely tough. I know some people with LOA's who didn't get a nom--- and then got rejected. Be yourself during the interviews- don't give scripted answers (the panels see right through it.) PM me if you need any help with your essays.

(USNA 24)
 
If your GC says you have a strong app, that's all you need to know!

You don't know your competition. It has no bearing on your package. You can't control true blue chip athletes, other's other nom sources, DoDMERB, other's order of preference, MOC's current cycle methodology or treatment of candidates, LOA candidates, you name it! Don't assume others have an advantage. You really don't know. My DD had 4 x LOAs and received NO MOC noms! She received hers from 2 x TX Senators USAFA USMMA, JROTC USMA, and a Superintendent's nom offered for USNA. Her FFR said in her case they see if Senators give her noms first.

Know when to optimize vs satisfy.
Optimize your own package. 100% in your control.
Be satisfied that you will apply to every source available. You have no control over the sources available to you.
 
Candidates generally stand out for obvious reasons. Great grades in advanced (AP/Honors/IB) STEM courses. High SAT/ACT scores. Varsity athlete -- team captain and all district, etc. Leader in and/or out of school. Great recommendations, especially from required sources.

Doing well in an MOC interview can help, but generally won't overcome an otherwise sub-par package. You can never fully prepare b/c you don't know what they'll ask.

A few things you can do. Convey a sense of energy. It's eagerness and enthusiasm -- contained. Stand up for yourself -- without being a braggart. Be prepared to discuss why you want to attend USNA and why you want to serve. Be sure your answers come from the heart -- it's more important to be you than to give an answer you think they want to hear. A strong interview will help and the converse is also true. If you think practicing will help, do so. If you think it will only make you more nervous/anxious, then skip the practice.

It IS harder to compete in a super-competitive area -- and areas around DC are indeed that. That said, MOCs don't/won't give all of their noms only to the "top" schools. They spread the wealth. Thus, if you are a standout in your area and your school, you definitely have a fighting chance.
 
Assuming your grades/test scores/EC's are impressive, which they need to be in areas like yours, you have to write a good essay and be able to speak well on whatever they might ask you in an interview. I'll share a little about me. I live in California and the Senate nominations here are very hard to get because it is such a big state and it is so highly populated. I wrote my essay to both USNA and to my Senator's board and it talked about my experience as a leader in a male-dominated environment (on my sports team) and how I overcame those difficulties and made my team better as a result. I would say if you talk about how you've grown, especially in the face of adversity, and a leadership experience you've had that was formative, that will make you stand out. They want smart and confident people (leaders!) who are also introspective enough to grow from recognition of their own faults. That is what makes a good student (think about being someone who takes responsibility and goes in during office hours and asks the teacher what they can do better on the next test/essay VS. complaining or making excuses for doing poorly). That is what would make a good officer, which is ultimately the end goal. I wish you the best of luck on your application. Please PM me in the coming months to let me know how your application is going!
 
Interviews can also do a lot to help you or hurt you. Make sure you convey that you are gung ho on whatever service academy you are applying to.
 
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