Course/Class choices

EvanB

Prospective-2029
Joined
Apr 6, 2022
Messages
17
As course/class choices are coming up I was hoping to get some advice for a rising junior on what I should take. I currently have a 3.75 weighted GPA and am currently enrolled in 2 AP classes as well as some Pre-AP classes as that was what is now the best/only option for me, the 2 AP classes are AP World History and AP Physics 1 I got an A in Physics last semester and a B in World History and am still currently working hard in those classes. If anyone has any advice/recommendations please pitch in!
Thank you.
 

This is a good outline of what USNA is looking for. See the 10th grade section for the recomended classes.

Good Luck
 
The standard advice — coming from the most knowledgeable SAFers — is to take the hardest classes your school has to offer, especially in STEM and English. Of course, the courses you’ve taken up to now will have some influence. But you can’t go wrong with this advice.

Contrary to popular opinion, your GPA isn’t as important as you may think. USNA will examine your transcript alongside your school profile to see that you did — or tried to — take the hardest classes your school has to offer.
 
Last edited:
==not an alumni nor an appointee yet so take this with a grain of salt==
Math: take four years of it, take the highest-level classes you can. Don't skip "core" math classes for classes like statistics, ideally you want a year or two of calculus upon graduation
Science: also four years, USNA likes chemistry and physics in particular. Definitely take AP Physics 2, take the highest level of chem you can take afterwards
English: four years; in my opinion, there's no reason not to take AP Lang, AP Lit is recommended if your workload can handle it
History/SS: You already have world history taken care of, so try to get a US Gov & US History class in there
Fill out the rest of your schedule as you'd like, preferably add some foreign language & technology classes
 
==not an alumni nor an appointee yet so take this with a grain of salt==
Math: take four years of it, take the highest-level classes you can. Don't skip "core" math classes for classes like statistics, ideally you want a year or two of calculus upon graduation
Science: also four years, USNA likes chemistry and physics in particular. Definitely take AP Physics 2, take the highest level of chem you can take afterwards
English: four years; in my opinion, there's no reason not to take AP Lang, AP Lit is recommended if your workload can handle it
History/SS: You already have world history taken care of, so try to get a US Gov & US History class in there
Fill out the rest of your schedule as you'd like, preferably add some foreign language & technology classes
Thank you for this I'm currently looking at AP American History as well as they are making the Pre-Calculus course at my school an AP Class so I'll be taking that for sure. With Science, I will take AP Physics 2 and then Chem my senior year. I'll be taking AP Lang next year and then Lit my senior year.
 
The standard advice — coming from the most knowledgeable SAFers — is to take the hardest classes your school has to offer, especially in STEM and English. Of course, the courses you’ve taken up to now will have some influence. But you can’t go wrong with this advice.

Contrary to popular opinion, your GPA isn’t as important as you may think. USNA will examine your transcript alongside your school profile to see that you did — or tried to — take the hardest classes your school has to offer.
Would having Bs and As in tough classes like STEM or AP be a good thing to have when applying to the Academy?
 
My advice is "all of the above" for USNA... but... don't forget you will ALSO be applying to other colleges and universities. My son when picking his classes gave primacy to USNA's requirements (and honestly it was also just "what can I best do to prepare to be a midshipman" so for example he didn't feel AS strong with analyzing fiction and essay writing so forced himself to take a full year long AP English class junior year) but while applying to USNA he has also applied to a handful of engineering programs at regular colleges and universities (with a Navy ROTC scholarship in hand) and those requirements not surprisingly overlap a lot... but not always! For example, he stuck with his language for 4 years because even though USNA says "at least 2 years" some of the other universities he was applying to said "at least 3" (and we all know that means 4). So I guess my advice is... pay attention to ALL THE THINGS to keep your options open for multiple paths to your ultimate goal: serving our country as an officer in the Navy!
 
To add to my original post I've currently applied for all four core classes to be AP with a foothold in classes the academy wants us to take. I also will be taking my 2nd year of foreign language next year as well as an AP CSP class so I will have a much bigger course load than this year for sure.
 
Never be afraid to take a class that interests you regardless of it's college entrance benefits. Sometimes being little bit different is what will make the difference (in your favor).
 
To add my 2 cents. In talking with admissions, attending CVW and other admissions events and in conversations with many friends who are Annapolis grads, one recurring theme seems to come up…don’t forget to be well rounded. Yes, SAT and academics are extremely important, but maybe not weighed nearly as heavily as people might think. Don’t get so swamped in classes that you don’t have time to contribute to athletics/physical fitness/extracurriculars, etc. If you can go turbo in academics, and have time to devote to everything else then go for it.
 
Would having Bs and As in tough classes like STEM or AP be a good thing to have when applying to the Academy?
You’re asking a version of a common question: Should I prioritize harder classes OR higher grades. The answer is YES.
 
I agree with USMC Crayons. Don't forget the entire résumé; play a sport or two, apply to Boys/Girls State, look for and engage leadership opportunities, start preparing for the CFA, run some distance (3 mi) routinely, etc. Keep up the good work and you will be able to join some of my students at USNA or one of the other SAs! (And don't forget ROTC scholarships as a great option too :) )
 
I agree with USMC Crayons. Don't forget the entire résumé; play a sport or two, apply to Boys/Girls State, look for and engage leadership opportunities, start preparing for the CFA, run some distance (3 mi) routinely, etc. Keep up the good work and you will be able to join some of my students at USNA or one of the other SAs! (And don't forget ROTC scholarships as a great option too :) )
Yes, thank you for this I almost forgot to explain my extracurriculars. I'm currently in HS wrestling and Baseball and I earned a varsity letter in Wrestling this year. I've also excelled in my AJROTC unit I'm currently a Cadet Captain and a Company Commander and I earned a varsity letter in the program as well, next year I will be a Cadet Major and I will be the XO. I also do Boy Scouts and am working on my Eagle Project currently I'm also in the Order of the Arrow.
 
Niiiice ... keep up the good work! Congratulations on your Eagle. I'm quite proud to be one and also a Vigil Honor member of the OA. WWW
 
Back
Top