Crashing dream?

AirborneRigger512

New Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
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5
Howdy, I live in south Texas I am I very familiar with all 5 service Academies. I'm a junior in high school and I feel as if this dream of mine is all going downhill. As a kid, I made it my ultimate goal to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point. Freshman year my grades were great, and I was very active in sports and school organizations. At the end of my freshman year, I moved to a larger school. At this point my class rank was 50/811. I would consider this the point where everything changed. Sophomore year came along and I ended up quitting football. I decided to stick with just baseball. My grades weren't doing too good either. They weren't extremely bad but my class rank did suffer. At the end of sophomore year, my class rank was 101/806. The summer between my sophomore and junior year, I visited West Point and it assured my desires. Junior year rolls along and everything just didn't go my way. I made my first C ever within the first 6 weeks of school. I thought that was it. I thought my chances of getting into USMA were done. However, I still maintained little hope. Baseball season rolls by and my parents had a disagreement with the head coach and i didn't want to play for him anymore, so I quit. I took my SAT for the first time and got a 1600. At the end of the first semester, my class rank was 111/787. Then this past 6 weeks, I failed pre-cal and got 2 C's on my report card. Live never had grades this worse. My FFR told me that candidates can get academically disqualified for failing a class. Does this count as failing a class? I failed the 6 weeks, but I have an 86 average for the school year. My class rank will almost certainly drop and I'm under the impression that all hope is lost. The only thing I have going for me right now is my selection for Boys State. Can anyone confirm wether or not I'm disqualified? In addition, my parents are both Soldiers who have spent 30+ years in the Army. I know I qualify for a presidential nomination. I am also aware of the 100 appointments allowed for these nominated candidates. Can anyone give me insight on how competitive it is to earn an appointment with a presidential nomination? Thanks for reading.
 
Final grades are what count. WP sees what is on your transcript. So if your school only shows final grades they won't even see the other marking periods. I would be more concerned with what your teachers say in the evals. If it's you didn't apply yourself and slept in class that isn't good. If it is you got tutoring, worked hard, paid attention, sat up front, did your homework and were engaged I would say you are in much better shape. The only way you will 100 % not get in is if you don't apply. All appointments are competitive.
 
Everyone who goes to West Point is not in the top of his/her class (although many are). However, everyone brings something unique to the table. What is your contribution? Are you a leader? Class president? What else? Are you a volunteer? Did you start a "movement" at your school? Get your head out of any orifice and fix those grades...no excuse for C's in HS. You have one more semester to "wow" admissions with what you've got, but it better be something unique, as your grades are just average. BTW...when you said 1600 SAT, was that math and verbal or was that math, verbal, and writing? If it's the former, that's your "in," if the latter, then get your nose in the SAT prep book STAT.
 
On grades: go to your teacher every day. If you have a lesson in class and have trouble with it, see your teacher or email your teacher saying "Hey, I don't get this, and I've tried, but I need your help." That's their job. And do it every day if that's what it takes. The teacher isn't going to come to you, you need to go to them.

I don't mean to sound harsh because I know you are struggling, but take responsibility of this immediately and prove yourself.
 
Then this past 6 weeks, I failed pre-cal and got 2 C's on my report card. Live never had grades this worse. My FFR told me that candidates can get academically disqualified for failing a class. Does this count as failing a class? I failed the 6 weeks, but I have an 86 average for the school year.
It's worrisome that you failed precalculus this 6 weeks. A good foundation in math is essential at West Point--you will take calculus, physics, chemistry, statistics, etc. Your struggle with your grades is definitely cause for concern.

From the WP Admissions page--Advice for High School Seniors:
  • Continue to perform your personal best in high school academics, athletics and extracurricular activities.
  • Earn A’s and B’s in the toughest courses you can take.
  • Do well in calculus, trigonometry and physics.
  • Excel on the athletic field.
  • Become a leader in student government, clubs or other organizations.
http://www.usma.edu/admissions/SitePages/Pros_Cadets_Seniors.aspx

Are you playing another sport? West Point likes to see varsity letters in sports.
 
As others have stated it is the final grades they will see. That being said what popped out at me was your SAT score. A 1600 is low, I am assuming it is 3 parts. That puts you with basically @530 on each section.

Yes, they superscore, but that really needs to come up. I would say to feel somewhat comfortable you want to be closer to the high 600/low 700s. I am sure you can find the class stats for 18 (19 won't be published yet) to see what the median scores are.

I don't know about USMA, but for USAFA TX MoCs talk and try not to duplicate their nominations. Iows, it is a competitive state, 1 nomination is common, and most MoCs use a system like the SAs where your academic record (PAR) is important. A low SAT score can put you out of the running faster than pulling a C in one class.

Yes, you have that Presidential to fall back on, but as you know only 100 can be appointed off the slate. You want to be on as many slates as possible before going to the national pool.

OBTW, make sure you also apply for the AROTC scholarship as your plan B.
 
I didn't do so well in physics and it made me panic during the application process. My college counselor said, "It is what it is. All that is in the past." Don't worry about the fact that you didn't do so well in precalc. I don't know if worrying is your problem, but it was for me. After physics, I was always worrying. My confidence dropped and everything else became harder because I was afraid of failing again. Can't do sports? Join some clubs and become an active member of your community. Work on maxing the CFA. Definitely work on the SAT. Don't forget about trying the ACT.
 
Do not lose hope… all of this advice is solid, but it also seems daunting and may not help your confidence. If this is what you really feel called to do, then get your head down and get to work. Back in my earlier years of high school, I spent many a night running into the morning in front of my computer or over a notebook, and fell asleep while reading or typing in bed countless times. Truthfully, it sucked. But now that my goal has been achieved and more daunting tasks are on the way, I wouldn't want back a single hour of sleep. Every tiring minute was well worth it. And I'm still about to bury my head in my Arabic papers, with only 5 days of classes left, because that's how I operate now. Nobody tells me what I can't accomplish.

Every night when you go to bed, and you pray or reflect or even just think, make sure you can tell yourself that you did all you could do that day, that you left nothing short, nothing unaccomplished.
 
Thanks for all of the advice. I guess I just needed a little motivation and criticism. I will go to West Point and nothing will get in my way!
 
Take a look at all of the stickies at the top of the USMA forum page. There is lots of helpful information there about applying and what West Point expects. Also take a look at the recent class profiles so you know who West Point selects: http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/what-are-my-chances.14787/

Don't forget that West Point requires statements from a math, English, and physics or chemistry teacher. Work hard to excel in those classes.
 
Schoen, I admire your confidence but I would admire it more if you were getting EI EVERY SINGLE DAY. Quit dropping the sports (too late now) because Mom and Dad had a tiff with the coach. What leadership skills do you have? Are you involved in your community? Do you have a job? Failing pre-calc and doing poorly in high school Physics is not going to make USMA or any other US Service Academy put you on their "We want you!" list.
 
Howdy, I live in south Texas I am I very familiar with all 5 service Academies. I'm a junior in high school and I feel as if this dream of mine is all going downhill. As a kid, I made it my ultimate goal to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point. Freshman year my grades were great, and I was very active in sports and school organizations. At the end of my freshman year, I moved to a larger school. At this point my class rank was 50/811. I would consider this the point where everything changed. Sophomore year came along and I ended up quitting football. I decided to stick with just baseball. My grades weren't doing too good either. They weren't extremely bad but my class rank did suffer. At the end of sophomore year, my class rank was 101/806. The summer between my sophomore and junior year, I visited West Point and it assured my desires. Junior year rolls along and everything just didn't go my way. I made my first C ever within the first 6 weeks of school. I thought that was it. I thought my chances of getting into USMA were done. However, I still maintained little hope. Baseball season rolls by and my parents had a disagreement with the head coach and i didn't want to play for him anymore, so I quit. I took my SAT for the first time and got a 1600. At the end of the first semester, my class rank was 111/787. Then this past 6 weeks, I failed pre-cal and got 2 C's on my report card. Live never had grades this worse. My FFR told me that candidates can get academically disqualified for failing a class. Does this count as failing a class? I failed the 6 weeks, but I have an 86 average for the school year. My class rank will almost certainly drop and I'm under the impression that all hope is lost. The only thing I have going for me right now is my selection for Boys State. Can anyone confirm wether or not I'm disqualified? In addition, my parents are both Soldiers who have spent 30+ years in the Army. I know I qualify for a presidential nomination. I am also aware of the 100 appointments allowed for these nominated candidates. Can anyone give me insight on how competitive it is to earn an appointment with a presidential nomination? Thanks for reading.


If attending USMA is your ultimate dream/goal no matter what the motive is for afterwards, you should really start to pick up those grades. Get into the habit of having a packed schedule with full load of extracurriculars, academics and athletics. IMHO, you should aim for a university since it is so late in your high school career, that if you attend a university and pick up your grades and increase your philanthropy (Do this for the community not for a resumé) then that should show USMA that you were able to overcome adversity which looks highly looked upon. But it is anyone's guess what USMA looks for in a candidate. This is me trying to give some type of positive reinforcement for someone who really wants to achieve their dream. Anything is possible.
 
Schoen,
Did you ever consider playing for your teammates(not the coach) on the baseball team important enough to stick it out?

Getting into WP is all about what YOU can do to make YOU the candidate they want. Graduating from WP is all about what you do for EACH OTHER( with self thrown in) Ask any WP Cadet( or any other SA for that matter) if they've ever though about quitting or didn't think they could get through the day...their fellow classmates helped pick them up by the boot straps and get them right.

So you had a hard time in a couple classes.. you have to ask yourself why. What about your habits, behavior, people you hang with has changed? Have you asked for extra instruction like FM suggested above? Are you with your instructors daily to figure it all out? If not, you path to getting to WP will be that much harder.


Don't make it harder. Learn from your mistakes and make yourself better

You can get there, time to buckle down and do it.
 
I too, quit my favorite sport (football) last year and thought everything was lost, but guess what...it wasn't, new doors were opened.
I apologized to my coaches and teammates for letting them down, and promised it wouldn't happen again, every day now, both academically and physically, I am readying myself for this coming football season, and this next year of school.
Seperation is in the preparation, get ahead now my friend, you're in my prayers!
 
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