Do I Have A Chance?

K

Kazakh93

5-Year Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2010
Messages
10
I will be a junior near the end of this month, and I am extremely interested in the Naval Academy. Please let me know if I have a chance or if I should improve on anything to better my chances. I have not taken the SAT or ACT yet but I plan on taking SAT over-and-over again until my score is at least in the mid-600 to 700 range for each part (I'm not worried about it though). I'm also thinking about joining the debate team club if that helps.

Academics
Grade: Junior
High School Graduation Year: 2012
Unweighted GPA: 4.0 (for all years in high school so far)
Weighted GPA: 4.67
Class Rank: 2 out of roughly 450

Classes For Junior Year
  • AP Englsh
  • AP U.S. History
  • AP Chemistry
  • AP Psychology
  • Honors Pre-Calc
  • Honors Physics
  • Online: Spanish I

Classes For Sophomore Year
  • Mandarin Chinese II
  • Honors English
  • AP Human Geography
  • Honors Chemistry
  • Health (Required Semester Class)
  • Photography
  • Honors Algebra II

Classes For Freshman Year
  • Mandarin Chinese I
  • Honors English
  • Honors World History
  • P.E.
  • Honors Geometry
  • Honors Biology

Athletics
  • Freshman: Swimming
  • Sophomore: Cross Country, Track
  • Junior: Cross Country (Varsity), track

Other Extra-Curricular Activities
  • NHS
  • Secretary of Robotics Club (Sophomore Year)
  • Founder and President of a Student Tutoring Club at School. (Students help other students with school work and test prep.)

Community Service
  • Tutor
  • Church Volunteer
  • Volunteer for NHS Projects and Their Charities
 
See my sticky above about asking this question. Yes, you have a chance. However, no one here can give you any assurances and those who do shouldn't. I've been a BGO for over a decade and this past year I had a couple of candidates whom I would have considered "shoe-ins" get turned down. So no one knows and no one can predict with any validity.

You need to apply and then see what happens. Anything else is false reassurance that may make you feel better but won't have any impact on whether you receive an appointment.
 
usna 1985,

I should have re-phrased the question. What I should have said was, based on previous experiences, what do most candidates that receive appointments have on their application that I am lacking? (I have gone to the academy's class of 2014 profile but it is a little vague on the statistics I was looking for). I have had the dream of going to the Naval Academy and to serve my country as an officer since the sixth grade, and I would want to have a great chance of going. Like you said, no one can make any promises, but there must be a few things the admissions board will be looking for in candidates' applications that I am lacking. Thanks for your your time.
 
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Im not saying you will or will not get in...
But I will say you seem to have strong academics.
One possible lacking here could be leadership, But I dont know how involved in your respective clubs you really are, so my statement may or may not be accurate.

If you attended Boys state this year that would be a great help, and they like Eagle Scouts.

Oh, and if your a minority i.e. black/hispanic etc... your chances are greater.
 
SO much goes into who the USNA selects to be part of the next class. Academics are a part, leadership is a part ... so are recommendations ...

sometimes notes appear here from people who are 4.0, 5.0 students who just don't get why they aren't picked. Some of it may have to do with leadership, ability to get along with others, work as a team ... and be able to deal with (and rise from) defeat ... and then there's the "who knows" factor ...

On paper lots of candidates may look great ... but how did they interview? Not did they ace it, or dominate it ... other factors also figure in ...

My youngster son is in classes with outstandingly well educated classmates, and with classmates who struggle with the high academic standards ...

so ... the answer may be you are absoultely on the right track ... but who knows really until the final packets are mailed out ...

Good luck, though, if this is really your dream ...
 
What you've posted looks good. However, no one knows what your teachers and BGO will say about you or how well you do on your CFA. And even with great scores, grades, sports and leadership . . . it's a numbers game. You can be super-competitive and still not get an appointment.

Stick with your Chinese studies -- USNA now has a Chinese major and background in the language can't hurt.

Stick with challenging courses in math, science, and English. Play sports. Be a leader. Apply!!!
 
usna1985,
My high school cut the Chinese course so I am only stuck with two years. A local community college offers Chinese, but I might not recieve high school credit. I have been taking an online Spanish I course though. Is it better to stick with Chinese at a community college even though I may not receive high school credit?

Note: If I complete Spanish I online my class ranking will move from number two to number one. If I do Chinese with no high school credit I will most likely stay at number two.
 
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Sure you have a chance, but there are too many unknowns to be able to evaluate your chance. Also, it is what you make of it. Personally I would recommend that you pursue an AP Calculus and AP Physics. Give your best effort to being a team player and leader - go for the leadership positions. Give the taskes your best effort. Don't get caught up in worrying about what someone else is or may be doing or in trying to game the admissions process. Make your contacts with your MOC's so they know of your interest and notify you of any service academy events they may be hosting. Check usna.edu/Admissions to identify your Area Coordinator and let him/her know that you are interested in NAVY and would like to be apprised of any events they may be organizing for prospects/candidates. Start taking your SAT and ACT exams at your earliest opportunity and study for them. Best wishes.
 
Be prepared

My daughter is working on her USNA application and nominations right now. You have an impressive list of classes and grades, but like everyone has mentioned; it is SO much more. Timing does have a lot to do with it.

One thing that my daughter would recommend is experiencing the Naval Academy Summer Seminar that she attended at USNA this past month. You can find out information about it from this link.
http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/nass.htm

It too is a competitive process, but begins the USNA application process. This experience was an eye opener for some who THOUGHT they wanted to go to the Academy. It made my daughter passionate about pursuing the Academy. A GREAT way to get a taste of being a Plebe.

Look at the requirements for the CRT on the admission website. You need to be physically fit too. I haven't been able to find the minimum qualifications (Does anyone know?), but the max. are listed.

My daughter does 102 sit ups in 2 mins. (Read how this has to be done.) How many can you do? How many pull-ups can you do? (Read how this has to be done.) My daughter is working on triceps because biceps don't help with this method of pull-up. How fast can you run a mile? .... These MAY be areas you could work on.

When you do apply, get all your teacher recommendations and transcripts before the teachers leave for the summer!!! Or, get their home emails.

Finally, be prepared for not getting into the Academy-prepared by having apps. to other schools and prepared emotionally. That probably has been the most difficult for my daughter. After N.A.S.S., she is confident that she wants to go to USNA. She knows it is a numbers game... 17,000 (correct me if I'm wrong) apply for 1,200 spots. You are not in control of what happens, but that's the military. -I'm also a military wife!

Be as prepared for the unknown as possible. You are doing a great job so far by getting informed.

Good luck!
 
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How does your daughter train for the sit ups? I could do only about 60-70 in 2 min. I know I can go up to 100 after a while, but not within 2 minutes.
 
She does a DVD program called P90X. She also has to have someone strong, her dad hold her feet down properly. Did you go to N.A.S.S. That is where she learned how it had to be done. Tomorrow she could send you a message about how they want you to do it.
 
I did not go to Navy's summer seminar, but I did go to west point's. I did 47 sit ups for their CFA. I believe I could get up to 95 if I just had another minute or two. I dont know how to pace it.
 
Sit-ups

She also trains daily
2 times a day she practices sit-ups and pull-ups

She has a bar in her door way, but using the gym twice a week is more authentic and works better.

She maxes out on the the push ups- practices 20 to 30 2 to 3 times a day
Runs a 7 min. mile, but is shooting for a 6.30

She is an awesome tennis player, but she is looking more like a gymnast everyday. She doesn't like all the muscle because she is a girlie-girl, but it's what is needed for the Academy. A girlie-girl who is tough and competitive.

There all kinds of ways you can try to make yourself stand out for the application to USNA. Shot for as many as possible!
 
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