If I went to the academy I likely would have pursued becoming a pilot. In high school, I was a cross country and track team member, I was varsity freshman year and suffered minor injuries during the middle years that hindered my ability to achieve varsity status at times, so my amount of letters were a mixed bag scattered across school years. I also am a student leader that oversees a sort of mentoring program, in addition to some clubs (some volunteer based), did consistent volunteer work, and I worked a job year round. I also did an academic competition for students pursuing business for about two years, and I am a member of the school's NHS chapter. My school never offered ROTC. I may be forgetting something but that's the bulk of my involvement.
Quick gpa stats: 4.35 weighted, 3.75 unweighted. 1350 SAT
I must say, the academy was never a lifetime goal of mine and I only started the process about a year ago. For a long while, I had been incredibly stuck on the academy and refused to give other schools I applied to a fair share of my attention. However, now that we're in the absolute endgame, I decided to put my deposit down for another school and face reality. I may do ROTC or not, and I may reapply if I discover traditional college life isn't for me as I had once thought.
The best advice I can give you is really say why you want this, have a solid reason on why you want to go and what separates you from other people. Also, what motivates you personally to obtain good grades and perform well in what you do? I had these questions in the interview and I absolutely fumbled it. I think I wasn't able to truly form a coherent answer on why I wanted this until months later. During the interview I was so focused on wanting to hype myself up and make me sound better that my answers on my own character were not honest as to who I really am as a person. Maybe I should have straight up said I'm not the most naturally gifted person in anything I do, I just try my best in whatever situation I am in and try to stack up to those around me.
If this is something you are committed to and have been for a very long time, as well as having a good, solid base of community involvement, I believe you already have a better chance than I did.
I wish you the best of luck.
