ECA and Classes Resume Opinions Requested

USSEnterpr1se said:
Thank you for your response! I'm currently debating between starting more sports or doubling down on my current ECAs. I definitely do plan on joining track or XC.
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Generally it's better to focus on one sport than to have 2 or 3 that you only do once and only perform at the JV level. Each candidate is evaluated on his/her own merits. Lots of variables.
 
With respect to cross country, at larger schools, and in some counties in general, if you are not one of the potential scoring members of the team, you don't letter. That means top 7 (5 scoring people and 2 "offsetting" members) running in the "A" race. The good thing about XC though, is they try to let everyone race, at all paces. So, if you were a sophomore starting out, you might run on the "C" team, but based on your performances, you can move up to the faster team. For my kids, you had to be selected to be on the roster for Counties, Regionals, or States as one of the 7 fast kids with an additional 2 alternates chosen to be given a varsity letter. So, only 9 boys and 9 girls lettered each season.

Track tends to be more selective for varsity lettering with some schools. If you don't "score" in an event, you typically don't letter. At my kid's school, you had to accumulate a certain number of points through the season to earn a letter. If you are on a strong relay team that scores, it helps a lot as most of the individual events will have really fast kids that scarf up all the points.
 
USSEnterpr1se said:
Thank you for your response! I'm currently debating between starting more sports or doubling down on my current ECAs. I definitely do plan on joining track or XC.
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Change that "or" to "and" If you are serious about a SA, the best thing you can do is learn to love to run. Join track now (indoor winter is just starting) and run through the spring track, do whatever summer practices your school offers and then come back out in the fall for XC. Setting a consistent, solid running base, will help set you up for success. Running is all about building up mileage to build endurance and prevent injuries. Plus, the CFA is incredibly difficult. Much more difficult than it looks on paper. My DS is a solid 3 sport varsity athlete, and his scores were good, but he couldn't believe how hard it was. Especially how hard it was to run a mile after you taxed the rest of your body. So, building an athletic foundation now will really help you.
 
Yes, yes, yes to running, running, running. DD was a solid and accomplished athlete in two sports — neither of which entailed long spurts of running. She had good stamina and ample athleticism, but not a runner at all. It was pure labor for her! 😖

So she joined the XC team fall of senior year, competed in every race, scored zero points. It was hard work. She didn’t always look comfortable. But she came to appreciate running. She built endurance, gained proper form, learned training techniques.

By plebe summer, it was no longer a chore. She maxed out PRTs. She and her shipmates often did 8-, 9-, 10-milers on the Yard during Covid. And now at TBS, she runs during “downtime” on weekends. So yes, make running a habit…because you’ll be doing plenty of it.
 
NavyHopefulMom2027 said:
Change that "or" to "and" If you are serious about a SA, the best thing you can do is learn to love to run. Join track now (indoor winter is just starting) and run through the spring track, do whatever summer practices your school offers and then come back out in the fall for XC. Setting a consistent, solid running base, will help set you up for success. Running is all about building up mileage to build endurance and prevent injuries. Plus, the CFA is incredibly difficult. Much more difficult than it looks on paper. My DS is a solid 3 sport varsity athlete, and his scores were good, but he couldn't believe how hard it was. Especially how hard it was to run a mile after you taxed the rest of your body. So, building an athletic foundation now will really help you.
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This. DS runs a 4:35 mile, but only ran a 5:15 for the CFA. Amen to how much the rest of the CFA drains you.
 
T-37IP said:
This. DS runs a 4:35 mile, but only ran a 5:15 for the CFA. Amen to how much the rest of the CFA drains you.
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Same. My DS runs a 4:30 and didn't think the run would be difficult to max and he really had to push the last 200m to finish at 5:13. He wasn't sure if it was stupid to never do the run when he was practicing or better not to know how much it was gonna suck 😂
 
retiredradar said:
If you're ready, then take the test. There aren't a lot of applicants who can check that box.
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I plan on doing so soon when I'm done preparing for it. Also quick question, does having a pilots license give me good standing in the applications making me more competitive than those without?
 
USSEnterpr1se said:
I plan on doing so soon when I'm done preparing for it. Also quick question, does having a pilots license give me good standing in the applications making me more competitive than those without?
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It is certainly not a negative, and a nice thing to have, but please realize there are many applicants who do not have the means or opportunity to do the same thing. It is unlikely to leapfrog you over others who bring different accomplishments to the table. USNA looks at the whole candidate. Maybe someone else didn’t gain pilot skills but started and led a grassroots non-profit, demonstrating servant leadership, resourcefulness, communications skills, work ethic, etc.

There are many ways to build a strong application. You do you!
 
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