Extra Curricular Activities to get into a Service Academy

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Boeingaircraft787

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I am looking into applying to the USNA, and I would like to know if I am doing enough Extra Curricular Activities. I do not participate in a Varsity Sport, although I do play JV tennis. I do mountaineering, I have climbed Mt. Baker (10,800 feet) and will go on a 7 day long mountaineering trip this summer. Next year I plan on summiting Mt. Rainier. I also ski. I do Open Debate (Open Debate is the equivalent of Varsity with other activities), and have played violin for the last 9 years. Finally, I participate in my local Search and Rescue Group with Ham Radio. Should I focus more on a varsity sport or am I doing enough? Thanks.
 
Almost every midshipman was on a sport of some sort, with most of those also being on varsity teams. But no one is saying that is "required.'

Sports demonstrate the ability to work on a team and work together for a common goal (winning), so they are often good indicators of someone with the potential to serve, putting the group before the individual type of thing.

The other key thing to consider in all extra curricular activities is demonstration of leadership and potential leadership. Checking the box that you were in a club is not as valuable as being on the leadership of that team and actually demonstrating an impact.
 
Building on @IronmanDaremo: USNA is less interested in club joiners and title collectors, and more interested in candidates who’ve demonstrated “leadership impact.” The best way to do that is to identify an issue in an organization or your community, devise a solution, rally others to the cause, and achieve the desired result. If you have examples of how you left a place better than when you found it, that’s leadership impact. As with all things related to USNA admissions, quality is more important than quantity.
 
Yep just about everyone plays a varsity sport.

How many are attempting to become serious world class mountain climbers?

It may not be a box to check but this climbing could make for a very interesting response in an interview or discussion in an essay.

I always suggest building upon what you are good at, what you enjoy, and with luck what will make you stand out from a very large crowd of over achievers.

Double down on that attempt to be world class :)
 
Are there chances to lead in Search & Rescue? Do you climb with others? Climbing rocks or multipitching or mountaineering do require working together so that the group safely sends or summits. If you can persuasively expound on thoose acitvities, that can help you with the team aspect.

Violin- are you part of an orchestra? Prinicpal chair or 2d chair? There are leadership opportunities there as well.
 
MidCakePa said:
Building on @IronmanDaremo: USNA is less interested in club joiners and title collectors, and more interested in candidates who’ve demonstrated “leadership impact.” The best way to do that is to identify an issue in an organization or your community, devise a solution, rally others to the cause, and achieve the desired result. If you have examples of how you left a place better than when you found it, that’s leadership impact. As with all things related to USNA admissions, quality is more important than quantity.
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Thanks for the response. I agree completely. All of the clubs/activities I have joined I have stuck with and have had the opportunity to lead the club activity. Would the USNA count Debate as a sport? We have tournaments, state, nationals.
 
Some places do count debate as a sport. I think it is based on your school district.

Definitely something to include.
 
CJS68 said:
Are there chances to lead in Search & Rescue? Do you climb with others? Climbing rocks or multipitching or mountaineering do require working together so that the group safely sends or summits. If you can persuasively expound on thoose acitvities, that can help you with the team aspect.

Violin- are you part of an orchestra? Prinicpal chair or 2d chair? There are leadership opportunities there as well.
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I helped with a local race event, and I had to help check bib numbers and radio them in. In terms of mountaineering, everyone has to work together to reach the summit. There isn't a "leader/captain," but you must work together to safely traverse crevasse's and other risks.
 
Boeingaircraft787 said:
Would the USNA count Debate as a sport?
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> Debate is certainly competitive, and challenging, but I really don't think that debate would be included as a sport even if the school offers letters, etc. That said, debate is certainly good prep for leadership and your interviews. The ability to think on your feet and communicate is a good thing.

Mountaineering is pretty cool, and can help you stand out, but be prepared to use it to demonstrate leadership, perseverance, etc. " I summited Mt Rainier" is not as strong as "led a team of 10 peers on a 7 day trek to summit Mt. Ranier"
 
Old Navy BGO said:
> Debate is certainly competitive, and challenging, but I really don't think that debate would be included as a sport even if the school offers letters, etc. That said, debate is certainly good prep for leadership and your interviews. The ability to think on your feet and communicate is a good thing.

Mountaineering is pretty cool, and can help you stand out, but be prepared to use it to demonstrate leadership, perseverance, etc. " I summited Mt Rainier" is not as strong as "led a team of 10 peers on a 7 day trek to summit Mt. Rainier"
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Thank you, this is good insight. Should I mention the 2 months of preparation and training that go into the trips?
 
Boeingaircraft787 said:
Thank you, this is good insight. Should I mention the 2 months of preparation and training that go into the trips?
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Absolutely...you can talk about the importance of good planning...and how you might change the plan based on lessons from the summit event.
 
Sometimes less is more

”I am a serious mountaineer. This is my sport. I train year around including intensive training and planning for a particular climb. My next climb is to be….”

Expound on what that intensive training and planning is for anyone that might ask.

You want it to look like you are just describing a normal thing for you not loading up the kitchen sink for something in an attempt to look good.
 
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Debate is the best non-physical team oriented activity …. I am biased, and I lived it all throughout HS.

An experienced, very experienced HS coach makes all the difference for every successful HS Debate program. We were a small rural HS in Virginia, and we were a dominant state program because of Mrs. G. She came from a very successful program herself.

It’s been a long time ago for me, but I believe that you can Letter in debate.
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Even if you school considers debate a 'sport' (which is something I have never heard before) what matters is what the SA's consider to be sports. Band has also come up in the past and SA's consider that an ECA not a sport nor would I expect them to think debate is a sport either. I don't speculate on the 'what are my chances' questions, but as others have mentioned, you are competing for an appointment with those who have been successful in multiple areas including sports/academics/ECA's/leadership. USNA publishes statistics to show the background of those appointed and I would start there. If you are preparing to apply, perhaps that clock is already ticking on what else you can do since I assume that means you a junior in h.s. In the past roughly 90% of those appointed were in varsity sports. While that means roughly 10% did not, they still had outstanding resumes that made them competitive.
 
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