How Can I Be Competitive For USMMA Admissions?

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lacrosse002

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Hello, I am currently a junior who is interested in pursuing a maritime career through the U.S Merchant Marine Academy. I was wondering how competitive I am for admissions and what I can do to improve. I have around a 4.44 weighted GPA, 1230 SAT (590 Math,640 Reading). I am planning to take the SAT two more times at least and am using Khan Academy to study. I play lacrosse spring through fall and am on the swim team in the winter. I am involved in my church as a founding member of a group that cares for elderly people (many of them veterans) with Alzheimers. I also volunteer at a local homeless shelter and do miscellaneous service through my school's service club. I am currently in a honors program at my school which involves a 100 hour research project and maintenance of a 3.75 weighted GPA. What would you recommend for me to do in my junior year in order to make myself more competitive or prepare myself for the rigor of King's Point?
Thank you for your time.
 
Sounds good, but the SAT is a little low. You should work on that.
 
First of all, if your screen name is your real name, i would recommend changing it by contacting one of the moderators on this forum. Some of your plebe detailers monitor this forum and you do not want to draw any attention to yourself.

You look to be on the right track for being qualified for admission. As pointed out above, your weakest point is your SAT math score. Kahn Academy is a great way to raise it. Try to find 30-60 minutes everyday to work on it. If you can get your math score up to 650-700, you will improve your chances greatly.

Contact your local admissions Field Representative. You can find the contact information for the closest rep on the admissions page. These people are usually alumni of the school and are very helpful with the admissions process. It is not too early to reach out to him or her.

I would also check on the websites for your local members of Congress. Most of them have service academy information nights that can give you a lot of information on what they are looking for in a candidate. Make sure to attend and get on an email list if they have one.

Continue on course with what you are doing. Take the most challenging classes your school offers. Try for a leadership position in your sports.

I would go for an overnight visit in the fall if you can. Contact the coaches for your sports and they will facilitate shadowing someone else on the team. My DD is on the swim team and loves it. Do not hesitate to ask any questions, and I will try to give you a straight answer. Good luck to you.
 
I'm by no means qualified to say one way or the other, but compared to friends of mine who have applied previously or currently (one of which who is at USMMA) you seem to be very competitive. If I was in your shoes I'd keep doing what your doing and work on getting the SAT up a bit. I'd also consider doing the ACT just to see which test you do better at. Best of luck!
 
as others have said. Work on the SAT/ACT scores. Take both tests, multiple times. Khan is a good resource. weighted GPA may not be the true measure which they look at. Each school has different requirements and standards that make up weighted vs unweighted. Take sciences and maths. chemistry, physics, calc, etc. AP if possible. Biology not really on the same level as the chem and physics.

Work on either a varsity letter, or captain of the team.
Work on leadership, and if you are a scout, get eagle if your time allows it.
 
Here are my stats if you’d like, I am a recruited lacrosse player so I’d say definitely reach out to the coach. I have recieved a LOA but am undecided. I also got support letters from the lacrosse coaching staff so again I would definitely reach out to the lacrosse coach, you never know what they can do to help.

Act: 33
Sat: 1270
GPA: 3.55 (3 on AP Calc AB exam)
3 Sport Varsity Athlete (Wrestling, Lacrosse, Waterpolo)
Eagle Scout
National Honor Society
Foreign Language Honor Society
Future Bussiness Leaders of America (FBLA)
Vice President of School
Vice President of Class Freshman-Junior Year
Volunteered with Special Olympic and Happy Helpers of Baltimore

Here are my stats if they help, I wish you luck in whatever happens.
 
Take challenging courses... you already have a nice GPA, so a few AP or IB classes would boost that transcript aspect. Continue working on your SAT / ACT (TAKE BOTH). Try to get leadership (captain) positions on your sports that you play. Take practice CFA's and make sure you can pass with ease. Seek your nominations early (and from multiple congressmen/women from your state). Look into summer camps like girls state of SLCDA. Start thinking about who you're going to want letters of recommendation from... get the letters from them at the start of your senior year (TIP: Ask a lot of people for letters and use the ones that put you in the best light). Best of luck. You can DM me if you have questions.
 
lacrosse002 said:
Hello, I am currently a junior who is interested in pursuing a maritime career through the U.S Merchant Marine Academy. I was wondering how competitive I am for admissions and what I can do to improve. I have around a 4.44 weighted GPA, 1230 SAT (590 Math,640 Reading). I am planning to take the SAT two more times at least and am using Khan Academy to study. I play lacrosse spring through fall and am on the swim team in the winter. I am involved in my church as a founding member of a group that cares for elderly people (many of them veterans) with Alzheimers. I also volunteer at a local homeless shelter and do miscellaneous service through my school's service club. I am currently in a honors program at my school which involves a 100 hour research project and maintenance of a 3.75 weighted GPA. What would you recommend for me to do in my junior year in order to make myself more competitive or prepare myself for the rigor of King's Point?
Thank you for your time.
Click to expand...
Your e
lacrosse002 said:
Hello, I am currently a junior who is interested in pursuing a maritime career through the U.S Merchant Marine Academy. I was wondering how competitive I am for admissions and what I can do to improve. I have around a 4.44 weighted GPA, 1230 SAT (590 Math,640 Reading). I am planning to take the SAT two more times at least and am using Khan Academy to study. I play lacrosse spring through fall and am on the swim team in the winter. I am involved in my church as a founding member of a group that cares for elderly people (many of them veterans) with Alzheimers. I also volunteer at a local homeless shelter and do miscellaneous service through my school's service club. I am currently in a honors program at my school which involves a 100 hour research project and maintenance of a 3.75 weighted GPA. What would you recommend for me to do in my junior year in order to make myself more competitive or prepare myself for the rigor of King's Point?
Thank you for your time.
Click to expand...
Your reading is competitive, but your math is not. Try to get that much closer to 650. Good luck.
 
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