How heavily weighted is high school academics/ec toward application process?

lifeofhonor

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Apr 6, 2016
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Hi, I am an upcoming freshman and am thinking about applying to usma after I get my Associate Degree. I have received a ROTC scholarship so I may be able to get a PMS nom. My grades were not the best and my ACT score was a 29 which would make me barely competitive if at all. If I participate in various ec's in college and get good grades how would I fair in the application process? Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.
 
What courses you take will also matter. If you're mimicking the USMA freshman class schedule and get good grades that would help. If you're busy with folk dance 100, drama 101, and physics of the playground 99 , not so much.
 
You need to contact your RC and ask for his advice. Why wait til you have an AA degree? If you start w/ a rigorous curriculum and retake the ACT, you might be in a good position to apply for 2021.
 
Well I'm currently in an Early Commissioning Program so I will be a MSIII this year. I will also be serving in the national guard through the Simultaneous Membership Program. I was thinking if I get more experience in the NG and the programs they offer such as Airborne or Air Assault I would have a better chance.
 
Academics is THE key to admission. Think about it. They start with folks who know little to nothing about the military all the time. They can teach you what you need to know. Having more esperience in the NG etc. is nice, but it isn't going to make the difference in admission, except at the margins.
 
Academics is THE key to admission. Think about it. They start with folks who know little to nothing about the military all the time. They can teach you what you need to know. Having more esperience in the NG etc. is nice, but it isn't going to make the difference in admission, except at the margins.
I understand I am going to try my best. The question I'm asking is if high school grades are weighted more heavily than college grades.
 
Oh no.... they' pay more attention to your college grades.
 
My understanding is that your college grades will be very relevant. Your ACT score is borderline decent, but all of this needs to be taken together with the rest of your application, and perhaps more importantly, assessed as compared to other applicants in your congressional district. Are you in a very competitive district, or a less competitive district?

Keep working at good grades, and retake the ACT as many times as you can. Get the ACT scores to a 31 or higher. It's doable.
 
My understanding is that your college grades will be very relevant. Your ACT score is borderline decent, but all of this needs to be taken together with the rest of your application, and perhaps more importantly, assessed as compared to other applicants in your congressional district. Are you in a very competitive district, or a less competitive district?

Keep working at good grades, and retake the ACT as many times as you can. Get the ACT scores to a 31 or higher. It's doable.
I just moved to Fishers, Indiana from Los angeles if that helps any. I'm going to school in Georgia though. So would it be advisable to apply for the class of 2021 or wait till the next year?
 
Others here are far more capable at assessing the competitiveness of districts. However, if I was you I wouldn't hesitate to apply this year, and then if you don't get an appointment, apply again next year. Re-applicants are given a little extra love by the academies. Some might think that it looks bad that you weren't offered a spot the year before, but that is not true at all. It helps. So try now, then again next year if you need to.
 
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