HS Senior

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PhilaMan23

USAFA '28
Joined
Jun 1, 2023
Messages
182
Hello everyone, I’m about to become a senior and I am interested in going into a service academy. I’m from Philadelphia Pennsylvania, so my region is definitely going to be competitive. I would go to any academy, but in order of preference is, USNA, USMA, USCGA, USAFA, and then USMMA. I know for a fact I’m lacking in my academics, but I think i’m decent in leadership and extracurriculars. I’d do just about anything to get into an academy. If not accepted to any academy or prep school I would want to do ROTC at college and go into the Navy.

GRADES:
SAT-1110
GPA- cumulative 4.61/6 weighted
CLASS RANK- 62/200

SPORTS:
Varsity Baseball
Varsity Golf

EXTRACURRICULARS:
President of Ambassadors
President/Founder of Fishing Club
Rho Kappa National Honors Society
Healthcare Academy Officer
Philadelphia Police Survivors Fund Volunteer
Chapel Sacristan
Philadelphia Korean War Memorial volunteer
Naval Academy Summer Seminar Attendee
Keystone Boys State Attendee-Honor City

If anyone could give their opinion on anything (besides getting my GPA and SAT up) I’d be extremely grateful. Thank you
 
Welcome!!

Just taking a look at what you have above, and nothing else...only one thing stands out (glaringly) and you pointed it out: SAT-1110. I can't speak to the GPA as I've never seen a weighted GPA above 5.00. But as a greedy ALO, I'm always telling my candidates: MORE is better!!!

Harsh reality time...it's what I do as I'm an Admission Liaison Officer (ALO) for the AF Academy. An SAT score of 1110...will get you into many nice schools around the country, but won't get you a serious look by a major SA. In fact, it's VERY possible that one of your scores is disqualifying.

SO...here's the immediate plan: take BOTH the SAT and ACT if you can afford it; and do it now. Study for them, prep, get a study book from Amazon, and put time into it...there are subtle "tricks" to these tests that those guides can help with.

That's a start...

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Great advice from flieger83. To add a couple of items: open the applications and get started. Create a workout routine for the CFA to prepare (although I assume you took it at NASS). I also emphasize to all of my students that the CFA is not an 'end' but the start of a commitment to physical fitness as a military officer candidate. Your workout routines must be 'routine' and continue throughout the school year and summer as you prepare to arrive at the Academy, or on the college campus, ready to meet the fitness requirements for either program, SA or ROTC.

Create a Plan B and C, such as ROTC scholarships and other schools.

Look for ways to expand your résumé, especially team leadership and engagement. Perhaps you can meet with team coaches and other team players over the summer to build stamina, camaraderie, and look for ways to 'build' the team. How about a mentoring program matching senior/junior players with new team members? Brainstorm ideas that can impact the clubs and other groups in which you participate.

I hope these few added items help. Good luck!
 
As a backup plan to a service academy, you may want to take a look at The Citadel in South Carolina and the Virginia Military Institute.These 2 schools have ROTC programs and are the most similar to a service academy experience. Wishing you the best!
 
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flieger83 said:
Welcome!!

Just taking a look at what you have above, and nothing else...only one thing stands out (glaringly) and you pointed it out: SAT-1110. I can't speak to the GPA as I've never seen a weighted GPA above 5.00. But as a greedy ALO, I'm always telling my candidates: MORE is better!!!

Harsh reality time...it's what I do as I'm an Admission Liaison Officer (ALO) for the AF Academy. An SAT score of 1110...will get you into many nice schools around the country, but won't get you a serious look by a major SA. In fact, it's VERY possible that one of your scores is disqualifying.

SO...here's the immediate plan: take BOTH the SAT and ACT if you can afford it; and do it now. Study for them, prep, get a study book from Amazon, and put time into it...there are subtle "tricks" to these tests that those guides can help with.

That's a start...

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
Click to expand...
Thank you, I do plan on taking the SAT and ACT as many times as humanly possible. I have ACT this month and SAT next month. I’m using Kahn Academy to try and get my math score up as that was only a 520.

Hoping I do better on the ACT than I did on the SAT.

Thank you Sir
 
Academician said:
Great advice from flieger83. To add a couple of items: open the applications and get started. Create a workout routine for the CFA to prepare (although I assume you took it at NASS). I also emphasize to all of my students that the CFA is not an 'end' but the start of a commitment to physical fitness as a military officer candidate. Your workout routines must be 'routine' and continue throughout the school year and summer as you prepare to arrive at the Academy, or on the college campus, ready to meet the fitness requirements for either program, SA or ROTC.

Create a Plan B and C, such as ROTC scholarships and other schools.

Look for ways to expand your résumé, especially team leadership and engagement. Perhaps you can meet with team coaches and other team players over the summer to build stamina, camaraderie, and look for ways to 'build' the team. How about a mentoring program matching senior/junior players with new team members? Brainstorm ideas that can impact the clubs and other groups in which you participate.

I hope these few added items help. Good luck!
Click to expand...
I have been consistently working out this summer. My trainer has a son who goes to the Naval Academy, and he’s coming home this friday and is going to work with me for a little bit.
I’ve already started the application process for the Navy ROTC
 
Allectus said:
As a backup plan to a service academy, you may want to take a look at The Citadel in South Carolina and the Virginia Military. These 2 schools have ROTC programs and are the most similar to a service academy experience. Wishing you the best!
Click to expand...
Yes, I’ve looked into VMI as my friend is going there this year. He said I can do an overnight stay to see what it’s like.
 
You need some SAT points as you know. I'd take the ACT too, some kids score better. My son wet to VMI and he loved it. Lifelong friends, a magical experience and is doing well in the Army now. Any questions or concerns at all feel free to message me. He was down to VMI, USMMA, VT or the Citadel at the end. All would be great choices. As a father I loved visiting VMI and Lexington.
 
As a general rule, West Point does not open second step kits for candidates without achieving a 1200 SAT as a starting point. That is not universally true, but mostly true. Additionally, congressional offices will typically set aside nomination requests that do not also have that minimum 1200 SAT as there are plenty of competitive candidates who have SAT scores above that level. All that is to say, put more focus on improving that number. Also consider taking the ACT as sometimes candidates do better on one test than the other.
 
Sargon said:
You need some SAT points as you know. I'd take the ACT too, some kids score better. My son wet to VMI and he loved it. Lifelong friends, a magical experience and is doing well in the Army now. Any questions or concerns at all feel free to message me. He was down to VMI, USMMA, VT or the Citadel at the end. All would be great choices. As a father I loved visiting VMI and Lexington.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I do believe VMI would be a viable option if I don’t get into an academy. I will contact you if I have any questions. Thank you
 
USMAZoo98 said:
As a general rule, West Point does not open second step kits for candidates without achieving a 1200 SAT as a starting point. That is not universally true, but mostly true. Additionally, congressional offices will typically set aside nomination requests that do not also have that minimum 1200 SAT as there are plenty of competitive candidates who have SAT scores above that level. All that is to say, put more focus on improving that number. Also consider taking the ACT as sometimes candidates do better on one test than the other.
Click to expand...
My second step kit is open, the SAT i believe is really the only thing holding me back
 
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