Is it too late for me?

[King_Raptor]

I've gone over the FAQ and I'm aware that questions like "what are my chances?" are pretty common here, so I apologize for making another one of these threads. However, I really need some advice and straight-up honesty that I won't be able to get anywhere else. Please help a moron teenager out.

For some information: my second semester of Sophomore year is just about to start, and I turn 16 in a month. My freshman grades were absolutely atrocious, at 2.74 weighted GPA. The first semester of my sophomore year has been equally crappy, with only a slightly better weighted GPA around 3.0. Right now, I'm taking almost all honors classes and a single AP course.

Freshman year, I did not do a single extracurricular activity or sport - I was totally unathletic and grossly skinny. This year, I've started doing Crew, Model United Nations, Boy Scouts (although it's too late to make Eagle), and I'm planning to start my own club with my buddies. To help myself meet fitness requirements, I've started lifting as well, although I haven't made much progress yet.

In terms of "special factors" that might make me stand out, there really isn't that much. I was born in the Yongsan Garrison in Seoul and went to a DoDEA school on-base for a couple years, but neither of my parents were actually in the military. I did a semi-professional robotics club through middle school that got me pretty fluent in C language, but I've forgotten much of what I've learned. I'm an amateur historian that's decently well-read with an interest in strategy games (yeah I'm reeeaaaaaally grasping at any straws I can). Besides that, I can only say that I've never gotten into any serious trouble or anything, which is basically nothing on its own.

On the other hand, things are looking pretty grim. Thanks to family issues, my school attendance has been horrible (I ended up receiving an in-school suspension at the end of last year for it) and thus I haven't had a teacher that genuinely liked me since middle school. My mother is definitely not happy with the idea of me joining the military, either, so I can't expect any help from people I know.

Despite all this crap, I've still gotten a very hopeful letter from VMI that I really, really cherish. Ever since I started struggling with depression in my freshman year, I sort of internally accepted the fact that I probably wouldn't make it into any of the academies, but I was a little surprised at the letter from VMI (a lot of my friends, who have much better grades than I do, also got VMI letters but aren't interested in the military). Instead of laying down and accepting all this **** staining my record and weighing down on my character, I want to get up and punch life in the ****ing face. To do that, I need experienced advice and straight-up honesty that I have a lot of trouble getting from the people around me.

I realize my chances are not good. What I'm asking is if it's too late to do anything about it at this point, and if not, what I can do to turn things around.

 

[A1Janitor]

1. Start attending all classes ... prepared. Behave and respect your teachers and classmates.
2. Find a few sports - team if possible - you like and practice.
3. Prepare for SATs and ACTs sooner rather than later.
4. Seek counseling at school to address the depression and family issues.
5. Eat right and cross train. Start running every day and find an exercise program you can stick with that will increase your push-ups, pull-ups, and sit-ups.
6. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and volunteer at soup kitchens or hospitals. Stand out for your volunteer work.
7. Find extracurricular activities you like ... debate, chess, Mock Trial, science Olympiad, drama, music, arts ... whatever.

Leave yourself no free time to mess around. Get proper sleep at night.

Believe in yourself. Soon, others will believe in you too.

 

[THParent]

You chances are zero if you don't apply.

 

[MidCakePa]

Other than someone who’s been brilliant their whole life, USNA also loves someone who’s pulled themselves up from adversity to become a stellar student and leader. Yes, many mids were straight-A students, impactful leaders and star athletes throughout high school. But some started poorly and built themselves up — a positive trajectory that demonstrates maturity, resilience, strength, determination and self-awareness. Coincidentally, those are qualities that tend to make for successful commissioned officers.

So read every tab, link and pulldown on the USNA website. Do the same on the NROTC website. Read the excellent USNA stickies on this forum. If your goal is to become a naval officer, there are different paths. (@A1Janitor gave you a checklist as a great starting point.) Turn your anger and frustration toward exploring these and finding your best path. Best wishes to you.

 

[FutureMarine07]

Talk to a local BGO. They'll be able to help you figure out what to do. Try to get your grades up. A 3.0 weighted GPA isn't too terrible, but you have a lot of room for improvement, so continue taking honors and AP classes, and most of all doing well in them. Seeing as your academics aren't spectacular, but your leadership skills and fitness are actively being improved (also keep working on those), you might be a candidate for NAPS as an recruited athlete. Push yourself in crew, or find another sport that you're passionate about and good at. Also consider the fact that you can take a year, or even two years of college to work on academics. Join a NROTC program to get valuable military and leadership skills, along with a chance for a nom. You can apply until you're 23, so you can take as long-ish as you want to prepare.

 

[CallSignGaspar]

I've gone over the FAQ and I'm aware that questions like "what are my chances?" are pretty common here, so I apologize for making another one of these threads. However, I really need some advice and straight-up honesty that I won't be able to get anywhere else. Please help a moron teenager out.

For some information: my second semester of Sophomore year is just about to start, and I turn 16 in a month. My freshman grades were absolutely atrocious, at 2.74 weighted GPA. The first semester of my sophomore year has been equally crappy, with only a slightly better weighted GPA around 3.0. Right now, I'm taking almost all honors classes and a single AP course.

Freshman year, I did not do a single extracurricular activity or sport - I was totally unathletic and grossly skinny. This year, I've started doing Crew, Model United Nations, Boy Scouts (although it's too late to make Eagle), and I'm planning to start my own club with my buddies. To help myself meet fitness requirements, I've started lifting as well, although I haven't made much progress yet.

In terms of "special factors" that might make me stand out, there really isn't that much. I was born in the Yongsan Garrison in Seoul and went to a DoDEA school on-base for a couple years, but neither of my parents were actually in the military. I did a semi-professional robotics club through middle school that got me pretty fluent in C language, but I've forgotten much of what I've learned. I'm an amateur historian that's decently well-read with an interest in strategy games (yeah I'm reeeaaaaaally grasping at any straws I can). Besides that, I can only say that I've never gotten into any serious trouble or anything, which is basically nothing on its own.

On the other hand, things are looking pretty grim. Thanks to family issues, my school attendance has been horrible (I ended up receiving an in-school suspension at the end of last year for it) and thus I haven't had a teacher that genuinely liked me since middle school. My mother is definitely not happy with the idea of me joining the military, either, so I can't expect any help from people I know.

Despite all this crap, I've still gotten a very hopeful letter from VMI that I really, really cherish. Ever since I started struggling with depression in my freshman year, I sort of internally accepted the fact that I probably wouldn't make it into any of the academies, but I was a little surprised at the letter from VMI (a lot of my friends, who have much better grades than I do, also got VMI letters but aren't interested in the military). Instead of laying down and accepting all this **** staining my record and weighing down on my character, I want to get up and punch life in the ****ing face. To do that, I need experienced advice and straight-up honesty that I have a lot of trouble getting from the people around me.

I realize my chances are not good. What I'm asking is if it's too late to do anything about it at this point, and if not, what I can do to turn things around.

Don't lose hope man. I was totally not athletic on my freshman year, but I knew that I wanted the academy more.

I put in work because this is what I wanted and I advice you should do the same. It's not the end of the road for you. It never will. If you put your mind into it, then it will happen. Just make sure you start changing your bad habits and making better ones throughout your journey through high school.

Good luck and DON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP!

 

[JohnJr1601]

Work the hardest you’ve ever worked before! I had a 2.55(unweighted) freshman gpa and I had a family emergency that impacted my sophomore year and I’m still in the running! (I go to a school so competitive that the average SAT score is 1300! My junior year was the comeback year! I worked my a** off in school and had a 3.20 (unweighted) around 3.80 weighted (maybe?) but I realized I had to do more so I enrolled my self in summer school to retake a few classes. I spent my junior year summer taking freshman and sophomore classes and got A’s. Now I am in my senior year and I am in all AP’s with all A’s and maybe 2 B+’s. However I was extremely involved in extracurricular activities. I spent my freshman year summer as an exchange student in Spain, sophomore year on a 1 month missionary trip to the mountain in Peru (village of 100) and my junior year I spent my Easter break in a small town in the Dominican Republic on another missionary trip. Some more advice from me is to talk to people and ask them about volunteering experiences! If you truly want to go to the Naval Academy you’ll find a way to get there no matter the difficulty! And finally get “The Naval Academy Candidate Book...” by Sue Ross!

P.S. I now have a competitive SAT score, GPA, extracurriculars, and I’m trying to play Rugby at the Academy.

 

[candide72]

I highly recommend Kahn Academy for studying. It’s free and it’ll give you practice problems to work on, which is the best way to study for math and science tests. Feel free to PM me if you’re struggling in any specific courses and I’ll send you some other links. I’ve taken everything under the sun from AP Psych to AP Calc BC and I tutor A LOT. The internet is your best friend when studying alone... I don’t know how many kids I’ve tutored and sent to hyperphysics (a website that breaks down step by step the calculations for algebra based physics).


I was also realllly out of shape when I decided I wanted to apply to USNA. I was on the varsity golf team, weighed 118 pounds (I was 5’8” so read that as: I had no muscle). It took a year to drop my mile time from 10:30 to under 8:00 using the app Couch 2 5k. It’s free and it’ll help build you up to running a full 5k without stress injuries. I learned the hard way to make sure to get good shoes and stretch, though. There’s plenty of online resources to training for a fast mile that you can use to prepare for your CFA in the future! I just relied on the fact that I joined track the spring before I went to NASS and I ran the mile in track.

I admire your drive and I believe that if you keep yourself motivated and on the right path you have a shot. In my personal opinion, determination is one of the most valuable traits in a leader, alongside candor.

(PS, I’m applying for 2023, so fingers crossed we’re both at USNA in a few years )