lack of leadership

[XiangLynn]

Hello, I’m a junior (currently mid 1st semester right now) and am interested in applying to one of the service academies, but I would like some input on how I can improve my chances of attending.

To give some background, I never really thought about attending a service academy until early this year, so you can imagine how panicked I am in terms of preparation.

Academics:
-SAT 1480 (710 reading/writing, 770 math); will retake and likely superscore a 1500+
-6 APs (including the ones I am taking this year)
-rest of classes a virtually all honor classes
-GPA: my school does it out of 100pts; unweighted is 96.9 and weighted is 101.7

Sports:
9th grade- was lockdown year (Covid-19) , so I didn’t attend much after school activities let alone sports as I couldn’t stand the idea of watching a screen for another hour.
10th grade- no participation in sports
11th grade- got into varsity track; will have 2 varsity letters by the end of junior year
12th grade (plan)- going to do XC and track

For the CFA I’m quite confident I can make most of the average scores.

Leadership:
This is the part I am most worried about. I was never the type to run for president of anything so never did. I am more of the type who will take on a leadership role if no one else would. I have joined many clubs, but never ran for leadership positions.

I have also done volunteering ~100 hrs where I taught English however. I was required to run the classes solo and created all the lesson plans and presentations myself if that counts as taking some sort of initiative. This experience really helped develop my presentation skills and helped me form connections internationally. It definitely was a valuable experience, but I’m not sure if it necessarily counts as leadership. I did this every summer since 8th grade.

I also did some other volunteer work as well over the years but nothing as noteworthy as my teaching job.

On top of all this I babysat my siblings. My mother works full time as well as night shifts at the hospital and my father is a supervisor who works late as well. My youngest sister is only in 2nd grade. I sacrificed a lot of my time on going home early from school to pick up my little sister and took care of her as my parents worked. That was a big reason why I wasn’t particularly involved with school.

I know my stats don’t look the brightest, but I am wondering if I still have a chance. A chance for an ROTC scholarship at least.

Brutally honest inputs are welcome. If I’m not cut out for this then I want to know. After all, I decided very late to try. I appreciate any insightful thoughts.

 

[A1Janitor]

Volunteer to do leadership roles. Break this habit of not stepping forward.

Become the captain of cross country and track.

Boys/Girls state.

 

[YoitsFly]

You're definitely not too late. I didn't think about the service academies until a few months before Junior year and I still attended summer seminars and am done with my applications (and satisfied with it).

I'd say the biggest things to focus on Junior year are improving test scores and trying to improve things you lack. For example, you are lacking leadership. You should try to get involved in some activity you really enjoy and work really hard to get a leadership position in it the second semester or start of Senior year. Try to get track captain? For me, I had 0 leadership but was cross country captain senior year so that helped round out that requirement. 1480 is a really good SAT score, but if you can superscore it to even higher 100% do it. I didn't take SAT until spring of Junior year so you're ahead of me in that.

Have you looked at the summer seminars for each academy? They sometimes call them different things (Summer Leaders Experience for USMA I think) and they help you see what it is really like at an academy and whether you want to go through with it.

You're not too late. If anything, you're right on time. Start planning the application now (rec letters, essays, etc.) so you won't feel rushed later in the year.

 

[MidCakePa]

Don’t confuse leadership with being elected president or being named captain. They’re not necessarily the same thing. Often, class and club presidencies are just popularity contests. And team captaincies often go to the best player, who isn’t necessarily the best leader.

One can be a leader — and demonstrate great leadership — without ever formally holding office. Leaders identify an issue or situation that can be improved. They devise a solution and rally others to the cause. When all is said and done, others can say about them: “They left it better than they found it.” That’s leadership!

So go find something you feel strongly about or are keenly interested in. Determine whether there’s a way to demonstrate your leadership within that context. Then go and do it! That’s the kind of leadership SAs like to see.

 

[DrMom]

Go to Boys State.

 

[Capt MJ]

Do the legwork to thoroughly research what happens and what is expected of you after you pass through the way station of a service academy, a pre-comm gateway to service as a junior officer for 5 or more years. Read all the pages. links, drop-down menu items at USMA.edu about post-USMA career paths, officer specialties, etc. You will be expected to perform leadership roles at USMA as part of the immersion experience of active duty military service, on a path to both a college degree and a commission. The SAs are big leadership labs where a combination of academic learning and professional development, military routine, field exercises, summer training and day-to-day living will exercise, stretch and grow your leadership acumen.

Do a bit of thinking about why you haven’t chosen to pursue leadership roles in the past. It’s not wrong, at all, but be sure that is what you want as the end product, to serve as a leader, being at the pointy end of the spear, being accountable and responsible for your people, setting priorities, making difficult decisions and managing the everyday responsibility of leadership. Look past the challenge and excitement of saying you want to compete for an appintment at a service academy to what path going through that door sets you on. USMA’s mission is to deliver well-trained officers and leaders to the U.S. Army: “…to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in the United States Army." Focus on that as your goal, and look at leadership as a trait that can be exercised in many settings and is best demonstrated by action, not a block to be checked for an application package. If you succeed in getting into USMA or another service academy, that is the entire point.

And welcome new member of about 2 hours!

 

[Allectus]

You may want to explain your desire to go to a service academy and inquire of cross country coach what it would take to be a captain. DS did this with his coach and the coach named him a captain stating he would gladly help a student seeking admission to a service academy. Also, consider a run for class officer. Definitely go to Boys State—there are specific points awarded for attending in the whole candidate score. Good luck!

 

[Don't Give Up the Ship]

I know one successful USNA MIDN, who as a candidate, spoke about being a Team Sports Captain for two different sports. One where he was appointed by the coach, the other he was voted by the team. He was able to explain the pros and cons of each AND what he learned in team failure and success and how it has influenced his understanding of leadership. Applicants pay attention to what successful Appointees have done. Study a bit about leadership development. Be humble yet confident. Express that you are on a journey...not a destination.

 

[Wahoo Fan]

Leadership—
Team captain would be great if that works out for you. Do whatever you can for the teams you are part of to invest in them and be considered as a team captain. However, that process is largely out of your control.

Class president and other offices are often a popularity contest rather than true leadership.

How about coaching? Is there a rec league or youth track program or something you could volunteer to coach? In my opinion, that is a leadership opportunity quite overlooked and underutilized. Plus it is more in your control to obtain.

 

[A1Janitor]

There are other benefits of signing up as a class officer, NHS officer, etc. beyond leadership. As to leadership, it does check a box even though you didn’t solve world hunger.

It is also that you took your time to take a position while carrying a heavy academic load. It is the whole candidate.

 

[prospective2019]

On top of all this I babysat my siblings. My mother works full time as well as night shifts at the hospital and my father is a supervisor who works late as well. My youngest sister is only in 2nd grade. I sacrificed a lot of my time on going home early from school to pick up my little sister and took care of her as my parents worked. That was a big reason why I wasn’t particularly involved with school.

Don't discount that there's leadership here. If you can make a compelling story surrounding this in your essays, discussing independence at an early age, knowing what it means to have real responsibility for another person, etc, I guarantee that Admissions would view it favorably. There are formal was to get the leadership "points," but there's a lot to be said for irregular backgrounds that demonstrate grit and commitment.

 

[LST271]

I have also done volunteering ~100 hrs where I taught English however. I was required to run the classes solo and created all the lesson plans and presentations myself if that counts as taking some sort of initiative. This experience really helped develop my presentation skills and helped me form connections internationally. It definitely was a valuable experience, but I’m not sure if it necessarily counts as leadership. I did this every summer since 8th grade.

That sounds like leadership to me!

 

[StPaulDad]

Just want to second the idea that leadership is not always the face of an organization, but sometimes it's the busy hands or the strong back. Find a place to make a difference and then get into a position where you can fill that need. Talk to the people at the organization where you do your English teaching and see about making more of the job this summer. Explain your need to advance the role somehow and see what they need done. Maybe convert your syllabus into a basic on-boarding or training doc for new teachers, or propose a formal volunteer coordinator or trainer position, or see how they feel about you recruiting more volunteers. If you establish a significant enough role someone else can take it on the summer after you leave. Make a mark.

And I just want to second the Boys/Girls State suggestion. In some areas it's not well known and you can secure a spot without a great deal of difficulty, so look into it and find out your chances of attending.

 

[Pmaclax]

Apply to all of the Academy summer programs for rising juniors.