Moving Senior Year Questions

[Hunter15]

Hello all,
I am currently in the process of applying to the naval academy and will attend NASS and SLE this summer. I am slowly coming to a harsh reality, that being moving while trying to beef up my resume. I will attend 3 high schools, one freshman year, one sophomore and junior year, and another senior year. My entire sophmore year was online and I knew 3 juniors coming into this year. As most of you probably know, things like student council and captain of sports teams in more so a popularity contest and I was in know way popular. I have managed to accomplish a few things under these circumstances such as co-captain of my JV football team, assistant manager of the pool I lifeguard at, and president of a youth connection and volunteer group at my church. At my school we pick captains for the following year once the season ends, I was picked captain of both the football team as well as the swim and dive team but have since turned both of those positions down due to my families upcoming move (I also play golf but there are no team captains on the golf team). I planed on participating in student government now that I have made connections with my peers and probably will still try to do so at my next school. I am physically fit enough to pass the CFA with relative ease I believe. I currently have a 4.0 UW gpa and a 4.4 W gpa so my academics are alright. I really don't want to make my entire application an excuse because I completely understand the circumstances I have been given and know that I have to just work and persevere through them. I think the question I am trying to get at is how can I set myself up for success in the upcoming year and how should I go about explaining my circumstances without feeling sorry about myself or feeling pity about my situation? Is this something I address in my interview or essay?
Sorry if this is very unorganized but any advice is greatly appreciated!
Thank you!

 

[NavyHoops]

I think ensuring your BGO understands all these things will help. They can help paint the picture in the write up. Also, you get a chance to write an essay about adversity in your app (I think it’s still on there), a great spot to mention the challenges of moving several times during high school.

 

[Capt MJ]

Your essays and interviews will be a great opportunity to showcase “CCAR” achievements and situations: Challenge, Context, Actions, Resolution, demonstrating your adaptability, perseverance, initiative, creativity, determination, drive, ingenuity, and many more - all traits desirable in future junior officers. When in leadership positions, how do you influence positive change? When faced with change, how did you adapt and move forward? How have these challenges helped you grow and gain coping skills? (rhetorical)

Many of your peer applicants will have faced similar or worse. How did you overcome and excel?

 

[Huursoldaat]

You've heard from 2 awesome sources of information. I'm just a bystander, but this is definitely an opportunity. Achieve great things and be proud of them *despite* the adversity of moving around. Show you can make friends and become respected quickly.

 

[yeehaw26]

I transferred schools in the middle of junior year (because prev school was closing at the end of the year). In my essay, I talked about overcoming things each year of high school (covid included) and how after a short time in a new environment I had made connections with classmates and teachers. Just emphasized how I grew, not how I struggled. I was also a senior captain of xc and track and I had been there much shorter time than the other captains - just work hard and show that you are captain material, even if you don't get named one.

#1 advice: make strong connections with teachers as it can get difficult asking teachers from previous/multiple schools for letters of rec

Good luck and happy senior year!

 

[retiredradar]

Many applicants are military brats who have moved several times. It's not unusual. Admissions knows that you're not walking into a new HS and becoming Class President. All you can do is control what you can.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

Good advice from all above. Use the history of moving to stand out ; look at it as an opportunity rather than an excuse.
I was in your shoes 40 ish years ago; 3 high schools, including move in middle of junior year. (I was actually lucky, my class ranked jumped significantly when I moved). Concur with the comment above about connecting with your teachers -- use your Junior year teacher if you can, and make sure you sit down with him/her and they know your background and what you have accomplished in the short time at that school. That evaluation will go a long way.