PFE 230, 4.0 GPA, multiple activities

Ryliecatch

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Jan 3, 2023
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Hello, I thought I would share that I was rejected and offered to apply next year. I had a PFE of 230, passed DOMBERG end of Feb., Varsity Swim 4 years, Varsity Softball 4 years, all city honors, Kay Club, NHS, ACT score was 21. my class rank was 135 with a 4.0 GPA because my school is one of two schools in the state to offer IB program. I’m terrible at testing, I have major test anxiety. The ACT score of 21 for my state is considered to be in the 70% percentile for Kansas. I’m disappointed I’m sad I’m confused because all the qualifications they look for I felt I had a good shot. Good luck. :(
 
Are you planning to apply next year? Maybe you can work with the support staff at a college on your testing and come back a stronger candidate next year. It's sucks now, but I'm sure there are positive things in your future if you keep working
 
Are you planning to apply next year? Maybe you can work with the support staff at a college on your testing and come back a stronger candidate next year. It's sucks now, but I'm sure there are positive things in your future if you keep working
I do not know what to do. I turned down several colleges, some small D1 schools for Softball. I'm so disappointed. I feel lost and really confused. I'm from Kansas and this oppurtunity is never ever spoken of here. We didnt start looking into it My Mom came across it and evemn then we could not get much information here locally. We had to do some heavy lifting researching on our own; and the more I researched the more I fell in love this place.
 
I do not know what to do. I turned down several colleges, some small D1 schools for Softball. I'm so disappointed. I feel lost and really confused. I'm from Kansas and this oppurtunity is never ever spoken of here. We didnt start looking into it My Mom came across it and evemn then we could not get much information here locally. We had to do some heavy lifting researching on our own; and the more I researched the more I fell in love this place.
If you haven't already, you can reach out to your AO to get feedback on your application. They will let you know the areas where they thought you were lacking compared to other candidates. There are many reapplicants each year. If you really want to attend USCGA, then you should get feedback. Meanwhile, you should plan to take courses next year (at whatever school you attend) which mimic the courseload of a 4/c cadet at USCGA. That means a STEM heavy courseload. If you excel in those courses, while continuing athletics, showing leadership, and also showing a commitment to service, then it will let USCGA know that you would likely be able to do well at the Academy. Then you will be able to reapply next year with a stronger application.
 
Unfortunately, there are many fully qualified candidates that do not get accepted. It is hard to figure out what to do next when the one thing you really wanted does not go your way. What you can do is take a little time to process. Then, figure out if you want to re-apply next year. If you decide you do, then you can reach out to your Admissions Officer in the next month or so, and ask them what you can do to improve your application. At the very least you want to take classes equivalent to what you would be taking your first year at the Academy Get to know your professors so they can write you strong recommendations. Reach out to the softball coach and send them your stats if you aren't already a recruited athlete. Some students do self prep at one of the CGAS schools like MMI. Also, CGA is still test-optional for the SAT and ACT, so you are not required to submit those scores, you just have to upload a short statement requesting your application be reviewed without test scores.
 
If you haven't already, you can reach out to your AO to get feedback on your application. They will let you know the areas where they thought you were lacking compared to other candidates. There are many reapplicants each year. If you really want to attend USCGA, then you should get feedback. Meanwhile, you should plan to take courses next year (at whatever school you attend) which mimic the courseload of a 4/c cadet at USCGA. That means a STEM heavy courseload. If you excel in those courses, while continuing athletics, showing leadership, and also showing a commitment to service, then it will let USCGA know that you would likely be able to do well at the Academy. Then you will be able to reapply next year with a stronger application.
Thank you for the feedback. I will reachout to admissions. I really do want to attened this academy. More then anything it is such a fit for me personally. I do not what options I have now with applications being past due at this point, not to mention being able to play softball this late in the game.
 
Unfortunately, there are many fully qualified candidates that do not get accepted. It is hard to figure out what to do next when the one thing you really wanted does not go your way. What you can do is take a little time to process. Then, figure out if you want to re-apply next year. If you decide you do, then you can reach out to your Admissions Officer in the next month or so, and ask them what you can do to improve your application. At the very least you want to take classes equivalent to what you would be taking your first year at the Academy Get to know your professors so they can write you strong recommendations. Reach out to the softball coach and send them your stats if you aren't already a recruited athlete. Some students do self prep at one of the CGAS schools like MMI. Also, CGA is still test-optional for the SAT and ACT, so you are not required to submit those scores, you just have to upload a short statement requesting your application be reviewed without test scores.
I thought it was test optional too but they asked for the test twice. SO I took it in January. The softball coach was interested in me and we have kept in tough this entire time. She was hopeful as well. So i do not believe being a recruited athelete holds much weight for the academy.
 
Hello, I thought I would share that I was rejected and offered to apply next year. I had a PFE of 230, passed DOMBERG end of Feb., Varsity Swim 4 years, Varsity Softball 4 years, all city honors, Kay Club, NHS, ACT score was 21. my class rank was 135 with a 4.0 GPA because my school is one of two schools in the state to offer IB program. I’m terrible at testing, I have major test anxiety. The ACT score of 21 for my state is considered to be in the 70% percentile for Kansas. I’m disappointed I’m sad I’m confused because all the qualifications they look for I felt I had a good shot. Good luck. :(
I am currently at MMI and we have a softball team so you should definitely look into it! I have a thread on the prep school forum if you have questions!
 
Some stats that might be helpful on setting goals for the future:

"The average ACT score composite at United States Coast Guard Academy is a 29. The 25th percentile ACT score is 26, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 31. In other words, a 26 places you below average, while a 31 will move you up to above average."

Also:

"Class Rank​

  • 46% in the top 10% of high school class
  • 82% in the top 25% of high school class
  • 99% in the top 50% of high school class"
If you aren't in top 50%, only 1% get in!

Sounds like If you crush a year at college and re-apply CGA loves reapplicants.

Still waiting for my twin as well. Best of luck on your next step!
 
If it felt that right, don’t give up. Our tour guide/4th year student was from Marion Military Institute and went on his own. Seems to be an excellent path to increase chances of getting into CGA and applications are still open. Several of the people we met when we were on campus had applied more than once. There are also some great scholarships available for MMI. Waiting is difficult but if it’s something you really want, it will
be worth the investment in time. Good luck.
 
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"The Coast Guard likes people that like the Coast Guard." That's what my DD was told on her campus visit three years ago. The Director of Admissions, Capt Fredie, got in on his third attempt and there are plenty of others each year. If this is truly your dream then spend this year on doing the work to improve your app. Follow the steps laid out by @ProudMom7 and @VAcadetmom above: talk to your AO about your app, go to school and take the hard classes like a 4C, work really hard on those test scores, find some ways to demonstrate leadership on campus, stay out of trouble, stay in shape, and then submit an even better app next year. There are plenty of people admitted each year that had to take a second swing at this. Keep your head up and your feet moving, you can do this.
 
You can find these online, but I've attached a typical schedule for a 4/c (freshman) at USCGA. You can look up the specific schedule for the particular major you are interested in. I've also attached the core curriculum classes that ALL cadets must take during their time at USCGA regardless of major. This should give you a good idea of what classes to pursue at your Plan B college if you plan to reapply.
 

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You have done well in high school and with your resume you will do well wherever you go.

The challenge with USCGA admissions is that the incoming class is so small and each applicant is competing from a national pool. Many kids seeking academy slots apply to all academies when really they only have an intent of accepting to one, so that make the competition tough. I can imagine looking at your file next to others, someone may tell you maybe being a team captain would have been a difference maker but they are just guessing. Likely it wasn't any one thing and really nothing you could have improved at this point (other than ACT), just that out of the national pool, others were a better fit.

The good news about the ACT score is that can be improved. You indicate they asked for it so you took it one time in January. A little prep work with a $25 prep book and a few full practice tests can improve your score by several points. Some find the more practice tests you make, the more your anxiety will decrease as well. For any academy, they also prefer a high math or quantitative score as the academies are primarily engineering institutions.

My opinion only and not related to the original poster: It is a bit of a national high school problem that so many kids graduate with 4.0 or even higher (yes that is thing now, some graduate with 5.0) making parents very happy and raising kids expectations, only to reveal a disconnect when compared to their ACT/SAT testing which makes admissions decisions challenging. Our local flagship university is also test optional, but they really do rely on the ACT/SAT testing because the rumor is about 77% of applicants have a 3.8 or better GPA from high school and it is almost impossible for college admissions committees to differentiate applicants on GPA alone without supporting test scores.
 
It appears the test score was a limiting factor. You may wish to try taking the SAT as well as the ACT. My DS scored significantly better on the SAT than he did on the ACT.
 
I thought it was test optional too but they asked for the test twice. SO I took it in January. The softball coach was interested in me and we have kept in tough this entire time. She was hopeful as well. So i do not believe being a recruited athelete holds much weight for the academy.
Being a recruited athletic gives you more weight than anything you can put on your application.
 
Being a recruited athletic gives you more weight than anything you can put on your application.

I do not know if this is true for a D3 school. Just what I would imagine and from having a brother who is involved with two sports at USCGA, It's very relaxed.

Since OP has poor test scores I would think improving those to the point that they could become academically eligible for admission would be much more influential than being recruited for a D3 Sport.

Just in my uneducated opinion.

But, I have heard mixed things about recruitment. I would say it certainly helps, where as most academies deny that it gives a candidate an unfair boost.
 
MMI!!! DS was third time applicant to SAs this year. After unsuccessfully self-preping elsewhere at a diff SA Prep school last year. (I'll provide you more info/guidance on that if you PM me). Yes, he was seemingly well qualified. 3.88 GPA from a super highly ranked HS. 100% of his class of 69 kids were accepted at colleges. Some years, a kid or 2 even get SA appointments.
One of the reasons MMI is likely a good place for you to self-prep for USCGA is because MMI is approved school by USCGA for sponsored prep students, (that they have given scholarships to for extra year of readiness).That means they have a prep program already in place specifically for their Academy. USCGA sponsors a surprising large # of kids ea year to MMI considering they only appoint 300ish/yr. (to be fair I think they use GMC as well, and maybe others???).
Point is that you could be grouped with the Coastie kids, and get to meet representatives from the Academy in group settings and possibly informally one on one. This was the case for my son. By the nature of their relationship MMI knows who USCGA is looking for.

USCGA is super competitive in it's own right. Unlike the other SAs , there is no congressional nomination to deal with to gain appointment. That makes it easier to apply. I believe, more kids apply, than otherwise would. And I firmly believe that there is, at least unofficially, a hidden geographical piece at play. Or at least a desire to have the entire country represented in the student body, at least somewhat equally. This is purely speculation, but given the size of Kansas, they may have only appointed 4-5 kids??? Maybe some were 2nd or 3rd yr applicants as well??? You're gonna have to do what I told my son: OUTWORK THE ODDS!
If you attend MMI, they will also give you guidance on CSPI as a plan B after next year. CSPI is a CG commisioning program, similar, but different than, ROTC.
A huge # of Universities qualify for CSPI students. You can get the last two years of college paid for, while drawing a CG salary, and then they send you to officer canidate school at the...guess where...USCGA!
Since USCGA competes at NCAA div 3 level, if you had softball recruitment going on, that should encourage you greatly, either direction. Apply one more time to USCGA, after playing softball at MMI. If you are non-selected once again, do NOT give up on your dream to serve in the Coast Guard! Either try a third time at MMI for yr two of college credit, or go civilian for CSPI.
Hello, I thought I would share that I was rejected and offered to apply next year. I had a PFE of 230, passed DOMBERG end of Feb., Varsity Swim 4 years, Varsity Softball 4 years, all city honors, Kay Club, NHS, ACT score was 21. my class rank was 135 with a 4.0 GPA because my school is one of two schools in the state to offer IB program. I’m terrible at testing, I have major test anxiety. The ACT score of 21 for my state is considered to be in the 70% percentile for Kansas. I’m disappointed I’m sad I’m confused because all the qualifications they look for I felt I had a good shot. Good luck. :(

Like all the Service Academies, USCGA Loves kids that are willing to work at getting better, and are willing to go through the difficult process Again.
MMI is an excellent path for USCGA appointments. As is CSPI for plan B on Coast Guard commisioning through many civilian colleges. Sent you P.M. for more advice...
 
Being a recruited athletic gives you more weight than anything you can put on your application.
That does not appear to be true with any of the coaches we have talked to at USCGA. Now if we were talking army, Navy, Air Force that would be different. I think the thing that matters for sports more than anything is being a captain on the team. They want to know at least 15 kids on the earth don't think you are a jerk.
 
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