PFE 230, 4.0 GPA, multiple activities

Being a recruited athlete can be a great tie-breaker, but you need to have both feet in the pool of qualified applicants first. This isn't a D1 program with separate standards or anything egregious like you might see at other "elite" universities. First priority is producing high quality officers, but there are different attributes to measure for that than simply ranking everyone by test scores, GPA and class rank. Even MIT needs more than that and they are aiming in a significantly different, more academic direction. A good officer needs to be strong, needs to lead, needs to be decisive and have a solid ethical foundation for decisions, and, yes, also needs to be smart and well-educated. Those 25% percentile test scores belong to the folks who are long in those other measures, so your challenge is to get your score up near average and then advance a strong case for leadership, athletics and desire to serve. There are no guarantees, but it's a plan you can work on. Talk to your AO to be certain you understand what they saw and what they were missing this year and then get started.
 
MIT cares very little to not at all if you are a recruited athlete. My son got a letter of recommendation from a MIT coach. He is a very good athlete and student. He has LOAs at Navy and USCGA and he was waitlisted at MIT. 😀
 
I went to high school with a hockey player with an amazing wrist shot who was faced with a choice of scholarships from U of MN-Duluth and Harvard. He went to Duluth, which was the right choice because he ended up playing in the NCAA championship game as a freshman. But he did have a Harvard scholarship in his other hand, and that represented an elite school with a very heavy thumb on the admissions scale. Notre Dame football, Duke basketball, lots of very substantial schools make room for certain students that are, oh, let's say non-academic savants. It very clearly happens, though, as you say, MIT does pretty well in several sports without giving much away in Admissions.
 
Yes, from what I hear athletics, especially rowing, matter at Harvard and being an athlete will get you in. Schools like cal tech and MIT are different. The academic gap from Harvard to MIT is substantial.
 
ProudMom7 said:
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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Thank you for this.
 
I want to share so hopefully someone else does not make these same mistakes.

I was able to have a meeting with the admissions counselor to get feedback on my application and where I can improve.
My counselor advised that my essays were great. But I didn’t include anything on the coast guard missions.

The biggest issue for them was my transcript. I was confused when he said this to me. I’m think well, I know it’s not a 4.2 GPA but it is a 4.0? We wrapped up the conversation and ended the call. I could not get around that my 4.0 GPA was my downfall. My transcript was sent directly from my high school I never seen it. My mom requested it herself tbrough parchment. And it had 2 F’s and a D on the transcript. I about died.

I have the transcript corrected now. Does anyone think it would be worth sending it in? My principal offered to contact admissions letting them know it was their mistake. Be careful! Watch what your school is sending and if you don’t have access, ask for a copy!
 
Ryliecatch said:
I want to share so hopefully someone else does not make these same mistakes.

I was able to have a meeting with the admissions counselor to get feedback on my application and where I can improve.
My counselor advised that my essays were great. But I didn’t include anything on the coast guard missions.

The biggest issue for them was my transcript. I was confused when he said this to me. I’m think well, I know it’s not a 4.2 GPA but it is a 4.0? We wrapped up the conversation and ended the call. I could not get around that my 4.0 GPA was my downfall. My transcript was sent directly from my high school I never seen it. My mom requested it herself tbrough parchment. And it had 2 F’s and a D on the transcript. I about died.

I have the transcript corrected now. Does anyone think it would be worth sending it in? My principal offered to contact admissions letting them know it was their mistake. Be careful! Watch what your school is sending and if you don’t have access, ask for a copy!
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Wow. I don't know if it would be too late to make a difference or not, but I would absolutely contact your AO and would also take your principal up on their offer to contact your AO. I would send in that corrected transcript and call your AO again. It likely is too late to make a difference, but at least you would have done all you can at this point. Looking back at your earlier posts, I see your ACT was on the lower end as well, so that definitely could have been a factor as well. And you also listed that your class rank was 135, so that may have been a factor as well. Regardless, with a major mistake on the transcript, I would still contact your AO to ask about it.

@Objee - are changes in a decision ever made in a case like this? Obviously there could have been other factors in the decision, but if the transcript really was the deciding factor and it was wrong (and the fault of the school), would that make a difference? Or is it just too late and it is a lesson learned that the applicant should have checked her transcript herself.
 
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Ryliecatch said:
I want to share so hopefully someone else does not make these same mistakes.

I was able to have a meeting with the admissions counselor to get feedback on my application and where I can improve.
My counselor advised that my essays were great. But I didn’t include anything on the coast guard missions.

The biggest issue for them was my transcript. I was confused when he said this to me. I’m think well, I know it’s not a 4.2 GPA but it is a 4.0? We wrapped up the conversation and ended the call. I could not get around that my 4.0 GPA was my downfall. My transcript was sent directly from my high school I never seen it. My mom requested it herself tbrough parchment. And it had 2 F’s and a D on the transcript. I about died.

I have the transcript corrected now. Does anyone think it would be worth sending it in? My principal offered to contact admissions letting them know it was their mistake. Be careful! Watch what your school is sending and if you don’t have access, ask for a copy!
Click to expand...
I would have the principal definitely call your admissions officer. AND of course send it in. (Or have it sent sealed).
It couldn't hurt! And perhaps call again yourself and let them know again. I wouldn't say it's impossible to be reconsidered for this kinda mistake, on your schools part. But who knows.... worse case scenario at thos point, is that possibly it could help for nextvyr at USCGA.
Also make sure anything plan B didn't get this transcript.
Sorry this happened to you! Tough break. But don't beat yourself up over it. Bounce back. Everything happens for a reason.
 
We had something similar happen with AIM last summer. My son initially got virtual. I let the academy know and they moved him to week three.
 
Jetbill said:
Also make sure anything plan B didn't get this transcript.
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Good point! I would definitely contact any other schools you applied to in order to make sure they have your correct transcript. Even if you were already accepted at a Plan B school, fixing this transcript might impact any scholarship money you would have been eligible for.
 
ProudMom7 said:
Good point! I would definitely contact any other schools you applied to in order to make sure they have your correct transcript. Even if you were already accepted at a Plan B school, fixing this transcript might impact any scholarship money you would have been eligible for.
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Exactly, Like at MMI😉 scholarships for GPA, etc... And a decent amount!
 
No matter how good a 21 is in your state, it is very low for USGA. SAs and colleges use standardized tests to compare people across different states.
This isn't official data https://www.thoughtco.com/coast-guard-academy-gpa-sat-and-act-data-786417 but this shows that an ACT of 25 is the 25% percentile and you are below that.
Any college wants to make sure you can succeed and they may not think your math/writing is up to it.
Start practicing your ACT or SAT and take it again if you are going to apply again. Khan Academy online has free SAT study tools.

Also what classes are you taking? Like what Math and science? Are they honors? IB?
 
phoebem said:
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!
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Yes! Consider Self-Prepping! My daughter went to MMI via CGAS, but has a number of friends and classmates at the Academy who self-prepped. If you decide to go that route, I highly recommend staying in close contact with your admissions officer throughout the entire process of choosing a prep-school, choosing classes during the school year, and throughout the next application process. The Academy values determination and the willingness to continually work on improving yourself. They also pay attention to the level of interest applicants display, which is why it is important to work closely with your admin officer.
 
Allectus said:
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.
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Agreed. My daughter took the SAT 3 times. Your highest score for each section is submitted. The improvement on each test showed the Academy that she was willing to continually work on improving herself. That's what they are looking for. You got this!
 
Ryliecatch said:
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. :(
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Like a couple other people on here suggested, apply to a school like MMI and take the same courses as the prepsters ( CGAS scholars) and reapply. I know a fine cadet who was not a recruited athlete that went this route ( yes, paid his own way) and received an full appointment the following year and is now a First.
 
Ryliecatch said:
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.
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