Preparing to Apply to USNA
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navy2022VA
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Take your standardized tests as many times as possible, but only send the best scores. Visit the USNA and come face to face with as many influencers as possible, it goes a long way. Look into camps, prepare for CFAs, STAY IN CONTACT with any individual you meet in the navy or at the academy. I can’t stress this point enough. Implement a close relationship now with those who you will want to write recommendation letters. If you have navy family or other resources, use them! If you go to NASS, always be the first person to volunteer to say your rates out loud or lead the group. If you go to CVW, participate in the classes your plebe brings you to, but not in an arrogant way. If you can find a way to get in contact with a coach that may want you on the team, that can help. Start and finish your app in late summer or early fall (doing this made my guidance counselor and congressional office respect my efficiency and motivation {their words} and got me a good recommendation from my counselor). In interviews, always have a question prepared for their last question which will be, “do you have any questions for us?” Or “is there anything else you would like us to know about you?” My question was always personal and tapped into their passions because who doesn’t like telling stories about their navy experience? These are basics that have helped me and if I think of any more I’ll post them.
falconchic88
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OP, there are a ton of threads here loaded with advice and tips increasing your chances of an appointment. I suggest you start with the "sticky" Threads, specifically the "Am I competitive"
Spring of your Junior year is when you need to get the ball rolling. Make sure you look in to all of your members of congress (MOC) and their nomination package requirements early spring. Some packages are due early fall, so you want to get started on those early. The earlier you can start the entire process the better, it leaves more time for any issues that may crop up, for example medical issues/waivers, or having to retake or train for the CFT.
Spring of your Junior year is when you need to get the ball rolling. Make sure you look in to all of your members of congress (MOC) and their nomination package requirements early spring. Some packages are due early fall, so you want to get started on those early. The earlier you can start the entire process the better, it leaves more time for any issues that may crop up, for example medical issues/waivers, or having to retake or train for the CFT.
I would disagree with only sending your best scores. USNA will super duper score your tests, so they will take all your scores, SAT and ACT (converted to SAT equivalent) and only count your highest math and highest English scores, even if they come from different tests (types and sittings). It is quite possible to score a lower composite on your ACT, but have your math or English score be higher than it was on the test you scored a higher composite on. It might be wise to not automatically send scores on your first sitting, and wait for the results, but in general, it doesn't hurt to send several rounds of test scores.
navy2022VA
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I say this because on the navy’s website there is a passage I’ve seen quoted on SAF that sending multitudes of test scores can be detrimental. Sorry that I don’t have the exact passage on me but that’s the jist. But yes I agree with sending a few great test scores, just not a bunch that are below average. Work toward your top score and send them as they get better in comparison to eachother.
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I know the passage you mean. It's only accessible through an archive of the site now and refers to repeated scores that are so low that they're academically disqualifying. If that's still a policy the scores need to be very low for there to be an issue.
navy2022VA
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Better for me.. sent my scores 5 times
Hopeful-Dad
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+1 DS won a 2022 USNA appointment and a NROTC Immediate Scholarship Reservation (ISR). DS had taken the ACT 3 times and SAT once and submitted all four scores (his last ACT and the one SAT were far and away the best scores). During the interview with the NRD CO for the ISR, the CO commented that he appreciated DS' retaking the ACT and even made a (friendly) joke... "Well, third time really was a charm for you!"... shortly before awarding DS the ISR. Coming home on the flight from NASS last Summer, the flight attendant struck up a conversation with DS (she noticed his NASS attire) and said that her son was entering the USAFA (2021) and we asked her for any pro tips, and among other things, she mentioned that in his nomination interviews, the officers and MOC staff were all impressed that he had taken the ACT and SAT six times. Unless your scores are embarrassing, you should submit them and keep retaking & resubmitting until you're satisfied.
I would start by reviewing the official USNA website including the section about admissions. Many questions will be answered there. The same questions get asked every year on here, so you can also gain a lot of basic knowledge by reading older posts here. However, remember that many are offering their opinions, so make sure you first start with what is factual.
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Everything you need to know about the application process is explained in detail at www.USNA.edu
How do you resend scores? I have already submitted an application for the summer seminar at the naval academy. I know that my PSAT score is really low (1150 out of 1520 ) and I used those scores for the application. I am taking the real SAT in March, and am predicting a better score, so will they see that too or will they only be able to see the PSAT scores?
falconchic88
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You can go into the college board website and order your score reports to be sent to them. You can send reports to 4 schools for free and and can send to additional schools for a fee.
Old Navy BGO
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Paging CAPT MJ --- CAPT MJ posts a very good blurb from time to time....essentially read Admissions website thoroughly, including all the drop downs and links etc.
The current USNA website (I was not aware of the archive issue) is all that you need to know, and you can count on it to be reliable. You may also want to contact your local Blue & Gold Officer. (If you don't know who the BGO in your area is, you can locate the Area Coordinator at USNA.edu, contact him/her, and they can put you in touch with the local BGO).
Finally, this forum often has some good gouge, but you should keep in mind that you cannot rely on everything you read on the internet. Many of the participants are parents and candidates themselves, and comments are based upon personal experience or something they heard from someone else. Most of the information is good, and there are several participants who will step in and correct obvious errors, but when in doubt, go back to Rule # 1 -- the USNA.edu website controls.
Speaking as someone who got an appointment to the class of 2022 last week, my biggest piece of advice would be to start as early as possible. As soon as you get the letter saying that you're an official candidate, start preparing to take your fitness assessment and begin drafting your personal essay. At the time, the January 31st deadline will seem very far away. However, those next few months will pass in the blink of an eye.
The USNA application is extremely long and arduous and it is important to set deadlines and goals for completing certain aspects of it. Reach out to your teachers and counselor for recommendations in May or June of your junior year. Have your essay finished by the end of the summer. And most importantly, start working out in order to max out the physical fitness standards of the academy. You want to be able to take the CFA as many times as possible in order to achieve your best scores.
Finally, begin looking into the nomination application for each of your senators and representative. The deadlines for submitting these are typically around late October.
The application is not difficult to complete. However, it is extremely complex and long-winded. It is something that takes weeks if not months to complete. Stay on top of everything and check your USNA portal religiously. Keep in close contact with your blue and gold officer and admissions counselor. You'll find that putting in hard work the summer before your senior year will be easier on your mental health than stressing out at 1:00 a.m. a week before the January deadline.
The USNA application is extremely long and arduous and it is important to set deadlines and goals for completing certain aspects of it. Reach out to your teachers and counselor for recommendations in May or June of your junior year. Have your essay finished by the end of the summer. And most importantly, start working out in order to max out the physical fitness standards of the academy. You want to be able to take the CFA as many times as possible in order to achieve your best scores.
Finally, begin looking into the nomination application for each of your senators and representative. The deadlines for submitting these are typically around late October.
The application is not difficult to complete. However, it is extremely complex and long-winded. It is something that takes weeks if not months to complete. Stay on top of everything and check your USNA portal religiously. Keep in close contact with your blue and gold officer and admissions counselor. You'll find that putting in hard work the summer before your senior year will be easier on your mental health than stressing out at 1:00 a.m. a week before the January deadline.
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Here's the archive of the old Admissions website. It's full of interesting but generally unuseful information about how the Office of Admissions operates, however it does list some things that are good to know, like SAT score policies and preferred course loads. That said, it is pretty old and may be somewhat outdated at this point. Like Old Navy BGO said, all you really need is the information on usna.edu/admissions. Finish your junior year as strong as you can, go to Boy's State or any other good leadership opportunities available, and start early but do not rush, as turning in your file early will likely not result in you hearing back before late winter. There's a lot to do but go one by one and you'll be done in time.
I agree.
I don't see a lot of value in reading old archives of the USNA.edu website from 2014. What may have been true back in 2014, may no longer be true. I think someone who is just figuring out how to apply is more likely to be confused reading archived web pages and will be wasting their time trying to compare them to the current website.
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Ok - my standard blurb (“gouge” for Navy wannabees):
If you haven’t already done so, read every page, drop-down and link on USNA.edu. Most answers are there, and it’s a primary resource.
Do the same for your nomination source websites, particularly your elected representatives. The general advice is to apply for all nominations for which eligible.
Take notes. Focus on due dates. Build a timeline. Get organized. Treat it as a gradeable project. Do the work yourself, using parents as admin assistants if needed. The process of applying is in itself a test of attention to detail and perseverance.
Here on SAF, pay attention to the Nominations forum, and the Stickies at the top, and all Stickies in forums of interest. Find the Acronym List over in Community Information. Learn how to use the Search function, especially when you want to ask about your chances. Search on “chance me” and “statistics” to see what other candidates, successful and unsuccessful, bring to the table.
Scan the DODMERB threads and research the medical thresholds, particularly if you are taking certain medications, have accommodations or an IEP - there are cut-off points after which you may be disqualified if your stop date is too recent.
Even if you think you know what SA you want, research the other 4 and what they have to offer, so you can knowledgeably rule them out.
Concurrently, set up your Plans B and C, which will likely include ROTC. More focus and organization.
If you can’t do a pull-up, or very many, male or female, challenge yourself!
Explore the various rising HS senior programs offered at the SAs, such as NASS. There are other highly regarded summer programs such as Boys State and Girls State.
Most importantly, realize that an SA or ROTC program is just a way station to at least 5 years of obligated service. Spend time reading about the officer career paths available out of these commissioning sources to ensure you know what’s in store. You have to want to serve as an officer and have some idea about that.
mcneill18d
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Something that helped me during the application process was the Class Portraits. You can somewhat derive from the information given about what level you need to be shooting for. I took the ACT and SAT a combined eight times. I took my CFA three times. Shoot for the best possible scores. If you pass your CFA the first time but did not max any try and train to max one part for the next time you take it. Work hard.
The suggestion of developing a timeline is a great one and something DS is implementing (as suggested in other posts on this forum). He has developed a spreadsheet with "USNA", "USAFA", "NROTC", and "AFROTC" across the top row and items (with goal dates) in the first column (e.g., "MOC A Let. of Rec 1", "DoDMERB", etc.). He and I are meeting with his HS career counselor day after tomorrow and he plans on handing her a copy, along with a one-page resume and a two-page narrative titled "Who Am I?" (including a paragraph on his typical day, which reads amazingly like descriptions of plebe year schedule). The counselor knows him a bit and has had some experience with SAs but DS wants to "co-op" her into the process. Many of his ECs are not school-related and he wants her to know all about them (Scouts, etc.) because he views her as a must-have ally. DS wants her to know that she has a responsibility in this venture, too.