SAT Scores

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warden

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Hello, I am currently a freshmen in college applying to the class of 2028 for USNA. My current SAT score is 1390 (650 R&W, 740 M), and I plan on retaking in October to hopefully get a better score. How much of an impact would it have on my nomination and application if I increased my SAT score from 1390 to 1450 or better? Would it be a big difference or small? Is it worth it to put in the hours of studying to increase my score to the mid to high 1400s? Or is my time better spent focusing on college academics and other areas? Thank you for your help.
 
You didn’t win your slate with a 1390 last time, you may not win it next time either. We don’t know your whole package last time, or what your competition was or will be.

Are you taking a rigorous schedule that matches what current plebes are taking?

That being said, I would retake it. Don’t leave points on the table.
 
Take a look at USNA’s latest class profile. It shows the middle 50% for test scores, with the 75th percentile at 720 for both math and verbal. Together, that’s 1440 to put you on the edge of the top quartile.

The SAT/ACT are most commonly used to predict one’s ability to succeed in college. Now that you’re in college, you can prove directly that you’re capable of succeeding — mainly by taking a plebe-like schedule that includes calculus and chemistry and English. But you shouldn’t discount the continued importance of test scores. It’s a competition, after all. Every point counts.
 
First, suggest you contact Admissions with this question as they have access to your entire package. However, they may well say something along the lines of: "there is room for improvement."

IMO, the answer depends on a couple of things. First, do you have reason to believe you'll do better taking it this time? Have you put in extra study or taken a course or done something else since the last time you took it that makes it likely your score will improve?

Second, how do your scores compare to your grades in English and math? If you're doing well in those courses and have overall strong scores (which you do), your time and effort may be better spent elsewhere.

Third, and a related question, what do you see as the weakness(es) in your application? That's where you should put your effort.

I don't think your chances of admission will improve if your scores go to 660/750. If you got 800/800, maybe. But you're already doing quite well with SATs.
 
@usna1985 brings up good points. We really don't know the exact answer to your question. For both USNA and competitive Nominations, it's about the Whole Candidate Score/Nom application package that really matters. For USNA you have to qualify 1. Academically, 2. Physically and for 3 Leadership potential. If you're average for 2. or 3., your time may be well spent on those.

FYI: USNA Admissions did tell me (during recent BGO training on the Yard), that academics is the biggest factor...but not the only factor for college applicants. Also Admissions reps said, that for most applicants, thier SAT scores don't typically improve after the 3rd re-take. So if you have only taken the SAT once, I would take it a couple more times. The 740 Math is fairly strong, perhaps focus on the English section. We also dont know if your Nom sources Superstore or not-USNA does. I suspect most MOCs do superstore-you can ask them if you want to-but it's not something you can control.
 
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warden said:
Hello, I am currently a freshmen in college applying to the class of 2028 for USNA. My current SAT score is 1390 (650 R&W, 740 M), and I plan on retaking in October to hopefully get a better score. How much of an impact would it have on my nomination and application if I increased my SAT score from 1390 to 1450 or better? Would it be a big difference or small? Is it worth it to put in the hours of studying to increase my score to the mid to high 1400s? Or is my time better spent focusing on college academics and other areas? Thank you for your help.
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Are you are re-applicant? Or 1st timer? It’s not clear from your post.

Great advice already. If you are a first time applicant, you may not know that USNA superscores. Even between SAT/ACT tests. I would recommend to take each, at the minimum. And retake ate least once (studies show that re-taking improves scores) with focus on your weakest area.

You have valid points about where to focus your time.
 
@justdoin19 brings up additional great points. USNA "Cross SuperScores", meaning they will convert ACT and SAT scores and take the high of each. Some candidates do better on the ACT vs SAT or visa versa. For college applicants, your performance in tough classes is a key indicator the USNA Admissions Board.

Go Navy. We're going to win in December!
 
Data point only.

My kid get an early LOA in his first cycle with an SAT of only 1250 (630/620). But ...... he didn't get a USNA nom from any of the possible sources. He did get a USAFA one, but did not get into there that cycle. Our area is super competitive (our district in MD is the same one that has Annapolis) for the Naval Academy. The rest of his package was top notch. Athletics, leadership, great grades with a very challenging course load, etc. Because he got no nom, he didn't satisfy his LOA requirements and no appointment.

Next cycle, he applied as a college re-applicant. Did not take any standardized tests over. Crushed his Fall semester with a 3.5 GPA, full Plebe course load, and was a college programmer with an NROTC unit. He only applied to USNA that time. Still, no nom from the MoCs that round. Luckily, he got an NROTC letter of recommendation/nom from his PNS (professor of Naval Science - the CO of the ROTC unit). That is what got him in.

I don't think his SAT score was a deal breaker for the Academy. After all, they offered him an LOA one year, and an appointment the next with the same mediocre score. But, the lower SAT probably crushed his chances for the MoC noms, considering the field he was competing against locally. Which, had he not taken a different path with an NROTC unit, it would have ended in no appointment as he would not have had a nomination.
 
IronmanDaremo said:
Data point only.

My kid get an early LOA in his first cycle with an SAT of only 1250 (630/620). But ...... he didn't get a USNA nom from any of the possible sources. He did get a USAFA one, but did not get into there that cycle. Our area is super competitive (our district in MD is the same one that has Annapolis) for the Naval Academy. The rest of his package was top notch. Athletics, leadership, great grades with a very challenging course load, etc. Because he got no nom, he didn't satisfy his LOA requirements and no appointment.

Next cycle, he applied as a college re-applicant. Did not take any standardized tests over. Crushed his Fall semester with a 3.5 GPA, full Plebe course load, and was a college programmer with an NROTC unit. He only applied to USNA that time. Still, no nom from the MoCs that round. Luckily, he got an NROTC letter of recommendation/nom from his PNS (professor of Naval Science - the CO of the ROTC unit). That is what got him in.

I don't think his SAT score was a deal breaker for the Academy. After all, they offered him an LOA one year, and an appointment the next with the same mediocre score. But, the lower SAT probably crushed his chances for the MoC noms, considering the field he was competing against locally. Which, had he not taken a different path with an NROTC unit, it would have ended in no appointment as he would not have had a nomination.
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This speaks to the whole candidate, whole applicant profile the admissions office talks about.

Very metric based, but also many intangibles that can’t be known or measured. Interviews, recommendations, challenges, unique story or background that impacts the individual applicant and how they compete and meet what USNA is looking for.
 
IronmanDaremo said:
Data point only.

My kid get an early LOA in his first cycle with an SAT of only 1250 (630/620). But ...... he didn't get a USNA nom from any of the possible sources. He did get a USAFA one, but did not get into there that cycle. Our area is super competitive (our district in MD is the same one that has Annapolis) for the Naval Academy. The rest of his package was top notch. Athletics, leadership, great grades with a very challenging course load, etc. Because he got no nom, he didn't satisfy his LOA requirements and no appointment.

Next cycle, he applied as a college re-applicant. Did not take any standardized tests over. Crushed his Fall semester with a 3.5 GPA, full Plebe course load, and was a college programmer with an NROTC unit. He only applied to USNA that time. Still, no nom from the MoCs that round. Luckily, he got an NROTC letter of recommendation/nom from his PNS (professor of Naval Science - the CO of the ROTC unit). That is what got him in.

I don't think his SAT score was a deal breaker for the Academy. After all, they offered him an LOA one year, and an appointment the next with the same mediocre score. But, the lower SAT probably crushed his chances for the MoC noms, considering the field he was competing against locally. Which, had he not taken a different path with an NROTC unit, it would have ended in no appointment as he would not have had a nomination.
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I know it is what it is with noms, but the fact that your kid got an LOA the 1st time around and no nomination, and then having to fall back on an NROTC nomination the 2nd time around is just madness to me (especially with the superlatives from the 1st year of college). Obviously water under the bridge at this point, but that really shows a disconnect between nomination sources and the Naval Academy getting the people they want on the yard.
 
In general, scoring in the 1400s will distinguish your application against other students seeking nominations. Do know that in many districts, students with a shot gun approach to military academy and competitive "secular" schools will have 1500s but may lack other qualities that the academies/nominating agents are looking for in candidates.
 
SemperFides said:
In general, scoring in the 1400s will distinguish your application against other students seeking nominations. Do know that in many districts, students with a shot gun approach to military academy and competitive "secular" schools will have 1500s but may lack other qualities that the academies/nominating agents are looking for in candidates.
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There are plenty with 1500s that don’t lack anything.

It all depends on the competition.
 
No I don't think it's worth studying and putting in the hours to study for the SAT to increase your already decent score. I took the SAT four times; first scored a 1020 and then my highest was an 1090. Even then, I still got my nomination and my appointment. Let's be honest– it's extremely difficult to study for something like the SAT. Unless you have some serious motivation to study for this exam, I say focus on the things you can control. It's not too late to still fit in extracurriculars and stuff which I think are far more important.
 
Have you considered taking the ACT? Back before all of the changes, I took the SAT 3 times and then decided to take the ACT (unfortunately another 3 times). My SAT scores weren't increasing that much. One test would have a good math, but the other test would have a better reading. Took the ACT and turns out that I am a little better at it (thank you science section). Maybe the SAT isn't your kind of test
 
introductory college-level composition course should help a lot on SAT R&W
 
scottb said:
DS has 670v. 770 math. Is the 700 that important? He thinks so and isn’t satisfied
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I wouldn't say that it is the 700 that is important. It's that there will be plenty of other candidates who have higher verbal scores, making them more competitive.
 
OP has indicated in prior threads earlier this year was a h.s. senior and had not yet applied to any SA and was focusing on music, but planned to planned to apply once in college. Asking now about SAT scores which is only one piece of the application seems to omit the prior discussions/advice about the type of backgrounds you would find in successful SA applicants.

warden said:
Hello. I am currently in my senior year of high school, and I am planning on applying for USNA & USAFA class of 2028. I did not apply for the class of 2027 for either academy because I will be participating with a Drum Corps International drum corps over the summer, and I believe that my experience with them will greatly enhance my application and me as a person (it is also something that I have always wanted to do, and if I went to a service academy right after high school I would miss this opportunity and never get a chance to do it in the future).

I have been in my schools marching band and concert band for all 4 years. During my senior year, I served as the Low Brass Captain and I am currently the first chair of my school’s Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble, where I lead the sections I perform with. As mentioned earlier, I will be marching with a drum corps over the summer where I will learn to work with a very high performance team for 12+ hours a day, as well as do lots of physical training on a daily basis. The group I am marching with is comprised mostly of college students, and we will tour the east coast from May to August.

From reading online, I have learned that the service academies view high school sports participation as very important, especially at the varsity level. I have not participated in any sports during high school. How does my experience with marching band and soon-to-be drum corps compare with USNA’s view of “sports participation”? My school’s music program is taken very seriously, where during the marching season we had rehearsal 3-4 days a week, often lasting until 8-9pm. On Saturdays, we would have competitions at other schools where our days would start at 9am and end at 10pm (sometimes as late as 1am). Our program has always placed very highly in our regional competitions. Our program also offers many student leadership positions (similar to the ones I served as mentioned above). If I explained this to USNA, would it compare with a sport? Or would they just see it as an extracurricular?

When I return from the summer tour this year, I will be taking AFROTC classes (NROTC is not offered) at my community college. Would it be a good idea to participate in one of my college’s sports to compensate for my lack of sports in high school? Or, do you think my participation in marching band, drum corps, and ROTC will be enough to meet the USNA standard?

Thank you for reading.
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I'm not an admissions person, but I'm pretty sure there's going to be a lot more factors to consider for OP's admissions. Maybe OP is trying to do ROTC for a little (which I highly recommend) as OP is applying. Either way, trying to improve your profile in any way possible, such as getting higher standardized test scores, taking rigorous academic classes, pursuing leadership opportunities through extracurricular activities or community involvement, will help your admissions process.
 
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