Christcorp
15-Year Member
- Joined
- May 21, 2008
- Messages
- 5,382
Good score is very subjective. Remember, you're not competing with people around the country. Most applicants are competing with others in their state and congressional district. After all, it's the congressmen/senator that gives you the nomination in most cases. If you look at the academy web site, it will tell you the minimum required SAT/ACT scores. You can also easily find the "Average" scores from past appointee. I.e. the average gpa of the class of 2012 was 3.85 and the average act was 28.
Now, as for you trying to determine a good score, again that's difficult. I.e. if you have 5 applicants in your district applying for a congressional nomination, and all 5 people have at least the minimum ACT of 26 and all "Qualify", and your score of 28 is the highest, then that would be considered good. On the other hand, applicants in a different district in your state might have someone with a high ACT score of 30. But you aren't competing with them unless you can't get a congressional nomination and are competing for a senator nomination.
Also realize that you could have the highest ACT/SAT score in your district applying for a nomination, and the congressman could award the nomination to someone with a low SAT/ACT score because maybe they had a better GPA. Or maybe they were a better well rounded applicant who was a varsity letter athlete in 3 sports; did boy/girl state; class president; etc...
So trying to determine what is a good score is tough. I will say that if you get the MINIMUM scores in all areas, including gpa, sat/act, etc...; even though you are qualified, you probably won't get an appointment because there will be plenty of people with better scores. In a nut shell, the minimum qualifying scores for the academy won't get you even close to an appointment unless you happen to have something very unique to offer. Such as being a nationally ranked athlete, prodigy musician, or some other outstanding attribute that makes you a major standout.
But I will give the one bit of advice that I give everyone. Learn and live by the "Serenity Prayer". "God grant me the serenity to ACCEPT the things I can NOT change; Courage to CHANGE the things I CAN; and WISDOM always to tell the DIFFERENCE". In other words, if you do your BEST on the ACT/SAT/GPA/etc... then it doesn't matter what the scores are. Because obviously you can't do any better. You did your best. You can't lose anything by applying to the academy. The worst they can say is; "NO". So, get the highest GPA you can; take the hardest classes you can; take and retake the SAT/ACT as many times as you can until you get the highest score you can possibly get; do all the EC, athletics, volunteer time, leadership, etc... that you can. And when you feel that you have done EVERYTHING in your power; and that you can't do any more or score any higher than that; then you have reached Nirvana. In other words, it won't matter if a 29 ACT is considered a GOOD score or not. If you can get a 32, then that is what you SHOULD get. If all you can get is a 27, then that is all you CAN get. You shouldn't be "TRYING" to reach a certain score or activity. You should be trying to get the BEST SCORE that you are capable of getting. Best of luck. Mike....
Now, as for you trying to determine a good score, again that's difficult. I.e. if you have 5 applicants in your district applying for a congressional nomination, and all 5 people have at least the minimum ACT of 26 and all "Qualify", and your score of 28 is the highest, then that would be considered good. On the other hand, applicants in a different district in your state might have someone with a high ACT score of 30. But you aren't competing with them unless you can't get a congressional nomination and are competing for a senator nomination.
Also realize that you could have the highest ACT/SAT score in your district applying for a nomination, and the congressman could award the nomination to someone with a low SAT/ACT score because maybe they had a better GPA. Or maybe they were a better well rounded applicant who was a varsity letter athlete in 3 sports; did boy/girl state; class president; etc...
So trying to determine what is a good score is tough. I will say that if you get the MINIMUM scores in all areas, including gpa, sat/act, etc...; even though you are qualified, you probably won't get an appointment because there will be plenty of people with better scores. In a nut shell, the minimum qualifying scores for the academy won't get you even close to an appointment unless you happen to have something very unique to offer. Such as being a nationally ranked athlete, prodigy musician, or some other outstanding attribute that makes you a major standout.
But I will give the one bit of advice that I give everyone. Learn and live by the "Serenity Prayer". "God grant me the serenity to ACCEPT the things I can NOT change; Courage to CHANGE the things I CAN; and WISDOM always to tell the DIFFERENCE". In other words, if you do your BEST on the ACT/SAT/GPA/etc... then it doesn't matter what the scores are. Because obviously you can't do any better. You did your best. You can't lose anything by applying to the academy. The worst they can say is; "NO". So, get the highest GPA you can; take the hardest classes you can; take and retake the SAT/ACT as many times as you can until you get the highest score you can possibly get; do all the EC, athletics, volunteer time, leadership, etc... that you can. And when you feel that you have done EVERYTHING in your power; and that you can't do any more or score any higher than that; then you have reached Nirvana. In other words, it won't matter if a 29 ACT is considered a GOOD score or not. If you can get a 32, then that is what you SHOULD get. If all you can get is a 27, then that is all you CAN get. You shouldn't be "TRYING" to reach a certain score or activity. You should be trying to get the BEST SCORE that you are capable of getting. Best of luck. Mike....
