Sophomore in HighSchool, hoping to get into USAFA

oxmr786

Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Messages
12
Hey there,

I’m a sophomore in highschool as of now. I was hoping someone could help me by telling me how rounded I am, please be honest and don’t sugar coat anything. I attend a highly competitive highschool which is ranked in the 400 range on the National HighSchool Rank. I made a mistake in High School, in which I cheated once and my school is very hard on it and I got suspended for 3 days, though they said it wouldn’t be put on my transcript but I’m not sure, so will that have any major affect? I cheated once, only once and never again.

As a high schooler I’m taking,

Key Vocabulary:

Gifted and Talented: For short “GT” which means taking a class harder than honors but weighted the same.
AP- College level Classes

Classes I’ve taken so far:

Freshman Year:

Geometry GT (Took ALG 1 GT in 8th grade)
English 1 GT
AP Human Geography
Biology GT
PE - (Had to take PE because I broke Ankle playing tennis and missed tryouts for school)
Tech Theatre
Computer Programming 1 (Python)
Spanish 2 Honors (Took Spanish 1 honors in 8th grade)

Extra Circulars:

Volunteered at the library gaining many hours during the summer and school year.
Tennis on the side.
BPA (Business Professionals of America, National Club - Made state for Entrepreneurship)

Sophomore Year (Currently in):

AP Environmental Science
Honors Physics 1 (NOT AP, planning to take AP Physics 1 next year)
Chemistry GT
Algebra 2 GT
Debate 1
AP World History
Computer Programming 2 (C#)
English 2 GT

Volunteer at the library Still during School Year and in the Summer
TSA (Technology Student Association, National Club)
Dropped Tennis as it takes too much of my time, but I’m still very athletic as my parents force me to run 1-2 miles in the morning. (Dad was Indian Navy)

How well rounded am I? Please suggest things for me to do that will make a better suited candidate for the USAFA.

Thank you!
 
I'd say dropping tennis was a mistake - go take a look at the "sports and your academy application" and make sure you have something that fits that if you are not playing a sport. I also don't really see much in the way of leadership - you have time, but you should make it a priority. I'm sure others will comment but that is the glaring gap to me
 
Academics look good, assuming mostly/all A's.
ECs looks a bit weak on leadership roles.
Only one year of sports would hurt. (Running 1-2 miles per day is general fitness, not bad, but not really helping either.)
 
I'd say dropping tennis was a mistake - go take a look at the "sports and your academy application" and make sure you have something that fits that if you are not playing a sport. I also don't really see much in the way of leadership - you have time, but you should make it a priority. I'm sure others will comment but that is the glaring gap to me

I could continue Tennis, but not for school but for USTA competition. Would that work?
 
I could continue Tennis, but not for school but for USTA competition. Would that work?
Anything where you are working with a team and or being physically active helps. They want to see if you are able to work with a team.
 
I could continue Tennis, but not for school but for USTA competition. Would that work?

Maybe - it depends on how serious you are about it and again, whether YOU can explain how USTA tennis gives you the same benefits as a high school sport (as outlined by Christcorp here https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/sports-and-your-academy-application.44076/). I know all about the tennis world (USAFA10s - is pronounced USAFAtennis, and I grew up playing competitive, national level USTA junior tournaments, as well as high school tennis). The reason I question whether USTA tennis is going to cut it is your reasoning for dropping high school tennis. For me, high school tennis was a TINY FRACTION of the amount of time I was putting in on the court to regularly train for tennis. I had a "team" of sorts at the club I trained at and we did drills/conditioning and tournament travel together, constantly pushing each other. I was on and played for my high school team, but it certainly wasn't much of a time commitment compared to USTA tennis. Now, if your high school is highly competitive, then perhaps it does take more time (mine was decidedly NOT, so I would go to my tennis match, and then sometimes to my tennis class to actually hit), but in that case I would hope that time is well spent. The one scenario where I see quitting high school tennis being of some value is if you are a highly ranked junior and playing in high school is just not enough competition/practice for you and is hurting your tennis. In that scenario there is an argument to be made to be able to train/play outside of high school tennis to keep improving. However, that being said, I STILL recommend playing for your school. Tennis as a team sport is great and you just won't get that through the USTA. Happy to discuss the specifics of your situation with you via PM if you want, it is my area of expertise :)
 
Maybe - it depends on how serious you are about it and again, whether YOU can explain how USTA tennis gives you the same benefits as a high school sport (as outlined by Christcorp here https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/sports-and-your-academy-application.44076/). I know all about the tennis world (USAFA10s - is pronounced USAFAtennis, and I grew up playing competitive, national level USTA junior tournaments, as well as high school tennis). The reason I question whether USTA tennis is going to cut it is your reasoning for dropping high school tennis. For me, high school tennis was a TINY FRACTION of the amount of time I was putting in on the court to regularly train for tennis. I had a "team" of sorts at the club I trained at and we did drills/conditioning and tournament travel together, constantly pushing each other. I was on and played for my high school team, but it certainly wasn't much of a time commitment compared to USTA tennis. Now, if your high school is highly competitive, then perhaps it does take more time (mine was decidedly NOT, so I would go to my tennis match, and then sometimes to my tennis class to actually hit), but in that case I would hope that time is well spent. The one scenario where I see quitting high school tennis being of some value is if you are a highly ranked junior and playing in high school is just not enough competition/practice for you and is hurting your tennis. In that scenario there is an argument to be made to be able to train/play outside of high school tennis to keep improving. However, that being said, I STILL recommend playing for your school. Tennis as a team sport is great and you just won't get that through the USTA. Happy to discuss the specifics of your situation with you via PM if you want, it is my area of expertise :)

I’m not entirely sure how to PM as I can’t find the button in your profile and anywhere overall. I love playing tennis but at my school it is double blocked meaning that it takes 2 periods of my school time out of eight. I have debate, So that’s three period taken up by electives so far. Then I have Comp Sci 3 in my junior year and that’s double blocked so that’s 5 out of my 8 periods taken up. Not sure where I should take the hit for acquiring to take tennis again.
 
I’m not entirely sure how to PM as I can’t find the button in your profile and anywhere overall
You cannot initiate private conversations until you have five contributory (non-junk) posts on the forum. After the fifth post it can take about 24 to 48 hours for the capability to be opened up for you.
 
So tennis is a class for you? Is that just practice, or do you have matches after school? I have never heard of a school sport happening during school...

If it is just practices, is there any way you can be on the team but not go to all/any of the in school practices? This may be a scenario that requires some out of the box thinking.
 
So tennis is a class for you? Is that just practice, or do you have matches after school? I have never heard of a school sport happening during school...

If it is just practices, is there any way you can be on the team but not go to all/any of the in school practices? This may be a scenario that requires some out of the box thinking.

It’s an actual tennis Team that plays other schools.
 
Looks like you need one more post before we can message, so I'll repeat my question, are the matches themselves still after school? Or do all the schools in your area do tennis/sports during the school day?
 
Looks like you need one more post before we can message, so I'll repeat my question, are the matches themselves still after school? Or do all the schools in your area do tennis/sports during the school day?

The matches are after school but there is a required practice for 3 hours per day. Each period is 1.5 hours long. Usually tournaments are on weekends and last all day. But there are also single tournaments for individual players during the school weeks. But it still counts as a “class.”
 
I have to say that is the strangest way to do sports I have ever seen...but, with that information, my big question is, how good are you relative to your team? Would having you play for the team significantly improve the team? Is your coach a reasonable person? I am a high school and middle school tennis coach as well, and while I would not let a low level player that barely makes the team miss practice, I have no problem with my competitive juniors that play tournaments missing practice, particularly if they play outside of school. If there is zero flexibility, then I think you are making the right choice but should DEFINITELY do USTA and also junior team tennis this and next summer, and then you'll probably want to use the essays to explain why you don't have a high school sport. Junior team tennis could also be a good opportunity for you to step up and get some leadership, since you may need to find a coach and put together a team (or two) yourself to make it happen, depending on where you live
 
I have to say that is the strangest way to do sports I have ever seen...but, with that information, my big question is, how good are you relative to your team? Would having you play for the team significantly improve the team? Is your coach a reasonable person? I am a high school and middle school tennis coach as well, and while I would not let a low level player that barely makes the team miss practice, I have no problem with my competitive juniors that play tournaments missing practice, particularly if they play outside of school. If there is zero flexibility, then I think you are making the right choice but should DEFINITELY do USTA and also junior team tennis this and next summer, and then you'll probably want to use the essays to explain why you don't have a high school sport. Junior team tennis could also be a good opportunity for you to step up and get some leadership, since you may need to find a coach and put together a team (or two) yourself to make it happen, depending on where you live

We have a quota that has to be hit or we get kicked off the team, such as 3 skips for practice, unexcused. Our tennis team is pretty big and is very strong. We have Freshman Team, JV-2, JV-1, and Varsity. I would be ranking high JV-1 or low Varsity. But if I’m Varsity you have more practice, in the morning and after school, and it’s highly frowned upon if you miss it.
 
Hmm, that's a tough situation. I'd say see if you can work something out with the coach (and make sure you make it clear it is because you need more classes, but are willing to practice more outside of school hours), that is your best option. If you can't then USTA will have to do, just make sure you really commit to it, have a strong explanation for your priorities (i.e what classes did you need to take and why, that made it so you couldn't play school tennis) and then make sure you check off all the elements Christcorp lays out as to WHY the academy cares so much about sports through your USTA involvement. The key gaps again for you are sports and leadership - find a way to fill them and you'll have a solid application (again, look into Junior Team Tennis (JTT) - sounds like you are in a heavily populated, tennis heavy area, so you should have no problem).
 
Hmm, that's a tough situation. I'd say see if you can work something out with the coach (and make sure you make it clear it is because you need more classes, but are willing to practice more outside of school hours), that is your best option. If you can't then USTA will have to do, just make sure you really commit to it, have a strong explanation for your priorities (i.e what classes did you need to take and why, that made it so you couldn't play school tennis) and then make sure you check off all the elements Christcorp lays out as to WHY the academy cares so much about sports through your USTA involvement. The key gaps again for you are sports and leadership - find a way to fill them and you'll have a solid application (again, look into Junior Team Tennis (JTT) - sounds like you are in a heavily populated, tennis heavy area, so you should have no problem).

With USTA, I’ve been doing taekwondo since, I was 7 but I’m not a competitor for spars but I do traditional so I do weapons, I don’t do sparring Comps but I do weapon style comps. Would that help? I still do it at NTA.
 
Hmm, that's a tough situation. I'd say see if you can work something out with the coach (and make sure you make it clear it is because you need more classes, but are willing to practice more outside of school hours), that is your best option. If you can't then USTA will have to do, just make sure you really commit to it, have a strong explanation for your priorities (i.e what classes did you need to take and why, that made it so you couldn't play school tennis) and then make sure you check off all the elements Christcorp lays out as to WHY the academy cares so much about sports through your USTA involvement. The key gaps again for you are sports and leadership - find a way to fill them and you'll have a solid application (again, look into Junior Team Tennis (JTT) - sounds like you are in a heavily populated, tennis heavy area, so you should have no problem).


Thank you for your help, but I sadly cannot attend USAFA. As I’m an Indian Citizen residing in the US with a green card, I get my Citizenship in 2022, probably around November. I spoke to my ALO, and he told me that I probably cannot join as I won’t receive my citizenship until late into the admission year.
 
Too bad, but if you are only a sophomore now that makes you high school class of what, 2022? You could always do a year somewhere else (prep school or local college) and then apply the following year when you are a US Citizen
 
Too bad, but if you are only a sophomore now that makes you high school class of what, 2022? You could always do a year somewhere else (prep school or local college) and then apply the following year when you are a US Citizen

My dad is Indian, a very straight forward no BS, kind of person. He thinks waiting a year isn’t worth it.
 
My dad is Indian, a very straight forward no BS, kind of person. He thinks waiting a year isn’t worth it.
While I’m sure you respect your Father’s opinion, how do you feel about waiting a year? It is your decision to make, no one else’s.
 
Back
Top