Two questions read if you want.

[youssef_elseifi1]

Question 1. I was wondering if I do not have a lot of volunteer community service but I worked as part of my local fire dept. as a lifeguard(40+ hrs a week) and I am an athlete rep for all southern Cali swimmers. I also am an NHS board, but unlike most candidates, I don't have like crazy volunteer hours or anything. Do the academies consider this stuff as community involvement?

Question 2. How much does strength of schedule play into the deciding factor? I don't have too high of a gpa, 3.7, but I have taken all math/science(ap) courses incluiding ap comp sci. and calc ab/bc. Also took the hardest English/language courses(French,Arabic) available.

 

[MidCakePa]

SAs are interested less in “hours” more in “leadership impact.” That is, did you make an organization or community better because of your leadership efforts.

As for academics, SAs prefer those who took the hardest classes their school had to offer and excelled at them. So yes, “strength of schedule” matters.