USMA chances

H

HydroJim

5-Year Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2013
Messages
42
Hello. I've just recently joined the forum and although I can see this question is asked a lot, I'm looking for feedback as to where my application stands. I'm a senior applying for an appointment to the class of 2018. I've interviewed with 1 senator's committee so far and thought it went well. I have two more interviews scheduled for December.

Academics:
ACT Score: 35
English subscore: 32
Math subscore: 35
Reading subscore: 36
Science subscore: 36
English+Writing: 30
Class Rank: 41/337
Weighted GPA: 4.06
Unweighted GPA: 3.5
AP Scholar with Distinction

AP Tests and Scores:
AP Calc BC: 3
AP Chemistry: 3
AP Statistics: 4
AP Microeconomics: 4
AP Macroeconomics: 5
AP Government: 2014
AP US History: 2014
AP Physics C: 2014

Current Courses:
AP Government
AP US History
Calculus 2 and Calculus 3
Physics
British Literature and Composition
Newswriting
Ceramics(graduation requirement)

Sports
2 years baseball letter winner
2014 co-captain
Outside of school I play highly competitive summer travel baseball and fall baseball.

Extracurricular Activities
Key Club member (9,10)
Peer Tutoring (10, 11)
Newswriting (12)

Community Service
I have 62 hours of service time leading youth baseball workouts at my baseball training facility. I'm very active in the education of younger baseball players in my community.
5 hours of raking leaves for elderly in the community
24 hours as an apprenticeship at a Tire Shop. Spent time changing tires on heavy farm equipment and working with other members of the team to get the job done.

Work Experience:
Landscaping: April 2012, - August, 2012. 12 hours/week during school year and 30/week during summer
McDonald's: August, 2012 - February, 2013. 15 hours/week.
Panera Bread: September, 2013 - Now. Currently working 24 hours/week. Given the responsibility to open/close the restaurant and I am the food production line leader during my shift.
HydroJim Labs: Business I started in 2010 to work on cars. I specialize in alternative energy conversions for cars and building/repairing computers.

Science Fair:
2010, Fuel From Water:
- Study and experimentation on running a small engine using hydrogen created through electrolysis
- Grand Prize winner at Mayfield Science and Technology Showcase($500 scholarship and entry in NEOSEF)
- 2nd place in engineering at NEOSEF (Northeastern Ohio Science and Engineering Fair)

Special Awards From:
International Society of Automation
American Institute of Chemical Engineers

2011, Fuel From Water:
- Design, built, and tested a hydrogen/gasoline hybrid system in a 1998 Jeep Cherokee. Improved fuel economy by 20%
- 2nd place in engineering at NEOSEF

Special Awards From:
Antique Automobile Club of America - Northern Ohio Chapter
Cleveland Clinic - Innovations
International Society of Automation
U.S. Air Force
Vinarcik Family

2013, The AeroFocus
- The modification of a 2000 Ford Focus for improved efficiency. Fuel economy improved by 72%
- 2nd place in engineering at NEOSEF
- Grand Prize runner up
- Received highest amount of special awards at the fair

Special Awards From:
American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Antique Automobile Club of America - Northern Ohio Chapter
Cleveland Clinic - Innovations
Case Western Reserve University - Gelfand STEM Center
Northeast Ohio Society of Professional Engineers
U.S. Navy – Office of Naval Research
Vinarcik Family
Yale Science & Engineering Association

Speaker/Presenter to the following organizations and societies:
April, 2010: American Institute of Chemical Engineers
April, 2010: International Society of Automation
April, 2011: International Society of Automation
April, 2013: American Society of Mechanical Engineers

CFA:
Basketball Throw: 74ft
Pull-ups: 9
Shuttle: 8.4
Sit-ups: 68
Push-ups: 48
1 mile-run: 8:30
*I was sick on the day of my CFA so I could absolutely not breath during the running portion of the test and puked in my mouth once. I know I can run a sub 7 minute mile but running has never been a strong point for me.

Let me know what you think. I know I'm a senior so there is not much time to improve but if there was one thing I should work on what should it be? Thank you.
 
I agree with 845something, that mile time is failing I'm pretty sure. Additionally, your ACT scores to AP scores are rather disproportianate. Lucky for you, they look at only ACT/SAT scores, but if you do make it in, those scores will seriously hinder any sort of class validation, except economics.
 
Work on the run time. Otherwise i think you look like a very strong candidate. I'm assuming you cut back on school sports due to work, which is fine as long as you explain it.
 
Really good scores + stats.

You really need to run more, as others have said. If you're running an 8:30 mile, the APFT is going to kill you and you'll be miserable at CBT if your legs aren't conditioned.
 
Good Start....

You’re off to a great start. The SA are looking for the well-rounded candidate based on Leadership, Academics and Athletics. The well rounded must be strong in all three. During your experience at the SA everyday you will be challenged in these three areas. You must ask yourself “do I have the passion to keep up this pace for 47 months?” And it is constant. Granted you’re only a Plebe for one year but you’re only a Firstie for one year. All four years you’re a cadet competing with your peers.

How about your Nomination?

Its been said here many many times, have a Plan B

Good Luck

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
Hydro..

I'm guessing you're a Junior. Think about attending a summer leadership programs during the summer before your Senior year and SLS programs.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
hydrojim, your application looks much like mine does. It is pretty solid but if you want to make it great (which you should) try looking for a few more leadership positions. All I could find was the co captain of baseball which is good, but I think another would be very beneficial. Also like the others said, I would work on getting above average on all portions of the CFA, or atleast as close as possible. Other than that, it looks great...especially your ACT. Good Luck
 
Good news, I retook the CFA today.

Previous CFA:
basketball throw: 74ft
Pull-ups: 9
shuttle run: 8.4
sit-ups: 65
push-ups: 48
1 mile: 8:30

After 2 months of training and learning how to pace myself run:
basketball throw: 76 ft
pull-ups: 12
shuttle run: 8.5
sit-ups: 67
push-ups: 54
1 mile: 6:55

I still kind of suck at distance running but my dad, who served in the marine corps, and my sister, who was in the navy, both said that distance running was always the worst for them. Maybe it's genetic or something :confused:

Here the the 2018 USMA averages that I received from my regional commander:
basketball throw: 63 ft
pull-ups: 8
shuttle run: 9
sit-ups: 66
push-ups: 47
mile: 6:45

I'm also looking for a leadership position in the new environmental club at my school. The first meeting is tomorrow so some sort of leadership position should help my profile. Plus, working on sustainability projects for the school and community is something that I'm highly interested in. Two birds with 1 stone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top