USNA goes "Test Flexible"

CB2515

CB2515

USAFA '25
Joined
May 14, 2020
Messages
47
I'm a '25 applicant for USNA and just received an email this morning saying that they will goes "test flexible". If test scores aren't required, I wonder what will weigh more now in the whole candidate score?
 
I wonder if this is the start of all the academies moving in this direction. Will certainly be an interesting couple of weeks moving forward.
 
You will never know. They have years and years and years and years of experience in knowing what factors help predict not just successful midshipmen and cadets, but quality junior officers, which is, of course, the real goal. They are a factory (I don’t mean that in a negative way, just a functional way), and an ingredient they long relied on is not 100% available. They will figure it out and continue production.

No doubt all the SA Admissions teams are sharing discussions on this.

Just do your best in all the areas you can personally impact, work your alternate plans, be flexible.
 
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Another new word/phrase for 2020!!
 
CB2515 said:
I'm a '25 applicant for USNA and just received an email this morning saying that they will goes "test flexible". If test scores aren't required, I wonder what will weigh more now in the whole candidate score?
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Thx for info. I’m a USNA applicant as well, but did not get that email. Could you cut and paste the relevant portion? Did they specifically say that it was no longer required?
 
DeepWaters said:
Thx for info. I’m a USNA applicant as well, but did not get that email. Could you cut and paste the relevant portion? Did they specifically say that it was no longer required?
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Dear Class of 2025 Candidates and Prospective Candidates,

At the United States Naval Academy, we are aware of the barriers caused by COVID-19 and likewise the disruptions for students who plan to apply for admission. Therefore, for students applying for admission to the Class of 2025, the Office of Admissions will follow a “test flexible” policy, and we will review applications with or without standardized test scores. Students who have attempted and have not been able to take college entrance examinations (i.e. SAT or ACT) due to cancellation, unavailability, other extenuating circumstance, or who have taken a test and are seeking an opportunity to retake will not be disqualified from consideration. If you are seeking consideration for admission without college entrance examinations, we will ask you to provide supporting information concerning test availability, cancellation, etc. The USNA Admissions Board remains committed to a process which has proven to be a fair assessment of the “whole student”, where academic rigor, life experiences, unique circumstances, volunteer work, and leadership ability and attributes will continue to be evaluated
 
Think about what SAT/ACT is intended to achieve. Test scores provide an objective view of a candidate’s readiness for the academic rigors of college. They are, so their proponents say, the most dependable tool for predicting whether one will succeed at college-level academics.

Test scores help admissions see past the vagaries and discrepancies of grading across classes, schools, districts, states, etc. (Another reason why they ask for class rank, transcript and school profile — so they can look beyond the squishiness of grades and GPAs.)

Your test score might reinforce what SAs believe about you based on your high school performance. So the score will strengthen the case for either acceptance or denial. Alternatively, your test score might refute what SAs believe about you based on your high school performance. In which case, admissions will need to look deeper to understand the disconnect.

Like everyone else here, I have no idea how SAs will compensate for the lack of test scores. But one educated guess is that leadership and athletics and CFA will not be up-weighted, since none of those measure what the SAT/ACT is intended to measure.

So back to very popular — because it’s great — advice found on SAF: Focus on what you can control.
 
DeepWaters said:
Thx for info. I’m a USNA applicant as well, but did not get that email. Could you cut and paste the relevant portion? Did they specifically say that it was no longer required?
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I didn't get the email either, though I had already turned in my scores. Maybe it was only sent to those who had not uploaded them yet?
 
That email says a lot. Take the test if you can. Make an effort to take it within reasonable considerations that means even until the deadline closes and be able to defend why you didn’t. I think it’s probably really important for folks like home school candidates or maybe those who attend rigorous schools with lower GPAs and/or class standing but have really high test scores.
 
My recommendation...don't try to read too much into it ... we are still in uncharted waters with COVID , and Admissions recognizes that some won't have access to ACT/SAT this year. They won't ignore an otherwise stellar candidate simply because they don't have the ACT/SAT. However, I would expect those that have a question mark on HS grades, or teacher evaluation of capacity to handle advanced academics, would be far better off with strong ACT/SAT scores (just like they always would).

I also don't think that this is the start of USNA starting in a different direction....but really a temporary recognition of the need to be flexible in this environment.

No guidance on this policy has trickled down to BGO's , but UNODIR, my guidance remains the same -- put forth the very best application package you can -- academically, including ACT/SAT if possible; leadership; athletics; and community service. There is no benefit to spending time contemplating how these factors are weighted -- they all count, and at the end of the day, Admissions will have to make some tough decisions about who is the best candidate.

Finally, with respect to inquiry about MOC's...there are 535 possible answers; I presume USNA will inform the MOC offices about what they are doing, but the Nomination process is independent of USNA ...each MOC can establish their own criteria for nominations.
 
also, what's true today may not be true in a few months.

USNA has already extended the application deadline to Feb 28, 2021, and will accept February test scores.

even if test dates have been cancelled, i would strongly encourage any candidate to continue preparing for the SAT/ACT, and keep trying to get a test date right up until the cutoff date.
 
A6E Dad said:
also, what's true today may not be true in a few months.

USNA has already extended the application deadline to Feb 28, 2021, and will accept February test scores.

even if test dates have been cancelled, i would strongly encourage any candidate to continue preparing for the SAT/ACT, and keep trying to get a test date right up until the cutoff date.
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agree with this 100%. Candidates should be signing up for every test session through Feb. even if done with the app in Nov, if you haven’t taken a test yet, sign up. I know some areas are testing, and it’s expensive. So if taking again do what you can within financial means. Also, figure out what areas you are weak in and find resources to improve. Tutors thad specialize in this can be huge, not every candidate has this option. Lots of free online tools out there.
 
As stated, students will have to support why they were unable to test. It will be a bit subjective, imo. For certain, there will be those who CANNOT. But, for most, I do believe there is still “find a way, or make one”. My point about MOC’s, is that simply bc USNA has stated this, doesn’t mean your MOC has/will. Make sure and check! As stated, the two processes are unrelated. Be prepared!
 
This is a fascinating journey. I read all of the threads over many years trying to understand this very distinctive process and absorbed at a surface level all of the advice - be flexible, focus on what you can, any district with one better candidate should be considered competitive, strive for above the average on CFA etc.

It was only when DS began actual typing into the application that the reality of those pieces of distilled wisdom became clear. When DS showed me that email this morning I asked him "so, what do you think? Are you bummed?", because he was lucky enough to get competitive ACT scores on record last year. His response was "Dad, it doesn't matter to me either way because all I can do is put up my best self anyway. And everyone else has to do the same thing..."

It may be a new normal, but the historical wisdom still rings true
 
justdoit19 said:
As stated, students will have to support why they were unable to test. It will be a bit subjective, imo. For certain, there will be those who CANNOT. But, for most, I do believe there is still “find a way, or make one”. My point about MOC’s, is that simply bc USNA has stated this, doesn’t mean your MOC has/will. Make sure and check! As stated, the two processes are unrelated. Be prepared!
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My take on MOCs is that they should be even more understanding of a lack of scores if their area has been shut down because the majority of their applicants will have been affected.
 
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