What are my Chances?

SpartanShock117 · Aug 22, 2008

3.8 G.P.A
1860 Sat (590M,590W,660CR)
27 ACT (English 27, Math 24, Reading 32, Science 25, Writing 26)
4 years varsity wrestling
4 years football, 2 years varsity, captain senior year
2 years President of weightlifting club
Member of Junior Class leadership board
2 years Peer mentoring
1 year peer mediator
2 years American Cross Blood Donor (have donated maximum amount of times)
Referee for cancer research dodge ball games (it's a big deal in my town)
1 year leadership trainee
1 year overnight camp counslor for 2 weeks with 7-9 years olds (who had never been away from home)
Completed a Outward Bound Course in North Carolina
National Honor Society: Inducted spring 2008
National Latin Honor Society: Inducted spring 2008
Honor Role (9-11) (expecting to make honor role again this upcoming year

I have recently been deemed qualified by DODMERB
Planning to retake both SAT and ACT again
I am from CT (I don't know if it is a competitive state)
I did [not] get into SLS (I scored a 152 on PSATs)

sealion · Aug 22, 2008

Spartan,

You look very good overall. Your SATs need to be improved. You should shoot for high 600's.

You can get yourself a College Board or Princeton Review prep book and then seriously commit to studying the math and reading sections.

I know a guy who did 10 math prep sections and his score went up about 100 points.

Subscribe to the SAT "Question of the Day." Do it everyday and you will get the hang of how to successfully answer those questions.

Make yourself read classic (not modern) literature. No magazines, newspapers or other sources that are not elevated.

Load some classic music (Bach, Mozart) on your ipod for studying.

It's a Spartan cure but it's temporary. Good luck.

You can always try your luck on the ACT.

SpartanShock117 · Aug 22, 2008

thanks

Aspen · Aug 23, 2008

Spartan,

You're close. But if you're not a recruited athlete or qualify for a group receiving special treatment by admissions, then you need to focus on inproving your SAT scores.

Sealion gives good advice. You need to treat the SAT tests like training for a varsity sport. Compare the number of hours you've spent on a sport in a given season to the hours spent on SAT preperation.

Until your next SAT test date, I suggest you allocate 30-45 minutes every day to do a section of a practice SAT test , and a full 2 hours once a week to do a complete exam. That may sound too intense but not when you compare how much time you've spent, and continue to spend, on things that aren't going to get you an appointment.

Just focus on the Math and Verbal sections of the test. Don't worry about the writing section. Get a couple of the exam books that give you previous SAT exams and answers with explanations. You may need to invest $30-50 but it will be worth it. Each day, take a 20-30 question section and work it through. Then review the answers to understand where you've made mistakes and where you could have used a quicker, easier way to solve the problem. After you do this a while, focus on those types of problems that seem to give you the most problem.

Also read some of the test taking tips given in the books. And take the time to actually use those techniques when you do your practice exams.

Yes, it will be boring. But it will be worth it. At this stage of your application process, SAT scores are one of the few things that you can materially improve upon during the next six months. Another varsity letter won't do you any good. Another 50-100 points on your SAT score will.

Ask yourself. How bad do you want the appointment?

Good luck.

SpartanShock117 · Aug 24, 2008

thanks, I have signed up for 2 SAT classes

sealion · Aug 25, 2008

SpartanShock117 -

thanks, I have signed up for 2 SAT classes

Great! Keep us posted on your progress.

Aspen - wow, you should charge money for your advice. I especially like this angle though:

That may sound too intense but not when you compare how much time you've spent, and continue to spend, on things that aren't going to get you an appointment.

^^^Serious candidates should consider that more.

SpartanShock117 · Aug 25, 2008

would playing a sport such as football at West Point alter the whole West Point "experiance" for me?

Aspen · Aug 26, 2008

Spartan,

Playing any varsity sport at West Point will alter part, but certainly not all, of the West Point experience.

Division I sports at USMA, as at other colleges, require a tremendous commitment of time and energy - pretty much year round.

I suggest you contact the admissions office and ask them to put you in touch with a recent USMA graduate who played football. That person would be in the best position to answer your question.