Heatherg21
USNA '24 Mom BGO Bacon Lover Dog Lover
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2019
- Messages
- 5,628
I can only speak from our experience with our son applying for NRTOC and academies. But he was worried about being competitive with a score in the high 1300 range. And I would caution you against making a statement like " I don’t have any sports under my belt due to participation in multiple honor societies and community service projects". You are likely competing against kids who did sports, multiple EC's, church group, volunteer service, band, held officer positions in multiple clubs, took dual credit or AP/IB courses, worked, commuted, helped out family members, tutored etc.
The one thing they had in common if they are competitive for scholarship or admissions is stellar time management.
I was a long term sub our son's junior year. I saw him on campus, looking like some kind of zombie. A custodian even came to me concerned, he thought the kid was going to just fall down one day. He would sleep in the car when we rode together. He likely averaged 3-4 hours of sleep a night the entire academic year. But, he had a goal, and he did the work to get there. He had over 500 service hours, was an officer in multiple clubs, commuted to work and school over 60 miles a day, taught TaeKwonDo and competed. Did dual credit and honors courses. He found a way to manage his time and did it successfully. It paid off.
Covid has made your path more challenging for sure. But find a creative way to improve. And panels can see a 'resume fluffer' from a mile away, starting a sport your senior year (prior to covid) would have been noticed- and not likely in a postive way. Be prepared to talk about how you made your unit, club better. To make up for no athletics, you would have to max your PT, in every category. Athletics is about fitness, but also working as a team, being coachable, showing dedication and perserverence, and leadership. All traits you need in the service. Be ready to discuss how your JRTOC experience showed you those traits, and how you were able to develop them.
Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, just my recollections from our experience and what I have learned in the last months going through this.
The one thing they had in common if they are competitive for scholarship or admissions is stellar time management.
I was a long term sub our son's junior year. I saw him on campus, looking like some kind of zombie. A custodian even came to me concerned, he thought the kid was going to just fall down one day. He would sleep in the car when we rode together. He likely averaged 3-4 hours of sleep a night the entire academic year. But, he had a goal, and he did the work to get there. He had over 500 service hours, was an officer in multiple clubs, commuted to work and school over 60 miles a day, taught TaeKwonDo and competed. Did dual credit and honors courses. He found a way to manage his time and did it successfully. It paid off.
Covid has made your path more challenging for sure. But find a creative way to improve. And panels can see a 'resume fluffer' from a mile away, starting a sport your senior year (prior to covid) would have been noticed- and not likely in a postive way. Be prepared to talk about how you made your unit, club better. To make up for no athletics, you would have to max your PT, in every category. Athletics is about fitness, but also working as a team, being coachable, showing dedication and perserverence, and leadership. All traits you need in the service. Be ready to discuss how your JRTOC experience showed you those traits, and how you were able to develop them.
Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, just my recollections from our experience and what I have learned in the last months going through this.
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