What should I improve?

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Shaggy15

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Joined
Aug 21, 2020
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3
Hello all,
I am currently a junior in high school and I am continuing to look at possible colleges to attend in the future. The academies caught my eye because I have wanted to serve all of my life largely due to my dad and grandfathers all being in the military. I wanted to just come on here and receive criticism from others on what I could improve in terms of my application to the academies.
Academics:
-GPA: 4.0 (4.3 weighted)
- Act: 33

Athletics:
- Varsity football
-Varsity Swim
-Varsity baseball
- Golf Team

Leadership:
-Captain of the football team
-Captain of the baseball team
-Assistant manager of the pool I lifeguard at
-Student council

Awards:
-Leadership Award ( Given by Sophmore teachers for leadership in and out of the classroom)
-Academic Award (For receiving the highest grades for the classes I took in my grade)
-Principal honor roll

Other:
-100 hours of volunteering
-I am going to three high schools because my dad is in the military
-I have a baby brother that I have to watch and babysit multiple times a week

Practice CFA:
BB throw- 81 feet
pullups- 14
Shuttle- 8.3 seconds
crunches- 87
pushups- 70
mile- 6:02

Is there anything I can change or improve in my applications and what are my current chances of getting in?
 
You look like a strong candidate. You didn't mention National Honor Society. It might be a good idea to be President, VP, or an officer in that. Boy scouts looks good and definitely apply to attend the SLE. The application opens in January of your junior year. As well, figure out who your regional commander is and contact him/her to introduce yourself and share your intentions. The regional commanders sort out all the applications and determine which ones to take to the admissions board. And .... start thinking about your Congressional nomination. I don't know where you are from but if you live in a very competitive district you need to make find out what the process is to get a nomination and seek them from both your local Congressional district and Senators.
 
Apply for all the different nominations you qualify for to include a service connected nomination. It sounds like you may get the last based on time in service:
Sons and Daughters of "career military personnel" (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard)

  • Career military personnel, for the purpose of service-connected nominations, are members of an armed force (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard) who are currently on active duty (other than for training) with at least eight years of continuous active duty service, or who are, or who died while they were, retired with pay or granted retired or retainer pay. Service members currently serving in the reserve component who are credited with at least eight continuous years of service computed under section 12733 of Title 10, United States Code are also eligible. Finally, Reservists who would be, or who died while they would have been, entitled to retirement pay except for not having attained 60 years of age are also included in this category.
  • Applicants must furnish a statement of service, retirement orders, or casualty report to verify eligibility.
 
You appear to be a competitive candidate. You will be competing against those on each of the Nomination Slates that you qualify for-since we don't know how those competitors stack up compared to you-no one here can tell you your chances. It's a little late to start Boys Scouts (summer before Junior year). Most SA's value persistence in areas that you are dedicated to-stick with your current activities and sports rather than adding new ones. You were silent on the types of courses you have taken. It appears some are AP or Honors. Make sure you have: 1. as much advanced math as you can, 2. Physics and Chemistry (with labs-prefer AP level). 3. Try to improve your CFA even more. If you really want to be a officer have a strong Plan B. The SAs are so competitive that many well qualified candidates do not get an appointment-but you should definitely try. Thank you for your interest in serving our country. Good luck.
 
Happy 4th.
I was told that everyone has 24 hours in a day. I guess that does not sounds true in your case.

Impressive profile from what you have noted. Keep it up, keep your nose clean while you finish your junior and senior classes.
 
So you are a rising junior?

You took the ACT as a sophomore and scored a 33? I thought the ACT was prioritizing (current) juniors and seniors for testing due to Covid?

How big is your high school (or where you were captain - "three high schools")? Usually sophomores are not captains of any varsity sports teams, let alone two of them, and football to boot. How did you play 4 varsity sports? Was that in one year?

I agree with the above comment re only 24 hours in a day. You must have found a way to bend time and space!
 
Precise101 said:
You look like a strong candidate. You didn't mention National Honor Society. It might be a good idea to be President, VP, or an officer in that. Boy scouts looks good and definitely apply to attend the SLE. The application opens in January of your junior year. As well, figure out who your regional commander is and contact him/her to introduce yourself and share your intentions. The regional commanders sort out all the applications and determine which ones to take to the admissions board. And .... start thinking about your Congressional nomination. I don't know where you are from but if you live in a very competitive district you need to make find out what the process is to get a nomination and seek them from both your local Congressional district and Senators.
Click to expand...
I meant boy scouts looks good but definitely .... not and
 
Shaggy15 said:
Hello all,
I am currently a junior in high school and I am continuing to look at possible colleges to attend in the future. The academies caught my eye because I have wanted to serve all of my life largely due to my dad and grandfathers all being in the military. I wanted to just come on here and receive criticism from others on what I could improve in terms of my application to the academies.
Academics:
-GPA: 4.0 (4.3 weighted)
- Act: 33

Athletics:
- Varsity football
-Varsity Swim
-Varsity baseball
- Golf Team

Leadership:
-Captain of the football team
-Captain of the baseball team
-Assistant manager of the pool I lifeguard at
-Student council
Click to expand...
Grades and Athletics seem to be strong (I don't know the size of your current school, you stated last summer you would go to 3 because of military dad.

Jr year, you should reach out to your counselor or principal to find out how to get a nomination to Boy's State. Here in Texas, my son had to interview with the American Legion and he received the sponsorship/scholarship and it adds leadership points, at a stand out scenario.

I would ask what others, and it should give you pause and be able to explain, but Football and Baseball being a Varsity Captain as a Sophomore is impressive....but it would give me pause (as in is this true. I'm from Texas, Football is crazy serious, just sharing what I would see.

I agree Student Council get a President or Class President those are big points from what I see as well.

You are competing against your District, so a lot of this is "how competitive is your District".
 
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