What to do Next

Nojer12

MIDN 3/C
Joined
Apr 15, 2021
Messages
10
Hey everyone,
I currently am a high school junior and I am unsure of my next steps on what to do.
I have a 3.7GPA (Unweighted. All classes I take are honors or dual-enrollment college courses)
1340 SAT
31 ACT
I have submitted my summer seminar application and am waiting on a response still. I also am a delegate for Boys State, which I have heard is a big deal when applying to a service academy. What are some next steps and actions I can take right now while I wait for more information from the Naval Academy?
 
First - do a forum search because there is significant content already on this forum on this subject.

...Start refining essays and have these vetted by your English teacher(s). Engage your English and Math teacher(s) and be proactive in their classes - they should know you are interested in USNA (as they will provide an eval as part of the admission packet). Your info doesn't include athletics, this is an important factor in the admissions process as is your CFA. In regards to the CFA, you should be preparing (training) to do your very best. Your application should be able to also exemplify leadership and community service...
 
Best thing you can do is look at other threads discussing the topics that you are interested in learning more about. Use the search function in the top right and you will find numerous threads on different topics. Also, head over to usna.edu and read all of the drop-downs to learn more about the Naval Academy and the admissions process. I would also recommend that you go to your representatives' websites to learn about their specific nomination processes. Typically, the nomination applications are due in the fall so you will definitely want to get those completed over the summer while you have time.

Biggest thing for potential candidates is to make the most of your summer! Be productive by volunteering in your community or getting a job to save up money.
 
First --relax; the marathon hasn't even started yet -- the application for 2026 will be opening in the next few weeks/month.
Second, as others have noted ..learn as much about the process as you can. There is a lot of good information here, but steal CAPT MJ's line, read the Admissons website thoroughly -- every drop down , etc. That is the Official Gouge, and actually the only thing you really need to know.
Third, identify and prepare a timeline, including USNA and Nomination applications... don't miss a timeline.
Finally, talk with your Junior year Math and English teachers, let them know that they will be getting an email (probably during the summer) with an evaluation (not a letter of recommendations). You might want to find out if they monitor their work emails during the course of the summer.

Good luck, be patient..its a marathon, not a sprint
 
First - do a forum search because there is significant content already on this forum on this subject.

...Start refining essays and have these vetted by your English teacher(s). Engage your English and Math teacher(s) and be proactive in their classes - they should know you are interested in USNA (as they will provide an eval as part of the admission packet). Your info doesn't include athletics, this is an important factor in the admissions process as is your CFA. In regards to the CFA, you should be preparing (training) to do your very best. Your application should be able to also exemplify leadership and community service...
Hey thank you for getting back to me,
As well as my grades and academic stats I posted before I am also a varsity swimmer and baseball player. I also am in the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps as well as my town's volunteer fire department. In addition to those, I also work two jobs.
Looking at everything I need to do is overwhelming and I am trying to break it down into steps. Do you have any advice, personally as someone who has gone through this process before, for trying to handle everything?
 
Hey thank you for getting back to me,
As well as my grades and academic stats I posted before I am also a varsity swimmer and baseball player. I also am in the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps as well as my town's volunteer fire department. In addition to those, I also work two jobs.
Looking at everything I need to do is overwhelming and I am trying to break it down into steps. Do you have any advice, personally as someone who has gone through this process before, for trying to handle everything?
It was my DS that went through the process, and rcvd an appointment. I was there to support him. I would recommend creating a checklist with the advice you receive here, from what is available on the USNA Admissions website, and info you identify when searching this subject on this forum and elsewhere. Look for priority, due dates or recommended dates that these need to be completed by and in your checklist dump those into the appropriate buckets to have them completed by that time. I'd also recommend creating a resume/CV will all of your stats and highlights that you can refer to or cut and paste from in your plan A, B, C... applications. As @Old Navy BGO mentioned- relax and remember this will be a lengthy process over the next year (but be proactive). Remember, you need to eat this elephant one bite at a time :)
 
What worked for our son was getting a multi-subject binder. Each application (ie Senator, USNA, USMA, MOC etc) had their own section in the binder. Each username, password, due date, point of contact and submission was noted. Dates test scores or documents were submitted were listed. That is a good idea for tracking purposes, it's also a good way to keep you from harassing admissions or MOC's office asking "hey did you get that yet?". Give them time to process things.

In addition to that, he had a really big whiteboard with due dates and a to do list.

Tons of info at each SA website, and tons to search here. Getting good at finding answers on your own is critical. Support here is in addition to that.
 
How do you eat an elephant? One bit at a time. Don’t look at the whole, rather the pieces. Broken down. Make files. Just start something when the time come.

One thing you can do at this point, before school ends this year, is touch base with your evaluators (math and English) that will need to complete pieces via a link sent from usna. Also touch base with your school administrator (usually counselor) that will be attesting to your academics record. And figure out who/touch base with whomever will be writing your letters of recommendation that are usually required by your nominating sources. Find out how to best be in contact with them this summer as you work through your noms and apps. It may not be their ‘normal’ email that you are used to using.

If you dont already have a resume, that will greatly help you throughout the process. The actual process is well laid out. You just work through it ...sometimes parallel with other pieces.

One thing to understand, is the process is a lesson in prioritizing, organization, attention to detail and other things, which are all skills required to be successful in ROTC/SA’s. It’s also why not everyone who begins an application, finishes. It’s a lesson in tenacity, determination and never-give-upness.
 
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