It is a very good score. I wonder if they look at additional attributes for the class. DD sent in her application For RA and she does not have as good as grades yours has.
When do decisions come out?
- Thread starter Syrum77
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In addition to the GPA, the actual classes matter. CGA looks at whether the applicants are taking the highest level courses offered by their school (AP, IB, honors, etc...) and whether they are taking lots of STEM courses. They also get profiles from each school so they can more accurately compare students.
27BearDad
DD USCGA '27
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- Apr 5, 2022
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They look at everything! Great grades and test scores help, but also remember if athletics, leadership, extracurricular activities are super strong, academics don’t have to be ridiculously high to receive an appointment - especially if AP/IB curriculum is in play and your high school profile is highly rigorous. Then there’s still CGAS which is specifically for those candidates who need a little help in academics.
The wild card, of course, is what specifics are they looking for to fill out a class they way they need it. It could be anything from sports roster needs, demographics (gender, ethnicity, geographic location, international candidates) etc, etc. A perfect candidate for a class one admissions cycle could be a waitlist in a different admissions cycle.
I’m also convinced that quality of Letters of recommendation and essays are more important that some folks may realize. Unless you get an interview, these are the only ways your story can be told. Being able to tell a unique, high quality, compelling story within the rules and limited framework you are given is an incredible skill. In a giant pool of super smart, athletic, highly motivated leaders, letters and essays may be the only things that set you apart.
When seeking recommenders, be deliberate. Select those who you know you the best and you trust will write a quality, timely letter. Take the time to explain to them your desires and motivation.
When writing essays, start early to allow yourself max time. Follow the instructions to the letter and don’t waste a single word. Zero filler. Create a sound proofreading strategy. Seek people who you know who are educated and/or have legit writing skills to proofread for you. Could be a teacher, college counselor, parent or mentor. I’d suggest two if you can. The applicant should write and proof the best they can then pass along to the additional eyes to review grammar, and content, verbosity, etc. Once you get it to where you think you like it, step away for a period of time and don’t look at it. Maybe 2-3 weeks or so (this is where having an early start comes in handy). Then go back and re-read it. Does it grab you and evoke emotion? Does it look aesthetically pleasing on the page (paragraphs, font, spacing, etc). If it does, you’re good. Often, some little thing will stick out like a sore thumb that you never saw before and you can go and fix it.
Anyway, that’s long winded, but when you talk about what attributes they look for in a class, these are sometimes things that do not always get discussed a lot as folks tend to get hung up on test scores, GPA and how good an athlete they are.
Best of luck!!
Yup, she's been in all honors or AP classes. She technically had all required credits and could have graduated a year early but chose to take 4 additional AP classes for her Senior year.