Where should I improve myself?

U

USNA2023

USMMA '23
Joined
Apr 15, 2016
Messages
85
I've written on here before, but I've recently started up some new extra curricular activities, and got some updated test scores, so I'm wondering what else I need to do or improve on. (Also I'm homeschooled and I'm a sophomore)


EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:

I'm a club officer in 4H, and have been for about 2 years. I also volunteer and keep a record book through 4H

Been in civil air patrol for a half a year

Have taken guitar lessons for 2 1/2 years

Every Tuesday I volunteer for 4 hrs at a local museum (it is a military museum on a former air force base)

Participating in my congressman's student leadership program

I currently have 120 volunteer hrs.


SPORT: Archery for 1 1/2 year. I've gotten 1st and 3rd place in local competitions


CLASSES AND TEST SCORES:

Completed Math through Algebra II and Trigonometry

Still doing English, when I graduate I will have 4 yrs of high school level English

Completed AP American Gov't

Currently doing AP Chemistry with a lab, and will complete AP Physics with a lab next year.

GPA is a 3.8

Just got my ACT scores, I got a 25 in English, 25 in math, and a 27 composite score. Obviously not good enough to be competitive, and I'm planning to take it again soon.


So in conclusion, is there anything I should add or improve on? (besides test scores)
 
Drop archery and pick up an actual sport is the biggest thing I would add to this, sorry to be frank. As you know, your test scores are prep school level, I would buy a prep book/course and work as hard as you can on this.
 
USNA2023, don't listen to that baseless opinion. Your ACT is competitive. I know a boy who is a current plebe at USMA who had a 27 composite. He also got accepted to the University of Michigan and won a 4 yr AROTC scholarship last year, which he turned down for USMA. Sports are great, but don't drop archery if you love it. That was terrible advice.
 
MichUSNA2021hopefulparent said:
USNA2023, don't listen to that baseless opinion. Your ACT is competitive. I know a boy who is a current plebe at USMA who had a 27 composite. He also got accepted to the University of Michigan and won a 4 yr AROTC scholarship last year, which he turned down for USMA. Sports are great, but don't drop archery if you love it. That was terrible advice.
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Thanks! And also it's fine, I took literally only one math practice test about a month before I actually took the ACT. I didn't prep much at all. Plus, I'm only a sophomore, so I wasn't gonna use this score unless it was perfect. It was more of a benchmark to see where I'm at with no prep. I'm definitely not dropping archery, mostly because it's my only opportunity for a sport. I live in a very rural area, and there isn't any sort of sports groups I can join. Outside of archery and getting horsemanship lessons on my horse, there really isn't any opportunity for sports. I'm trying to make up for that with better test scores, volunteer hours, other extra curricular activities, and getting in shape so I can ace the physical test :/
 
OP, archery like rifle is considered a sport! As long as you enjoy it and do it to the best of your ability please ignore such ignorant advice. Yes, do well on CFA because that is where you will have to show your athleticism. As for test scores, not a bad starting point for a sophomore...keep up the prep work and you will be fine.
 
With the exception of the kid who didn't go to USNA, all good advice here. You have plenty of time to improve where you want, too.
 
MichUSNA2021hopefulparent said:
USNA2023, don't listen to that baseless opinion. Your ACT is competitive. I know a boy who is a current plebe at USMA who had a 27 composite. He also got accepted to the University of Michigan and won a 4 yr AROTC scholarship last year, which he turned down for USMA. Sports are great, but don't drop archery if you love it. That was terrible advice.
Click to expand...

Listen to this poster...if you do not want to get accepted. The math and English sections of the ACT are definitely considered the most important. The test score is the one thing in your application that you actually have control of. Work as hard as you possibly can to get the best score you're capable of. It doesn't seem like you have a 'hook' e.g. athletic recruitment or some other factor, so you should strive to exceed the usual average. And with enough work, starting at a 25 you can definitely get there.

But, as this parent said, don't sit back and think that your ACT score is competitive, because it is not.
 
MMA19kid said:
Listen to this poster...if you do not want to get accepted. The math and English sections of the ACT are definitely considered the most important. The test score is the one thing in your application that you actually have control of. Work as hard as you possibly can to get the best score you're capable of. It doesn't seem like you have a 'hook' e.g. athletic recruitment or some other factor, so you should strive to exceed the usual average. And with enough work, starting at a 25 you can definitely get there.

But, as this parent said, don't sit back and think that your ACT score is competitive, because it is not.
Click to expand...

I agree that the test scores are what you have the most control over, the OP already stated that he is not satisfied with his ACT score.

USNA2023 said:
Obviously not good enough to be competitive, and I'm planning to take it again soon.
Click to expand...
 
USNA2023 said:
Thanks! And also it's fine, I took literally only one math practice test about a month before I actually took the ACT. I didn't prep much at all. Plus, I'm only a sophomore, so I wasn't gonna use this score unless it was perfect. It was more of a benchmark to see where I'm at with no prep. I'm definitely not dropping archery, mostly because it's my only opportunity for a sport. I live in a very rural area, and there isn't any sort of sports groups I can join. Outside of archery and getting horsemanship lessons on my horse, there really isn't any opportunity for sports. I'm trying to make up for that with better test scores, volunteer hours, other extra curricular activities, and getting in shape so I can ace the physical test :/
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We also live in a very rural area and my DD drives 25 minutes to a charter school school since our local schools are not up to par. She played softball and volleyball for the first two years of high school but they weren't really her thing. She has been in a summer league swim team since she was 8. However her school does not offer swim so she joined a year round team last year and talked to another high school 25 minutes away and was able to swim as an independent on their high school team. She had permission from that school's AD and her principal to participate. Her BGO told her it looked good that she didn't have things offered at her school she liked but made it happen by using the resources around her. She has taken the SAT 3 times since December and is finally happy with her scores. She took the ACT in May with her school but took it again on her own last month just to improve her scores. Take both as often can you can to improve your scores. Apply to be a Page in your state. She did the Senate Page and the House Page. Don't let anyone hold you back. Good luck!!
 
I didn't know being honest is now called arrogance. I'll just leave this here... DD took the ACT three times: 26, 31, and finally 33. Don't ever relax when you compete with 17K plus applicants.
 
MMA19kid said:
Listen to this poster...if you do not want to get accepted. The math and English sections of the ACT are definitely considered the most important. The test score is the one thing in your application that you actually have control of. Work as hard as you possibly can to get the best score you're capable of. It doesn't seem like you have a 'hook' e.g. athletic recruitment or some other factor, so you should strive to exceed the usual average. And with enough work, starting at a 25 you can definitely get there.

But, as this parent said, don't sit back and think that your ACT score is competitive, because it is not.
Click to expand...


I totally agree with your assessment of my ACT scores. It would be totally stupid of me not to take the ACT again after my sophomore year. As for a hook... that's where I'm struggling. I'm thinking my hook might be my volunteer hours (I've estimated around 550 hrs by the end of my senior year if I keep up with volunteering at the museum, CAP, and 4H). But I'm not sure if that would be a good enough "hook"
 
Madzmom21 said:
We also live in a very rural area and my DD drives 25 minutes to a charter school school since our local schools are not up to par. She played softball and volleyball for the first two years of high school but they weren't really her thing. She has been in a summer league swim team since she was 8. However her school does not offer swim so she joined a year round team last year and talked to another high school 25 minutes away and was able to swim as an independent on their high school team. She had permission from that school's AD and her principal to participate. Her BGO told her it looked good that she didn't have things offered at her school she liked but made it happen by using the resources around her. She has taken the SAT 3 times since December and is finally happy with her scores. She took the ACT in May with her school but took it again on her own last month just to improve her scores. Take both as often can you can to improve your scores. Apply to be a Page in your state. She did the Senate Page and the House Page. Don't let anyone hold you back. Good luck!!
Click to expand...

DD sent all test scores so they could see how she improved each time. Just follow the timelines and keep up the great work![emoji1303]
 
April75 said:
I didn't know being honest is now called arrogance. I'll just leave this here... DD took the ACT three times: 26, 31, and finally 33. Don't ever relax when you compete with 17K plus applicants.
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It's arrogance when the individual doesn't know what he's talking about.

The OP is a sophomore just getting some initial information. To my knowledge MMA19kid wasn't ever accepted to USNA... so why would we assume he has any unique knowledge regarding how to be accepted? This isn't surprising, MMA19kid has a knack for bouncing around forums talking about many things he knows nothing about. And the really telling thing is, no KPers come to his defense when he's called out, time after time after time after time.

So, to the OP, take it from someone who was accepted to USCGA, USNA, and (as a backup) USMMA... you're asking the right questions and have time to set yourself up, as much as you can, for success. Setting up your path as a sophomore in high school means you have more flexibility to develop a plan. Many, including yours truly, didn't start down that path until their senior year of high school.

Good luck!
 
LineInTheSand said:
It's arrogance when the individual doesn't know what he's talking about.

The OP is a sophomore just getting some initial information. To my knowledge MMA19kid wasn't ever accepted to USNA... so why would we assume he has any unique knowledge regarding how to be accepted? This isn't surprising, MMA19kid has a knack for bouncing around forums talking about many things he knows nothing about. And the really telling thing is, no KPers come to his defense when he's called out, time after time after time after time.

So, to the OP, take it from someone who was accepted to USCGA, USNA, and (as a backup) USMMA... you're asking the right questions and have time to set yourself up, as much as you can, for success. Setting up your path as a sophomore in high school means you have more flexibility to develop a plan. Many, including yours truly, didn't start down that path until their senior year of high school.

Good luck!
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Thanks for the advice! The only thing in worried about is having archery as my sport, and only participating in local competitions (it has people from out of state come to them because they are through 4H, but most of the people live relatively close to the fair barn the competitions are held at)
 
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