<p>Perhaps FutureKP2010 means he will graduate HS in 2010 thus making him a candisate for the class of 2014. He should also note the tone of his posts. If the essays are like this his chances may be reduced greatly. Zonker had many good points about how to rephrase misleading statements. However no matter how rigorous he believes his HS is (an it may very well be) if results can not be translated into SAT/ACT scores; it really does not matter. So FutureKP2010 quell the attitude, accpet the help and study for those tests!!! Also remember nothing is in the bag (Nomination wise) and over until you hold that letter in your hand!!!</p>
<p>FutureKP2010…I can pretty much tell you with a 450 Math SAT KP would not even look at your application. You need to retake your SAT’s until you get the math up to around 600 or more. Don’t even worry yourself about your other “accomplishments” because with those low SAT’s you are not even in the running.</p>
<p>hey i just wanted let everyone know im sry if i came off as defensive (deepdraft1) it was just a little annoying that my most prized accomplishment was being questioned didn’t mean to act like a jerk. Thanks for everyone’s help i really appreciate it. I just want everyone to know that regarding the nomination i don’t have an unfair advantage or any immoral way of getting the nomination i just live in a very small town in PA and unlike a place like New York we dont have as many people trying to get the nominations especially for KP. I value morals very much and because i go to a catholic school i am very religious-i pray every night, go to church often, and do a lot of community service. In no way am i cheating please dont think that i am or that i dont deserve to be a candidate because of it.</p>
<p>just a note the way i write in forums is not how i really write and my SN FutureKP2010 the 2010 is the year i will start at the academy</p>
<p>
I know how you feel… my original Masters license is one of my prized accomplishments along with my original 3rds, 2nds and Chief Mates tickets Dont stop too long to admire your work. The road ahead is long and challenging. So get busy on improving those SAT scores.
whose??? I meant whos
I got to start heeding my own advice :)</p>
<p>Hey one more question for everyone. Is the SAT or ACT easier for poorer test takers?
Any suggestions on which I should take.
I have taken the SAT twice now.</p>
<p>You might want to consider taking an SAT prep course. My son took a one week course and improved his math score by 100 points. Just a thought</p>
<p>FutureKP2010…My son, who graduated in 2007, always had trouble with test taking, from grade school through high school. He was given enrichment classes, but when those yearly tests came around, his teachers were always stunned. When it came time for SATs and ACTs, he found the SATs to be easier to improve. We hired a tutor on a short term basis, and saw the scores increase dramatically. Deepdraft made a good suggestion, and my 2 cents’ worth is to find someone who can zero in on your weak areas, and work with you in a testing situation. It all paid off for my son, and he knew what he had to do in order to succeed on a daily basis. Believe me, he didn’t get his Calculus and Physics genes from his mom! Here’s hoping you are able to overcome this hurdle and find your way to KP!</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice unfortunately my family doesn’t have the money for a private tutor but does anyone have thoughts about a prep company called KAPLAN test prep and admissions?</p>
<p>I don’t know about Kaplan but both of my kids used Study Works and got very good results.
Son’s math went up something like 80 pts.</p>
<p>I am a high school counselor in an area that does not have easy access to private tutoring. I have seen a number of students improve their ACT/SAT scores through computer software preparation programs such as Kaplan, Princeton, etc. Most programs have a “tutorial” mode–the student takes a practice test; if a question is answered incorrectly, the program provides information (math equations or explanations, rules of grammar, etc.) on how the question should have been answered. The programs work ONLY if the student devotes regular, long-time time and effort to the process; short-term cramming is not effective. The greatest score increases I have seen resulted from daily work during the summer, when the demands of homework and sports did not compete for time. Software can be purchased at office supply stores, retail stores like Walmart, or even at Costco. Good luck!</p>
<p>You definitely might want to try taking the ACT. It’s not that it is necessarily “easier” but it is a completely different format. Our daughter did much better on the ACT than on the SAT. I suggest you try a practice test to see if it is better for you.</p>
<p>And public library has SAT/ACT prep books… not interactive, but will get you started for free-- all it takes is your commitment.<br>
In addition, talk to your school’s guidance department… Sometimes they have copies for students who ask.
Our H.S. NJROTC program has materials for the Mids in the program, for free. Not all are used. If you have access, beg one from your school, or some other place.
Kaplan/SAT have online services as well. Some are very reasonable.
Don’t spend a lot of time analyzing, open those books and get cracking 
Good luck.</p>
<p>My daughter tested better on the ACT my son (now at KP) did better on the SAT. ACT has subject specific sections and no guessing penalty. Look on line for a review and put in the time. I have seen scores go up by 100 - 150 points. Rememebr the Academies look for the whole package. Good Luck</p>
<p>Future KP: I am a 1982 KP grad, with a son in the Class of 2012, I’ve also been an Admissions Field Rep for going on 20 years so have worked through the admissions process with numerous folks.</p>
<p>First off in direct answer to your questions and points, ignoring the obvious stuff folks have said that doesn’t make too much sense.</p>
<p>1) Your grades, class standing, extra curriculars and STANDARD TEST scores all will be what is evaluated, assuming you have a nomination and meet the rest of the requirements.</p>
<p>That said your standardized test scores as listed are significantly below the averages for any entering class I’ve seen data on and that is through the entering class that will graduate in 2011. My understanding anecdotaly (sp?) is the Classes of 2012 and 2013 have similar or higher scores, etc. than the Class of 2011. What will that likely mean - it will likely mean assuming you are nominated out of the state you list as your home - PA - you will not be given an appointment for one of that sate’s places in the entering class but will instead be competing for a place in “the national pool”. That’s not a big issue in that many folks get their appointments that way, especially from the states with the 5-10 biggest populations in the Regiment of Midshipman. However, as with your competition for a state slot you poor standardized test scores will hurt your chances there.</p>
<p>As for how you know you’ll get an appointment I’ll assume that for whatever reason you are likely to be correct, some nominating authorities don’t use all 10 of their appointments to KP every year, for totaly transparent reasons my former Congressman didn’t for example. By way of explanation for folks reading this board I am speaking of former Congressman Tom Davis who until the final two years he was in office, made prospective nominees select a first choice and they were considered only for that Academy. The result here was many folks selected USNA and didn’t get in there and didn’t get a nomination to KP. The last two years Congressman Davis changed his policy and to my understanding the new Representative from our District Congressman Connoley is also using all his available nominations. My point is there’s lots of reasons. For example, a young person might be familiar to a nominating official because their parent lost their lives in the service of our country or in the line of fire as a First Responder, etc. </p>
<p>In any case a nominatiuon as has been pointed out is but one requirement for being considered for an appointment. Once you have that you need to get everything else in order and submitted on time or early. The earlier the better, the best case is for you to have everything in both the Academy Admissions Staff’s hands and your nominating authroities hands early. Then your addmissions folder can get considered the maximum amount of times it can be looked at. Also you’re more likely to find sympathetic ears and helpful advice from folks you talk to, especially in the admissions office if your admissions folder is complete.</p>
<p>If you play a sport and haven’t yet been to the USMMA for an overnight vist, I’d try to get in contact with that sport’s coach and get an overnight visit scheduled through them. If you don’t play a sport or can’t get it scheduled that way I’d get it scheduled through the admissions office. While you are there you’ll have the opportunity to speak with everyone and get good advice first hand.</p>
<p>My gut says, the value of your clearly displayed interest in a sea-going/maritime career is and will be appreciated, but it won’t count anymore in your competative standing for an appointment then other similarly impressive extra-curricular achievements many other prospective candidates for the Class of 2014 will have.</p>
<p>As for the general advice that you scoffed at relative to toning your attitude down and the challenge of the academics, etc. I will echo it - these folks are all giving you good advice. Each year close to 300 Plebe Candidates just like you enter the USMMA in the first week of July, all just cocky B’s like I was in 1979 and my son was in 2009 - ironically, despite all their self assurance and arrogance only between 200 and 225 usually graduate 4 years later. So if folks like me and the others here seem harsh, blunt, tactless, cocky, etc. as well as not understanding of your self assurance, it’s because at one point we were just like you, then we got through 4 years at KP and started to really try and make our mark as leaders vice future leaders and that’s when we really learned how hard it is to be as good as we think we are.</p>
<p>Good luck, hopefully in 5 years I’ll see you at an Alumni Meeting.</p>
<p>I would definitely be honored</p>
<p>Here is another question if i do really well on my ACT should i send those scores along with my low SAT scores or just send the ACT?</p>
<p>I think youshould send them all the scores, most schools like to see growth and some take the highest score available. I am not sure what KP does. Right now don’t worry so much about which scores to send. Just work on getting the scores up. Good luck and get back to studying!!</p>
<p>I agree with MG2013Mom - send it all there - list USMMA on your distribution of scores directly from the testing body. It gets them there fastest and if KP is you #1 why not do it.</p>
<p>All the scores will be listed on your HS transcript. You should schedule retake of the SAT’s asap as your scores must be before January 2009 and there are not that many tests left before then Also make sure that you have all the colleges you are considering on your distribution list for the SAT’s and ACT’s.</p>
<p>FutureKP2010, get the SAT prep book and then ACTUALLY TAKE the practice tests in the back of the book. Too many students get the SAT prep book, but are unwilling to spend the time required to complete practice tests. However, practice tests, plus the tactical pointers, are what improves SAT scores. Practice and test-taking tips are precisely what a tutor would provide, for a little more money. If you have the self-discipline to utilize the book, you will save money while getting the same results as you would from a tutor.</p>