<p>I'm interested in attending USNA, and I had a few questions about admissions...</p>
<p>1) What emphasis do they place on grades vs SAT results? (I personally have very high SATs, 790 math and 760 reading, but am only top 15 percent or so in my class. Does this make the cut?</p>
<p>2) I am an athlete, possibly good enough to be recruited. If I were recruited does this improve my chances?</p>
<p>3) I am very low on leadership 'credentials' as one might say, partially due to the fact that I have attended a different high school for each grade level (I'm a junior, and there is a good chance I will be moving YET AGAIN next year), which makes participating in student government rather difficult. So I suppose the question is: how much do leadership EC's matter? As I said I am a dedicated athlete (my sport takes up 4 hours of my time daily, plus transportation time) - will they overlook my short EC list because of this?</p>
<p>4) I understand that in addition to being academically and extracurricularly qualified there are also physical requirements. Other than the CFA what does this constitute?</p>
<p>IMO, you would be a most viable candidate, based on what you’ve told us. The most heavily weighted assessment item is SAT/ACT math score. Unlike many other highly competitive institutions these days, USNA considers class rank to be important as a measure of how you fare/compete among your peers. Your situation w/ moves is understandable. Watch for opportunitities to gain leadership ideas, vision and practice. Assume you’re a swimmer? Remember, SAs look for evidence of good team players, which can be more challenging to expose in an individualized sport. SAs have no need for lone rangers. Good luck, and keep us posted. Sounds like you’re on track.</p>
<p>Leadership presents itself in different ways.
You can show leadership through your athletics by being a team captain, organizing fund raising, hosting clinics for younger athletes, coaching and or volunteering on youth teams.</p>
<p>First a quick quiz (circle the correct answer on your computer):</p>
<ol>
<li>
True False</li>
</ol>
<p>If you answered correctly, which I trust you will, then you get the point. You may skip all remaining questions. If not, then there’s no point in asking any more.</p>
<p>No, I was not diminishing them at all. All ours were in both of these activities, which can embrace the notions, values and learning opportunities of a team sport. Conversely, along with golf, NASCAR, tennis, and many others, there is a reason stellar stars can participate in these activities absent of team. All I was saying is what I said.
What would you and I disagree on among these points?</p>
<p>Speaking of leadership, my application essay about why i want to attend an SA for congressional nominations is about how leadership isn’t developed by being in an administrative or “captain” position all the time, but rather developing character skills and applicable skills that make you shine as a leader when the time is right. For example, Bill Gates practiced code for hours upon hours, neglecting officer positions in clubs etc. but became a leader in the computer science world, not to mention philanthropy because he developed the necessary skills as well as character traits?</p>
<p>Anyways, 50freefly your probably even more qualified than I am, so you probably have a great shot at the academy. Go for it, whats the worst that could happen? Rejection? Theres always an emphasis on SAT scores, but i believe its like a threshold thing - once you reach the necessary level, they look beyond the scores (i hope?). And if your Division I recruitable then hot damn. the CFA is a place to shine if your not heavily involved in sports( like me ha). hope that answers some questions based on my own research.</p>
<p>50freefly, you say you’re “only” in the top 15% of your class. It really depends on the school if that is a bad thing. At my son’s public HS the top 15% equals the top 5% at the other HSs in town.</p>
<p>The fact that you changed schools so frequently needs to be taken into consideration, and I am pretty sure it will when it comes to assessing your leadership roles at school or even your grades.</p>
<p>Swimming is a team sport. Points are scored, strategy is important, and what about those relays? </p>
<p>50freefly, check into the possibility of becoming a team representative to your US Swimming board or a delegate to the FINA assembly. I know that swimming is time consuming and, in most cases, a year-round commitment. This really limits the possibility of ECs like student council, etc., and our son, mistakenly, thought that this would limit his competitive advantage at USNA. He is now in flight training in Pensacola.</p>
<p>Personally, I think that any kid who voluntarily swims 4 hours a day during heavy training seasons, takes AP classes, maintains good grades and is a positive role model for younger kids on the “team” is exactly what USNA is looking for. Keep up the great work!</p>
<p>Just to give you some additional info, our son was not a recruited swimmer, but had a NAG top 16 time and received a call in May from the swim coach saying that he had a spot on the team. </p>
<p>He had no student council, etc., but was a Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership delegate in 10th grade and his team’s senior swimmer representative to the USS board, then FINA delegate to the San Diego convention. Varsity letters for all 4 years of high school, and a few state swimming records. He swam, as you do, 4 hours a day for most of the year and this was his only sport. Despite being so fit, he really had to work on the running before and while at the Academy.</p>
<p>Apparently being a 1 sport athlete is not a detriment. Sorry for the detail, but I felt is was applicable to your case. PM me if you would like.</p>
<p>When I applied the things I was most worried about were also my leadership ECs. I literally did nothing except sports, and I wasn’t an official captain or anything either. I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I got an LOA and appointment from USMA, and your SATs are a lot better than mine were too.</p>