<p>I've been reading some of these posts about admissions into the Naval Academy and I'm a bit worried about whether or not I would be a strong applicant. I'm planning on applying in April, which is the soonest that I can apply (they say on the website that the sooner you send in your application, the better). I don't have time after school to participate in any sports due to club and work commitments. I have an after school job one day a week, and I'm founder/president of the politics club, editor of the school newspaper, and captain of the debate team. I'm strong academically- 2250 on the SAT, 4.0 GPA, hardest course load possible (except I didn't take AP Chem), and my class rank is 1. I exercise frequently and I'm able to meet the requirements for the physical test (but not really exceed). What exactly can I do between now and application time (I'll put off sending it if I have to) in order to improve my chances of getting into the Academy?</p>
<p>try some community service projects…keep working hard in school. an admissions officer once told me that they mainly look at your class rank and how many kids your school graduates (you are pretty much stacked, good job on the class rank) but other than that pray, they’re alot of number ones out there that have applied and your’re one of them. just wait and see, but definitely keep working hard cause you never know what can happen.</p>
<p>Thanks Kiddo! I am slightly weak in community service… do they really consider it that much? Good luck to you!</p>
<p>You’re looking good as far as leadership and clubs, but they do like to see a sport. If you look at the class of 2016 class portrait (<a href=“http://www.usna.edu/admissions/documents/ClassPortrait.pdf[/url]”>http://www.usna.edu/admissions/documents/ClassPortrait.pdf</a>), 89% had varsity sports on their records. The majority of others who weren’t varsity athletes most likely had some sort of sport (club, JV, etc.). I suggest finding some type of sport (Karate even, doesn’t have to be through the school) to really strengthen your application.</p>
<p>Also head on over to serviceacademyforums.com, they can help you out a lot better than I can. </p>
<p>Don’t let this discourage you though, from hearing the basics, looks like you’ve got a good file; seriously, looking good.</p>
<p>they dont emphasize the GPA as much as the class rank, athletics, and how well rounded of a person and leader you are.</p>
<p>“they dont emphasize the GPA as much as the class rank, athletics, and how well rounded of a person and leader you are.”</p>
<p>I agree with the above, from what our child was told. A BGO told us that GPA is not looked at in and of itself because it depends so much on the school you are in and the scale they use (some schools are on 6.0 scales, some 4.0…some have a ton of AP options worth greater points, some do not). He also said that they absolutely look at your school profile. Doing well at a school where 90%+ of students go onto 4 year colleges and where there are a history of appointments can help you (show that you are competitive and prepared). Otherwise, take challenging courses and do well in them.
You want to do well in the pond you are in and do VERY WELL on the SAT or ACT, especially with math.
Leadership, Service, Athletics and Academics…he pressed those 4 home.
T</p>
<p>Speaking of GPA, while it’s not taken into as consideration as much as class rank, but they do take it into consideration. As taben said, different schools have different grading scales, so USNA redoes your GPA to their calculations, so it might be higher or lower than it is right now.</p>
<p>Yeah that’s what I’ve heard. I’m thinking of running cross country in fall. It’s not really a team, but it’s the only varsity sport I may be able to play, given my prior commitments. Any suggestions on what kind of community service would be the best?</p>
<p>Anything, really…helping out at a food pantry, animal shelter, nursing home, etc. </p>
<p>There was a senior at a nearby high school who was applying to the USCGA who organized a food drive for the local food pantry. A friend of mine was just appointed to USNA (like literally just appointed Tuesday or Wednesday) and he’s extremely active in our youth group (we do a lot of volunteer work, go on mission trips, etc.). I also know someone whose DS was appointed to USNA’s class of 2017 that had over 300 hours of teaching swimming/water safety to kids at local schools because he’s an avid swimmer. </p>
<p>There’s a wide variety of things you could do. Tutoring, volunteering at the library even. Find something up your alley that you would enjoy doing.</p>
<p>And cross country is a great sport that’ll get you ready for USNA, really. Running 5+ miles is something you’ll be doing Plebe Summer, so XC really gets your body in shape for it. It is a team.</p>