<p>
[quote]
In any event, I suspect that admissions would tell you that there is more to admissions than just the SAT score.
[/quote]
One would hope so.</p>
<p>However, I think that we so often fall into the "boost your SAT score" refrain on this board is that:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The SAT score is the single easiest part of the academics/leadership package to boost in the short term when we're talking about juniors. Good prep can add 50-100 points to your score. Everything else (GPA, leadership positions) tend to be cumulative over a 4 year highschool experience.</p></li>
<li><p>The SAT does play a large part in the WCS calculations. And while there is a holistic component to WCS, much of it is formula driven. For a non-athlete, non-prior enlisted candidate that is competing for a local district appointment, the WCS will determine which nominated candidate gets the appointment (assuming that the Representative is using a competitive system).</p></li>
</ol>
<p>IMO, 1300 is not a place to rest on your laurels, even if it is the best in the school. As with any other college application, the point at which you start resting easier is when you hit the 75th percentile band (in this case, 1400). Of course, the local competitive aspect of this can make it a lot worse (or better). YMMV.</p>
<p>Although I don't think it is the SAT that plays a large part in the WCS score as much as it is your academic accomplishments, i.e. SAT, class rank, GPA, quality of courses, etc. [I don't know how to emphasize w/out capitalizing and thus imply that I am screaming.]</p>
<p>You are correct that most people state by rote for others to increase their SAT score because that is an easy thing to say. That is to be expected from a teenager. Fact is, unless you are at the 1500+ level [old scoring] probably everybody could be told to improve their SAT. That's what makes it such a meaningless suggestion. [By the way, I STILL do not understand how one knows where they are ranked by SAT unless it is really small school that encourages everybody to post their score.]</p>
<p>KL -- your posts on this site have been thoughtful and compassionate. I will continue to be the counterbalancing, grouchy, old man that is anticipating I-day with fear, love, and concern for my child. It is all all that a parent can deliver.</p>
<p>Mediocre SAT's (ie between 1300-1400 - "members of the 1300 club") are much more acceptable when paired with outstanding extracurriculars and so on.</p>
<p>You might want to moderate that observation. SAT's of 1300-1400 are an achievement to be proud of for the vast majority of the population (including many officers under whom you'll serve), and the adjective "mediocre" carries some pretty negative connotations.</p>
<p>What I continue to fail to understand is how some persons can consider scores of 1300 - 1400 to be "mediocre" [from the Latin mediocris, i.e. moderate, middling, or ordinary] compared to the general college population. Given that the SAT is scaled around an average of 1,000, then, by definition, a 1300 is above average, i.e. not mediocre.</p>
<p>Neither can the scores be considered "borderline" [presumably you mean borderline admissible] when such scores represent over 70% of the USNA population. Perhaps the scores below 1300 represent borderline applicants, but they are not mediocre. But, then, scores above 1400 also represent the border, just at the other extreme.</p>
<p>Some statements on here defy common sense. [Where or where is DeepThroat when I need him/her] Of course SATs in this range are more acceptable with outstanding extracurriculars. That is true across the SAT spectrum; between two persons that have equal SAT scores, the appointment will, generally speaking, go to the person that has outstanding extracurriculars.</p>
<p>Behold KT the power of italics. Now on to bold!</p>
<p>Consider taking the ACT as well. Many students find they do better on one than the other or they find that while they may do "ok" on the math SAT, they find that they "ace" the math portion of the ACT---all the more info for admissions to use (and for the candidate to "build their case". College admissions is getting more and more competitive as more kids are going to college than ever before. "average" SAT's for many good public universities are hitting the high 1300's.</p>
<p>You have each presented very interesting points for this discussion. I think it will be interesting to see how the "new" SAT will impact admissions statistics for the Academies. I would like to suggest that for those current juniors who have taken the "old" SAT and have been pleased with their scores, the "new" version is a potential curve ball. This is a test component that many have not really prepared for and may want to consider while getting ready for the long application process ahead.</p>
<p>While a 1300 SAT might be average for highly selective colleges, it is NOT an average score when using the national percentile. A score of about 1270 ranks in the 90th percentile nationally.</p>
<p>Also, regarding the SAT playing a large part in your score, it does, specifically the Math component which is given the most weight.</p>
<p>No where in the various discussions has anyone referred to the results of the personality profile the applicants take and submit as part of the application process. I am curious as to what role it takes in the selection process. For example, if the results indicated the applicant was a "loner", and not likely to be a team player, would that disqualify him/her despite high achievement in other areas?</p>
<p>I have not seen this discussed in any official context.</p>
<p>You bring up a good point. I don't think you ever will see the results of the personality profile presented in any official way. I imagine that it might (in some instances) be the "missing" factor that would explain an otherwise seemingly well qualified candidate still being denied admission</p>
<p>highest SAT verbal score (15%)
highest SAT math score (31%)
high school class rank (21%)
high school english and math teacher recommendations (8%)
extracurricular activity and athletic participation (10%)
strong interest inventory technical interest score (12%)
strong interest inventory career interest score (3%)</p>
<p>I was wondering about teacher evaluations. What makes an evaluation stand out? Most teachers just fill them with the same stuff. Is there anything I can tell a teacher or give him/her to make my evaluation more unique? Thanks,
ZN</p>
<p>ZN ~ You might be interested in my post on the Summer Seminar section. As far as teacher evaluations, my son gave them to his teachers in June before exams. This worked out well as they completed them before the fall college application rush. They also gave him their email addresses for the summer. If you do the Navy ROTC application you will need them again and the forms are different. He talked to them about his goals and they completed the forms. They were very kind and sent him copies so he knew what was sent in and we made several copies of these because you can use the USNA form for teacher recs for the common application. </p>
<p>THIS SAVED TONS OF TIME AND EFFORT IN THE FALL!!!!! Especially when my son applied to 6 other schools. While his friends were scrambling for teacher recs his were done and in and it made the process easier!</p>
<p>Finally, read my other post...my son was rated in the top 1% of students the teachers had taught and he had great other stats but ultimately did not gain admission to USNA. Interestingly though, he had immediate action on his NROTC scholarship and knew about that in October. It is an interesting process.</p>
<p>He just received his permission to report package from NROTC and is looking forward to reporting for the basic training his unit has in the summer. Best of luck and although he did not gain admission we learned a lot in the process that helped with many acpects of this process. Don't hesitate to PM me if I can help or post here.</p>
<p>One final word of advice...if you want to do Navy and you're interested in ROTC start the application when school is over. Have it complete by the end of August and you may make the first board meeting in September. There were at least 4 essays in that application even though much is similar to USNA's application. Best of Luck to you! JM</p>
<p>Believe sempergumby's numbers are pretty close. Plus there's a subjective component that handles addl factors (interest in attending, legacy, athlete, URM, special skills, etc) that's worth circa 15%.</p>
<p>The aforementioned weighting factors are completely erroneous. Underlying the whole Naval Academy admissions process is the subjectivity of an admissions board and the driving goal of admitting future officers. 'Numbers' certainly are part of evaluating a student's potential as well as level of achievement, but there are a number of intangible qualities required in success here and more importantly as a combat leader of sailors and marines.</p>
<p>USNA-
Are the components and weighting factors completely erroneous? My understanding is that they serve as a tool to objectively evaluate and compare the attributes of each candidate, yet there is, as Kate Lewis mentioned, a subjective component to which you made reference. This thread started off with SAT scores which I don't think anyone would dispute carry a lot of weight in the admissions process at a highly selective institution.</p>