Chances at West Point (USMA)?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Female
Caucasian
High school Junior
Texas </p>

<p>3.6 unweighted GPA<br>
Top Third Class Rank<br>
200 PSAT
(Shall take SAT, SAT IIs, ACT soon) </p>

<p>Military service in family:
Grandfather (served in two wars, Navy, Air Force)
Father (Army) </p>

<p>Total Credits (at graduation):<br>
7 mathematics<br>
6 science<br>
4 English
4 social studies/history
2 computer science
5 foreign language (Spanish)<br>
1 athletics<br>
1 fine arts
1 engineering<br>
1 local requirements (Speech, Health) </p>

<p>AP: </p>

<p>Past:
World History (5) </p>

<p>Current:
Calculus AB
English III<br>
United States History<br>
Environmental Science<br>
Computer Science A </p>

<p>Future:
Calculus BC
Statistics<br>
English IV<br>
Government, Economics<br>
Physics<br>
Chemistry<br>
Spanish V </p>

<p>In addition to my AP courses, others have been Pre-AP or GT. All classes that I am currently taking are either AP or Pre-AP. </p>

<p>Extracurricular:
Varsity Wrestling Team, 2010-2011 (may return, had some issues with ankle and knee injuries that have been resolved)<br>
Young Republicans Club, 2010-
UIL Academics Teams, 2011-<br>
Gay-Straight Alliance (Founder, president), 2011-<br>
Christians group, 2011-<br>
Anime Club (Secretary), 2012-<br>
Spanish Honor Society </p>

<p>Girls State (assuming acceptance) </p>

<p>No JROTC is available at my school. </p>

<p>More information is available on request. </p>

<p>I'm looking for some input on how my chances at West Point currently stand, and some advice on how to increase my chances. </p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

2

<p>You really need to get some serious leadership roles this year/next. I was thinking about the Air Force academy for a while and I know the one real big thing they look at is leadership. You’re going to be a commissioned officer, they want leaders. On top of that, I’d say focus on getting your GPA up as well. Test well, get your nominations and show leadership and you’ll have a good chance (since you have military history as well).</p>

3

<p>Even so, it’s a reach for just about anyone.</p>

4

<p>The biggest thing is that you need a nomination from one of your congressmen. You are a member of Young Republicans, but also a founder and president of Gay-Straight Alliance. How will that play with the people who you are asking to nominate you? It’s still an old-boys network, and while “ask don’t tell” may be gone, there are those who might question you fitness, given your association with Gay-Straight Alliance.</p>

<p>Getting into a service academy is a multi-step process. Even if you are highly qualified, you still need a nomination, which can end up being a bit political. Then you have to be admitted (if the top nominee doesn’t make it through admission, there is usually a list of alternate the go through until they find someone acceptable (though it’s rare for a nominee not to make it - most congressmen are pretty thorough when they vet their candidates).</p>

<p>Most highly selective colleges are looking for extra curricular, but the academies are looking for leadership within those ECs. Can you show that you have taken on increasing responsibility within those activies over time? Are you the type of person they want leading our military in the near future?</p>

5

<p>Thanks for everyone’s input. I appreciate it. </p>

<p>I worry a bit about the fact that I am the founder of the gay-straight alliance. At many institutions, this would have a positive impact on the likelihood of acceptance, but I recognize that this may have a detrimental impact on my candidacy. </p>

<p>One thing I’m hoping to get up and running at my school is a Model UN. I’m also planning on becoming more involved in community service (as the child of a single parent, I’ve had difficulty finding reliable transportation in the past). </p>

<p>If I manage both of these things and get back on the Wrestling Team, shall my chances in any way improve?</p>