<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I am a current college freshman at a top-notch university. My SAT scores were not great, but I have earned a 4.0 college grade point average. I applied to USNA for the class of 2016, but I have not heard back, so I am assuming I was denied.</p>
<p>I still have a strong desire to attend the academy, so I will be applying for a spot in the class of 2017. Are there any current mids with civilian college experience that can give me some pointers? What can I do to significantly increase my chances at the class of 2017?</p>
<p>Help from mids, parents, BGO, etc. is appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>Give us some perspective, pls. Does your mode of questioning lend some insight as to the issue? btw, while there are very few spots, and they are shrinking in # each year for candidates from your pool, I’d not assume you’re out just yet. Hope remains until you’ve a TWE …</p>
<p>Hello Whistle Pig,</p>
<p>Thank you for your response. I am not sure of the pitfall of my application, but I plan on calling admissions after April 15 to see what my major weaknesses were. I speculate that my SAT scores and my essay might have held me back. My SAT was a 1200 math/cr and I knew my essay was sub-par. My first year at college has vastly improved my writing skills in addition to my maturity. I passed my CFA last year, but it was not outstanding. I have been training over the past year to improve these scores. My BGO constantly emphasizes the importance of submitting my application early. WP, what do you mean that number of candidates from my pool are shrinking? Thank you for your help!</p>
<p>The # of students being appointed from colleges has always been somewhat small, and it’s been shrinking in recent years as others have been given priority. My understanding is that your college performance is how your candidacy is assessed, with SATs and some of the other EC stuff becoming less consequential.</p>
<p>Hang in there. Say your prayers. Trust you’ll land where you belong. And remember, USNA is only one avenue to become an officer in the Fleet or Corps. (Pronounced “core” ;)) Keep us posted.</p>
<p>Thank you for your insight, WP. I have one last question. Does submitting your application early (may or june) significantly increase your chances of admissions? I know USNA has a rolling admissions process, but I have seen horror stories on these threads. By horror stories, I mean that a candidate submitted his application in may and still hasn’t heard from USNA on April first. Are these cases common?</p>
<p>you cant submit you application in may
the earliest you can submit is beginning of June the end of your Jr year. and yes many are right now still waiting.</p>
<p>My rule of thumb is same as you’ve been advised. Earlier is better. Why? Well, in a mega sense think of it this way … would you rather be in the hunt when 1,000 spaces remain … or when 100 spaces remain? And that is the mega-picture with rolling admissions. </p>
<p>However, that illustration is way too simplistic and misleading. For it may be that college applicants are not even considered for those first 900 appointments. And so the answer might be 100, as that may be where all appointments occur. Further confounding this great mystery of the planet, is that most often candidates are competing at least initially with MOC district nominees and/or state nominees. So you see several things …</p>
<ol>
<li><p>This is VERY complex stuff, especially looking at it from afar. Lots of variables in both nominating and becoming 3Qed.</p></li>
<li><p>And in fact, much as I and others’d like to be definitive and pretend we know THE answer, I can tell you I don’t.</p></li>
<li><p>Good luck and hang on! Go Navy and remember, more than one way to get there.</p></li>
</ol>