<p>well i just finished my sophmore year in high school and i really screwed up my dream of attending the naval academy. i just let the past two years slip by me and not even realizing what i was doing until it was too late.. i finished my freshman year with an 87.9 and sophmore with an 86.7 ... both unweighted.. i feel like this is pretty much the end of the line ... my extracurriculars are in good standing.. varsity football and lacrosse.. social studies club.. community work.. etc. i was just wondering if there is any drastic turnaround that could be made? or is it too late?..(note: i take the sats next year so i do not have the scores)</p>
<p>pretty much anything is possible. get your grades up this year and keep at the extracurricular activities. seriously, you need to have the right attitude to get through it all. there's lots of nit-picky advice that you'll probably get here, but straight and simple: work harder on your grades, keep a positive attitude (maybe check out Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena"), and if the academy still thinks you're not fully ready there's always NAPS or Foundation.</p>
<p>It's not too late until you miss an application deadline....when you're about to turn 23. </p>
<p>Is it likely that you can earn an appointment? That's almost impossible to say. If you really want USNA, or to improve your chances for any good college, spend the rest of your high school time working harder in your classes than you ever have. Start preparing NOW for your PSATs this coming fall, and for the SATs/ACTs after that. Find a few ECAs that you like, and be really active in them. Try to earn one or more leadership roles. If at all possible, participate in a varsity sport, but even if you can't make varsity, be active in a sport. </p>
<p>Let's say that, from this time on, you turn yourself into a really top student, you take courses that will clearly prepare you for the courses at USNA, you do great on your standard tests, and you have a record as a leader and active participant in several activities. There is still no guarantee that you will win an appointment, but you will have given yourself the best chance to do so, and you will like the person in the mirror a whole lot more. What have you got to lose?</p>
<p>All is lost only if you let it go. A lot depends on how badly you want USNA. If you're really determined, here are some things you can do:</p>
<p>(1) Summer school. You can retake a course in which you didn't do well and/or take classes to get ahead for the next two years. It also shows motivation.</p>
<p>(2) SAT prep. Not everyone can afford professional courses. If you can, great. If not, get the books (buy them or get them from the library). I'm sure that, today, there's probably free stuff on the internet as well. Practice, practice, practice. Devote one hour per day, 6 days per week, every single week. Summers included.</p>
<p>(3) Focus on your ECAs (extra-curricular activities). Decide which one(s) are most important to you and how you can take on leadership positions.</p>
<p>You obviously feel that you're behind the curve and you may well be. But whether you have a shot at USNA and/or NAPS/Foundation depends on how you spend the next the next two years. It's up to you.</p>
<p>To be completely honest, you sound a lot like how I was two years ago. I completely let my freshman and sophomore year fly by almost without a care in the world. BUT with effort and determination I turned my grades around, and here I am with a NAPS offer, and now I'm going USNA Foundation. So, don't give up. It's still definately in your grasp to earn an appointment. If its really what you want. I'm actually pretty happy at the fact that I'm doing prep school for a year. So, I look at as things worked out well for me. Just stay determined, kick a** on the SATs/ACTs and show they academy what your made out of. Goodluck!</p>
<p>The above comments are great, especially the suggestions leadership. Show how you can motivate others to a team goal. Also, please add community service. Giving back to the community also carries strong weight.</p>
<p>USA13, </p>
<p>The path you take is largely up to you; your life has not been preordained based on half of your high school achievements; no mold has been cast, no blueprint has been drawn so don’t think it’s over before it has even begun or you will most certainly fail. </p>
<p>As others have suggested, prepare yourself for the SATs and ACTs; take them both, some do better on one than the other and only the best scores will be used so you have nothing to loose. Plan on taking them at least 2 or 3 times. </p>
<p>Consider also that you have the opportunity to turn a negative into a positive by turning things around, as you can speak (in your interviews and essays) to your decision to attend the Academy and how that desire motivated you to racket up the effort with corresponding results. Succeed in that regard and you have gone a long way to demonstrate your motivation. </p>
<p>I don’t think your grades at this point are that big of an issue particularly as we know nothing about your school and your life. Without that additional information I can’t see how anyone can realistically begin to assess your achievements. </p>
<p>Getting into a service academy has a lot to do with your abilities, academic and athletic achievements, community service etc. There is also a “lottery like” aspect, you can call it luck, as it has more to do with conditions outside your control; the congressional district you are in; some districts are more competitive than others, and timing; the level of competitiveness within a given district may vary from year to year. </p>
<p>Focus on the things within your control. Once you have applied, continue to update your candidate information with grades, SAT/ACT scores, academic/athletic awards. Start thinking about individuals that know you well; teachers, coaches etc that you would expect to approach for a recommendations. Do they see any areas that you could approve and work/expand on as they know you well? </p>
<p>Don’t fall into the trap of trying change your life and interest based on what you think will look good on your application. Do the things you are interested in and enjoy. </p>
<p>Along the way don’t forget to develop back up plans; colleges with ROTC perhaps; each year the Academy has roughly 1800 young men and women that have made to the very end and are considered fully qualified with a nomination, only about 1200 of that pool of 1800 get in. </p>
<p>Good luck and have a great Junior and Senior year.</p>
<p>thanks for all of the replies everyone...im going to work as hard as i can for these next remaining years.</p>
<p>Anything worth having it worth fighting for. Usa13 go for it -- chances are you'll surprise yourself if you really want it by finding a way. Chin up. A positive attitude is the start.</p>
<p>Another possibility is that you may need to go to another college for a year, take all those Plebe-killer classes, ace them and apply again. Don't give up the ship!</p>
<p>If they see what they want or the potential for what they want out of you they will find a way to get you. NAPS and USNA Foundation are meant exactly for that.</p>
<p>You need to really buckle down and kick some academic butt the next 2 years.</p>
<p>If you can do that, in your personal statement (essay) you can talk about how you screwed up, and corrected your mistake.</p>
<p>They love to hear about that kind of stuff. It's good to admit your mistakes and then talk about you learned from and overcame them.</p>
<p>I think Goin..08 hit it on the head, as well. All good advice here. Your experience sounds like the perfect content for a strong essay. If, at age 15/16/17 (whatever you are) you can realize you let something slide, but are willing to strive to achieve regardless, that shows some gumption, and that can give sway, as well. Also, for your PSAT and SAT's.... College Board has a "question of the day" on their website. Our son, along with paying for an SAT study class, investing in a couple of SAT guides from the bookstore (one with a DVD), went to the CB website every day and did the posted problem they put up there. He said it helped him keep in a mindset of always thinking/solving. He's survived Plebe year and done well. Chin up usa13. All is not lost until you give up the ship...</p>