Interesting News USNA's Admission Policy

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
1

<p>Hey everyone! My name is Nick and I am currently a freshman at Villanova Univ. Last year I was a candidate for admission to the Academy but was rejected. My stats were:</p>

<p>3.85 GPA
Each semester in high school, I took atleast 3 honors/college leve/AP courses. In my senior y ear, I took ALL AP courses and received A's by mid year in all of them.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars: Too many to list (not joking).
--Hockey 4 years
--President of student body 4 years
--President of several student clubs 3 years
--Volunteered for many community organizations 4 years
--Organized a fundraiser for the troops in Iraq Junior year
--Band
--Tutor
--Work experience all 4 years
--Civil Air Patrol 4 years (Officer)
--much more</p>

<p>Recs were extremely good</p>

<p>Nominations: One from my Congressman Eliot Engel and a Presidential through my father's service record (Colonel, US Marine Corps)</p>

<p>PAE: Maxed out on each test except pull ups (did 13 of them)</p>

<p>Heres the weak part:
SAT: 1190 (570 V, 620 M)
ACT: 30 (30 E; 28 M; 31 R; 30 S)</p>

<p>I have two points for this post. The first is real quick...I retookthe ACT this past December in hopes to raise my score to make myself even more competitive (even though my friend at the academy now says hes awe stricken at why I am not there right now...he claims I have better credentials than most mids in his class).</p>

<p>The second is I have done extensive research on the Academy online. I came across a very strange, starttling article this morning, however, regarding the admissions' board policy on SAT/ACT. It seems as if the Academy has repeatedly gotten in trouble with FairTest (a nonprofit organization) and the College Board/American College Testing Board because the admissions committee has unlawfully set minimum cut offs on SAT/ACT scores (this, they claim, violates regulations set forth by both testing agencies). After 2002, when this was first revealed, the Academy has stopped all communications with these agencies and now just receives the score reports. All questions asked of them have been left unanswered.</p>

<p>What seems more strange is due to my rejection last year, I really wanted to know why I was rejected - so I called my admissions counselor, Lt. Nicole Pearce. When I asked her why, she simply said, "You were just not competitive enough," which I can undestand, being it is the USNA, but my credentials seem to have been right up their compared to the Class of 2008 profile. I have put in numerous calls to her since April of last year and she has anwered NONE of them, nor has she responded to any of my e-mails or phone messages. </p>

<p>Needless to say, I am getting very upset with USNA and this news I found today just urkes me a bit more. What should I do?</p>

2

<p>Was your ACT that is posted the one the Academy had or is that the new ACT? (I believe they use the highest score) Also, many qualified candidates don't receive appointments because the district they are in is very competative. That sure has become evident during nomination interviews! There are so many highly qualified candidates! You may have been highly qualified in another geographical region but not at the top in your own area. While this doesn't appear fair it does allow for geographical distribution of candidates. There are a few other posts on this subject earlier. We have read about min scores also. It is such a tough process and especially for those that have worked so hard in high school to have the opportunity to attend! We know several that have gotten in on the second try. At SS they told the students that about 50% would become midshipmen in the next 2 years and of those about 80% would graduate...tough odds!</p>

<p>Anyway, best of luck if you are reapplying!</p>

3

<p>A critical and probably overlooked part of the admissions process by those who may have been turned down by the academy is the Blue and Gold Interview. A good candidate "on paper" may not present as such in a face to face (where the rubber meets the road)---the stats listed above, while good, are probably commonplace with regard to all the applicants that were triple Qed. This is a tough school to get into. A backup plan is prudent.</p>

4

<p>shogun - point very well taken. However, it is notable to point out that my BGO told me I was one of the most qualified and well rounded young men he's experienced in his career and that he would do everything and anything to write the best recommendation/report for me in order to gain admission. I am in no way trying to be conceided here, but I just think it is critical to take into account my BGO's comments. I could not picture a BGO lying to a candidate in his promise to write a stellar report on him/her. </p>

<p>I think, overall, my regional director's unwillingness to tell me why I did not gain admission to the Academy last year is most upsetting. In fact, today, after two years of unanswered phone calls and e-mails, I got in touch with the Dean of Admissions, a retired colonel in the Marine Corps, and told him the situations and my displeasure with the performance and helpfulness of my regional director. I hope this was the right thing to do and that I will not hurt me when they take another look at my file. What does everyone think?</p>

5

<p>If you were professional and refrained from personal attacks or cynicism about the process it probably won't hurt.</p>

6

<p>Nick - </p>

<p>I'd back off the admissions personnel and focus on cranking up my SAT/ACT score. Lots of candidates get accepted the second time around. I agree with other posters that, besides that, you've got GREAT stats (assuming that's an unweighted GPA and your rank was high). Some kids need to work on their PAE, some on their SAT. </p>

<p>You've got a good shot if you don't alienate too many people in the process (recommend using the wording 'disappointment' rather than 'displeasure' when referring to the admissions performance - since presumably you've got the same regional admissions director again).</p>

7

<p>Nick:
You must also realize that the regional director is not the one making the decision. It is the admission board. The RD might not be at liberty to disclose the reason for the turndown. It might be a simple case of your whole person score not making the cut point. Rather than ask why the turndown, perhaps rephrase the question. "What can/should I do to make myself more competitive? You did not state if your GPA was weighted or not and you did not give your class rank. Your low SAT scores might have put you at a disadvantage when your whole person score was calculated, making you "not competitive enough".
You imply that you have reappplied. How are you doing at college? This will be an important factor this year.</p>

<p>Good Luck in your quest.
CM</p>

8

<p>Nick, I have a friend that applied last year and didn't get in either with very similar stats. Within a week or two of receiving his letter, he reapplied and asked his RD what was and wasn't transferable. He said his RD didn't reply, but someone else handling applications did and she told him that he should retake the SAT and continue to take courses in college that would enable him to succeed at the Academy. I think he had a 1270 SAT score and only 1 or 2 AP's, but he had some incredible stats otherwise, with many varsity letters and leadership positions, as well as a 3.8 UW GPA. You shouldn't be discouraged with not receiving an appointment your first go-around. There are many students in your exact position.</p>

<p>Are you in NROTC at Villanova? Did you receive a scholarship?</p>

9

<p>Nick, are you enjoying Villanova? Are you on a Marine option NROTC scholarship? Is your dad currently an active duty Marine?</p>

10

<p>Did you guys get offered the NAPS alternative? if you did then take it. if you didnt, call the admissions back and ask.....but you guys made an attempt but its weird though...</p>