<p>I've been reading this forum for about a year but never posted! My application is finally finished and I'm just waiting! I was wondering what you guys thought would be my reason for not getting into USNA if it happens that I don't.</p>
<p>GPA: 4.178 (24th in class of 767)
Math SAT: 690 (I'm so proud, I increased from a 550 through a lot of studying)
CR: 740
Taken every AP class I can, AP Calculus BC (all year) and AP Physics this year.
Varsity Swimming Freshman and Sophmore Years
Varsity Cross Country Senior Year
Vice President of German Club
Varisty Academic Quiz team (lol)
NHS
Rocket Club
Rotary Interact Club (volunteer stuff)
Big Brother for a year, 60-80 volunteer hours through that.
Students in Action (30 hours of volunteer work)
Various other volunteering
Attended NASS 2, got a great review from my squad leader (we still keep in touch)
Recieved a nomination from Congressman Boehner two weeks ago.
Earned a full 4 year NROTC scholarship to OSU.</p>
<p>Good luck dude, and congrats. on the NROTC scholarship. Sending in extra transcripts of senior year might earn you a few more points on the whole person score in the admissions board process, so yea send that in if you want. I went to NASS Session 2 as well. I was in Delta 4-1, where were you?</p>
<p>You look like a fantastic potential candidate. That is a great resume. The elusive 'whole person' factor is the subjective element that is hard for anyone to quanitfy. Good luck!</p>
<p>youve got everything, leadership role, great academics, varsity athletics, service.
Regarding luck, I don't think luck is a factor at all. If the academy admissions board is amazing, they find the right candidates. You look like a great candidate. Compare yourself to the class profiles.</p>
<p>whole person is most subjective. The U.S. Naval Academy looks for potential for long-term service in a techinical field. Your poli sci/history majors are usually those who score above 700 on verbal. Everything else is left to those who score well in the math section.</p>
<p>There are thousands of applicants just like you (I wish my application was that strong). Express interest in a career in your application, it is a HUGE boost.</p>
<p>Let's be serious. I don't think there's a real question here, but more of a request for reassurance and praise. If you've been reading this web site for a year, you would know that you are definitely a strong candidate and right up there. Don't worry so much, it'll get you nowhere.</p>
<p>You certainly have the credentials to receive a nomination. I am assuming you have passed the Dodmerb without major problems. Yes, I would recommend sending in any updated transcripts that provide additional scholatistic information.</p>
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Regarding luck, I don't think luck is a factor at all. If the academy admissions board is amazing, they find the right candidates.
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<p>yes for the latter....but IMHO, a little luck never hurts!</p>
<p>(we had a whole discussion on the "luck" factor last year...quite a lively debate if I recall....for those interested, try doing a search in the USNA forum for "luck".... ) as for me, I sprinkle my thorpedo with some fairy dust every chance I get! ;)</p>
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How did you get a GPA higher than 4.0?
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<p>some schools "weight" classes such as honors or AP courses, or both.... whereby an "A" in AP class is weighted at 1.1 or 1.2, as opposed to a 1.0 weight for an "A" in a non-AP class....which makes a 4.0+ GPA entirely possible....</p>
<p>some schools do not "weight" their classes regardless of how difficult they are...</p>
<p>which all speaks directly to the job the admission boards have in comparing kids on an even playing field! Thus, candidates are asked to submit both their weighted and unweighted GPA grades..... and most selective schools will even narrow it down further, comparing unweighted grades from core classes only (math, science, english), leaving out all those fluffy "A's" earned in art and who-knows-what-else (not to say that art can't be tough, but you get the idea)..... for example, the NCAA will only use the grades from core academic courses to determine an athletes eligibility for D-1 sports....anything falling out of the core class list is kicked out of the GPA calculation entirely! It is amazing how many "A" averages get knocked down to a "C" using this methodology!</p>
<p>so the question should be not how one achieved a GPA over a 4.0, but how the unweighted average of the core courses measure up..... something the folks at the SAT and ACT boards will say they "measure" on a more level playing field....</p>
<p>AP classess at my school are worth 5 points versus 4. So I've gotten a few AP As... and they were in Math, English, and Physics. </p>
<p>I am the last class at my school to do this type of weighted grading, class of 08 has some weird way of doing it, because as our policy currently stands, taking a Study hall can actually help you in some weird way for the Validictorian race.</p>