<p>from Mamaroneck NY, 16 year old junior
I am 5feet 8 inches160lbs
I am 3rd or fourth in a very competitive, at least at the upper echelons, class of 96
I have a good GPA, 95, and have taken all core sciences, Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry and am taking Physics
am currently taking 2 AP courses, English 1 and AP US having taken European AP exam with a 5 </p>
<p>my extracuricular is weak
I have one year of Varsity Tennis, and this year I am doing Varsity wrestling, Varsity Tennis, and senior year will be Varsity Tennis and Wrestling
so grand total, if all goes well 3 years varsity tennis, 2 varsity wrestling
some clubs, I can pop in a bunch, but Academic Challenge is mainly it</p>
<p>do I even have a chance, I havent taken my SATs yet?</p>
<p>My question, can I apply to both West Point and Annapolis, and if so, what do I write my congressmen? Do I say, send a recommendation to both, if one doesn't accept the other will. So I don't know what exactly to ask. I am e-mailing Senator Clinton and Schummer, to get an application form or deadline info, but as I said, I don't know quite know what to ask. Furthermore, should I send the Vice-Presidential letter now, before taking my SATs, or after. Thanks for the help.</p>
<p>NAFTA:
You are jumping the gun a little bit. If you are only a junior, then it is premature to request a nomination from your MOC now. They are evaluating the seniors.</p>
<p>My best advice is to pick up the catalog for USNA and West Point from your guidance office. Read through it carefully, paying careful attention to the deadlines and requirements. If you are really anxious, I believe that the catalog is online and can be accessed from the home page for each respective academy.</p>
<p>Senator Clinton's Website gives details of the process for her office; I would expect the same from Senator Schumer's.</p>
<p>A quick overview of your information does not list any community service. If there is none, get going and get involved. If you already are, please disregard.
How were your PSAT scores? (rhetorical, no need to reply) Summer Seminar candidates for USNA may apply starting in February, but I believe that the PSAT results are used as one of the screeners.
Good Luck
CM</p>
<p>I agree with CM. Assuming your PSAT's were strong, try to attend the summer seminars at both USMA and USNA. That will put you in the admissions pipeline. </p>
<p>Find some leadership opportunities and explore them. Ditto what CM said on community service.</p>
<p>NAFTA:
I believe that you fall in Congressional District 18. Your MOC is Congresswoman Nita Lowey. This is a very competitive district and I agree with the previous postings that you should strengthen your extracurricular activities. You should try and attend Summer Seminar at USNA if possible. You can arrange to spend a day with a cadet at West Point at any time and I would advise doing that as soon as possible. If you express interest in West Point, you will get invited to a number of informational sessions. West Point has liasons in the community that are there to help you through the admissions process. You could also try and connect with the USNA Blue & Gold officer from your area to talk about your interest.</p>
<p>Well thanks for the help. So just so I am clear, I should not send in letters to congressmen until next year, but by then, the academies would have gotten my transcripts.(I send transcripts September, then I write the letters around the same time?)
When I do send my recommendation letters, what do I say about wanting to go to both academies, that part I'm still confused with a bit.</p>
<p>NAFTA
Spring of your junior year is when you can start the application process. Please go to the academy websites and thoroughly read the information. You will find information regarding the process, requirements, timeline and what makes an applicant competitive. You will also find sample nomination letters. The Air Force Academy even generates the letters for you once you fill out the PCQ (pre-candidate questionaire). Are you enjoying wrestling?</p>
<p>NAFTA--
Feb of Jr year--apply to summer seminar -- on line(at the same time you will fill out the Pre-candidate questionnaire on line)--start practicing for your PAE!</p>
<p>In spring of Jr year complete your nomination applications to your members of congress (see their websites for details (each one has different requirements--follow each to the letter). You should send the apps in to them right after your final grades in June so the transcript is current and for the full first 3 yrs of HS. Make sure you arrange to have sat/act scores sent to them also.</p>
<p>If you are selected to go to seminar in June followng Junior year---GO.</p>
<p>By mid-June at the earliest you could receive your official application packet (assuming the academy has deemed you qualified based on psat and pre-candidate questionnaire). If you are on top of everything you can have everything in by mid-July.</p>
<p>Get dodmerb exams completed (academy will set these up for you) and practice for the PAE assuming you didn't take it while at seminar.</p>
<p>Applying for a nomination is a totally separate process than applying to the academy. An application for a nomination is like applying to a separate college in the amount of paperwork and follow up required. Apply separately to each academy you are interested in. Your member of congress will usually ask you to indicate your preference. It is possible to land a nomination for more than one academy but that will depend on the strength of your application, the competitiveness in your state/district, and whether you were able to garner an LOA or not.</p>
<p>Hi, we are from NY also. It is difficult to go to SS from NY due to statewide regents exams in June. MY son got permission to take them in January and prepped for them so he could be free to attend any session. Usually all of the weeks are either prep for exams or exams themselves. He was allowed to take exams in Jan, did well and went to Summer Seminar 1st session. He had to miss the JUnior Prom and some prep for finals when he returned but it worked out for him. Definately go if invited!!! Best Wishes~</p>
<p>Please read the catalog for each academy!!! Everything that is being said here is carefully outline for you to refer to. </p>
<p>One note: Take your SAT/ACT test this spring. It will tell you how competitive you are and leave opportunities to retake it if your scores are not as high as you would like.</p>
<p>Thank you very much for the help, it really clears things up. As for wrestling, I like to wrestle, but it is the most insane sport I have ever played. The workout destroys me physically, and I can barely stand by the end. Still, I will not quit.</p>
<p>NAFTA: Glad to hear you're sticking with wrestling. Our son has wrestled throughout high school and will concur that is a challenging sport both physically and mentally. It hard to believe that 3, 2 minute periods of wrestling can be so exhausting. The sport gives you the opportunity to experience total victory and total defeat. Being pinned on you back in front of your classmates is a humbling experience. Yet you learn that life goes on.</p>
<p>Once you get past the singlet, wrestling is great. Hope you are having a good season.</p>
<p>Wrestling will come in handy. During your first semester of your plebe year, you will take both boxing and wrestling for a grade. They are a requirement. My mid said that the boxing matches were the most exhausting experience. This comes from someone in excellent physical condition.</p>