<p>A mid once told me that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I am triple qualified and got my nom on christmas day. Tomorrow I am sending in last semester's transcript as well as a copy of my report card to USNA Admissions. I am going to call them as a heads up, but can you verbally tell them over the phone that you are joining a new sport? I just joined pole vaulting, and I am just wondering if this would help my whole person score or perhaps just have them open my file again?</p>
<p>Just trying to keep the lines of communication open,</p>
<p>Second, I am not sure adding pole vaulting at this point will make or break your admission chances, especially as you said, you are "new" and, as of now, have not earned anything, including a season under your belt. Accomplish something in the sport and it might help, but it does not sound like you are there yet.</p>
<p>Third- if you are going to start pole jumping, just make sure you don't injure yourself in the process in such a way that in the event of an appointment, you are unable to report in "healthy." I am not so sure "now" is the time to take up a new sport.</p>
<p>But if you must-
What you can do is give your BGO a "heads up"- they can add that to your "student notes" that will be seen by the admissions office, without you having to call. </p>
<p>OR-
add a message into the info you are sending the academy anyway- (tuck it in with your transcript)</p>
<p>Keep the lines of communicaiton open with your BGO- he/she is your best representative of the admissions dept.</p>
<p>If you are really set on trying to take up pole vaulting, make sure that you have a certified coach, and that the pit you are using is also certified. Even a good quality pit can be installed improperly to the point of being very dangerous. There are lots of events you can do in T&F besides this one. My Plebe tried pole vaulting for a while, because she wanted to do track and field, until she realized just how easily one can be seriously injured. In just a year, under the supervision of a collegiate coach whose specialty is jumping, we saw numerous occasions where someone missed severe injury by only a few inches. Is this event really worth that much?</p>
<p>With all due respect, mids aren't necessarily the best source for what it takes to get into USNA. Each mid typically only knows what was successful for him or her, not what the other 1000+ successful candidates in the class may or may not have done. </p>
<p>IF you're taking up pole vaulting b/c it's a sport that really interests you and you want to pursue long-term, then do as the above say and ensure you have a good coach and good equipment. If you're doing it just to look better to USNA, forget it. One sport more or less at this point in the process will make no difference. If you're doing it just to have a reason to write/call CGO (to be a squeaky wheel), definitely a bad idea. </p>
<p>As a general matter (not directly related to the OP), I believe people in high school should engage in the activities they like. Other than doing well academically, do NOT gear your every waking moment to getting into a SA. Obviously, there are some things you may want to do to improve your odds of admission. But if your passion in life is music or art or chess or something else, don't ignore that b/c it won't necessarily help you with a SA. There are many reasons I say this, not the least of which is personal satisfaction in life.</p>
<p>My coach is certified (it's the law in TX) and learned the craft from another coach who has trained olympic medalling pole vaulters. I will be as safe as possible and check the horseplay at the door. Our pit is bigger than just about everybody elses in the area and is well secured to the ground (padded steel bolts into reinforced subterranean concrete). Thanks for the advice,</p>