<p>I was just wondering if you had to play a sport to be even considered for a USNA Position. I understand that they stress physical fitness, but can you just be someone who goes out to the gym every week?</p>
<p>They stress leadership and leadership is often demonstrated through sports.</p>
<p>sports definitely offer a great chance to prove yourself, but dont discount other opportunities, ie eagle scout, leader of a club etc, etc</p>
<p>So should I join a sport next year then? I wasn’t really planning to, but I really want to get into the US Naval Academy. I’d have to drop one of my other classes then.</p>
<p>A sport is not required. If you can demonstrate fitness, i.e. pass the test adequately, demonstrable leadership and academic abilities can overcome lack of a sport.
I know of one appointee this year who did not have any sport but had other attributes that indicated a liklihood to succed.</p>
<p>Bill …that’s interesting (re: the appointee) Can you share the profile anymore? Thanks.</p>
<p>Well, I could give you more than one example but take a person who has NO organized sports in his/her resume BUT . . . . has been elected President or section leader of whatever activity they were involved in AND was selected for Boys State and/or President/Vice-President of Student Council AND National Honor Society AND top 20 [not 20%] out of 600+ students AND very high recommendations from everybody who knows them AND top 5% BGO interview [well, he/she was, indeed, excellent] and, well. . . the list goes on. Oh, AND, two nominations from Senator and Congressman.</p>
<p>Is this normative? No. But, if you are an outstanding candidate, it can, indeed, happen. Twice, with some variation, that I am aware of.
Recommendede? Not particularly, but it does happen. If you are an outstanding candidate who has no organized sports, you can be admitted. [Just be honest about whether or not you are OUTSTANDING!]
Remember, only about 10% [or is it 20%] of admitees have no varsity sports. The odds are against it, but it DOES happen.</p>
<p>Thanks! Very interesting and informative!</p>
<p>Has anybody ever been appointed that didn’t play a sport? Yes.</p>
<p>If you look at the profiles of past classes, you will notice that a vast majority of the class played a varsity sport.</p>
<p>Your chances are increased by participating in organized sports. Most successful candidates played sports all four years in high school.</p>
<p>If I were you - yes - I would participate on one of your high school’s sports teams. It will improve your chances.</p>
<p>Play a sport. Beng a member of a team goes far beyond physical fitness. There is a reason why the VAST MAJORITY of appointees were on athletic teams, and while it is not an absolute [Bill cites some cases], it is nevertheless an institution that values athletic abilities.</p>
<p>I can tell you from personal experience that you do not have to play a sport to gain admission to the Naval Academy.</p>
<p>I am a recent appointee to the US Naval Academy Preparatory School. I received my appointment with ZERO sports on my application. However, I stress that you do well on your Candidate Fitness Assessment to prove to the Admissions Board that you are physically in shape.</p>
<p>I did however have many leadership positions in my many different extracurricular activities. I received the principal nomination from my Congressman. My BGO’s also pushed very hard for me to gain admissions to the Academy. While I did not gain a direct appointment, I did receive an appointment to the Prep School, which guarentees acceptance to the Naval Academy after successful completion.</p>
<p>I would go for it as hard as you can. I did not play a single sport, but with everything else I had, I received an appointment that got me one step closer.</p>