<p>This whole thread makes no sense, Mr. S. Why, if this is what you so dearly want, would you "cancel your nominations" or "not have your school send transcripts"? Keep walking through the doors while they are open...but for Pete's sake, do not close them yourself. I question your committment if you are so easily compelled to retreat. Additionally, I wonder about whether you have what it takes to lead others into war. Our BGO told my son the purpose of the academy is to develop war fighters. War fighters persevere, not quit. It's time to put on your "big girl panties," to coin a phrase.</p>
<p>
[quote]
USNA and USMMA are the only 2 schools in the United States that have a minimum cut off for the SATs, and will NOT allow you to pass the Candidate Questionnaire.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This statement is false. Completely false. It is made based on your own personal experience and from "what other people" have told you.</p>
<p>I personally have known kids who got much lower SATs from what you are claiming is the minimum to get a candidate number and have receieved candidate numbers - one of such individuals is at USNA now.</p>
<p>Each application is considered carefully by admissions where they look at scholastic achievement, demonstrated leadership and athletics. If you are weak in one of those areas then you better be really strong in another.</p>
<p>Take it from a third mom in a row here - (thanks djfrro and mom3boys!)
stop whining and complaining. Present yourself, if you think your package is weak then speak directly with an academy admissions officer. These Officers are very helpful and can look at your package and give you good advice on making it stronger.</p>
<p>If/when you get to an academy - you will learn basic responses the very first day (hour?) and one of those will be "No Excuses, Sir/Ma'am".
Start practicing now.</p>
<p>One more thing - the route to a service academy is not always a direct one.</p>
<p>While some candidates get appointment early in their senior year of high school - that is really not a representation of the class.
Many kids get there indirectly - on their second or even third try. How many times you try is up to you.
On I-Day / R-Day believe me when I tell you no one will care if you got an LOA, early appointment or it is your third try. All plebes are equal in the eyes of the cadre -</p>
<p>To put things in perspective, one of the young men my son talks about and looks up to is not an upperclassmen; he’s a fellow Plebe. Prior service Marine, served in Iraq, wanted to attend the Naval Academy. The path he took to get there is something you may want to think about. From the Marines, he made his way to the Citadel, spent a year there, applied to the Academy again and was accepted into NAPS and finally this year became a member of 2011. Counting Marine basic, he will have experienced a “Plebe year” 4 times to get his commission. I’ve never met this young man but I really doubt he spent much time worrying about what part of the path he chose to pursue was unfair.</p>
<p>^^^^ excellent, excellent post, rjrzoom.</p>
<p>My son has three 'priors', all with combat service in either Iraq and/or Afghanistan, out of forty plebes in his company. I have had the honor and pleasure of meeting two of them together with their parents during PPW, and they are true leaders. </p>
<p>All three of these priors took a circuitous path to the Naval Academy which involved many 'hoops' to jump through - and they are not complaining.</p>
<p>Double amen, GoNavy n rjr!</p>
<p>Mr. S.: Enough with the griping, already.</p>
<p>The academies are not the only schools with SAT/ACT cutoffs. Other schools will allow you to spend your application $$, but they chuck your app into the circular file if your scores aren't good enough. The SAs are honest with you up front, giving you a clear idea of how high the bar is, and giving you lots of opportunities to keep trying. Personally, I prefer the honest approach.</p>
<p>Quote: This statement is false. Completely false. It is made based on your own personal experience and from "what other people" have told you.</p>
<p>I personally have known kids who got much lower SATs from what you are claiming is the minimum to get a candidate number and have receieved candidate numbers - one of such individuals is at USNA now.</p>
<p>Each application is considered carefully by admissions where they look at scholastic achievement, demonstrated leadership and athletics. If you are weak in one of those areas then you better be really strong in another.</p>
<hr>
<p>Is it possible that he got a waiver? </p>
<p>Naval</a> Accadamy Letter</p>
<p>Does USNA still administer minimum SAT scores? Why don't they reflect this policy on their website?</p>
<p>Mr Sinister -
The cases to which I am referring happened in 2005 and 2006.
This letter is 5 1/2 years old. IF that letter is bonafide and this did happen the way you suggest - I am going to tell you they have changed their ways.</p>
<p>MS- (noting the letter is dated several years ago)- </p>
<p>From my understanding, the peliminary application asks for both SAT/ACT scores AND class rank, both of which are used to screen for potential candidates. Class rank is heavily weighted in this process, as it is in determining the "whole person" score when deemed an official candidate. </p>
<p>What the College Board advises against is using the SAT/ACT score(s) as the SOLE determinant of admission/exclusion criteria. As the USNA uses class rank as a "higher order" criteria, the SAT is not a sole determinant, but rather an additional factor to consider.</p>
<p>Another point to note:</p>
<p><a href="%5Burl%5Dhttp://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/research/RDGuideUseCBTest020729.pdf%5B/url%5D">quote</a><br>
5.6 guard against using minimum test scores unless used in conjunction with other information such as secondary school performance and unless properly validated. An exception to this guideline is that institutions may establish, based on emperical data, specific score levels that reflect desired skill competencies, such as English language proficiency.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The USNA tabulates and reports on the performance of each grade- including the performance of specific groups (minority, gender, athletes). No doubt this emperical data helps to identify those factors that aid in predicting a successful outcome (ie: graduation) at the time one applies. As for screening out candidates "too early" in the process (assuming they are referring to minority and/or disadvantaged groups), USNA has been upfront in it's desire to increase minority enrollment, with measures taken to facilitate meeting desired levels in the admission process. </p>
<p>While one might agree/disagree with the merits of using SATs as one factor in the screening process, the reality is that a certain academic proficiency is needed to be successful in taking the core classes at USNA- including math, science and english. I would argue that the majority of schools have a range of SAT scores that are deemed in range of what is desired / needed by it's student body- most schools post those ranges right on the college board website. While "minimum" scores are not posted, it would seem reasonable to assume those falling far outside the range are "less competetive" in terms of gaining an offer of admission then those within the range. </p>
<p>There are exceptions to everything, and no doubt exceptions to this as well.<br>
The bottom line is that SAT scores do factor in- along with a whole host of other things. For me, better to know the target that has to be hit then shooting in the dark- gives you something to aim for!</p>
<p>MS,</p>
<p>First, I understand your frustration, however, I would like to ask what u r doing to overcome this obstacle?<br>
Second, I believe the school of thought "not a good test taker" will not assist anyone in the future. The SA's are known to be boilmakers. What if you did get a waiver for the SAT score, how will u perform against the others in math classes, when they scored higher than u. REMEMBER ACAD HAS ACAD BOARDS. The SAT is national, in other words, this is an objective test, not subjective. I would understand the fight for the written, but 2+2=4 and that is what the test is doing.
Third, if I am right u r overseas, thus, you should have a pres. nom. I believe u brought this subj. up already. Each academy takes 100 pres. U maybe qual. for a nom, but it will not help u due to candidate quals. 2nd. u spoke of MOC's not caring about u (out of sight out of mind), This is not true, 1 friend was overseas and received noms for USNA and USAFA, currently at USNA.<br>
Next, many waivers that are given to lower scored SAT's were given waivers due to sports...i.e. varsity football players who won state champs and were recruited...is this fair I don't know, however, that is the system.
Finally, u should ask yourself am I currently acting like an officer? Will u always be antagonistic against the sytem when it does not agree with you? If u answer yes, you will hate the military. From experience, this is an example of how life will be....put your hand on your shoulder as the other person u are fighting against will too...flip your hand over who ever has the higher rank WINS!!! Get to know this statement RHIP (rank has its priviledges).
Also, I do agree with another post that said the acads are very aware of this site. If u think they can't figure out who u r wrong. Look at all of your posts, they are not positive, yet you state you are in the active process of seeking an appointment from overseas. Your area directors can quickly figure out who has a math SAT of 560, afterall, how many overseas students do you think have that exact score?
I really wish u the best, but you need to get on board and overcome the problem or stop blaming the system.</p>
<p>Looking at the class profile for 2010:
<a href="http://www.usna.edu/admissions/documents/PlebeClassProfileClass2010.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.usna.edu/admissions/documents/PlebeClassProfileClass2010.pdf</a> </p>
<p>SAT Score Ranges:</p>
<p>700-800 (31-36) ..............................(Verbal) 23% (Math)30%
600-699 (26-30) .............................. 46% 54%
<600 (<26) ...................................... 31% 16%</p>
<p>here is the link to the 2011 stats...</p>
<p>with a little surfing, you can find stats for several years back.... 2000 and beyond... while there there have been some exceptions, statistically most scores fall around these ranges, with a slight shift to the right!</p>