<p>Under what criterion is one considered "scholastically qualified"? thanks</p>
<p>If your academic score meets the minimum standards set by the academy. SAT/ACT + GPA/Class Rank is what they are looking at mostly, along with the classes you took… which can make up for a lower GPA(Example: All AP/IB classes for junior year, you get a 3.2…)</p>
<p>does each academy have different standards each year?</p>
<p>The objective behind the academic qualification process is to determine if the candidate can be successful in the demanding academic environment that West Point offers. This evaluation is both objective and subjective. The objective evaluation is based on two key factors; high school rank in class, and performance on standardized academic tests (SAT or ACT). The subjective evaluation considers the candidate’s high school grades and curriculum, the type and size of the school and, if applicable, college performance.</p>
<p>“does each academy have different standards each year?”</p>
<p>The qualification standards do not usually change from year to year. Remember that “academic qualification” means that a candidate meets the minimum academic standards; whether a candidate is accepted or not usually depends on how strong his/her file is in relation to the candidates he/she is competing against.</p>
<p>It’s not so much about them being standard. Each candidate gets “X” amount of points for each part of their application depending on their score. I.e. (I’m making up numbers here so don’t freak out); if you have a 3.5gpa maybe you get 100 points. A 3.75 gets 150 points. Now, you add those points to all your other points and you get your total. Total academically and each of the other areas they score. You might have a total of 800 points for academics. 300 points for leadership. And so on. It is your total points; (The total person) that matters. You are then compared to the other applicants. Each academy has the same basics, but different amount of candidates with each candidate having different strengths. The 4.0gpa students with all AP/IB classes and only academics going for them, can be evened out somewhat by a 3.75gpa student who plays varsity sports, selected for boys/girls state, class president. It’s a total point thing.</p>
<p>Christcorp: I’m guessing you talking about the Whole Candidate Score evaluation process rather than the academic qualification process? There is a standard that one has to meet to be academically qualified and that does not usually change from year to year. All candidates must be academically, physically and medically qualified (triple qualified) to be eligible to compete for an appointment. To receive an appointment, most candidates compete based on the Whole Candidate Score evaluation.</p>
<p>Correct Ann. I guess I was “assuming” (Never a good thing; lol!) that a person with a 2.0gpa isn’t applying to the academy. I was referring to the total package. The academic section does have some minimum; I.e. Students who score below 580 verbal and 560 math on the SAT 1 and below 24 English/reading and 25 math/science reasoning on the ACT normally will not be competitive for an appointment. (From the Air Force Academy; I assume the other services are the same or similar). It’s also mentions that candidates must rank in the top 40 percent of their high school class. However, the average of recent entering classes is the top three percent. There are obviously so exceptions. 3% of cadets had a verbal SAT score under 500. 1% had a math score under 500. </p>
<p>I guess, what I’m trying to say, is that being academically qualified is probably the one misleading area of entering the academies. If you look at the profile of the most recent class that entered West Point; Class of 2011 [USMA</a> Admissions: More Info: Class Profile: 2008](<a href=“http://admissions.usma.edu/MoreInfo/classprofile.cfm]USMA”>http://admissions.usma.edu/MoreInfo/classprofile.cfm) ; You will see that the majority of cadets have a much higer score than the minimum qualifying requirements. I.e. More than half of the cadets were in the National Honor Society. That alone requires a gpa that is generally higher than the qualification requirements. Basically; being “Qualified” and “Getting an Appointment” are 2 different things.</p>
<p>Wow 1%, so less than 12 kids had a math score under 500, I wonder if they are from the international side of the house. </p>
<p>I am a little confised you stated that recent classes average top 3%, but more than half are NHS. To be in NHS at our school you need a 3.6 uw, thus half are not at that gpa, which would def. not put them in the top 3% seems like a dichotomy to me</p>
<p>“I guess I was “assuming” (Never a good thing; lol!) that a person with a 2.0gpa isn’t applying to the academy”</p>
<p>USMA does get applicants who are not academically qualified. Some get offered the prep school if they have other outstanding qualities. I know that there is one candidate on this forum who has a principal nomination but is not academically qualified (English is his second language and he is working hard to get his verbal SAT score up).</p>
<p>“being “Qualified” and “Getting an Appointment” are 2 different things”</p>
<p>Agreed - being qualified is a minimum requirement that must be met before a candidate can compete for an appointment. Best advice for candidates is: never strive for minimums (or what you think is good enough), always “do your best”.</p>
<p>Our school does NHS based on average: must be 94%. My son w/ a 3.67 did not qualify.</p>
<p>Sorry bullet. I’m using data from both the Air Force and Army. In the air force academy selection scoring page [Air</a> Force Academy - Selection Scoring](<a href=“http://academyadmissions.com/admissions/selection/scoring.php]Air”>http://academyadmissions.com/admissions/selection/scoring.php) it says; “Generally, candidates must rank in the top 40 percent of their high school class. However, the average of recent entering classes is the top three percent”.</p>
<p>From the army’s recent class stats; that I posted above; it states that out of 1305 entering cadets into West Point, 785 were in the National Honor Society.</p>
<p>I should have quoted the sources individually. My bad. I was using both because the question was asked if the different academies were the same. Basically, they have the same standards.</p>
<p>I got this from admissions.usafa. for the class of 2011, I am only answering this for the other acad scolastic question, this is how their candidates ranked</p>
<p>Top Tenth
51%
Top Fifth
75%
Top Quarter
83% </p>
<p>Hope that helps</p>
<p>How long from completion of file and sending it all in, to hearing of Triple Q’ed and so on? Does anyone know of a rough time frame?</p>
<p>I know the minimum verbal SAT score for West Point is 550. Don’t ask me how I know :)</p>
<p>Here’s WP class profile for 2010</p>
<p>College Board Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) Scores*
Range Verbal Math
700-800 21% 24%
600-699 46% 55%
500-599 30% 20%
400-499 3% 1%
300-399 0% 0%
Mean 630 647</p>
<p>Hope that helps</p>
<p>And for the class of 2011 it’s as follows:</p>
<p>Range Verbal Math
700-800 19% 22%
600-699 50% 54%
500-599 28% 23%
400-499 3% 1%
300-399 0% 0%
Mean 631 646</p>