<p>I'm an E-6 (Petty Officer First Class) in Sea Cadets here in Rochester, NY. I'll easily make Chief Petty Officer before I graduate high school. I advanced really quickly and have held a leadership position for the past three years. I've attended 7 two week trainings so far and will be attending more in the coming months. In the USNA class profile, it says that only 2% of the current mids are former Sea Cadets. Is that two percent a good thing or a bad thing (statistically speaking and realistically)?</p>
<p>I don't have any high school sports but my grades are good (3.85 GPA). I'm currently a junior in high school and I have plenty of volunteer experience as well as work experience (Best Buy).</p>
<p>No sports means no appointment. Sorry, but there it is.</p>
<p>Since you are a junior, you need to get on as many sports teams as you can RIGHT NOW. I only did junior and senior year, and got in, but I llettered in two of them, and played an intramural third.</p>
<p>As for the Sea Cadets, I think the reason that the percentage is so low is because Sea Cadets are not exactly everywhere. Take their small numbers, add the highly selective appointment process, and those Sea Cadet kids who choose simply not to apply, and you end up with a small number.</p>
<p>Sea Cadets will be seen as a good thing, regardless. However, you MUST have sports to be considered.</p>
<p>ETA: I'm wondering if USNA would take into account the fact one was working after school (vice sports), but only if they could show the reason WHY. Extra money wouldn't count, but perhaps the fact they were helping a single parent financially or something?</p>
<p>I dunno. Wouldn't count on that for a crutch, though...</p>
<p>"No sports means no appointment. Sorry, but there it is."</p>
<p>[<em>Swillz sheepishly raises his hand</em>]
Uh... I haven't been in a varsity sport, and I received an appointment. </p>
<p>Granted, I do play Ultimate (frisbee) on a very competitive team, but it didn't fit anywhere in the sports category of the online application (I could only put it in the comments section.)</p>
<p>
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Uh... I haven't been in a varsity sport, and I received an appointment.
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</p>
<p>1) Doesn't have to be varsity.</p>
<p>2) You had a sport (which was played at the Academy in my day. I wonder if it still is?)</p>
<p>3) I wonder what the rest of your profile looks like? Must be damned impressive! :)</p>
<p>Everything I have ever seen or heard about the admissions process made sports as close to mandatory as makes no difference. They want to see a physical activity and one with leadership. Doesn't have to be the same thing. You can do karate classes on the side (an individual sport) and be the class president, and that would very well satisfy both.</p>
<p>As to which takes priority, the Academy meansures based upon participation, not attendance. If you choose one over the other every now and then, they won't care. They're not going to ask for your attendance records.</p>
<p>Strong applicant = all about the number of POINTS you accrue
Sports and lettering not a necessity but the question could come up, "Why not?"
The sports factor is as much about "team building skills, perseverance, and dedication" as it is about physical fitness. Without sports you definitely will be behind the curve when compared to your fellow Midshipmen.
Your reasons for not participating should be explained in an essay. Why did you chose work over sports? (family need?, etc.)
Zaphod is correct, Sea Cadets are a great opportunity, it's just that this organization is not found all around the country.
IMO, strong activities: Eagle Scout/Gold Award, Boy/Girl's Nation, Varsity Sports/Letters/Leadership, Class Officer, School Government, MUN/Debate.
Consistency is the key...not hopping from one activity to another. Work your way up (JV, to Varsity, to Co-Capt, to Capt...etc)</p>
<p>Cadetmon, thanks for that clarification. Could you describe where academic achievements fit into the point system? Specifically, AP classes, SAT scores and whatever else is important. Are NHS and National Merit status a consideration? Thank you.</p>
<p>hey thanks for all the stuff with the sports. I just figured that a job + community service + leadership + Sea Cadets would fill that void. But even if they did, it'd still be a gamble. And an appointment to USNA is definitely a pretty big gamble.</p>
<p>Any sports you would recommend?</p>
<p>Spring sports for my junior year have already started. Should I try to find some random team to get on for this summer or should I just suffice with filling my senior year (three seasons) with sports?</p>
<p>Do you have any community teams? for example like some YMCA's have like just recreational basketball stuff like that, if you cant make a high school team that is always an option. Also, do you have xc or track or something like that at your school? at my high school if you could run...not run fast..just run..period..you could make the team. Also, there are such things as club swim teams, club watch polo, club volleyball, etc. --most of these club teams you actually pay to be on, so you will make the team.. just a suggestion</p>
<p>I started Sea Cadets when I was 15 and ended up with a few leadership positions before I left.
I have never joined a varisity, intramural, community, or club sport EVER in elementary, middle or high school. That worried me the most about my application to SS(<--rejected) and the academy. I even tried out for indoor soccer my senior year but that didn't work out. I felt Sea Cadets helped me the most plus my other non athletic activities in school.
I did had to go to Naps first though.</p>
<p>No sports means no appointment. Sorry, but there it is.
Wrong.</p>
<p>I had no organized high school sports. I am here and I am doing fine.</p>
<p>In fact, if I remember correctly, the points are weighted approximately 70% to academics; about 20% to extra-curricular, leadership, and only about 10% to sports.</p>
<p>The Academy itself acknowledges that less than 100% of students were involved in varsity sports.
Definitely a hill to climb without sports, but if you are good enough otherwise, it can be done.</p>
<p>Sorry, but there it is. . .
Back to studying</p>
<p>I never specified that sports had to be varsity.</p>
<p>No matter how you slice it,iIf you have no sports at all, you are at a distinct disadvantage. </p>
<p>Having a sport (varsity or otherwise) used to be as important as having good grades. I imagine that the qualifications one has to have to overcome a lack of sports have to be very VERY impressive, indeed. Perhaps more impressive than the average applicant can manage.</p>
<p>So do yourself a favor and do a sport or two. It'll be easier than explaining why you didn't.</p>
<p>91% of the 09 USNA class were in Varsity sports and 85% of the mids had letters. Although sports may not be the most important thing in my application, I can definitely see how a lack of sports would leave me with a huge hole in my application. I'll definitely work on whatever I can.</p>
<p>It says that people will receive letters of assurance as early as September of their senior year. However, at that point in time, I won't be in any sports. I can only say, "I'm doing sports my senior year".</p>
<p>usnso: any chance of joing a summer league in a sport that holds your interest? summer sports camps? just something to get you started- the USNA has great summer sport camps- just a thought</p>
<p>Just a thought - in the sea cadets, do you race your boats at all? Whatever variety, it is big in Annapolis, from crew to J-24s to power squadron. And it's a "sport."</p>
<p>IMHO it is not necessarily completely about the sport. As an educator, I would think that the time involved for sports practices, meets, games, tournaments would seriously infringe on your study time. Therefore, a stellar GPA when committing x hours a week to a sport (or any extra curriculur activity) would prove time management skills, ability to prioritize, and to make hard choices (academic events vs. athletic events). These are traits which are highly prized at service academies. </p>
<p>Participation in sports, clubs, and the like, along with a good GPA, shows an excellent balance of brains, time management, physical activity/fitness, leadership, teamwork, dedication, communication, and self-discipline.</p>
<p>The thing is, sports is the one that gives pointers to ALL of those traits simultaneously, which is why they are sought after. Not having them puts you at a disadvantage because you have to EXPLAIN (rather than it being more self-evident) that you meet the criteria above.</p>
<p>I think some of the formulas have been adjusted somewhat since 2003 but not significantly.</p>
<p>I did not have to explain why I was not in sports. I was asked whether or not I felt I could keep up physically; I explained how I swam at home regularly, was involved in Frisbee golf [as was mentioned], and felt I could keep up.</p>
<p>Its a whole person index. You have other strengths, those are recognized. I think anytime you plug something in at the last moment, sports in the senior year when you haven't done any the whole rest of the time, it will be recognized for what you are doing. Its a consistent record of achievement, leadership, etc. that is counted. You are an exceptional person--on the whole--and any one deficiency won't matter.</p>