<p>hi im currently a sophmore and i want to attend the academy. I know what it is like and one of my cousins attended. I currently go to a very competitive private high school which averages about 5 apointments per year. my rank is about 200/410. I was wondering since there is still time if it would be better for me to switch into my public school and have a rank of about 45/250? or stay. All help is appreciated and please dont say im to young to think about this i have been wanting to attend for a long time now and i was also wondering how much does recruitment affect your appointment. Thanks all help is appreciated.</p>
<p>I say stay at your current school. They will see that your school sends a lot of students to college and is a competitive school. Just study and do awesome on those SAT's!</p>
<p>Ditto. Stay put.</p>
<p>I'd consider a "move" if you're sufficiently persuaded that you indeed could become 45 of 210 in the public HS. While I know the powers attempt to assess schools, I do not believe you'll get sufficient "credit" because your school was "tough." If you are persuaded you could become top 20% elsewhere, give it a go, imo. Bottom line: Top 50% @ a school of 410/class, even a "very competitive private HS", would rarely make it. Do what you have to do to improve that. Indeed, you need a plan of assessment and attack.</p>
<p>You should stay where you are. I attend one of the very top private schools in the country and am in the top 60%. However, my SAT scores were 750 for verbal and 730 for math. I was also concerned about my ranking but I received an LOA and two nominations. The academy definitely takes your school into consideration. Make sure you hit your SAT scores out of the park.</p>
<p>First, given that you're only a sophomore, you still have at least 3 semesters to improve your rank. </p>
<p>Second, class rank isn't evaluated in a vacuum. Equally important are the courses you're taking. Are you taking the highest level math you can? Are you taking science courses, English, advanced language, etc.? As you become more senior, are you taking AP and/or IB courses? If you're taking the hard courses and getting Bs, you may be considered at the same level as a peer taking all the easy courses and getting As.</p>
<p>Third, class rank is only one part of your packet. USNA will also consider your GPA, SATs/ACTs, recommendations, activities, etc. </p>
<p>Finally, there is a lot more to a school than what your class rank is or may be. Do you like your current school? Are you academically challenged? Do you enjoy your extra-curricular activities there? Do you have lots of friends there? I don't think I'd ever leave a school where I was doing well and happy to move to another school solely with the intent of improving my class rank.</p>
<p>Lots of good points here.</p>
<p>Yours remains, imo, what must you do to improve your class rank. Changing schools is but one, rather drastic tactic.</p>
<p>If your school is as strong and competitive as you say, I'd immediately call a meeting with your parents, counselor, a key teacher who really knows you ... and address the question. What must you do to improve your rank.</p>
<p>While not on the USNA Admissions Committee, I'd wager a bet that with a few rare exceptions (perhaps Napsters), there are darn few top 50%ers ... coming from a class of 410 ... who are given the kind of consideration some of the counsel above would require. They would be moving on to others among the 14K files on the table.</p>
<p>You've got time, motivation. You need a plan. But tempest fugit. Waste no time on asking our collective or individual opinions. We don't count.</p>
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class rank isn't evaluated in a vacuum. Equally important are the courses you're taking.
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<p>I agree completely with USNA1985. More and more schools are moving away from ranking, because throwing in AP and honors courses, as well as easy electives, can sway the balance of ranks tremendously.</p>
<p>And keep in mind that academics, while very important, is not your entire application. Athletics, extracurricular service such as volunteer work, awards and accomplishments, etc. are also evaluated.</p>
<p>And make sure that your math and English teachers like you. They're going to write your subject evaluations, and you'll want them to write positively. Preferably, you would want to have them know you for at least a year to get a good feel for your academic ability. So if you switch schools, it shouldn't be at the beginning of your senior year.</p>
<p>Also, like Whistle Pig said, if your school is that competitive, talking with your counselor, parents, and teachers about this is the best way to determine what you need to do. Each person trying to get in will have a unique situation with a unique solution. There's no magic formula for getting that appointment.</p>
<p>I wound not minimize the import of class rank and academics. Both are essential and critical. Other measures are necessary but insufficient. It seems the USNA is sorely disinclined to invest in those seen as potentially unable or unwilling to successfully navigate the highly challenging academic program there while doing all the other "stuff." ECs won't trump academics.</p>
<p>And when in doubt about probabilities, don't forget the class profiles. For 2010, about 75 students became mids ... of 10,747 official applicants ... who were 3rd 5th or below. And I'll bet every one of them had something special to bring to the body and extenuating circumstances that resulted in their being bottom half. </p>
<p>It would seem to me the better strategy would be to establish and execute a plan that will get you to that 2nd 5th, then the 1st. Your math and English teachers will love you then! </p>
<p>Waste no time pooh-poohing rank and weighting of grades. It doesn't matter what schools do or we hope for. What matters is what USNA looks for and expects.</p>
<p>You can look at this another way-</p>
<p>If you are going to a school who has successfully placed students at the USNA and THEY have been successful there, the admissions board may look more favorably on future applicants from that particular program as they have been "time tested".....</p>
<p>as opposed to a HS that has not had any appointees to the USNA- thus, an unknown entity to the admissions board....</p>
<p>our son was the first from his HS to gain an appointment....and in his case, it was the offer of foundation sponsorship- which, by the way, was at a school the academy was very familiar with....having not had any candidates from his own HS, there was nothing to benchmark him against...</p>
<p>who knows what will happen in subsequent years....if he continues to do well at USNA, then perhaps the next candidate from his HS will have an easier path through the admissions maze.....the more familiar the admissions board is with a particular program, the better off you are....</p>
<p>so in this case I would stick to where you are, and work your hardest to do well in that environment. Even moving up a few notches in that school's ranking system would be better than walking in cold to another HS...</p>
<p>sort of "what is better.... a "C" at Navy or an "A" at Army..... ;)</p>
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sort of "what is better.... a "C" at Navy or an "A" at Army.....
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<p>Answer: An "A" at Navy.</p>
<p>usa13 - what you should do is contact the BGO who handles YOUR school and frankly ask that person your question. This is the person who knows the local politics as it might apply to you. We well meaning parents are giving opinions based on our experiences, but you might do better to check with a USNA Admissions person, and that first of all is the Blue and Gold Officer. You can ask your high school counsellor if you don't know who this person is. Your BGO will be able to answer you question with real knowledge, not opinions. In our case, our BGO was awesome, in fact IS awesome - he's been a part of our USNA journey from freshman year of high school, when my daughter first contacted him with an interest in USNA. His help and guidance and answers to the dozens of questions we threw at him for 4 years was invaluable. Just this past NOv. he was at USNA and made it a point to check in our Plebe....and I've already asked him to calendar Graduation Day 2010 to join in our celebration!!!</p>
<p>Good luck and God Bless!!</p>
<p>Echoing Peskemom. Good advice! That being said, attending a competitive high school with a strong history for appointments goes a long way.</p>
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Quote:
sort of "what is better.... a "C" at Navy or an "A" at Army..... </p>
<p>Answer: An "A" at Navy.
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<p>LOL!!! So true!!! There goes my analogy down the tubes!!!!</p>
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I wound not minimize the import of class rank and academics. Both are essential and critical.
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<p>I was not bashing rank (being second in a class of twenty sounds great when I can put that down on an application!) or gpa. I was merely stressing the importance of remembering that there are other important academic factors that will influence one's application. I could be the first out of a class of 700 and have a 4.0, but if I were to bomb the SAT and ACT, I doubt that I would be considered scholastically qualified.</p>
<p>Just keep in mind that academics contains many factors besides rank; IMO, rank and GPA should be evaluated in the context of course rigor, both yours and that of the others in your class.</p>
<p>I understand your points and they're good ones. Many factors indeed.</p>
<p>But few of the others will trump 2 when they are sorely out of the "profile." Those are #1 - class rank and #2 - math ACT/SAT scores.</p>
<p>For the others and their rank of import see ... </p>
<p>It's dated, but still clear and insightful.</p>
<p>Again, the challenge and focus here is class rank. It will be extremely difficult for other factors to have any impact whatsoever, in fact may never even be considered/reviewed, with a class rank as noted. That's the issue. </p>
<p>Course rigor is subjective at best, and is usually extemely fuzzy to assess. Anything but precise. Class rank is. It reflects how you compete and stand academically and stand in your peer pool.</p>
<p>And the USNA indicates it is the single most important factor as they assess candidates.</p>