USMA Chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Military Academy - West Point
1

Hi guys! I was wondering if someone could help me out with some insight about what my chances of receiving an appointment to any of the service academies (pref. USMA or USNA) would be. I’m looking into a career in medicine but I know that some of the academies do not allow their students to go to medical school until after they have completed their service. I’ve listed my credentials below:

Full IB Diploma Candidate
9th grade classes: IB World History 2, IB Algebra 2, IB Biology, IB English, IB French 3, IB Art/IB Technology,and IB Gym/Health. I also took a dual-enrollment economics class over the summer.
10th grade classes: IB Chemistry, IB Art, IB English, IB Extended Math, IB French 4, IB Gym/Health, IB Comparative Government
11th grade classes (current): IB Psychology, IB Biology SL, IB Mathematics SL, IB English, IB History of the Americas, IB Theory of Knowledge,IB French 5, and honors art 4
12th grade classes: AP Physics, IB Biology HL, AP Statistics, IB English, IB World Topics, IB Theory of Knowledge, IB French 6, and honors art 5. I test out of math this year so I am unable to take any other IB math courses.

GPA: Unweighted=3.7, Weighted:4.8
Class Rank: 19/400

ECs:
-Hospital Junior Volunteer Programs: every summer since freshmen year
-Keyettes Club: Member
-Model UN: President, former chief of staff and vice president,secretary-general of my school’s conference, active member since freshmen year, won several awards (including best delegate), created training programs for novice delegates, mentored novice delegates, created conference for my school
-Doctors of Tomorrow: secretary
-Elected IB Class Representative
-Nationally Certified EMT: currently a member of a volunteer squad (since sophomore year)
-Varsity Cross Country: assistant captain
-NHS: member
-French NHS: public relations officer
-Science NHS: member
-Art NHS: member
-Girl’s State ( I haven’t gone yet but I hope to hold a position there)
-UVA Leadership on the Lawn Participant
-UVA Mini-medical School Participant

Jobs:
-Private academic tutor

SAT/ACT:
SAT: 1800 (retaking in 2 weeks)

Thank you so much!!

2

I’d say there is a disconnect between your career goals and an academy education. It is true that the top 3 percent or so of each academy class has the chance to go to med school. The top 3 percent of the class are basically brilliant though and the probability that you would get into the academy and end up at the top of your class is pretty low. An example would be one of my classmates Mark Martins. He graduated first in his class and was a Rhodes Scholar. An 1800 SAT is a good score and nothing to be ashamed of. Your achievements thus far are very solid in the medical field. There are much easier ways to get to med school

3

My boyfriend attends USMA currently and he has always told me that if you know for sure that you want to go to med school, the academies probably aren’t the best way to go. You have a better shot civilian. If you’re doing it for money purposes, look into ROTC.

4

The only reason to attend a service academy is because you want to serve as an officer in one of our armed forces. Any other reason you put forth will not go over well with either the nomination or admission committees; they try to ferret out candidates who are applying for the wrong reasons. You also need to take a hard look at the potential for the ultimate sacrifice. Are you willing to make it? Have you thought deeply about what it means to serve and what may be required of you? Where is your heart in this matter? The academies are not a way to free education; they are a way to highly educate those who are committed to serve through leadership. If that isn’t the message that rings true in your application, you should pursue other schools.