<p>I am looking into some feedback on if I am on the right course to acceptance. (I have read the admissions information on the website). To start with, I am a junior in high school, I have over a 4.0 GPA, captain of my varsity tennis team as a junior (unheard of in my school), varsity in javelin and discus, part of many clubs (couple of which I am on the board). All of the classes since freshman year have been honors or AP (except electives that I had no choice) and I have maintained straight As (except for a B+ in honors english freshman year). I have not taken the SAT's yet, but am obviously planning on taking them a multiple of times this year. But I did receive a 640 verbal and 620 on math on the PSAT last year so it was not the official PSAT (shocking cause I'm a math and science person)</p>
<p>My AP courses this year are: AP Biology, AP English, and AP History. Next year I am hoping to take AP English, AP Spanish, AP Calculus BC, and AP Chemistry, but it depends on scheduling cause it is really bad in my school. For example, I was stuck with taking Child Development this year. It makes me feel like I'm being punished for taking honors courses.</p>
<p>I have a nephew at the Academy, a Firstie I think they are called… Anyway, I have read up a lot on this and can say this:</p>
<ul>
<li>SAT Math is far more important than Verbal to the Academy. The Navy needs technically trained officers.</li>
<li>Leadership: captain of a sports team is pretty good, but this is not a strong area for you from what you write. What have you shown leadership in besides being great at tennis? Have you ever held a job where others reported to you? Have you ever started a charity or EC where others reported to you?</li>
<li>Why Navy? This one is the most important. Is this something you want, or something your parents are pushing you to do? Why do you want it? What have you done to really understand what an officer’s life is like?<br></li>
<li>If you take any medications currently, make sure you research whether these are acceptable for midshipmen. If not, then you’ll have to decide if you can succeed without them. Things that might seem quite manageable to civilians are not so to the military: ADHD medication, arthritis medication, asthma medication, depression medication, and I’m sure many more. If you’ve ever been diagnosed with heart problems, that’s a red flag too, even if it was ten years ago. There is an appeal process, but right now, Junior Year, you need to see if there is any drug you can stop taking safely now… that is, discuss with your physician to see if you can manage whatever it is without drugs.</li>
</ul>
<p>The Academy is not looking for Brilliant Academically + OK leadership + iffy Physical Fitness. It is looking for a balance of the three, unlike some other elite colleges. Each of the three areas needs to be equally strong, and being world class in just one area does not make up for being weak in another area. This comes from 200 years of seeing what combination of qualities makes for the best Officer.</p>
<p>As far as tennis captain, I pretty much lead the team. Not just because I am the best tennis player in the school, but I also pretty much run the practices, the motivation, the fitness, and the strategy for each match. The coach of the team comes to me to ask about line up, drills, etc. I have had two jobs: 1. tutoring at my temple 2. tennis instructor. I do not have any medications that I am dependent on nor have I ever been diagnosed with a heart condition of any kind (thank G-d). This is definitely not something my parents are pushing me to do, if not the opposite. I want to join the service academy because I want to join something that is bigger than me. I have taken “advantage” of the right of freedom for 16 and a half years. I want to reverse the role and be the one protecting this right for past, current, and future and generations. I have done a lot of research on the different academies, and I know that Navy is what I will be the happiest serving under. I will obviously never understand what is like until I hopefully take my oath on Induction Day and go through the academy.</p>