USNA Hopefull

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
1

<p>I have always wanted to attend the naval academy. I am not sure however if the academy would ever accept me. </p>

<p>MY BACKGROUND</p>

<p>Male Caucasian, currently a junior in high school. US Citizen, born and raised.</p>

<p>I would be First generation college student. Raised by my mother and stepfather.<br>
Started out in school with a major learning disability, I was almost 9 years old before I learned how to read. I have had to struggle in school all of my life, just to get by. I am a small guy at 5'6 and 155 lbs, but that does not seem to stop me. I am sitting in the top 20% of my class a the moment, and planning on moving up. </p>

<p>No matter what happens I will attend a 4 year college and enlist in the United States Marine Corp. I love History, so I would like to major in History and minor in math. </p>

<p>ACADEMIC</p>

<p>90.1235 total grade point average going into my Jr. year.
Rank: Top 20% out of 300</p>

<p>Jr classes consist of:</p>

<p>History Dual Credit 1301
Chemistry (Took Pre AP and Biology fresh & soph year taking Physics senior year)
Algebra II (Took Algebra I & Geometry fresh & soph year taking Pre Cal senior year)
English III
Spanish II</p>

<p>Required:
Computer Course
Athletics</p>

<p>I have not taken the SAT or ACT yet, but will take it next month. </p>

<p>EXTRA CURRICULAR</p>

<p>Varsity Power lifting
Varsity Football
Varsity Track
Spanish Club
FCA Club
Usher at Church
Volunteer Firefighter
JuJitsu</p>

<p>WORK</p>

<p>I currently work on the weekend as a ranch hand. I have held a job since I was 14 years of age. </p>

<p>Weekends</p>

<p>I have custody of my biological grandmother. She was abandoned by my biological father and she has alzheimers. My mother assists me in all health decisions concerning her. when I have free time I spend it at the nursing home where she is a resident. </p>

<p>I would appreciate all truthful answers. Thank you in advance for your help!</p>

2

<p>You have a compelling story and good stats — so far. Do well on your SATs, keep the grades up and get some leadership positions in you EC’s (team captain etc.) and I think you have as good a shot as anyone. Math might be a little low but probably not, what do I know. </p>

<p>You should really try to go to summer seminar - applications open 1 Feb (or there about).</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

3

<p>Thank you for taking the time to answer. I appreciate it!</p>

4

<p>Everything looks great on the stats. The most common limiting factor every year are students who listen to folks who tell them they can’t do it and don’t apply or don’t complete the application. Take the PSAT and ACT/SAT. Apply for Summer Seminar,even if you think you can’t attend or can’ afford it. Read everything you can about the schools of interest [Service</a> Academy Admissions - Welcome](<a href=“http://www.toughestschoolsintheworld.com/]Service”>http://www.toughestschoolsintheworld.com/) and find websites that support those schools.
I was in similar shoes to you a few years back (minus your outstanding grades) and still managed to get accepted at USNA.
YOU CAN DO IT!</p>

5

<p>Thank you!!! for the encouraging words.</p>

6

<p>den, you’ve a very moving story, imo, exposing some exceptional challenges you’ve addressed. Well done! Your case is compelling, imo. Pursue USNA and other attractive options. Were I a betting dude, I’m betting you’re gonna be one heckuva leader …wherever you land. Here’s to your dreams. May they come true.</p>

7

<p>Thank you very much for your kind words. I apologize, I did not post a small insight into my life for sympathy. I just refuse not to face my past, because my past is what is making me the man I am becoming. I thank God for my mom and dad (that raised me), and refuse to give up. Thank you again! I sincerely appreciate it.</p>

8

<p>Den, I want to add my encouragement to the others who have posted theirs. Not clear on how a minor could have custody of an elderly person, but good for you for stepping up. RE: your comment about being small, you may find it an advantage. My son, in his 2/C year @ USNA, is unusually tall, and feels as if the smaller guys have an advantage in PRT (also in fitting into Bancroft beds). Like you, he hopes to go USMC, and the less you have to haul on pull-ups, the better. </p>

<p>Also: I love the ranch-hand job! My son had an unusual job in high school (a piano mover), which seemed to intrigue his BGO during his interview, as well as a civic group that gave him an award. You’re a great package. Keep it up. Good luck.</p>

9

<p>I understand your confusion I was also very confused. I did not know my grandmother until last year 4 weeks before my 17th birthday. I was given the choice of taking responsiblity for her or letting her become a ward of the state. I would not want to be a ward of the state so the choice was easy, which I am sure it would be for most people, and she has taught me more about life than just about anyone. This is not a hardship, this was a blessing to me, just what I needed at the time. :)</p>

<p>I noticed I hit 1992 for my birthday I was born in 1991. I am 17 and will turn 18 in November, I was held back in the first grade. I will graduate high school 6 months after my 19 birthday. I guess I put the thing about being small becuase I was not sure if it mattered or not. I get told a lot by coaches that I am to small to play this or that. :slight_smile: I am comfortable in my skin, don’t get me wrong I would love to grow a few inches, but I am stuck with what God gave me. Thank you for your encouragement. I really think I posted wrong though, I am starting to feel like a charity case, which is not the case at all. </p>

<p>Thank you again! I hope I will be blessed enough to meet your son one day.</p>

10

<p>STUDY for that SAT/ACT. Take and retake. Get the best scores you possibly can!</p>

<p>The rest looks ok. The short answer to “How do I stack up?” is always IT DEPENDS. On the competition that year, the competition in your Congressional District, etc.</p>

<p>Do all you can to make your package the strongest possible. In your case, currently, that means getting the most points squeezed out of SAT/ACT as possible. My son took them three times, both of them, during his junior year. And maybe try to get that GPA up some more. </p>

<p>Where do you live? Some areas are categorized as “under represented” which may make getting an appt a bit easier.</p>

11

<p>On the Coast in Texas </p>

<p>I just looked at the stats for the 2012 class entering USNA… </p>

<p>Applicants and Nominees
Applicants (includes nominees)… 10,960
Number of applicants with an
official nomination… 3,838
Nominees qualified scholastically,
medically and in physical aptitude… 2,196
Offers of admission… 1,537
Admitted… 1,261
Combined Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT)
and American College Testing (ACT)
Program Scores
Score Ranges
Verbal Math
700-800 (31-36)… 26% 32.7%
600-699 (26-30)… 43.8% 49.2%
<600 (<26)… 29.9% 18.1%
Rank in High School Class
Top 20%… 76.0%
Top 40%… 15.0%
Middle 20%… 8.0%
Lower 40%… 1.0%
Bottom 20%… < .1%
Women
The Class of 2012 includes 21.0 percent (261) women.
Minorities
The Class of 2012 includes 28.1 percent (351) minority
midshipmen with ethnic backgrounds as follows:
African American (83), Hispanic (131), Asian American
(68), Native American (32) and Hawaiian/Pacific
Islander (37).
Geographic Distribution and
International Students
Midshipmen were admitted from every state in the
Nation as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico,
U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. The Class of 2012 also
includes 14 international students from the following
countries: Algeria, Costa Rica (2), Ecuador, Kazakhstan,
Lithuania, Madagascar, Montenegro, Pakistan (2),
Peru, Romania, Singapore and Taiwan.
Previous College and Prep School
The Class of 2012 includes 27.5 percent (343) from
college and post-high school preparatory programs
which include:
• 202 from Navy Academy Preparatory School
(NAPS) in Newport, R.I.;
• 11 from the Nuclear Power Program;
• 62 from the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation
Program (44 from preparatory schools and 18
from colleges under Foundation sponsorship);
• 68 additional students have completed at least
one semester of study at a college or university
(63) or a private preparatory school (5).
Military Background
The Class of 2012 includes 67 midshipmen who
previously served as enlisted members of the Navy (46),
Marine Corps (20) or Army Reserve (1). This figure
includes 14 who entered directly from Fleet service
(7 USN, 7 USMC), 11 USN from the Nuclear Power
School, and 41 from the Naval Academy Preparatory
School (28 USN, 13 USMC).
Sons and Daughters of Alumni (64)
The Class of 2012 includes 47 sons and 17 daughters
of Naval Academy alumni. Both parents of four
members of the entering class are alumni of the
Naval Academy.
Please</p>

12

<p>“Both parents of four members of the entering class are alumni of the Naval Academy.
Please”</p>

<p>I think if both of your parents are USNA alum then you can skip your first year and spend all your Summers at home. <grin></grin></p>

13

<p>You need to get a copy of the academy’s admissions catalog. It’s a great catalog - lots of photos - lots of information about the academy’s history - lots of information about life as a midshipman - very detailed descriptions of all the majors and each course - and, most importantly, the admission process.</p>

<p>It gives a profile of previous classes (i.e. average class standing, average GPA, average ACT/SAT scores, activities, etc…)</p>

<p>Just call the admissions office and they’ll send you one.</p>