I understand how tough it is to chance someone on a service academy, but I really need to be right now.
My GPA right now is around a 3.8 with one AP class (AP Human Geography) and I easily made a high A in it.
By the time I graduate, I will have 2 swim team letters, 2 track letters, 4 cross country letters, and multiple orienteering/raider medals and competed in many events. I will also be in National Honor Society for two years (Junior and Senior).
I plan on taking 5 AP’s this upcoming year (AP US History, AP Environmental Science, AP Psychology, AP Statistics, and AP English Language).
My district (not saying what/where it is) is very uncompetitive and should be easy to get my nomination, but my issue is that two of my friends want to go to a service academy as well (one to USNA and other to USMA), and I am worried they could possibly beat me, so I am trying my hardest to be as competitive as I can. Currently they have no letters in any sports, but we are all in my NJROTC Battalion and we all do orienteering/raiders.
My GPA should be above a 4.0 by the time I graduate. I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks!
Also, I should be able to get into Palmetto Boys State next summer. I heard that helps a lot.
Why don’t you try to be recruited as an athlete? They have huge teams and the coaches can help you get in, or at least get into the prep school.
I have no experience with West Point but one of my good friends and third in class is attending West Point this fall and from what I know of him, his stats and EC seem similar to yours with the exception that he has a good amount of experience being in Student Council, being a class officer, and a few other student government/club related leadership positions.
No one can chance you for admission to a service academy due to the vagaries of the nomination process and the rubric the academies use to determine appointments. All you or any candidate can do is put your best application forward. Look at the stats and makeup of the current class (on the website) and do your best to meet or exceed those standards. The academies are looking for academics, leadership, and fitness; do your best in each of these areas. Nothing an Internet stranger guesses about your chances is meaningful or helpful to you in any way.
@Syrxis I did Student Council for one year, and was on the Fundraising Committee.
@twoinanddone I thought about it, but I don’t want to do a sport in college, especially at West Point. It’s extremely tough enough as it is with no sport.
The 3.8 GPA is weighted I gather. Unweighted GPA and class rank are better indicators of your competitiveness. I would not recommend going from one AP class to five even if they are the “easier” APs. I wouldn’t assume that a congressional nomination is easy to receive. USMA publishes class profiles but you need to remember that the profile includes athletes. Don’t naively assume that hitting the median test scores makes you competitive. just because you are recruited for a sport doesn’t mean you have to play
Regarding nominations - each source, Congressional and Senatorial, can have up to 5 in each academy (unless the rules have changed). So, don’t be concerned about the two friends. You have three options for nomination, go after all three. Curious, how can you have 4 letters in one sport by the time you graduate if you have none now? Are you a freshman?