Hi,
I’m a high school freshman at a huge high school (474 people in my class alone). It has always been my dream to go to the Naval Academy and either be a political science major or an aerospace engineer major there. I would love to be a Naval Aviator. Anyways, I am taking one AP class this year (the only one available for freshman at my high school) and it is AP Human Geography. Next year I am taking AP World History (either that or AP European History). My schedule will be packed the next few years. I am doing track and cross country, as well as orienteering inside of NJROTC. I’m also striving to become CO one day of my JROTC unit. Could anyone help me out with courses I should take or tips on getting into the Academy. Also, my uncle is a Rear Admiral in the Navy and I was wondering if that could help out my chances in anyway possible of getting in. This summer, I plan to start writing letters to my senators for a nomination.
Hey, I am a class of 2020 appointee who just went through the process, so I can try to give a few pointers that may have helped me get in.
Keep going with JROTC, because if you perform well, your NJROTC commander can actually give you a nomination to USNA.
AP Classes: Take as many as you like, however the ones that USNA truly cares about and looks for are AP Calculus, AP Chem, and to a lesser extent, AP Chem and Languages. Hopefully you are on track with math so you can take AP Calc during your senior year, as this can set you apart from other applicants.
Keep on going with sports, and try to become a captain as a junior/senior.
You uncle might help. I know there is a place in the application to enter family members in the military and their rank.
You do NOT need to write to senators/congressman now. The nomination process is a different beast entirely, and if you look at your Senator/Congressman website, you will most likely find a nomination application. This is what is actually required. During the spring and summer after your Junior year, you will begin to fill out these applications. Try to go to the local congressman’s Academy/ROTC Info night. Many of them host these.
It never hurts to start training for the SAT/ACT. Believe it or not SAT/ACT scores are a HUGE factor in admission. Getting SAT scores of 1500 and above, or ACT scores of 32 and above can give you a MAJOR boost. These tests aren’t difficult, and just require practice. Luckily, you know exactly what you want as a freshman(which is awesome), so you have tons of time to prep.
Thanks so much. I would like to take a bunch of AP courses (I’m thinking about possibly self-studying for a few). I am pretty good at cross country (track is just to stay in shape). I’m planning on staying in JROTC all four years and hopefully can be a high rank my junior/senior years.
What about orchestra? Is it a good class to take or should I drop it? I have taken AFJROTC in my freshman year but dropped it in my sophomore year to take AP World History. Should I drop orchestra and go back to JROTC? Any helful advice? Thanks. I have asked this before in one of my threads, but I just want to know what other people say.
If you can sing really well and enjoy it, go ahead. That might not have been the wisest decision ever to take AP World History and dropping AFJROTC, unless you don’t want to go into the military. Personally, I had a choice between AP World, AP European, or doubling up on science (Honors Bio and Honors Chem) for next year and I doubled up on honors sciences. The decision between orchestra and JROTC is completely up to you, but as for me I’d take JROTC. Hope I helped!
I did not attend summer seminar. In fact, I was rejected from Summer Seminar. I know plenty of people who have attended, and said it was a very interesting experience.
Wow. From what I’ve read, it sounds like that is the only way to get in, and you have no chance of getting in if you don’t go. What high school classes did you take?
First off, if you look around, you will see that USNA openly states that only 1/3 of each entering class attended Summer Seminar, so you don’t need to worry about that. In fact, both of the kids in my district who DID attend NASS did not get into USNA. I’ve listed some of the classes I’ve taken in HS below.
AP Calculus BC
AP Physics C
College Physics I+II
AP Spanish
4 Years of English
US History
World History
These are not all of them, but rather some of the tougher ones I took. Also, USNA really loves to see AP BC Calculus on your transcript, as well as high SAT math scores. Both of these can give a significant boost.
They don’t offer AP BC Calculus at my school, but they do offer AP Calculus AB. Next year I won’t be taking any AP courses (they only offer them for social studies), but I’m taking Honors Bio, Honors Chem, Algebra 2 Honors, and English 2 Honors. My junior year I am debating as whether to take AP US History, AP Bio or AP Environment, and English 3 Honors or AP Language. I am also thinking about whether to take AP Stats vs Honors Pre cal.
I wouldn’t skip pre-calc. I remember reading on the admissions site that you are expected to have a strong precalc background so you can minimally start in calculus at USNA.
Ok, thanks. BTW, what are you majoring in at the Academy? It’s always been my dream to either become a Naval Aviator or Marine Pilot and I’ve heard I can major in pretty much anything and become one, but I’ve also heard I would have to major in something technical to become one. Any suggestions on that?
Ryanalexander116, I basically have the same question that you have. I’m also a freshman in my school’s NJROTC, and have been wondering about my chances at the academy. Have you gotten any more recent advice, aside from here?
@BlueAndGoldDream Let me ask you this question first… How challenging is it in your NJROTC unit to get to CO? This matters a ton to the academies, because my unit is one of the best in the country and extremely tough to be CO. We also have tons of former cadets that went to West Point and Annapolis. Anyways, just make sure you have straight A’s in all honors/AP courses, and join some clubs/organizations at your school, volunteer in the community, and join a sports team/be physically fit. One of the big reasons I want to go to Annapolis is because I’ll be challenged mentally AND physically… I’d love to go to an Ivy League school, but it’s only extremely challenging mentally. That’s what sets the service academies apart from other top schools. Good luck, and beat Army!
@ryanalexander116 My school’s NJROTC is 4th best in the nation. So, it is fairly tough to get to the position of CO. I am aiming to get to that position in my unit, but I feel like the fact that my home is in the same state as the academy downgrades my chances of getting in. I have to do a lot more than become CO to impress the board of admissions… and that is what worries me. Academics I am great at, but sports are where I lack in. Since most sports practices and activities occur at the same time as NJROTC drill and air rifle events, I find myself having to think of compromising one for the other.
Oh nice, becoming CO would definitely look good. My school’s NJROTC is extremely challenging and is one of best in nation (have won distinguished unit for past 23 years). So you’re on Drill and Air Rifle? I do Raiders/Orienteering. If sports is where you lack, then that’s very good. It’s easier to join a sport than have to bring your grades up. Anyways, all the service academies want to see is involvement (89% of freshman last year at the Academy had a varsity letter). I do student council, cross country, track, and raiders/orienteering, but I need to work on class rank (I’m around 100 out of 500, but only because that was from middle school courses).
Well good luck @ryanalexander116 ! I wish you the best when it comes to applying to the academy. Maybe we’ll both get in and graduate together. Nice talking to you, and Beat Army!