<p>It is nearing the end of junior year for me and I was wondering at this point what i can be doing. I will be attending SLS, NASS and Boys State this summer and I am finishing up really strong in all my classes. Is there anything I should be doign at this point to get a headstart on my application to the academy and for a nomination. I have already contacted both my senators, representative, and the vice president.</p>
<p>it sounds like your off to a great start to the application process, crazy. my advice to you is to think about joining clubs your senior year and running for leadership positions. also, train hard to do well on the CFA. every pushup, ****up, and pullup counts so really try your best to max it. for boys state, DO NOT BE AFRAID TO RUN FOR HIGH POSITIONS! that is my biggest regret about boys state, not trying as hard as i should have to get cool positions. thats pretty much it i guess. oh and do NOT let your grades slip senior year. west point checks 8th semester grades.</p>
<p>Prepare for the SAT and/or ACT - take them at least twice and do the best you can. SAT/ACT results and your class rank make up 60% of your whole candidate score.</p>
<p>get in early so you CAN let your senior grades slip!</p>
<p>I'd suggest you get your applications to your representatives done REALLY early. And (if you didn't get a 1600) do take both the SAT and the ACT... I did much better on the ACT than the SAT</p>
<p>Harri-San, if you let those grades slip too much your "early" acceptance may just go away. Until you are there on R-Day everyone had better keep working -- they do ask for your 8th semester grades. I know one candidate two years ago who had was sweating his appointment (received in January) two weeks before R-Day because of some decisions he made 2nd semester -- he had to have a special meeting with admissions to present his case for why they should still allow him to come. Don't get too complacent!</p>
<p>but it's soooo hard... Merely out of curiosity, though, did they let that guy in? :)</p>
<p>yes they did... but interestingly enough he ended up getting turned back his plebe year and is now with the class of 2010 after starting with 2009. Personally I view that as 1 chance too many... one screw up I can give anyone, two is a pattern....but I'm not the one making the decision.</p>
<p>I know you think it's hard now -- just wait! :)</p>
<p>i know the feeling..</p>
<p>i wanted to stop going to school because i was so excited about the academy when they responded back lol</p>
<p>never stop.</p>
<p>even if you can just cruise through second semester enjoy high school for what it is. once things start to suck this summer you are going to want those memories. for me, beast started a week after i graduated and after the initial shock of what i got myself into you really look back on high school.</p>
<p>I'll have almost a full month and a half of summer before I go to beast July 2nd. I plan on going to a lot of amusment parks around me in Indianapolis.</p>
<p>I totally thought I was going so I went out partying in NYC a LOT. Uh...go for a cadet visit, like NOW, like this month or next. It'll be nice weather up in NY so you should totally consider it. Heck, I'm gonna try to finagle a visit for my sister at USMA... since they contacted her. I personally think that USMA is the only college that would wean her from older-sister-dependency (seriously, I like give her my academic notes so that she doesn't have to read the stuff because I have it all boiled down and connected)</p>
<p>I wouldn't think about "crusing through" your second semester of H.S.
While you need to enjoy your senior year, if you do not start building the discipline to develop and maintain good study habits, West Point academics will be a rude awakening. If you don't have to study much in H.S. to get good grades, start. Practice learning the lesson the night before its taught and give yourself a glimpse of the difference between being "spoon fed" and the Thayer method. You need to be training your mind as well as your body to absorb the "shock" of plebe year. Good Luck!!!</p>