<p>I am a female junior in a top NJ high school (If anyone knows demographic representation I would be happy to see how NJ ranks) in all honors classes with one current AP class (and taking atleast another next year). My GPA is a 4.0 [with a number average of 90] and I'm Tresurer of the Orchestra, Head of 5k runs to support Congo women, do about 20 hours of community service a year tutoring children with autism, a tutor and NHS member and Group leader of various other clubs. I also take classes at a local gym because orchestra and varsity sports conflict each other in my school. My SAT scores are 650 math and 670 reading currently, hopefully I can still up my scores a bit by next year. I'm somewhat nervous that I won't get it, so far do I seem like I will get in? What else can I do to help my odds.</p>
<p>I mentioned it to someone else, but go to summer seminar this summer.
[Naval</a> Academy Summer Seminar](<a href=“http://www.usna.edu/admissions/nass.htm]Naval”>http://www.usna.edu/admissions/nass.htm)</p>
<p>Taking classes at the local gym is fine to demonstrate physical conditioning (which will be essential when taking the CFA) but does not demonstrate competitiveness. My Plebe reported that during plebe summer nearly everything is done as a competition. So it appears that this is important to the NA and may be seen as a negative in your otherwise solid profile. </p>
<p>Take the highest level math and laboratory science classes your school offers.</p>
<p>Study for and raise your SAT math score - every little bit helps. NA uses only your best scores so concentrate on the math.</p>
<p>I dont think the competitiveness part matters that much. I didnt play any sports in high school and I got in. I think she’ll be fine. She’s got good grades, runs and organizes 5ks, does community service, clubs, orchestra, so she’s got the well rounded part down. Plus she’s a she, that counts for something too.</p>
<p>while there may be a number like navyasw02, the profiles and stats reveal the magnitude of that anecdote and that experience as being far from the norm. Nearly all are in competitive athletics, and like it or otherwise, virtually all rewards come as a function of competing successfully, be it in PFT, academics, and professional leadership.</p>
<p>Again, there are anecdotal anomalies to all generalizations, but that is about the only value of this and other advice forums, i.e. letting folks know what generally, “normally” is the case. There is absolutely no value in assessing individual abberations. That’s up to the USNA admissions staffers and review board, nominating sources, and DoDMERB.</p>
<p>So the only real point? Nearly everyone who matriculates to USNA have participated (and led) in competitive athletics and physical fitness activities. And the value of that habitual behavior becomes quickly evident at NASS and Plebe summers.</p>
<p>Whistlepig - I think you’re misinterpreting what I said, partially because I wasn’t clear in the way I said it. Yes, a competitive spirit is important; however, participation in competitive athletics as osdad suggested, is not required for USNA admissions. A well rounded candidate will also not be negatively affected by not participating in varsity athletics. If you read what the OP said, she does participate in athletic activities and guessing from that I’d assume that she is fit enough to pass the Academy PRT or the Academy physical entrance exam at a minimum. I don’t know what the breakdown of varsity athletes was for my class, but I know PLENTY of people who were not and they still were both admitted to the Academy, succeeded while they were there, and have been successful after graduation. The point I was trying to make with my so called “anecdotal anomaly” was that varsity sports is not a requirement for admission. </p>
<p>Just looking at the stats for the class of 2014 as an example, lets look at the breakdown:</p>
<p>90% participated in varsity athletics - There’s 10% who didn’t, so I’m guessing they did a lot of the other 15 things listed below varsity athletics. Also that 90% figure doesn’t say that the people who did varsity athletics did it for a certain period of time. Theoretically, this statistic could mean anything from participating for their entire high school career to just showing up for tryouts. That’s the tricky thing about statistics, you can’t ever believe them without a full explanation of their criteria.</p>
<p>Lets look at the rest of the OP’s qualifications - As she stated she did orchestra, is in NHS, has a 4.0 GPA, Community service, clubs (with club leadership), participates in athletic activities (not necessarily on a team mind you), and falls well within the range of acceptable SAT scores. I think she has several boxes checked and qualifies as a well rounded candidate. I’d be willing to go out on a limb here and say her application will not be instantly stamped with a big red “NO” simply because she doesn’t play on a sports team.</p>
<p>I am by no means an admissions official, nor an admissions expert; however, people come here posting questions and asking for realistic advice which I give based upon first hand knowledge of four years of living in Bancroft and knowing hundreds, if not about a thousand other USNA grads. One of the good things about the Navy is the ability for seniors to give guidance and advice to juniors, and mentor them based on their own experiences. If an Admiral gives me advice, I listen because it will be useful regardless of how dated the experience might be. Personalized advice from experience is far more valuable than listening to an instant expert who finds answers on a computer and spits them out as gospel. As long as there’s people looking for answers, I’ll give them my opinions based on my experiences. If you don’t like it, then please direct everyone to google.com and shut this board down.</p>
<p>navy, first congrats on your fine dd! She sounds very competitive, no matter how that applies. And my apology if I came across as discouraging. I can oversimplify and/or confuse even myself. :eek:</p>
<p>My only point is that 9 out of 10 are competitive varsity athletes …and 1 out of 10 are otherwise engaged in physical fitness. So yes, many, about 120 each summer, who did not report competing. Statistically the exceptions rather than the rules. And that’s the only point. Note: the exceptions are NOT necessarily excluded on the basis of that issue, as we see.</p>
<p>And everyone often, usually reports anecdotally, from personal experiences and/or observation. And that generally, those generalizations portrayed via profiles and other stats, reports and observations may or may not apply to any individual. Merely point the way that most have come as they approach the finishline of the appointment and the starting line of Midshipmenship! Is that a word? 
</p>
<p>Good luck and every blessing to your dd making it to both of those lines. And in any case, be it competing with others or merely herself, do keep running! 
:D</p>
<p>You seem to be very well rounded. You did mention taking Honors courses and one AP. What is your AP class? The academy tends to look hard at the AP Chem & AP Calc.
Keep up your grades, keep working out, doing community service is good and try to get your SAT math score up a bit more to become more competitive with your package. By all means if you have the chance to do NASS do it. This does sometimes help…you are evaluated by your detailers.</p>
<p>We were not a military family before the academy. All three of mine were accepted ( all had LOA’s in Sept. of their senior year ). I can only tell you what worked for them.</p>
<p>Best of Luck.</p>