<p>What would be some tips to get into the Naval academy?
hi im a sophomore at valley forge military academy. the reason i wanted to go here was because i want to be a naval aviator. that is my dream. i have a lot of extracurricular activities, my best classes are math and english. im starting a club at my school which involves sending school supplies to students in africa. i also want to start a computer science club as well. i play table tennis, i have my own boating license, i play soccer, swimming, and lacrosse. i play drums and the french horn. i heard that playing an instrument helps a lot when applying to colleges, ive been playing the french horn for about 6 years, i really love to play music. i like to snowboard, and im really into politics. so i just wanted to know if i was on the right path to to getting in, and what other things i may have to do in order to go to this great institution. thanks</p>
<p>Drop the French horn dude, people aren't very fond of Drum and Bugle corps. I'm just kidding, but seriously just continue to be a well rounded kid and take as many leadership roles as possible, even if they don't involve a lot of work. (Frech Horn Section Leader would be a great start.) Other than that, continue to work on physical fitness and managing your time to be the best person you can be.</p>
<p>but seriously... people aren't fond of drum and bugle corps.</p>
<p>honestly</p>
<p>ya but playing an instrument is attractive to lots of colleges</p>
<p>Music is good thing and like you say it is also attractive to other colleges so it helps with providing you with options for your backup plan. Yes there is some disrespect for the D&B but if that is your thing and your with others who do enjoy D&B who cares what the person in the next room thinks. Also, although right now it is not a recognized EC there is a midshipmen orchestra - currently they are the pit orchestra for the winter musical "Into the Woods" so are practicing for that performance. Music is a big part of my Mids life - he does not play with the D&B, but has found many opportunities for music on the yard. And who knows the Orchestra could be reinstated as an EC at some point.</p>
<p>do not have a peanut allergy!</p>
<p>Just curious, why is ther a lack of fondness for the D&B?</p>
<p>i dont but y not have a peanut allergy?</p>
<p>Because allergies are bad, so is asthma, colorblindness, and obesity, that is, if you're planning on going to the naval academy. I believe all of these disqualify you, and you have to get a medical waiver depending on the type and severity of your condition. I never needed one but, that doesn't mean that they're aren't hundreds of kids going through a hell of a time right now to get themselves clear. </p>
<p>My suggestions are: </p>
<p>1) GPA and Class Rank(Be top 5 of your school)
2) SAT over 1350
3) Leadership Positions-meaning more than one (President of Club, Captain of team, Section Leader-Band)
4) Attend NASS--It may be out of your control but if you can get in, you get the benefit of having a midshipman to walk you through the application process--which is an added benefit considering they can tell you the best way to approach your essays and congressional nominations. You get to take your CFA (candidate fitness assessment) at the academy too.
5) Be a good kid. No arrests, DUI's, or tattoos--they mess everything up once you get your appointment letter. </p>
<p>Other than that you should be fine.</p>
<p>i have a lot of leadership qualities, my grades are ok and im studying my psat's to get a better score. im taking a summer course so i can get in pre calc and trigonometry my junior year, i plan on taking college courses in my senior year. im play 3 varsity sports and im going to be the president of my club, and im invovled with other clubs. im joining my schools band which is the number one military band in the country. so i think all i need to do is work on my academics, is this enough?</p>
<p>Nothing is ever enough! But yes, very nice from what I can see.</p>
<p>oh good that sounds great</p>
<p>wat do others think that i should do and what are my chances of getting accepted right now</p>
<p>It all sounds great man. I'm sure you'll have no problem being competitive for appointment. Looking back on it all, I made a super huge deal about even qualifying academically for the Academy and I ended up getting an assurance. However, it was the hard work and effort I put into school and sports that really gave me an edge on getting into the summer seminar and the Academy. </p>
<p>Work your butt off, but make some time for a social life--even if it means studying on Friday Nights so that you can hang out with your friends on Saturdays. It's important to enjoy yourself, but also remember that the Academy is looking for people who will represent them one day. You are still young, and you have your heart set in the right direction. Keep the faith, and even if people aren't fond of the drum and bugle corps I heard that it might get you off the yard as a plebe. </p>
<p>Good luck, and look for the summer seminar application around this time next year.</p>
<p>
[quote]
wat do others think that i should do and what are my chances of getting accepted right now
[/quote]
</p>
<p>unfortunately no one on here will be able to answer what your chances are- but will paraphrase an old CC "sage" in that you have zero chance if you don't apply- everything else is uphill from there. </p>
<p>Do your best to put your best package together. Academics, Leadership, Athletics- all important. USNA1985 put a great roadmap together on another thread, so look back a few threads and read through the information posted, and then get going. </p>
<p>Just keep in mind- having a plan is a good thing. Executing it is what will count.</p>
<p>in my four years of high school i will have taken geometry lag two pre cal and cal is that good or do i also need trig?</p>
<p>If you look on page 20 here: <a href=“http://usna.edu/Catalog/docs_2011-2012/2_017-036_Admissions.pdf[/url]”>http://usna.edu/Catalog/docs_2011-2012/2_017-036_Admissions.pdf</a>, applicants are told to have a strong foundation in “geometry, algebra, and trigonometry.”</p>
<p>Like the others say, grades, test scores, leadership and commitment. That will help. The academies (and other schools) like things like music and athletics because they are the great equalizers. No matter your school, area or team, playing a sport typically involves the same commitment: Daily practices, similar schedule etc. Music shows commitment to practice and is also similar commitment and discipline. Things more ambiguous like 'Spanish Club" can mean a once a semester dinner out at a local restaurant or weekly meetings, fundraising etc. Harder to qualify and give points to by admissions. </p>
<p>Like the other say, leadership is huge to show. Also, rather than playing 10 sports for a little while and mastering nothing, pick a couple that you can show that you learned, led and stuck with. That shows a lot more to admissions than flitting around from this to that. Make sure your resume shows the commitment involved and how you impacted positive change when you write it. I serve on a scholarship committee and it often amazes me all these things people put on their EC list where they are abbreviated or not explained. I might have no idea what it is and what the time commitment involved would be. </p>
<p>Mostly, remember that while USNA is a great place and a great goal to have, it is not the ONLY school. Make sure, in your quest to get in, that you don’t lose out on your high school experience either.</p>
<p>It is better to start a new thread then to tack on an unrelated question to a topic from 3 yrs ago. Virtually all of those participants are long gone from here. For USNA you should strive to take the most challenging math/science classes your h.s. offers. In reality this is an Engineering college so the necessary academic backgound is helpful. 90+% of those attending played one or more varsity sports in h.s. USNA is a physically demanding program, so no surprise that athletics is important. Band is an Extra-curricular regardless of how good your school is (is it NOT considered a sport) and won’t matter that much on your application.</p>
<p>adurrua asks a simple question
and receives a clear, appropriate response from CE527M. </p>
<p>This could be the “end of the story” sort of. But for aspiring candidates it isn’t. Let me see if I can make my point …</p>
<p>The OP had a fair question that he implicitly, correctly thought he needed answered (and probably corrected) in pursuing this road seeking an appointment to USNA. Let’s suppose he’d not asked, not received and answer, and in the end, not taken trig.</p>
<p>What would that obvious void of a specified course do when the USNA admissions officer and/or the admissions committee is reviewing adurrua’s file? Even with other math courses successfully completed. Right. Throw up a red-flag question that may bring additional, skeptical scrutiny. Remember, there are a small mountain of candidates waiting in line. </p>
<p>And this points to the broader point … study and know the “profile” of what successful candidates look like and determine how to enable your profile to appropriately, productively be congruent with that profile.</p>
<p>This doesn’t mean mimicking every course and activity from playing the tuba to playing quarterback to playing the lead in the school play. It means being cognizant of the kinds of courses, scores, activities that previous “winners” have exhibited and figuring out how to make your own profile “fit” into that greater picture.</p>
<p>For example … it is frequently asked if non-varsity athletes can still get an appointment. The answer is yes. This past year, 8 out of every 100 appointed Plebes, or roughly 95 out of 1200 apparently did not play a varsity sport. No doubt they provided evidence of some other substantial physical fitness and team engagement(s). But what is the greater point. It is a major red-flag, not insurmountable, but one that would undoubtedly bring enhanced scrutiny and “suspicion” of a candidate’s “fit” for USNA. </p>
<p>And choosing not to take trig might well be another of those. </p>
<p>The point is, do your best, and do your best to project yourself as a strong, superior candidate, just like those 1200 or so described by their academics, ECs, leadership performances over a period of years. Said another way, minimize your major red flags instead of having to explain their being excused. Wave glaring green flags!</p>