Is it still possible for me to be accepted one of the U.S. Service Academies after graduating high school?

Question

Is it still possible for me to be accepted to one of the U.S. Service Academies (U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy) after graduating high school? Here is a list of things during my freshman and sophomore years of high school:

Freshman Year

Academics

- Two Honors Courses (Honors Chemistry and Honors Geometry)
- Two Electives (Multimedia Design and Concert Band)
- Three Regular Classes (English I, Spanish I, and World Civilizations)
- Maximum Number of Credits
- Honors Community Service (50+ Community Service Hours)
- GPA - 2.95

School Sports

- None

Student Government

- Elected Ninth Grade Class Council Officer

Extracurricular

- Volunteer at the Children’s Section of the Local Library
- Judge in the Lower School Science Fair
- Performed in the School Spring Drama Production
- Member of Church Youth Group
- Participated in the Day of Silence
- Host at an School Information Session
- Wrote and Acted for the School Drama Festival
- Member of the Chess Team
- Summer Volunteer at a Hospital

Sophomore Year (so far)

Academics

- Two Honors Courses (Honors Biology and Honors Algebra II)
- One AP Course (AP World History)
- Two Electives (Introduction to Computer Science and Concert Band)
- Two Regular Classes (Spanish II and English II)
- Maximum Number of Credits
- Honors Community Service (50+ Community Service Hours)
- GPA - 3.2 (as of the end of last quarter)
- PSAT - 184 (without prior preparation)

School Sports

- Junior Varsity Cross Country
- Junior Varsity Swimming
- Junior Varsity Tennis

Student Government

- Elected Tenth Grade Class Council Officer
- Elected Student Council Secretary (Highest Student Council Position Available to a Sophomore)

Extracurricular

- Volunteering at the Children’s Section of the Local Library
- Performed in the Fall and Spring Drama Productions
- Member of the Technical Crews for the Fall and Spring Drama Productions
- Member of Church Youth Group
- Founding Member of a Junior State of America chapter (Offered the position of Director of Debate for next year)
- Model United Nations Delegate
- Participated in the Day of Silence
- Wrote and Acted for the School Drama Festival
- Staff Writer for the School Newspaper
- Member of the Community Service Board
- Summer Volunteer at a Hospital
- Member of Future Business Leaders of America chapter
- Member of the Chess Club
- Founding Officer of the 40 Hour Famine chapter

Answer 1

Possible? Sure. Likely? Not even close. Service academies look for GPAs more in the 3.8+ range (you're nowhere near that), varsity sports (only JV so far) and SATs in the 1300+ range (your PSAT translates to an SAT of around 920, which wouldn't even get you into most state schools).



Your extracurriculars are great, but nowhere near enough to make up for what I just mentioned.



I say it's possible, because you're only a sophomore and if you got a 4.0 from here out, studied hard and put up a big SAT score and made varsity in your junior and senior years, that may be enough - but that's literally what it would take.



Good luck!

Answer 2

Yes it is possible as has been stated in answers to past questions. There is no need to restate details in this answer. One point of clarification is that a 184 Psat(Cr + Math + Writing) by a Sophomore is not the equivalent of a 920 Sat(Cr + Math) as indicated in another answer. Collegeboard states that the average Psat gain between Sophomore and Junior year is a 3.3 Cr, 4.0 Math, 3.3 Writing Skills. A 10.6 gain.

http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/psat/scores/about

Assuming the 184 was split evenly, then that would be a 184(2/3) = 122.7(Cr + Math.)

Add the average gains for Cr(3.3) and Math(4) between Sophomore and Junior year and that is a 130(Cr + Math.)

Multiplying by 10 gives a 1300 Sat(Cr + Math) .

According to another answer, a 1300 Sat (Cr + Math) is a competitive Sat score for a service academy.

Numerous colleges don't pay a lot of attention to freshman year grades including, Berkeley, Ucla and the entire UC system, Princeton, Yale, Carnegie Mellon, Stanford, USC to name a few. Junior year is given more weight than Sophomore year and for colleges that consider 1st semester Senior year, it is given the greatest weight. The Academies do consider freshman year grades but they are not given a lot of weight if there is a strong upward grade trend. The Air Force Academy in its "Instruction to PreCandidates" states that they do not consider any extracurricular activities prior to Sophomore year. Freshman year is not going to be the determining factor as to whether a PreCandidate attains an offer of appointment. Get stronger through Sophomore and Junior year and if not appointed keep a strong record Senior year and into a first semester of college, and it is entirely possible to attain an appointment.

Good LucK!

Answer 3

If you know 100% that the military is what you want, I would at least attempt to go into an academy. Go ahead and try for both a ROTC scholarship and a military academy, nothing prevents you from applying to both. I actually know a couple of guys who did a year of civilian before going into an academy, they decided that it was worth all the effort. If you keep up the GPA, fitness, get good recommendations, do ROTC, and follow the guidelines of the academies for civilian colleges (look on their admissions' websites) I think you stand a chance. As to the special forces, nothing beats Navy Seals or Delta Force, but I do know a couple of guys who are rangers, and they really enjoy doing that. Best of luck to you on any path you choose.

Answer 4

Ideally, you'll be submitting your complete Application along with your Recommendations in between your Junior and Senior year. If you haven't heard anything by the time that you graduate, it isn't happening. Good luck.

Answer 5

possible but not likely.