Can I go to the US naval academy?

Ross

It's a little difficult to evaluate based on GPA since GPA's can be wildly inflated. Class rank using weighted GPA, curriculum, competitive level of the school and standardized test scores are factors that help to characterize the prior academic record. But let's cast common sense aside and assume all GPA's are equal. Unless you have athletic recruit or diversity status, you are unlikely to receive an LOA(letter of assurance) in the 1st round of national competition. This would throw you into the second round of competition within your nominating sources. I'll assume you are not entitled to a Presidential nomination, and so we are dealing with congressional nominations. We first have to assume that the competition is going to be fairly weak which will allow you to successfully compete for a nomination, as no Senior year grades will be available at the time the application for a nomination has to be submitted and may not be available at the time the nominations are chosen. Assuming you are found to be scholastically qualified, your success in this round will be dependent on the other candidates within your nominating source and may or may not depend on the whole person score assigned by the academy. If your MOC(Member of Congress) chooses the winner of the local competition and therefore appointment, assuming the candidate chosen as Principal nomination is fully qualified, then it doesn't depend on the whole person score and in some instances can be political, but about 80% of MOC allow the Academy to choose the winner of the local competition for the appointment. If not chosen in this round of competition, then the last round of competition is for declined offers of appointment and is national according to whole person score.
You would stand a better chance if your senior record was available at the time decisions are made but that is not possible; however, you should try your hardest and apply and then if not selected, maybe do an academy prep program and apply the following year. You can apply till the year when you are 22 on July 1.
http://www.nmmi.edu/prep/faq.htm
http://academic.nmmi.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=2&poid=8&bc=1
You might also consider the Merchant Marine Academy as you could still have an academy experience and direct commission into the Navy. If your state has a Maritime Academy, you could apply there and prep for the Naval Academy and take part in nrotc. You'd still have an academy experience and if not selected for an appointment, you could still commission as a Naval Ensign on graduation. You could also direct commission to the Coast Guard if you were not involved in nrotc. The following states have maritime academies: California, Michigan(Great Lakes), Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Texas.
http://www.csum.edu/Military/MilitaryOptions.asp
http://www.nmc.edu/maritime/
http://www.mainemaritime.edu/
http://www.maritime.edu/
http://www.sunymaritime.edu/
http://www.tamug.edu/
The answer at the link below contains a detailed explanation of the service academy appointment process. The Naval Academy website is somewhat lacking in explaining the process clearly. The Air Force Academy website offers the best advice and I have linked to it and also added missing detail. This should make what I wrote above much clearer:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AodQMYg9PwsBLze6O_LBAL3ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090321112755AAca1Ts&show=7#profile-info-pPzS2GTDaa
Be sure to prep for the PSAT and SAT exam. Get a PSAT or SAT Prep book and systematically begin to go through it. Know that the SAT tests Algebra 1, Algebra 2 and Geometry; Critical Reading and Writing. You need to review the math subjects and know them well. Out of class reading helps with the Critical Reading and Writing sections. Read a little everyday with a dictionary at hand to look up unknown words. This builds vocabulary and will help on the SAT. Even 20 minutes a day will build over time and make a difference:
http://reading.berkeley.edu/
http://www.hotchkiss.org/documents/hkiss_reading_list.pdf
Good Luck!

Mr. Smith

If you look at the stats, most acceptances have a GPA of over 3.4 and do tons of extracurricular activities............ Also if you dont get a recommendation for your senator or the vice president, don't even bother applying.

No, it's not too late. get your GPA above a 3.5 before you graduate. Contact your local Senator's office and start lobbying for yourself to get a nomination because that's what it takes to get an appointment to an academy. Good Luck.

luvinsuzie

relax..... focus on your school work... and take the SAT in your senior year..... take your parents and talk to a recruiter the day after you complete your junior year. they can set you straight, just don't get so worked up.... you don't want to burn yourself out before you get there.

JustThisGuy

I hope you make it. You sound like a very hard worker...

janu

my boss's son went to the naval academy and he's a total a**clown so getting in isn't that big a deal imo. just act like an arrogant d!ck and you'll fit right in. i served in the navy and i guarantee that the officers aren't nearly as smart as they would like you to think; the enlisted members often have to remind them of things to keep them from giving an order that'll eff things up. the enlisted members are the real brains of the operation, the officers just have a fancy piece of paper saying they went to college, big deal.

Flaco

If you work your *** off anything is possible!!!

Zeus

not possible:
"get a 3.7 or 3.8 gpa...volunteer about 5 hours a week or more and if do high school swimming and track and cross country, (maybe varsity if I work really hard) maybe debate and possibly a play or two"

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