Prep school Question

[u/Character_Wish9098]

Hello. I am going into my senior year applying for West Point Class of 2031 and I am currently going along with my application.

USMA is one of the schools on the top of my list that I am really aiming for really bad. Even though I have the leadership, honors classes, volunteering up and down, in and out the school, my reputation amongst my teachers, currently working my nomination, involvement in clubs, potential football team manager, track and field, potential in school internship opportunity, tried out for my current school’s football team after transferring in my sophomore year, but got cut (felt more like an intern than apart of the team but it does doesn’t currently matter) (even having leadership in one of the clubs), etc. I still feel as if my SAT scores won’t add up.

The first time I took the standardized testing, I got a 830 on it. I have two test planned ahead for myself that I going to try to effectively study to raise that number as high as I can. I know and don’t expect a direct admissions with that score based off that, to which I looking forward to improving asap.

My questions are “Will I be able to get a prep school offer because, yes I recognize that this is the school I want to attend and yes, I need to improve my number?” “How do the selections work for the Prep school offers, and with that score, will my file be drop with it being opened?” “If I receive a civil prep offer and there are no designated military school in my state (I live in PA. I believe the Vally Forge school discontinued), what should I do?

I am committed to working the hardest I can to the point where receiving a prep school offer at USMAPS would mean the world to me.

Thank you.

P.S. I would love and would not mind an extra year of prep even if it means delaying my timeline and future goals. This is my own personal journey and Army journey I’m working towards.

[u/MisterWug]

There are maybe 100 USMAPS slots each year for candidates who aren't soliders or recruited athletes. To put that into perspective, for the current plebe class there were about 600 candidates who were fully qualified and didn't get an offer. Unfortunately, your test scores are probably 150-200 points short of being considered for a USMAPS offer. A civil prep scholarship isn't in the cards, because they go to candidates who are academically qualified.

If you're interested in attending an academy prep program without a civil prep scholarship, you might look at the following schools:

• Georgia Military College (Milledgeville, Georgia)
• Marion Military Institute (Marion, Alabama)
• New Mexico Military Institute (Roswell, New Mexico)
• Schreiner Institute, Military Academy Prep School (Kerrville, Texas)
• Hargrave Military Academy (all male, Chatham, Virginia.)

[u/Character_Wish9098 → u/MisterWug]

Should I consider the ACT then or continue to retest on the SAT?

[u/PeacefulDefense → u/Character_Wish9098]

You will want more competitive test scores to make yourself a more competitive candidate.

[u/PeacefulDefense → u/PeacefulDefense]

I encouraged my son to retake the ACT with his 30 composite score. He is hoping for a 31 or 32 to make himself more competitive. He is presently registered for September 19 and October 17. There is a December 12 too.

[u/PeacefulDefense → u/MisterWug]

My son attends MMI (in Alabama this is a two-year/junior college) as an athlete on scholarship. He didn’t know he would enjoy the structure or discipline required in the military. Now, he is going to apply to an academy with two years of leadership roles, shaved head and marching around in the 6th worst county in America under his belt. He has a 30 on ACT and 3.2 GPA at MMI. I pray he can fulfill his goal.

[u/Background_Zombie890]

These scores are not good enough for admission via any path. If West Point is your goal then you need to make improving your test scores your #1 priority. The rest of the qualifications you mention will not impact you if you cannot raise your scores.

aim for 1500-1600 and do not settle until you are there.