I got my candidate kit today and I was planning to get most of the forms done this week. The thing is, is that I can't do my CFA until I get back from spain which will be in the beginning of November. I was wondering how much will that affect my chances?
The only thing that it affects, is your chance for early consideration. The review board that will review your application, will not even touch your application until you are 100% complete with it. The only 2 things that can be PENDING is your NOMINATION, which usually isn't done until December/January, and your DODMRB physical. If everything else is complete, they will look at your application and score you. If even one thing is missing; e.g. CFA, it will sit in limbo until it is completed.
Obviously, you want to speak with your ALO. Most ALO's are being directed, with such a large increase in applications, to not complete the applicant's form 4060 and give the ALO's interview, until the individual has demonstrated that they have COMPLETED the rest of their application. This saves the academy admissions a LOT OF TIME AND PAPERWORK on individuals who don't finish the application process.
However, if an applicant told me that they were going to have their application 100% complete, EXCEPT for their CFA and the ALO interview, because they were going to be gone for 3-4 months, I'd try to work it out to help them. If they were an athlete and in shape, I'd see about having them do the CFA earlier. This is what we did last year. I did a CFA for an applicant in August, because they were going to be involved for the next 3 months out of the country. Even my son, when he applied, knew that once the school year started, between football practice/games, ACT/SAT tests, and all the CAS volunteer hours needed in the IB program; there was no way he was going to have time to do the CFA. He did the CFA right after summer seminar. As an athlete, he knew he might not ACE the CFA, but that he'd do much better than average. He accepted those scores. Then again; you have to balance that with the rest of your application. If you're the 4.0, #1 ranked, 30+ACT/2100+SAT, hardest classes, hundreds of hours of volunteering, lots of leadership, etc... you can get away with some not perfect scores. That's an individual choice.
I bring all this up because there are always options. You say you won't be back from spain until November. First question is: When are you leaving for spain. If you've got 2 weeks before you leave, and you consider yourself in good shape, you could probably arrange to do your CFA before you leave. Is your ALO local? They can do it. Can you contact your P.E. teacher. We have a small town. Our teachers are willing to help out during the summer and holidays. I have a school in town that I could help in such a case, but I have other schools that are 200-300 miles away.
So no, not doing the CFA until November isn't going to hurt your ultimate application. Just realize that you're application won't even be looked at until the CFA and 100% of the rest of it is completed. This includes your ALO's interview and filling out their 4060 paperwork. And many ALO's aren't going to do the interview or paperwork until you're done with the rest of the application. Including the CFA. Best of luck to you. Mike....