Cadet for a Day?

MMMom

5-Year Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2011
Messages
160
DS applies to AIM and just got notified that he was definitely qualified, put in a lottery with other qualified candidates, and did not get selected but is being invited to attend as a "Cadet for a Day" in the fall. Should he be discouraged? Has anyone done this or can anyone speak to the difference in this and AIM. He's pretty disappointed...
 
DS applies to AIM and just got notified that he was definitely qualified, put in a lottery with other qualified candidates, and did not get selected but is being invited to attend as a "Cadet for a Day" in the fall. Should he be discouraged? Has anyone done this or can anyone speak to the difference in this and AIM. He's pretty disappointed...

Definitely should NOT be discouraged! Cadet for a Day is a really great way to see the real CGA. AIM is good, but your son will see things during his visit overnight visit that AIM attendees will not. :thumb:

And, of course, remember that attendance at AIM is not an accurate predictor of whether or not an applicant gets an appointment. Some will, of course, but by no means is most of each incoming class from AIM....someone will have the numbers for the most recent classes, but if memory serves, half or more of the incoming classes did NOT attend AIM.

Good luck to your son!
 
Hi, your question prompted me to register because we went through this last year. DS and I attended briefing last Spring. We were told about the lottery for qualified applicants. He applied to AIM, and convinced his buddy (from nursery school) to do so as well. Buddy went to AIM, DS didn't. That hurt. DS applied for cadet for a day and loved it. DS got the scoop on AIM from the buddy. AIM is different, but CfD's get into classes, and really meet the cadets, which made a big impression (DS came home and did a 7 page essay so he wouldn't forget anything).

Bottom line, DS was offered an appointment to CGAS in December.

Buddy is going to the Naval Academy. Silly boy.
 
aim rejection

Was rejected for aim program...letter stated that I was put in the lottery but was not picked, but I was invited for cadet for a day. Does everybody get invited to this and was it good that I was put in the lottery?

Thanks!
 
Absolutely don't be discouraged. We were in the same position last year. DS was not selected for AIM and still earned his appointment this winter. He is now a Swab-to-be in the class of 2016 counting down the days to R-Day!
 
You can add one most to this list……My son applied to AIM, got the same letter your child received, went to Cadet for a Day in December and received an appointment in March. Do not let your child be discouraged! Make sure they attend the Cadet for a Day program; they will enjoy it and get to see the school when classes are in session.
 
Thanks so much! Makes my "cheerleader" job easier when I have facts to back up my "this is not necessarily bad news" speech. Totally why I love this forum!

Also, do you get to pick the weekend you visit and if you are looking to do a specific sport is there any chance he could get assigned to a cadet that plays that sport?
 
Same question as nycoast, does everyone get put in the lottery/invited to CFD?
 
Yes, it seems that those qualified enough to be placed into the lottery and, unfortunately, not selected are given the opportunity to be a CFD. :thumb:
 
different rejection letter

Received a different letter. No mention of lottery or invitation to CFD.

The letter thanked me for applying but they couldn't offer me a spot this summer because the number of applicants exceeded the number of offers they could extend. They hoped I would continue to explore the Academy and urged me to contact my Admissions Officer, visit the campus, and start my application this summer to the Class of 2017. They also added that attending AIM is not required for an appointment to the Coast Guard Academy. (In fact, the majority of cadets have not attended AIM.)

Have others receive this letter in the past? Did you still get accepted into the Academy? Does it mean I'm not qualified for the Academy since I didn't make the lottery or receive an invitation to CFD?
 
Received a different letter. No mention of lottery or invitation to CFD.

The letter thanked me for applying but they couldn't offer me a spot this summer because the number of applicants exceeded the number of offers they could extend. They hoped I would continue to explore the Academy and urged me to contact my Admissions Officer, visit the campus, and start my application this summer to the Class of 2017. They also added that attending AIM is not required for an appointment to the Coast Guard Academy. (In fact, the majority of cadets have not attended AIM.)

Have others receive this letter in the past? Did you still get accepted into the Academy? Does it mean I'm not qualified for the Academy since I didn't make the lottery or receive an invitation to CFD?

I was in the same boat (pun intended) last year. From my understanding (and this may have changed), anyone can sign up for CFAD come late August for the earliest CFADs in september but seats go quick. The one thing about the place, in my tiny knowledge so far, is that its a lot of getting in and staying in is wanting to be there and showing it. I called my admissions officer a lot and she said after I got in that it played a big part.

If you're feeling doubt about the whole thing keep busy getting ready for the ACT/SAT, boosting Quarter 1 senior grades, and getting above a 200 on the PFE. Remember, AIM selection excludes physical fitness, ACT/SAT scores, and coach input, so it's not as holistic as the real process. Regardless, my advice is to do as much as you can between now and October because if you give it your all and don't get an appointment at least you know you did your best. The journey won't end until you say it's over, or unless you outgrow the age limit...
 
SOS (Same ol' Situation)

Greetings; DS got the same letter late yesterday afternoon (Dear John...) mention of the lottery and invite for the Cadet for a Day. He was disappointed, but I tried to cheer him up.

Question: We are in Minnesota and DS is in Varsity Football with heavy practice and game schedule (school moved up to 5A this year after dominating 4A for years and years winning Minnesota State 4A Football Championships virtually every year for the past 10 years), so do I pull him so he can attend C for a Day, or skip this activity and have him focus on the CGA application?

He will also be applying to AFA, AFROTC, USMA, AROTC, NROTC (not sure on Navy Academy).

ACT scores are not exceptional (24 composite, 29 reading, 21 Math, English 21, Science 23, Combined English / Writing 21). Retaking in June, we think he can improve his composite score into the 27-29 range. GPA is 3.5 (he attends a private, very competitive high school where 95% of the students go on to a 4 year college). Lettered in Football (2 Varsity), Track JV letter 2, Soccer (no letter), Eagle Scout, multiple community service projects (church and school), CFA: maxed out on 3 of the items.

He perhaps might be a better Prep School candidate than an SA candidate but will apply to these as his "stretch" schools. Might be competitive for ROTC scholarships as well?

Thanks,
 
Tgun,

My son waited until after football season to attend the Cadet for a Day program (I think it was the first week in December when he went). In regard to ACT scores, my son had similar scores on his first try. He worked very hard using March2Success, which is actually free and sponsored by the Army. He pulled his Math up to a 30 and English up to a 29. Here is a link to the March2Success web site:

https://www.march2success.com/index.cfm
 
Thank you!

Hey 49er;
Many thanks for the ACT prep. tip! We will definately follow-up. Also, December might work for DS as well since Football will be wrapped up by Thanksgiving timeframe.
 
Make sure you sign up for CFAD as soon as the signup sheet becomes available. We are in the Pacific Time zone and my son waited until morning to try and sign up last year and all the CFAD spots were already filled. He did end up going to CFAD with a little help from a coach. It was a fantastic experience for him and cemented the CG as his top choice. He received and accepted a CGAS offer in December. (ACT 31, GPA 3.7)

He also received the "sorry you did not win the lottery" letter for AIM last year.
 
100% recommend "Cadet for a Day", which you may hear referred to as "Bean Sprouting". It's solidified it for me. Still keep in touch with my host, who ended up being my 1/c when I was a 2/c too... and was assigned to my sister ship.
 
Greetings; DS got the same letter late yesterday afternoon (Dear John...) mention of the lottery and invite for the Cadet for a Day. He was disappointed, but I tried to cheer him up.

Question: We are in Minnesota and DS is in Varsity Football with heavy practice and game schedule (school moved up to 5A this year after dominating 4A for years and years winning Minnesota State 4A Football Championships virtually every year for the past 10 years), so do I pull him so he can attend C for a Day, or skip this activity and have him focus on the CGA application?

He will also be applying to AFA, AFROTC, USMA, AROTC, NROTC (not sure on Navy Academy).

ACT scores are not exceptional (24 composite, 29 reading, 21 Math, English 21, Science 23, Combined English / Writing 21). Retaking in June, we think he can improve his composite score into the 27-29 range. GPA is 3.5 (he attends a private, very competitive high school where 95% of the students go on to a 4 year college). Lettered in Football (2 Varsity), Track JV letter 2, Soccer (no letter), Eagle Scout, multiple community service projects (church and school), CFA: maxed out on 3 of the items.

He perhaps might be a better Prep School candidate than an SA candidate but will apply to these as his "stretch" schools. Might be competitive for ROTC scholarships as well?

Thanks,

Is making an impression on the coach at CFAD and preparing for the next year as important as a championship game? Hard call. BUT I believe there is more than one CFAD--they run from September through November so there's flexibility. I'd go to CFAD. Like LITS, it sealed the deal for me as opposed to the other great places. Even though
 
Is making an impression on the coach at CFAD and preparing for the next year as important as a championship game? Hard call.

Depends on if your whole life will be centered on your accomplishments in high school. Hope that's not the case.

One is a step forward. The other is a nice, but in the end less important, moment of greatness.

That said, you also have an obligation to your team. There's got to be a way to work it out, but if there's not, in the end, with is more important to you now and in the future?
 
Keep in mind bye weeks in football and try and sign up for the cfad On the bye.
 
Back
Top