2017 Appointee Stats for future applicants

jmk0601

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2012
Messages
73
Well I wanted to start this so that future applicants should know what to achieve and aim for. I was always curious about what I needed and should do in order to receive the appointment. I hope other appointees add on to this list :smile:

GPA: 3.98(unweighted) Rank: 48/696
9 AP courses taken, and rest are gifted and honors.
School EC: Key Club Secretary, NHS, Mu Alpha Theta, Multiple church leaderships (3), national history club
Sports: YOU NEED SPORTS or else you are "disqualified." I was in this situation, but I figured out that martial arts classes that I took during my freshman and sophomore year counted as sports. (Kendo)
Nominations: Both senators didn't even give me an opportunity for an interview, but my house rep did. I only had 1 nomination, but it worked out perfectly fine.
Other factors: 500+ community service hours, 2 President's Volunteer Awards, Korean, Korean as first language, naturalized citizen right after ALO interview.

I had disciplinary issues before if some of you guys are wondering. Be sincere and honest about what happened. Tell the admissions counselor what happened exactly what occurred, what you learned, how you changed, and how sorry you are about the incident. I had one incident. Magnitude and repetition of incidents may hurt your chances.
 
It comes out presumptuous and conceited to think that just because you got an appointment means that others should follow your lead. You're just one of many who have gotten in. You may have just weak competition in your district. Your stats compared to the mean of previous classes aren't that impressive. There are applicants that have much better stats who won't be getting in because there are only so many slots available. We get that you got an appointment but I'd rather look at the official USAFA stats than yours. It's a much more accurate and credible representation of what to strive for.
 
Well I'd like to apologize then because I did not mean to come out as conceited. I had various questions and worries when I was applying and considering USAFA. I just wanted to be helpful for all the members. This forum and the members have provided so many answers to various questions I've had, and I just wanted to return the favor by possibly answering a question someone might have. Once again, I apologize.
 
I think that this may be the most important thing in your post:wink: You made a mistake, took responsibility and were honest about it. That's shows growth and maturity and can give hope to others who may be in a similar situation.

Good luck:thumb:

I had disciplinary issues before if some of you guys are wondering. Be sincere and honest about what happened. Tell the admissions counselor what happened exactly what occurred, what you learned, how you changed, and how sorry you are about the incident. I had one incident. Magnitude and repetition of incidents may hurt your chances.
 
I think this information is extremely helpful, especially if we know the posters state of residence. It is more helpful in many ways than the official stats because we can see factors like home state, gender, race, recruited athlete, etc that are very important in the process but not reflected in the official AF stats.

Once I get my decision I will post same info as well.
 
Iceman is correct And I'm also positive that jmk is simply trying to be helpful. But the problem is, what an individual had for scores when they receive an appointment is totally irrelevant to others applying.

if you look at the average for many years past, you'll find that the average gpa of the cadet class being accepted is around 3.86. That is the gpa average for all those accepted. Average ACT scores are 30. You can do a google search for class profile of just about any academy year group. You'll find the scores are about the same each year.

As for jmk's numbers, I know you're trying to help, but not even you know what the cutoff score was for YOUR DISTRICT. So it means very little to others applying. Too many variables. You had a 3.98 gpa, YET, you had 47 other students in your class ranked HIGHER than you. Maybe your school was very easy or the curve for grading was to low.

Point I'm trying to make. There WILL be people with a 3.6gpa who WILL receive an appointment. There will also be people with a 4.0gpa who WILL NOT receive an appointment. What matters is your COMPLETE package and those competing against you. And that's going to be different at each state and district.

Oh; and for what it's worth.... Not being involved in sports makes it difficult to get an appointment, but it DOES NOT DISQUALIFY YOU!!!
 
District GA and SAT Math: 790 Reading: 580
And the admissions counselor and my ALO called and stated that my status was "disqualifying" because of lack of sports. I clearly remember this because I had to get a letter, signature, and phone number from the kendo instructor. And I apologize for incomplete post and statuses!
 
Well, I appreciate your posts. I also am a fan of those who do athletics outside of their school. Especially if they don't have the ability to do sports in school. e.g. home schooled. And it's definitely possible that your ALO used the word "Disqualified". But the truth is, you are not disqualified if you are not a member of a sports team. You must be able to show that you "meet high leadership, academic, physical and medical standards". You don't have to be involved in a sport in order to show this. But obviously, the easiest way to show you meet physical standards is to be a part of a sport, and especially if you are recognized in that sport. Simply pointing out that you are NOT DISQUALIFIED if you are not involved in a sport. Is it difficult as hell to receive an appointment without being involved in athletics? Yes. Almost impossible. But that doesn't "Disqualify" you. Especially if you were to ace the CFA.

But remember, demonstrating high leadership standards, also means you are a follower and team player. But if you can demonstrate leadership and physical standards, without being on an athletic team, then you can meet the standards. Still difficult to receive an appointment, because the academy/air force is looking for TEAM PLAYERS!!! Individuals who WORK TOGETHER. Individuals who work towards common goals. But if you aren't in a sport, that doesn't automatically disqualify you. This may have been what your ALO told you, or maybe you misunderstood. I'm simply trying to clear it up for the next applicant who thinks they can't apply because they are "Disqualified" because they aren't in a sport. That's simply not true.
 
interesting... i have a quick question. what are your CFA scores?
 
Basketball Throw: 47.8; 48.5; 49.6 (bad)
Pull Ups - 10
Shuttle Run - 9.6 seconds; 9.4 seconds (bad)
Push Ups: Max 90
Sit Ups: Max 95
Mile: 7:26 (bad)
 
I couldn't agree more with Iceman. Your numbers mean nothing. I won't tell you what mine are, but they are much better than yours and I have yet to hear from the USAFA. I know I was not the Principal Appointment for our district and that is all I know.
 
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Basketball Throw: 47.8; 48.5; 49.6 (bad)
Pull Ups - 10
Shuttle Run - 9.6 seconds; 9.4 seconds (bad)
Push Ups: Max 90
Sit Ups: Max 95
Mile: 7:26 (bad)

My GF has better numbers than yours.
Look up the 500 club at camp USAFA.
 
For what it's worth... the basketball throw kicked my DS's butt too. And he's ripped.


But that damn basketball throw is mostly a body-mechanics thing. You need to practice it to learn the best techniques.
 
Exactly, the BB throw is all about the technique. I don't have stellar upper body strength, but I got a 78' throw versus the other person I took the test with who maxed the pull-ups and push-ups but only threw the basketball into the 50' range.

I think there is a sticky in the USMA channel about the throw.
 
The OP post was a breach of good etiquette but was in good faith. The lack of class shown in some of the responses is embarassing for aspiring leaders.
 
The OP post was a breach of good etiquette but was in good faith. The lack of class shown in some of the responses is embarassing for aspiring leaders.

No it's not. This is a forum. It's anonymous. With the exception of a couple of people here, the majority don't know each other. Even when they get to the academy, no one is going to say: "I know you. You're the one who wrote that stuff on the forum".
 
No it's not. This is a forum. It's anonymous. With the exception of a couple of people here, the majority don't know each other. Even when they get to the academy, no one is going to say: "I know you. You're the one who wrote that stuff on the forum".

It is how you behave when no one is looking.
 
When we were getting DS ready for I-day last year, one of the advice that I remember being emphasized was to shed all the "stuff you've accomplished in HS". No one's gonna care if you were class president, the big dog in your campus or if you had a 2400 SAT. Every doolie going through BCT would be best served if they go in and accept that they'll be low man on the totem pole.
"Pride comes before a fall".
 
It is how you behave when no one is looking.
Yes, integrity and honor are indeed very important and noble things. But that has nothing to do with a poster being "embarrassed". Which according to you, is what's happened. I'm simply saying that no poster is being embarrassed. Not for something they said in this thread.

When we were getting DS ready for I-day last year, one of the advice that I remember being emphasized was to shed all the "stuff you've accomplished in HS". No one's gonna care if you were class president, the big dog in your campus or if you had a 2400 SAT. Every doolie going through BCT would be best served if they go in and accept that they'll be low man on the totem pole.
"Pride comes before a fall".
Definitely true advice. You will go from big fish in a little pond to little fish in big pond very quickly. Remember, the AVERAGE GPA is 3.86. That means almost half the class has a 3.9-4.00 gpa. Also, half the class has HIGHER than 30 on their ACT's. It's OK to believe you are BETTER than 90%+ of the kids in your high school graduating class. You probably are. But when you take the top 10% out of all the schools and put them together, you better humble yourself quick.

Example: You're excited and proud because you got accepted to Harvard. You should be proud. Now; ONCE YOU GET to Harvard; you are no more special than ANYONE ELSE THERE!!! Same at the academy. Doesn't matter what your ACT, GPA, Class Rank, CFA Scores, if you were captain of the baseball team, JrROTC, CAP, Scout, etc... You're the same as everyone else. Doesn't matter if you were the "Principal" nominee for your MOC or got selected in the national pool. Doesn't matter if you were the #1 applicant in the entire country. ALL of you are still called CADET!!! And when you graduate 4 years later, it doesn't matter if you are an engineering major, behavioral science, english, history, etc...; or academy, ROTC, or OCS. You're still called "LIEUTENANT".
 
The lack of class shown in some of the responses is embarassing for aspiring leaders.

Yes, integrity and honor are indeed very important and noble things. But that has nothing to do with a poster being "embarrassed". Which according to you, is what's happened. I'm simply saying that no poster is being embarrassed. Not for something they said in this thread.
I recognize that embarrassed is not accurate and I probably should have said "is unbecoming of aspiring leaders".
 
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