My current situation

caligirl2012

5-Year Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2012
Messages
15
So, my mother called the academy yesterday morning (we have been anxiously waiting for any news on whether or not I have received an appointment to either the academy or prep school). The woman she spoke with told her that I did not receive the appointment and that I am not qualified for prep school. What does she mean by not qualified? I am planning to call her back on Monday, but I'm sure no one will answer the phone over the weekend. The only thing I can think of that would have made me not qualified was the fact that I took and had to drop, precalculus this year, my senior year.

Basically, the way my class was set up, we could not use our graphing calculators on the tests or quizzes, but the textbook only explained how to do everything with a graphing calculator. I tried to teach myself everything at home, but it was just too much to learn on my own. So I talked with someone I know that knows the way the academy is run and asked her if it was better that I drop the class or not, and she said it would be better than a bad grade, so I dropped it. She had me send a detailed explanation to my counselor at the academy, which I did. Could this be the reason why I was rejected? Also, should I start thinking about my other options? I am thinking about ROTC at UC Colorado Springs... One more question: Is this the final decision, is there no way now that I can get into the academy, or prep school? I should also mention that I have not received a rejection in the mail yet.
 
You can be overqualified for the prep school. The spots at the P don't go to numbers 1051-1251 in the overall rack and stack of all of the candidates. It goes to the people who need academic prep, enlisted, and athletes for the most part. It is possible to not be qualified for USAFA and overqualified for the P. There is still hope for a falcon scholarship. Wait until you get the letter, but it sounds like your spot in Colorado is not for this year. You may get falcon and be able to go to NMMI, NWP, MMI, Wentworth, or another prep school for a year and then find yourself in 2017. Best of Luck!
 
So, my mother called the academy yesterday morning (we have been anxiously waiting for any news on whether or not I have received an appointment to either the academy or prep school). The woman she spoke with told her that I did not receive the appointment and that I am not qualified for prep school. What does she mean by not qualified? I am planning to call her back on Monday, but I'm sure no one will answer the phone over the weekend. The only thing I can think of that would have made me not qualified was the fact that I took and had to drop, precalculus this year, my senior year.

Basically, the way my class was set up, we could not use our graphing calculators on the tests or quizzes, but the textbook only explained how to do everything with a graphing calculator. I tried to teach myself everything at home, but it was just too much to learn on my own. So I talked with someone I know that knows the way the academy is run and asked her if it was better that I drop the class or not, and she said it would be better than a bad grade, so I dropped it. She had me send a detailed explanation to my counselor at the academy, which I did. Could this be the reason why I was rejected? Also, should I start thinking about my other options? I am thinking about ROTC at UC Colorado Springs... One more question: Is this the final decision, is there no way now that I can get into the academy, or prep school? I should also mention that I have not received a rejection in the mail yet.

Since the lady said you did not receive an appointment and that you are not qualified for prep school, that means you will either receive a TWE or a QNV letter in the mail. Prep School is for candidates that have all the makings of becoming a cadet but lack in an academic area (most likely). For instance a person might have a high GPA, great extracurriculars, sports, leadership, etc but they have a pretty bad SAT score. They would most likely receive a prep school appointment. Most candidates that apply are overqualified for prep. (You have competitive scores, too high for prep). If you receive a QNV letter in the mail it basically says that you qualified for admission (you met all the standards and were competitive but someone else was in front of you). I'm not sure what the TWE says but it basically means you didnt get in. You could still get an appointment if those in front of you decided to not accept it. I dont know if you can find out how far back you are but my advice would be make your plan B your Plan A. Hope this helps! Sorry for the bad news.
 
Just wondering... what did you ask the woman at admissions? A few weeks ago I called up the Diversity program at USAFA to talk about a few things, then I asked if they could tell me whether or not I would get an appointment, and they said that they were not allowed to disclose it...? :confused:
 
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skydivingkittens: I received it yesterday (I didn't receive any rejections but I found out over the phone; you should try to call your counselor at the academy and see if they have any news). I've found out most of my college acceptances, ect. this way.
 
Cadet15 and Polevault7: Thank you for the advice. I will definitely wait it out. If worse comes to worse, I could always reapply next year. I heard that after spring break, all the appointments will be sent out. Maybe it's possible I can still receive one.
 
Don't take the news too hard. I applied last year and was in the same boat. It stinks but it happens. You applied to one of the most competitive colleges in the nation where less than 10% get in. There's always next year :smile:
 
polevault7: Thank you, I plan on reapplying next year. Did you get straight into the academy after a year of college or did you go to prep school first? Also, I plan on majoring in computer science, will that help when I reapply? Will it also help if I do ROTC my freshman year?
 
Do you know if the admissions counselors will be in during spring break? Because I am really wanting to call to check on my status.....
 
Hey folks!

Appointments are now being sent out...Members of Congress are receiving first notice...it's up to their office whether or not they call. Two "kids" that I've been working with for upwards of 18 months have received phone calls...

You can call your counselor; they may or may not be able to tell you anything. It's really up to the individual whether or not they tell you. "Officially" you're supposed to hear either from your nominating authority or the USAFA...one way or the other.

FYI...ALO's are typically the LAST to hear...we hear from YOU! I heard from BOTH of my candidates that they'd been called...

I know this is the WORST re: anxiety...of times...I went through it twice: first in 1978 and then again in 1979 (yeah, that means I got the TWE the first time...)

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
polevault7: Thank you, I plan on reapplying next year. Did you get straight into the academy after a year of college or did you go to prep school first? Also, I plan on majoring in computer science, will that help when I reapply? Will it also help if I do ROTC my freshman year?

I reapplied this year and I am waiting to hear back. I am currently in ROTC at a state university. As far as computer science goes, it all depends on what you want to do. Definitely give ROTC a try!
 
Basically, the way my class was set up, we could not use our graphing calculators on the tests or quizzes, but the textbook only explained how to do everything with a graphing calculator. I tried to teach myself everything at home, but it was just too much to learn on my own.

This is a silly approach and would probably not serve you well at the Academy. Next time, if the textbook is proving difficult for you, just look for a new one suited to your needs. Do not blame your failure on the textbook.

Also, if it turns out you don't get into the Academy, realize that math/science is heavily emphasized. If you do go ahead and go for ROTC at a university, I'd say try to get precalc done during the summer (plenty of schools have a summer school program), and then get through calc I & II during your first year of college. Realize that a good chunk of your competition has finished the equivalent of an intro college calc course when they apply, so you're a good one to two years behind.

And finally, good luck--you can always reapply, and there's a good chance you'll end up liking it at a civilian university so much that you won't feel the need to reapply.
 
Also, if it turns out you don't get into the Academy, realize that math/science is heavily emphasized. If you do go ahead and go for ROTC at a university, I'd say try to get precalc done during the summer (plenty of schools have a summer school program), and then get through calc I & II during your first year of college. Realize that a good chunk of your competition has finished the equivalent of an intro college calc course when they apply, so you're a good one to two years behind.

caligirl2012: as good as 3QConcerns advice is, I disagree on one point. I struggle with math and always have. At this point, the highest math course I have taken is Pre-Calculus. The way my counselor put it was if you don't have the basics, you can't do the advanced. So my advice would be, if you struggle badly in math, take the highest courses you can that will prepare you for Calculus. For instance, this year I took College Algebra (I never took Algebra I as a kid, went from basic math to geometry to Algebra II), and Pre-Calc. Do I feel at the end of this year I'll be prepared to handle Calculus? Yes, I do. But I'm not sure I could have handled Calculus this year. But call your admissions counselor at some point and get their input. Best wishes! :thumb:
 
caligirl2012: as good as 3QConcerns advice is, I disagree on one point. I struggle with math and always have. At this point, the highest math course I have taken is Pre-Calculus. The way my counselor put it was if you don't have the basics, you can't do the advanced. So my advice would be, if you struggle badly in math, take the highest courses you can that will prepare you for Calculus. For instance, this year I took College Algebra (I never took Algebra I as a kid, went from basic math to geometry to Algebra II), and Pre-Calc. Do I feel at the end of this year I'll be prepared to handle Calculus? Yes, I do. But I'm not sure I could have handled Calculus this year. But call your admissions counselor at some point and get their input. Best wishes! :thumb:

I actually agree on this point too! Having a strong foundation in any subject makes it much easier later on. I took calculus twice myself for this very reason. In strange coincidence, I skipped Algebra I myself.

It didn't sound like she was truly struggling with pre-calculus, and since she has already taken part of it, I don't think it'd be a bad idea to take during the summer to just get it out of the way (and, in a way, this makes it easier since you only have a single class to concentrate on).
 
3QConcerns: I was not blaming my struggles on my textbook; I admit, math has never been my strength, but I have always received good grades with hard work. I am thinking about taking Precalculus over the summer at a community college before I leave for CU. If I do enjoy college and end up not reapplying, ROTC is just another road to graduate as an officer. Congratulations on your appointment.

USAFA:2016!: Thank you for the advice. Congratulations on your appointment and good luck!!!
 
Hey folks!

Appointments are now being sent out...Members of Congress are receiving first notice...it's up to their office whether or not they call. Two "kids" that I've been working with for upwards of 18 months have received phone calls...

You can call your counselor; they may or may not be able to tell you anything. It's really up to the individual whether or not they tell you. "Officially" you're supposed to hear either from your nominating authority or the USAFA...one way or the other.

FYI...ALO's are typically the LAST to hear...we hear from YOU! I heard from BOTH of my candidates that they'd been called...

I know this is the WORST re: anxiety...of times...I went through it twice: first


in 1978 and then again in 1979 (yeah, that means I got the TWE the first
time...)

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83

Can you confirm that the final board has met and that decisions have all been sent to MOC?
 
caligirl,

If you look in the bowels of the AFA website and review what will be "mandated" classes regardless of your major over the next 4 yrs., you will see they are heavily laden on Math and Science.

AFA is not known in the AD world as the "Little Engineering School in the Rockies" for no reason.

College or the AFA is built on the foundations that you have now. HS from middle school probably felt like being fast forwarded from the speed of the class. College/AFA will make that look like slow motion.

I state this only to enlighten lurker and posters of 17. The AFA this yr was looking for a 700+ SAT M score, as a baseline/safe. Flieger stated that back in Sept.

People will always have their side on the SAT/ACT, but the fact is not only is it the system that AFA/AFROTC use for selection, but they do so because it is a national test. It is quantitative, not qualitative. It is national that you all take, which places you all on the exact same playing field.

Yes, I know candidates have test anxiety, but unlike AFROTC scholarship, the AFA superscores, so at some point, that score should rise if you have the foundation.

USAF: 2016! said:
For instance, this year I took College Algebra (I never took Algebra I as a kid, went from basic math to geometry to Algebra II), and Pre-Calc

Actually that is the traditional path, you may have taken Alg I in middle school, thus it was probably called adv. math, but it was Alg I. The program is Alg I to Geo to Alg II. Alg I is the pre-req for Geometry, Geometry is the pre-req for Alg II. It is not Geometry, Alg I, than Alg II. For some kids in HS Pre-Calc is called Trigonometry, since the program is part Geo and part Alg II.
 
what did you end up doing?

The thread is over a year old. Don't expect Caligirl2012 to respond as she is currently a basic cadet at USAFA. Hope that answered your question.
 
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