One of my friends was telling me that she just got accepted to AFA Prep school after being denied an appointment (not wait-listed). She said she heard that the academy took the "next 60 candidates that would have gotten in, and sent them to the prep school." Does anyone know anything about this? Is this a common thing that they do? Do any other academies do the same thing?
Prep School
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BlahuKahuna
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Pretty sure that's not right because that's how I heard the Falcon Foundation program described back when I went to Summer Seminar. Logically, that wouldn't be how USAFAPS fills its appointments, because many USAFA preppies are folks that are academically unqualified or recruited athletes, so they likely wouldn't fit into that top 60.
That's what I thought, but wouldn't those next 60 fit into the "academically unqualified" category? They were obviously strong candidates to come so close, but there was apparently some academic flaw (or some other reason). Wouldn't they want to fill their prep school with the best of the denied candidates?
there are way more qualified candidates who apply than there is room for in an incoming class so that assumption that those top 60 are somehow unqualified is incorrect. Many of people who got falcon foundation scholarships (the "top 60" that you are referring to) were actually very qualified and typically do great things at the academy... only they do it a year later than originally expected.
USAFAPS is a little different like BlahuKahuna was saying.
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USAFAPS is a little different like BlahuKahuna was saying.
Sent using the Service Academy Forums® mobile app
You can learn more about the Prep School in the following threads.
http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=34635&highlight=USAFAPS
http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=33466&highlight=USAFAPS
http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=34635&highlight=USAFAPS
http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=33466&highlight=USAFAPS
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The actual selection process for the USAFA Prep School is truthfully...
Known only to those involved in the process. It is pointless to speculate (although everyone does) because our air force is looking for a diverse population of cadets and cadet candidates (title of prep school student). And I don't mean "racially, ethnically, etc." when I say "diverse."
"In the Air Force, diversity is broadly defined as a composite of individual characteristics, experiences and abilities consistent with the Air Force Core Values and the Air Force Mission. Air Force Diversity includes but is not limited to: personal life experiences, geographic background, socioeconomic background, cultural knowledge, educational background, work background, language abilities, physical abilities, philosophical/spiritual perspectives, age, race, ethnicity and gender" ("AFPD36-70," 2010, p. 2).
So while there are many young airmen appointed to the prep school, and there are recruited athletes there too, there are a bunch of other candidates that met one or more criteria that the USAFA and the USAF have established for admission. As an ALO I can't tell you what that criteria is or even if it's "firmly set in stone" or "variable by year." I have a "hunch" its a living criteria and changes to meet the needs of the air force and our nation.
Just thought I'd put that out for all to ponder...
Reference
Air Force Policy Directive 36-70. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.af.mil/Portals/1/documents/diversity/afpd-36-70-diversity.pdf
(What, no sense of humor? I was working on a paper in my PhD program when I took a break and came on the SA forum!
)
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
Known only to those involved in the process. It is pointless to speculate (although everyone does) because our air force is looking for a diverse population of cadets and cadet candidates (title of prep school student). And I don't mean "racially, ethnically, etc." when I say "diverse."
"In the Air Force, diversity is broadly defined as a composite of individual characteristics, experiences and abilities consistent with the Air Force Core Values and the Air Force Mission. Air Force Diversity includes but is not limited to: personal life experiences, geographic background, socioeconomic background, cultural knowledge, educational background, work background, language abilities, physical abilities, philosophical/spiritual perspectives, age, race, ethnicity and gender" ("AFPD36-70," 2010, p. 2).
So while there are many young airmen appointed to the prep school, and there are recruited athletes there too, there are a bunch of other candidates that met one or more criteria that the USAFA and the USAF have established for admission. As an ALO I can't tell you what that criteria is or even if it's "firmly set in stone" or "variable by year." I have a "hunch" its a living criteria and changes to meet the needs of the air force and our nation.
Just thought I'd put that out for all to ponder...
Reference
Air Force Policy Directive 36-70. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.af.mil/Portals/1/documents/diversity/afpd-36-70-diversity.pdf
(What, no sense of humor? I was working on a paper in my PhD program when I took a break and came on the SA forum!
)Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2013
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- 103
Some of my best long-time friends went to USAFAPS.
I had the local AFROTC Det Comm tell me that going to the Prep School was a bad idea, and I would be better off joining ROTC there...he also said being a pilot was overrated...
I had the local AFROTC Det Comm tell me that going to the Prep School was a bad idea, and I would be better off joining ROTC there...he also said being a pilot was overrated...