Early Admission Question

Southpaw3

Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2016
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16
I understand that USAFA has implemented the rolling admission system, in order to compete with other universities, and I have a question concerning the deadline.
My personal deadline (located in my portal) was November 10th. I finished my application a couple of weeks before the 10th, so does that mean I will hear mid-Jan/early-Feb (the customary time period for universities to report early action results)? I have received three nominations (Sen. Rubio, Rep. Grayson, and Presidential) as well. Thanks in advance.
 
My deadline was Nov 1st and I heard back at the end of December, so hopefully you will hear soon!
 
Last year, I did Early Action (EA) as well (application submitted by 11/1). I had a double nomination and was 3Q'd with really high test scores. I was kind of expecting an early appointment. What I got instead was a major lesson in humility. I received a deferral notice in January like the majority of EA applicants, and received my appointment in March, along with most of my other (extremely well qualified) classmates. Through that experience, I learned that it's not a good idea to think of myself as "special". (I'm not at all saying that's your attitude--this is just my personal anecdote.)

I understand USAFA has changed their process slightly this year by instituting a "rolling admissions" system, but if I were you, I would still expect to hear back around mid-March. I get that such a long wait is disappointing--trust me, I went through 4 1/2 months of it last year--but it is better to be surprised by an early decision than disappointed by a later one. Not saying an early action appointment won't happen (congrats on the triple nom!), but not expecting or counting on it will definitely save you anxiety. Good luck to you! :thumb:
 
I understand that USAFA has implemented the rolling admission system, in order to compete with other universities, and I have a question concerning the deadline.
My personal deadline (located in my portal) was November 10th. I finished my application a couple of weeks before the 10th, so does that mean I will hear mid-Jan/early-Feb (the customary time period for universities to report early action results)? I have received three nominations (Sen. Rubio, Rep. Grayson, and Presidential) as well. Thanks in advance.
Southpaw, congratulations on your your NOMs and completing your application. I am not so sure that USAFA has implemented a rolling admission as opposed to a staggered admission policy. It was our understanding that they were staggering the deadline dates to give the admission staff and the candidates a more organized process so as not to deal with so many applications being finished closer to the January 31st deadline. "The applicants will be promoted in the order they applied and most deadlines to complete the candidate kit will occur from the 1st of November to the 31st of January."

My DD's deadline was also November 10th and she completed her application on October 25th, receiving 3 NOMs as well (Sen. McCain, Rep. Trent Franks, and a Presidential). She was expecting to hear word either in March or April but was extremely surprised and elated to receive an offer of appointment on December 17th. My DD accepted it that morning. The waiting is the hardest, knowing that you have done all you can do and it remains in the hands of the selection board. Even though our wait is over, we have pulled up a chair and are waiting with each and every candidate...cheering them on and wishing good luck. There are so many deserving candidates, and we certainly hope that you are one of them. You have accomplished much so far in just getting your application completed and securing your nominations. It will not matter in the long run whether one receives the appointment in December, April, or even June for that matter. When all report to I-day, no one will care when you received your appointment, just that you did and were chosen as one of the best of the best for the class of 2020. I wish you luck and hope to hear good news from you in the future. Aim High.
 
If you receive an LOA does that mean you are 3Q'd?
Not always. Some LOAs are conditional upon medical (DoDMERB), CFA, or other things. Often it does mean you are 3Q'd. Depends on the situation.
 
I understand that USAFA has implemented the rolling admission system, in order to compete with other universities, and I have a question concerning the deadline.
My personal deadline (located in my portal) was November 10th. I finished my application a couple of weeks before the 10th, so does that mean I will hear mid-Jan/early-Feb (the customary time period for universities to report early action results)? I have received three nominations (Sen. Rubio, Rep. Grayson, and Presidential) as well. Thanks in advance.

There is no early action process this year. There are only rolling deadlines by which you must be complete. There is no early notification in January. You will only hear something early if you are offered a Letter of Assurance (LOA) or an appointment. Most notifications (if appointed) will occur in late March. Most non-selects will be notified in April. Please review this year's Instructions to Candidates for the Class of 2020.
 
Oh my God..... Someone actually read the instructions?

Hee hee. Sorry. Not dogging anyone. It's just that so many questions can be answered by reading. Application, nominations, cfa, appointments, etc.

Excellent post In-the-know..
 
1+ In-The-Know

Perhaps people mistakenly think there is early action because of this timeline that is on the USAFA Admissions website:
October
  • The Academy begins offering a portion of the total appointments to students who have completed all phases of the application process. Appointments will continue to be offered through June, with the majority being offered in March.
  • From October 1 through January 31, letters of assurance are sent to students who will be offered an appointment but do not have nominations yet. The letter assures the students that they will be offered an appointment when the nomination is received.
November
  • In November, former cadets will be reviewed for reentry to the Academy in January. We review former cadets twice per year, once in April and once in November.
  • Rolling Deadlines: Your specific deadline to complete your file is posted on your portal. You must complete the required items by the deadline posted.
It clearly states, as InTheKnow said, that the only things rolling are the deadlines.....(and my head with all these interpretations):confused:
 
ok but if I had everything in before I was offered the LOA it means I was 3Q'd? I was just worrying about my CFA
 
ok but if I had everything in before I was offered the LOA it means I was 3Q'd? I was just worrying about my CFA
SMJ89, according to the Candidate Kit, if you fail the CFA, USAFA will send you a request to retake it. If they did not ask you to do it again, it would be safe to say that you passed.
 
Just received my appointment. So sorry for missing that part of the Instructions to Candidates.
Congratulations to you! The wait is over, now go and purchase some bubble wrap and pile it on. Don't let up though, you have to make it to I-day. Have a good backup plan just in case. :) And don't forget to add your name to the Class of 2020 appointment thread. It is great to see it growing day by day. Aim High!
 
Falconsrock, how do I know which nomination source the Academy officially chose?
I do not know the answer to your particular question. My DD found out when she received an official certificate from her Rep congratulating her on her appointment. We assumed it was from his slate. But, I have read on this forum, (I think from ChristCorp), that the Academy can move things around and your appointment can end up on the slate of any one of your nominating sources. For example, my DD has a nomination from the President, one of her senators and her district representative. She could be slated to the President which would open up a spot on her Rep's slate for someone else. She cannot take the senator slate because he elected a principal nom and it will go to that candidate, provided he/she is fully qualified. If you only got one NOM, then it is much easier to tell. There is no indication on the portal that tells you which slate you are charged to. And, does it really matter? You're in! Way to go.
 
I was just wondering because the pattern on the appointment thread seems to be to post your nominating source as well. Either way I'm excited!
 
I was just wondering because the pattern on the appointment thread seems to be to post your nominating source as well. Either way I'm excited!
You post all your nominations i.e. Presidential, Senator (Name), Rep name and district. We just did not post Senator McCain because she was offered an appointment before she even knew she received his NOM. Either way, congrats again.
 
SMJ89, according to the Candidate Kit, if you fail the CFA, USAFA will send you a request to retake it. If they did not ask you to do it again, it would be safe to say that you passed.

Best advice -- Be patient -- find something fun / productive to do rather than worry about when you will get the portal update. Until you are told you will not receive an appointment, you are still in the hunt!

My DD had everything in for EA last year. She did not fail CFA, but did not do great on pull-ups/arm-hang and Admissions emailed her and asked her to do again. She submitted the revised CFA a couple of days after the EA deadline and was bumped to regular admission. We did not hear until April. We also know of a couple that did not hear until May, and even one in June!

There are a lot of moving pieces to the Admissions process.

Hang in there.
 
Best advice -- Be patient -- find something fun / productive to do rather than worry about when you will get the portal update. Until you are told you will not receive an appointment, you are still in the hunt!

My DD had everything in for EA last year. She did not fail CFA, but did not do great on pull-ups/arm-hang and Admissions emailed her and asked her to do again. She submitted the revised CFA a couple of days after the EA deadline and was bumped to regular admission. We did not hear until April. We also know of a couple that did not hear until May, and even one in June!

There are a lot of moving pieces to the Admissions process.

Hang in there.


Sorry - I meant that was the best advice I can give, not that it was inherently "the best" advice.
 
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