BuckeyeDad20
Member
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2019
- Messages
- 317
Hello, my DS hopes to attend either USNA or USAFA entering the class of 2024. Like most parents, I think my son should obviously receive an appointment and if the admissions office could spend some time with him, they would realize how awesome he is. However, that is not the process. In lieu of that, I search for affirmation from this forum and other information I can collect to help determine his chances. I admit, when I look, I am basically looking for anything that makes it seem more likely that he will get to make his dream come true.
I realize neither this forum, nor an ALO/Blue Gold Officer nor any other person can actually assuage my concerns. But what he and I both find helpful is hearing stories from men and women who have received appointments. Learning what activities they were involved with. What successes they had. GPA, test scores, etc. All of this info collectively helps provide some guidance to help manage expectations.
So, in the hopes of helping other parents and high school students, I am sharing details of my DS as he steps through this process. I am NOT asking folks to tell me his chances. I am not asking for anyone to make me feel better about his chances of getting in. I am purely stating the info so that others can use it as just one set of data. Then we will see if he gets in or not. Maybe it will ease someone’s mind. Maybe it will inspire others. Maybeit will show a deficiency. In any case, you will have some additional info to use how you wish.
Applicant Details:
Gender: Male
Race: White (non-Hispanic)
Height: 5’ 10
Weight: 178lbs
Family: My wife and I are both former USAF officers. My DS also has 3 uncles and 1 aunt that were USAF officers (two of which attended USAFA)
GPA: 4.0 unweighted (7 AP classes through Junior year, 6 AP classes scheduled for senior year)
Class Rank: 3/258
Desired Major: Aerospace Engineering
ACT:
March 2019: 32 composite
Scheduled for additional tests
Sports:
Football 1
Rugby 1, 2, 3
Track 3
Extracurriculars:
Mock Trial 1
Speech and Debate 1, 2, 3
NHS
Leadership:
Sophomore House Captain
Senior House Captain
Captain Speech and Debate 1, 2, 3, 4
Community Service:
Lots
Work:
Has worked part time during school year and full time summer since 8th grade
Other:
Pursuing his Private Pilot’s License, solo’d 2018, expects to complete Fall 2019
Attended Air Camp 2016
Attended USNA Summer Stem 2018
Attended USNA Summer Seminar 2019
Attended Buckeye Boys State 2019
Applied but not selected for USAFA Summer Seminar 2019
CFA results:
June 2019
BBall Throw: 75ft
Pull-ups: 10
Sit-ups: 60
Push Ups: 40
Shuttle Run: 9.18
Mile: 7:11
My thoughts:
DISCLAIMER:
I have no special knowledge or experience. My comments are purely based on what I have read online like many of you and my experience in the USAF (which is now 22 years old for whatever that is worth).
Academics:
Academically he is very strong. He has always been in Honors/AP classes.
He scored a 32 on his first ACT with zero prep. I expect he can boost/superscore it to 34 in the next two tests.
Athletics:
He is cursed with his parents DNA and is not very athletic nor tall. He played Varsity Rugby as a Junior so he probably just checks the box in this category as he is not a stand out talent nor does he play 3 varsity sports each year. But he has played a team sport at least every year and played two sports his Freshman and Junior years.
Extra-Curricular:
Speech & Debate is a big deal for him. He started the team and got a great teacher advisor. He has grown the team from 4 people his first year to an expected 20 to 25 this coming year.
Work:
Work is part-time during the school year and full time in the summer to fund his flight training. He is pursuing his PPL because he loves flying. I know the military trains its pilots and the PPL does not necessarily help him get in...however...USNA does ask if you have it (presumably for some reason). More importantly, it demonstrates a goal, commitment, and sacrifice. Most importantly, he is doing something he is passionate about. That being said, it is REALLY expensive, so do it because you love it, not because you think it gives you a leg up in this process. The benefits he gets from saying he has a PPL could be matched by someone else who is passionate about some other subject/project and also demonstrated similar traits so follow your passion.
Leadership:
Captain of Speech & Debate for all four years. Served as House Captain Sophomore year and again his Senior year (school divides student body into 6 Houses). Its a fairly big deal at his school. As a Senior he leads about 160 kids.
Overall:
I think he is competitive. Certainly there are aspects of his profile he would like to improve. He has been working out everyday over the summer and will be taking the CFA again soon to help improve that area. Overall, as I have been preaching to him, whether he gets in or not, he is making choices and putting in work that will benefit him wherever his future takes him and he has a bright future.
I realize neither this forum, nor an ALO/Blue Gold Officer nor any other person can actually assuage my concerns. But what he and I both find helpful is hearing stories from men and women who have received appointments. Learning what activities they were involved with. What successes they had. GPA, test scores, etc. All of this info collectively helps provide some guidance to help manage expectations.
So, in the hopes of helping other parents and high school students, I am sharing details of my DS as he steps through this process. I am NOT asking folks to tell me his chances. I am not asking for anyone to make me feel better about his chances of getting in. I am purely stating the info so that others can use it as just one set of data. Then we will see if he gets in or not. Maybe it will ease someone’s mind. Maybe it will inspire others. Maybeit will show a deficiency. In any case, you will have some additional info to use how you wish.
Applicant Details:
Gender: Male
Race: White (non-Hispanic)
Height: 5’ 10
Weight: 178lbs
Family: My wife and I are both former USAF officers. My DS also has 3 uncles and 1 aunt that were USAF officers (two of which attended USAFA)
GPA: 4.0 unweighted (7 AP classes through Junior year, 6 AP classes scheduled for senior year)
Class Rank: 3/258
Desired Major: Aerospace Engineering
ACT:
March 2019: 32 composite
Scheduled for additional tests
Sports:
Football 1
Rugby 1, 2, 3
Track 3
Extracurriculars:
Mock Trial 1
Speech and Debate 1, 2, 3
NHS
Leadership:
Sophomore House Captain
Senior House Captain
Captain Speech and Debate 1, 2, 3, 4
Community Service:
Lots
Work:
Has worked part time during school year and full time summer since 8th grade
Other:
Pursuing his Private Pilot’s License, solo’d 2018, expects to complete Fall 2019
Attended Air Camp 2016
Attended USNA Summer Stem 2018
Attended USNA Summer Seminar 2019
Attended Buckeye Boys State 2019
Applied but not selected for USAFA Summer Seminar 2019
CFA results:
June 2019
BBall Throw: 75ft
Pull-ups: 10
Sit-ups: 60
Push Ups: 40
Shuttle Run: 9.18
Mile: 7:11
My thoughts:
DISCLAIMER:
I have no special knowledge or experience. My comments are purely based on what I have read online like many of you and my experience in the USAF (which is now 22 years old for whatever that is worth).
Academics:
Academically he is very strong. He has always been in Honors/AP classes.
He scored a 32 on his first ACT with zero prep. I expect he can boost/superscore it to 34 in the next two tests.
Athletics:
He is cursed with his parents DNA and is not very athletic nor tall. He played Varsity Rugby as a Junior so he probably just checks the box in this category as he is not a stand out talent nor does he play 3 varsity sports each year. But he has played a team sport at least every year and played two sports his Freshman and Junior years.
Extra-Curricular:
Speech & Debate is a big deal for him. He started the team and got a great teacher advisor. He has grown the team from 4 people his first year to an expected 20 to 25 this coming year.
Work:
Work is part-time during the school year and full time in the summer to fund his flight training. He is pursuing his PPL because he loves flying. I know the military trains its pilots and the PPL does not necessarily help him get in...however...USNA does ask if you have it (presumably for some reason). More importantly, it demonstrates a goal, commitment, and sacrifice. Most importantly, he is doing something he is passionate about. That being said, it is REALLY expensive, so do it because you love it, not because you think it gives you a leg up in this process. The benefits he gets from saying he has a PPL could be matched by someone else who is passionate about some other subject/project and also demonstrated similar traits so follow your passion.
Leadership:
Captain of Speech & Debate for all four years. Served as House Captain Sophomore year and again his Senior year (school divides student body into 6 Houses). Its a fairly big deal at his school. As a Senior he leads about 160 kids.
Overall:
I think he is competitive. Certainly there are aspects of his profile he would like to improve. He has been working out everyday over the summer and will be taking the CFA again soon to help improve that area. Overall, as I have been preaching to him, whether he gets in or not, he is making choices and putting in work that will benefit him wherever his future takes him and he has a bright future.