Preparing for next year

kevster

10-Year Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2009
Messages
207
Hi all,

First off I want to say congrats to everyone who has received an appointment! Way to go everyone! I havent heard anything from my top two schools yet (USAFA and USNA). I know that there are more appointments that have yet to come out but I'm going to assume that I will not be one of them. I guess I just want to be prepared for the worst and hope for the best. With that being said I have a couple questions about the application process as a college freshman.

Nominations - Are my MOC's the same if I am in college out of state? Are interviews done via phone call?

Letters of Rec - Can I use the same letters as this year (updated) or should I try and get new people at college to write them?

College Choice - Does my school matter? Community college vs. 4 year school?

Classes - Should I be taking classes that mirror the SA freshman classes? Should I retake the SAT or should I just be focusing on classes at college?

ROTC - My plan is to be in either NROTC or AFROTC is this good or bad? 1) ROTC unit commander sees this as a lack of comittment to ROTC 2) SA sees this as a comittment to being a officer.

Any advice would be very helpful!

Thanks,

Kevster
 
Good questions kevster, I have many of the exact same. Particularly regarding recommendation letters (reusing the ones from this year), and ROTC. I have received a 4 year ROTC scholarship, but I really want to apply again next year. Am I committed to that scholarship for all 4-years once I accept? Also, what can I do to improve myself for next year? Can college students even retake the SAT? And similar to kevster, how does your ROTC commander view it when you are trying to go for the AFA again?

Thank you all,

Brian
 
Congrats on the sholarship Brian! Do you mind if I ask what school you got it for?
 
Hi all,

1. Nominations - Are my MOC's the same if I am in college out of state? Are interviews done via phone call?

2. Letters of Rec - Can I use the same letters as this year (updated) or should I try and get new people at college to write them?

3. College Choice - Does my school matter? Community college vs. 4 year school?

4. Classes - Should I be taking classes that mirror the SA freshman classes? Should I retake the SAT or should I just be focusing on classes at college?

5. ROTC - My plan is to be in either NROTC or AFROTC is this good or bad? 1) ROTC unit commander sees this as a lack of comittment to ROTC 2) SA sees this as a comittment to being a officer.

Finally! A a thread where I actually have something to contribute. :biggrin: FYI: I applied to the USAFA last year, didn't get an appointment, and and reapplying this year.

1. Yes, you will use the same MOCs. You can also get an nomination through your ROTC CO. The Academy gives 20 appointments each year through this nomination source. Neither of my senators do interviews. My congressman said I would be interviewed over the phone. I guess they decided it wasn't necessary though, because I got the nom without doing an interview.

2. Not sure if you are referring to the optional letters of recommendation or to the required evaluations. You can use your recommendations from last year. You also have the option of submitting up to three more recommendations. If you are referring to the teacher evaluations, you must get three new ones from different teachers.

3. Yes. At least that is the impression that my admissions counselor gave me.

4. Absolutely. My admissions counselor at the Academy stressed the importance of taking courses that mirror Academy course requirements (calc, physics, chemistry, etc). As for the ACT/SAT, you should definitely consider retaking it. Every extra point you can get will help. Personally though, I got a 33 on my ACT in high school and didn't bother retaking it.

5. Doing ROTC is GREAT for your application. Don't even think twice about it. Not only will it help you with your application, but it will also make your transition to a SA a little easier. That is another thing that my admissions counselor stressed. I was also worried about my CO seeing my application to the Academy as a sign that I was not committed to ROTC. You shouldn't have anything to worry about though. The fact that you are applying to a service academy shows that you are very committed/motivated toward serving as an officer, which is what really matters. My CO (a USAFA alumni no less) couldn't seem to understand why I would want to leave ROTC and get my commission the hard way. He has been supportive though. When I spoke to him, I stressed the fact that my application to the USAFA does not mean that I am not committed to ROTC. My advice: tell your CO about your intention to apply to the Academy as soon as possible. Next, work your butt off in ROTC and in your academics. This way, if you don't get an appointment on your second try, you will still be in good standing in your ROTC detachment.

Please let me know if you (or anyone else) have similar questions.
 
Awesome thanks soccerdude! OK a few follow up questions.

1. How difficult was it to get recommendations from your teachers?

2. Can you expound on the CC vs. 4 year school? Forgive me if im wrong but isn't an A in Chemistry 101 @ CC the same as an A in Chemistry 101 @ 4 year school?

3. When the SA looks at your app are they looking at A) college transcripts & College resume or B) H.S. transcripts, College Transcripts, H.S. Resume and College Resume all at the same time?

Thanks for your help!
 
1. How difficult was it to get recommendations from your teachers?

2. Can you expound on the CC vs. 4 year school? Forgive me if im wrong but isn't an A in Chemistry 101 @ CC the same as an A in Chemistry 101 @ 4 year school?

3. When the SA looks at your app are they looking at A) college transcripts & College resume or B) H.S. transcripts, College Transcripts, H.S. Resume and College Resume all at the same time?

1. I'm assuming you are referring to the 3 required teacher evaluations (math, english, other), not the optional letters of recommendation. I didn't get evaluations from my college professors. The first time I applied, I got evals from Junior year teachers. This time I got evals from my senior year teachers. I established good relationships with my high school teachers and knew that they could write better evaluations than could my college professors. I submitted my evaluations towards the beginning of the semester, so I had hardly even spoken to my professors yet.

2. You very well may be correct. I didn't apply to any community colleges so this question never came up when I spoke with my Academy admissions counselor. The best thing to do would be to call your admissions counselor.

3. They look at everything.

It is good that you are taking your back up plan seriously. However, keep in mind that most appointments are sent out in March. Don't be discouraged that you haven't gotten one yet. That being said, don't get too discouraged if you don't get an appointment this year. I was quite upset last year when I got my rejection letter. However, I am now glad that I didn't get accepted last year. Having completed a semester of college and ROTC, I already feel MUCH more prepared mentally, physically, and academically for Academy life. And guess what.... I just checked my application status about a minute ago and it was just changed to Appointment Offered!!!!! So, if you don't get in this year, don't sweat it.
 
And guess what.... I just checked my application status about a minute ago and it was just changed to Appointment Offered!!!!! So, if you don't get in this year, don't sweat it.

Hahaha thats AWESOME man congrats!!
 
Congratulations soccerdude407 on your appointment. Thank you, you pretty much answered all my questions on ROTC. I was afraid that if I didn’t get into the Academy and took the ROTC scholarship that I would not be able to apply again, big relief knowing that I can. Well like a few thousand other I am still in the waiting game. Good luck kevster and bsa07eagle. Hope we all are classmates next year.
 
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