I'm assumming we're all getting a little nervous waiting for that packet to show up. I was wondering, what can I be getting ready/doing in the meantime? This is my first time applying to USAFA, do I have to wait to get things like LORs and wait to apply for nominations?
2018 Hopefuls
- Thread starter BoyerPA
- Start date
I suggest getting started on you nomination applications now. A lot of the information you gather can be used for the USAFA application or some form of it. I would get in touch with your teachers that will be writing you LORs (Math, English, and additional teacher - I think) plus an optional person that knows you well that can write you a LOR. Also, create a resume of everything you have done in high school and every award or recognition you have received. This will help get all the information together in one place. List everything even if you don't think it is very important. At least you will have it. Finally, begin thinking about why you want to attend a service academy. I believe each year they require one of the essays to include this topic. After that it is just a awaiting game.
Practice, practice, practice your CFA and review and schedule for your SAT/ACT exam in the fall. Take it as many times as you can and take both to see which one you do better on. My DD took the exam 8 times since sophomore year because she was not satisfied with her scores. The academies do Superscore the exams so they will only count your best scores on each section
Practice, practice, practice your CFA and review and schedule for your SAT/ACT exam in the fall. Take it as many times as you can and take both to see which one you do better on. My DD took the exam 8 times since sophomore year because she was not satisfied with her scores. The academies do Superscore the exams so they will only count your best scores on each section
I will echo the poster above. Also, there are many things you can do right now, like tomorrow, to check off a box that will need to be checked.
1) Go get a nice suit/dress and have a passport photo taken. You will likely need it for a nomination packet
2) Start working on a resume. In my area, both the Senators and the House rep require a resume as part of the packet. One says one-page only, the other doesn't specify. Have both ready.
3) Get your LOR's done for the nomination packets. Take your recommender a list with the address of each Senator/House rep. Check each Senator/House rep's website to see if they require a "form" in addition to/in lieu of a LOR. Take the forms and list of addresses to your recommender with the resume above (so the recommender has a full understanding of what all you are involved in). With word processing these days, the recommender can crank out three of the same letter with only the addressee being different. That way, you don't have to go back to them later for more letters.
4) Get copies of your high school six-semester transcript sent to the academy. Even if the official application isn't open, they will add it to your preliminary file and you won't have to send it later.
1) Go get a nice suit/dress and have a passport photo taken. You will likely need it for a nomination packet
2) Start working on a resume. In my area, both the Senators and the House rep require a resume as part of the packet. One says one-page only, the other doesn't specify. Have both ready.
3) Get your LOR's done for the nomination packets. Take your recommender a list with the address of each Senator/House rep. Check each Senator/House rep's website to see if they require a "form" in addition to/in lieu of a LOR. Take the forms and list of addresses to your recommender with the resume above (so the recommender has a full understanding of what all you are involved in). With word processing these days, the recommender can crank out three of the same letter with only the addressee being different. That way, you don't have to go back to them later for more letters.
4) Get copies of your high school six-semester transcript sent to the academy. Even if the official application isn't open, they will add it to your preliminary file and you won't have to send it later.
One CFA suggestion - test yourself with all of the parts together just like it will be on the real test. I was great at the individual events but when they were stuck together in a short period of time, the exhaustion factor kicked in and my scores went way down.