Advice for "gap year"

fly boy

5-Year Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2010
Messages
356
I'm planning on doing a year of college elsewhere and applying for the Academy for the next year. Any advice?
 
I haven't done what you are doing, but I have a few suggestions (if you aren't already doing the following). Be sure you do well in school (obviously), and participate in ROTC if you can, let your ROTC commander know your plans because I have heard that they can help you a lot.
 
FlyBoy: maintain the highest GPA possible and take the highest level Math you can. If your SAT/ACT scores are low, take a refresher course and practice the tests... often! Maintain/Improve your physical fitness. Make sure you have some strong leadership experience. Have a job? Good. Work in your community, volunteer. Make contact ASAP with your ALO and maintain that contact.

Good luck!
 
I did a year of college and then applied to the academy. And I think fencersmother has the best advice.

My big mistake was not keeping up with my "techy" classes. Take the highest level math you can, and try to get into physics or chemistry, which are typically the harder core classes.
 
I did a year of college and then applied to the academy. And I think fencersmother has the best advice.

My big mistake was not keeping up with my "techy" classes. Take the highest level math you can, and try to get into physics or chemistry, which are typically the harder core classes.

May I ask why you decided to do a year of "regular" college first?
 
I am in college now and plan on doing the same thing. Right now I am taking English 101, Intro To Engineering, College Algebra, and Personal Finance. Also I work around 30 hours a week and plan on doing community service. I got a call from the ALO on monday telling me she wants to set up an interview around November. How often should i keep in contact with her? anything else i should do?
 
Try to work on your math. Having solid algebra skills is absolutely essential, but not having calculus experience will likely put you at a serious disadvantage at USAFA. There are quite a few classes that require an understanding of Calc 1. (They do teach it, but you would be starting late...)
 
You'll want to contact your ALO as much as possible so that they remember your name apart from all the other applicants they're dealing with, and so they know you really want to come. Any little question you have, email or call your ALO and ask.

I personally wouldn't advise people to take a year off before coming to the Academy. I was a direct entry. I'd say to apply anyways, while you're making up your mind, and if you get accepted - take it. If not, take that year off and try again. If you're thinking about transfering credits, a lot of cadets get frustrated because most of the credits aren't able to be transferred. If you're thinking that it will give you a little more time to grow up - basic training will do that for you. :yllol:
 
Well, I'm not really worried about trying to transfer credits. The college I'm planning on going to is a Bible College.
 
Well, I'm not really worried about trying to transfer credits. The college I'm planning on going to is a Bible College.

This is no reflection on your religion. Read the rest in that note.

Why in the world are you filling your gap year with a bible school??? I'm making some assumptions about it, if I'm wrong, then nvm, but hear me out.

USAFA will be looking to see if you are bolstering your math and science skills. Is a bible school going to be doing that compared to a local state U or even a community college. Can you take advanced level calculus, stats, or engineering courses? Honestly, for the gap year, try to find a program that will as closely as possible mimic the 4 dig year at USAFA. If you can do well in a gap year program which mimics freshman year, the USAFA will then consider you a much, much stronger candidate than if you enroll in a program which is not relevant to the USAFA curriculum.

Now, if you're calling BYU, TCU, etc. a bible school and I'm mistaken, then that's that lol.
 
Do you mean that you not going to attempt to transfer any credits at all while spending this year at the Bible College?
 
This is no reflection on your religion. Read the rest in that note.

Why in the world are you filling your gap year with a bible school??? I'm making some assumptions about it, if I'm wrong, then nvm, but hear me out.

USAFA will be looking to see if you are bolstering your math and science skills. Is a bible school going to be doing that compared to a local state U or even a community college. Can you take advanced level calculus, stats, or engineering courses? Honestly, for the gap year, try to find a program that will as closely as possible mimic the 4 dig year at USAFA. If you can do well in a gap year program which mimics freshman year, the USAFA will then consider you a much, much stronger candidate than if you enroll in a program which is not relevant to the USAFA curriculum.

Now, if you're calling BYU, TCU, etc. a bible school and I'm mistaken, then that's that lol.

I'm not just planning on doing a gap year and decided to fill it with a Bible college. I want to go to build my faith, take a year to learn more about God, and have a "home away from home" with a church I can be accountable to. I know that this isn't the best way to prepare for one of the Academies, but that's not the purpose of my going there. There aren't many "technical" classes, but there is Calculus, Chemistry, and Physics. It isn't an accredited college, but I guess I can report those grades and stay active in community work. The college offers lots of opportunities for that.
 
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