Any shot of me getting accepted to USAFA? (Advice welcomed)

[Ojc011]

Hey, I'm looking to attend the Air Force Academy in 2014 and would like to seek advice. My GPA is fairly decent right now and I'm looking to boost it. I am also a junior in high school right now. I currently have a 3.3 GPA and I'd like to major in Aviation. My freshmen year really brought me down because I did pretty poorly, but Sophomore year was very good, finished with several A averages in multiple classes, and junior year is going very well. I am aiming for around a 1900-2000 on my SAT. I take SAT prep classes and take out of school tests to prepare. I am in one club that supports issues around the US, but that's about it for clubs. I don't take many electives relating to my major and I'm not sure if that is an issue. I do play two varsity sports, since I was in tenth grade. One being Volleyball and the other being Basketball. I am the captain of my volleyball team along with another junior and a graduating senior. We have gone to the regional finals the past two years and lost there, but have had overall successful seasons. In basketball, this is my first varsity year, as a junior, and I have seen pretty significant playing minutes, starting most games aside from a two or three. I really feel that I have improved overall as a person and academically in the past two years. I know my freshman year is going to hurt me and maybe clubs, and electives, but other than that, I'm feeling very strong about my sophomore, junior, and senior years.

 

[FlyingFuzz]

Hello there, I only just skimmed through this because the big block of text was hard to read, but I would say that you need to get that GPA up; bust your rear end to get all A's to prove that you've turned around since freshman year. Keep up the sports and being the captain of the volleyball team, that's a positive. Don't aim for a 2000 on the SAT, aim for a 2400 and then whatever happens happens, but don't set your goals low!

The only real "problem" I see is that you say you want to major in aviation. USAFA has no such major. I assume you want to be a pilot, so if you have your heart set on becoming a pilot AND being an aviation major, I think that AFROTC at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is your best shot. It's expensive, so hopefully you could get an ROTC scholarship, and ERAU puts out more rated USAF officers than any other institution other than the Academy. I'm not saying that you shouldn't shoot for USAFA, but it sounds like you don't have all of your information straight so you might want to do some more research. Regardless, best of luck to you on whatever you decide to do.

 

[Dad]

To add on to what FlyingFuzz wrote, you need to know that there is NO major associated with a pilot slot. We have English, Management, Aeronautical Engineering, and History majors patrolling the skies worldwide.

I suggest that you get the book 'Air Force Academy Candidate Book : How to Prepare, How to Get In, How to Survive', by William Smallwood. It is available online from almost any bookseller. This will give you (and your parents) a better idea of what you are getting yourself into.

You also have to aware that the Academy experience is only 4 years and that you will owe at 5 years (even more with a pilot slot) upon graduation. Make sure that you are looking beyond the college part of becoming an officer. There is MUCH more to it than that. Also, some change their mind about UPT when they get to USAFA. Some even find out they are not pilot qualified medically. Not every pilot wannabe gets a slot.

Best wishes.

 

[Usafamom2016]

+1 for that book! Dad. We got it on a trip to USAFA and it was extremely helpful for DS and I.