Candidate Phase of Application

My son's admissions counselor said last week that the letters of recommendation could be re-used from last year, but everything else had to be resubmitted.
 
My admissions counselor, a very nice lady called Renita Menchion, said that everything must be resubmitted and that nothing may be carried over except the DoDMERB. Maybe your son's counselor was misinformed or just wrong.
 
Concerning the request for the HS transcript, since the form is filled out, does the school also need to send the "official transcript?"
 
fly boy said:
Concerning the request for the HS transcript, since the form is filled out, does the school also need to send the "official transcript?"
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Yes - Admissions require the official scores to be sent in right from the source; in this case, your high school.
 
Your school also needs to send the academy your class ranking as well as your school profile. I recommend that you coordinate with the school NOW before they open up for classes. They should have some time to work with you. We got our school to get all the things together the academy needed, and my son went to the school to get a copy. (I taught him to have a COPY of everything). While there, he brought a large envelope that was already postage paid and addressed to the academy. He basically, in a nice voice, convinced the counselor and admin at the school to put all the papers in the envelope, sealed it, and put it in the outgoing mail. This way the school wouldn't forget, postpone, or procrastinate. This is YOUR FUTURE!!!! Take charge of it. NONE of this is the school's responsibility. They might have the information the academy needs, but it's your RESPONSIBILITY that they send it. Just make sure you're respectful and polite. mike.....
 
Christcorp said:
Your school also needs to send the academy your class ranking as well as your school profile. I recommend that you coordinate with the school NOW before they open up for classes. They should have some time to work with you. We got our school to get all the things together the academy needed, and my son went to the school to get a copy. (I taught him to have a COPY of everything). While there, he brought a large envelope that was already postage paid and addressed to the academy. He basically, in a nice voice, convinced the counselor and admin at the school to put all the papers in the envelope, sealed it, and put it in the outgoing mail. This way the school wouldn't forget, postpone, or procrastinate. This is YOUR FUTURE!!!! Take charge of it. NONE of this is the school's responsibility. They might have the information the academy needs, but it's your RESPONSIBILITY that they send it. Just make sure you're respectful and polite. mike.....
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We have done all this, and gone to the extent of making sure it went with USPS Delivery confirmation (for my peace of mind, knowing that it arrived is worth the extra money). I have once again sent in the required information for his Presidential nomination (sent it the first time on March 16, 2011). They sent a letter back the first time, but when I asked his Academy counselor about, they were like, we'll get to it eventually or something to that extent. It is frustrating, knowing the materials are sent and have arrived and yet nothing is being updated. They did update his SAT scores finally, and they put in his class rank and his GPA yet is still says the school hasn't sent in the information. I set it up very specifically when we went to his school, so they knew what exactly was required (post it notes with directions and addressed envelopes). I know this is a different time, but when I did this two years ago with his sister (who had a different counselor-who must have been on top of everything) everything ran like clock work. Within days of receiving documentation it was uploaded and showed as such on the application page. It was my daughter dragging her feet that took the most time, but she still made it in (at the very last minute). Now, I know we are still early on in this application time frame, but we are trying to be ahead of the power curve this time, not behind it, DS is convinced that all this foot dragging is going to equal him not getting in and his first choice is USAFA, but we will take Navy too. DS already has his DoDmerb complete and is qualified-initially this was sent by USNA as we are applying to both. Even that took almost a month from the time we got the paper qualification statement from DoDmerb that he was USAFA qualified, to be updated on the application page. I was told only DoDmerb can enter that information, and this holds true to what I experienced with my daughters application. His SAT scores are acceptable(within the ranges noted for acceptance), but he is going to take them one more time to see if he can improve more. He had a 200 point improvement overall from the first time he took them. We are continuing his Congressional nomination paperwork, and work on Senatorial, though with California being so Large, we will see how that goes. Thanks, I just really needed someplace to vent and our ALO is out of town on a mission for the next two-three weeks. I am looking forward to PW in a few weeks though:biggrin:.
 
By all means read as much as you can. Ask as much as you can. Learn as much as you can. But let me give you a warning. No matter how much you think you know about the academies; no matter how much ROTC, CAP, etc... experience you have; no matter if you are a military brat;........... You have no idea what you're getting into, until you actually get there. I've seen kids come home during BCT who have talked about going to the academy their whole lives. They read everything they could find on the subject. I've seen military brats who were raised in this environment and believed they could handle anything. "And THEY probably could"; but they decided they didn't want it any more.

By all means learn as much as you can about academy life and military life. The only thing my son said he was "PREPARED" for, was the screaming. When he first got to BCT, a Firstie was in his and a few other's faces. He didn't smile or doing anything wrong, but the Firstie could also tell he wasn't phased too much. He asked my son if he thought this was "Easy" and why he didn't seem affected. He simply said: "You've never been around my dad". But other than the military TI in your face part; my son admitted that even after 18 years growing up with this; he didn't realize what he really got into. Well; he's a Firstie now. Was commander during BCT. Is one of the commanders now for the first semester. And he says he doesn't regret his choice at all. And he said he's glad that he went to BCT without any preconceived ideas of what would or should happen. He simply took it one day, one hour, one upper classman in his face at a time.

If you remember WHY you wanted to come to the academy. Remember what your long term goals are. Remember how the academy is going to help you reach your goals. And remember why you want to serve your country........ Then the rest will work out just fine. You'll do fine. You'll grow and reach your goals. It's good to learn, but don't confuse "Learning Something" with thinking that you "Know Something". You'll have no idea what BCT and the academy is until you actually get there.
 
I cannot agree with Christcorp more, my DS is a member of the class of 2015. I have counseled 4 sets of parents since I-Day whose appointee/cadet were considering or is in the process of out-processing. One of these cadets had been a Falcon Scholar, in other words, he was not appointed the first time he applied, was awarded a Falcon Scholarship, attended prep school for a year and still came to BCT/USAFA unprepared for how he was going to react to being in the military and attending a service academy. The cadet is out-processing as we speak. This is a rather extreme example in my mind, but this is what Chistcorp means when he says "You'll have no idea what BCT and the academy is until you actually get there". That said, if you go there with an open mind, a goal, and the desire to serve, the academy will seem like the best place you can be. Good luck.
 
Christcorp said:
The only thing my son said he was "PREPARED" for, was the screaming. When he first got to BCT, a Firstie was in his and a few other's faces. He didn't smile or doing anything wrong, but the Firstie could also tell he wasn't phased too much. He asked my son if he thought this was "Easy" and why he didn't seem affected. He simply said: "You've never been around my dad"
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I have to say, I think many military kids feel this way. I am not implying the parents are screamers, but they have been raised in a world where the common cliche is when they don't do it, or don't follow directions:

If I did how you just did that at work, somebody can die.

I think it is the mentality, that they have seen every action they do, will result in another action for someone further down the chain. Thus, they are not looking at just the little picture, but the big picture too. This gives them the ability to "deal" with the pressure easier than others. They have removed it from being "personal" to being a part of the "professional" aspect.
 
Heheh,

my son said about the same thing when he went to the SS and did the "Doolie for a day" thing - he mumbled something about after Dad and his Coaches this wasn't going to be too bad... I cautioned him that he's better keep his mouth shut, his ears open, and be quick to do what's needed. Especially without giving ANY hint that he wasn't taking this 110% seriously... Or else I guaranteed him that he would be shooting himself in the foot with a GAU 8...

Best
 
Pima; I think you keyed in on the major thing. "Remove it from being personal". I always knew that in the military, but never really thought of it. That attitude transcends to home and raising the kids. It wasn't so much "screaming" as it was being disciplined. If you have a job to do; "Do it once, do it right, and move on". Simply a matter of discipline.

I thinking one of the greatest "Bonding Moments" between my son and I was a couple months ago. Many people said they weren't sure how my son would handle being a commander in BCT, because he's naturally much more quiet and reserved than a TI or BCT instructor would normally be. I mentioned the same thing. He even admitted that he though he'd be "Too nice". After a week in BCT we spoke on the phone, and I asked him how it was going. He said it couldn't believe that he and other could actually be that stupid when they were in BCT. He said it's like BCT starts, and all that intelligence that got you there gets turned off. He said he never met so many people that could turn so stupid, so fast. He said it was easy to raise your voice when you know someone isn't stupid, that they have the potential, but for some reason it all disappeared out of their head. I smiled and said: "Now you know what it's like to be a military parent". LOL!!!

But the military isn't personal. That's because you're now part of something bigger than yourself. You're part of the "Ultimate Team". Everyone relies on everyone else. That transcends when you get home. You aren't treating your children like "Soldiers". But at the same time, you don't take any crap. Basically, I told my kids growing up, that as a supervisor, NCOIC, and 1st sergeant; that I don't take that crap from 20 year olds at work, I'm sure not going to take that crap from a 12 year old at home. But you learn in the military and in a military family that it's not personal. That your parent do in fact love you. That your supervisor, ncoic, oic, etc... do care and respect you.
 
CC you are right. You never realized that it transcended into your personal life.

I know for us it did transcend. Sometimes, I had to say to Bullet, leave the AF at the front door when you enter the house.

I would say my kids are better for it IMPO, remember I only have 1 going military out of 3. However, their work ethic is insane. They make a commitment and perform at 110%, not for us, not for them, but for everybody relying on them.

If your child walks in and keeps a mantra in their mind while being screamed at they will succeed.

"It is not personal, it is professional".

This will allow them to accept when they fail, it wasn't because they weren't liked, it was because they did not perform at the standard set.
 
My son told me once about a friend of his who did something bad at home. He got a "Butt Whooping" for it. My son told his friend: "I WISH I got a butt whooping. I would have rather had that than one of "My Dad's Lectures". LOL!!!

But do I regret anything? Nope; not in the least. I've got two great kids who both finished high school at the top of their class. My son is a senior at the academy. My daughter graduated college in 4 years instead of the typical 5-6 that many student do. Neither got into the drugs, alcohol, or getting pregnant. Both understand the value of a dollar and have excellent savings and don't waste money. The spend money for enjoyment and entertainment, but responsibly. We NEVER end a conversation or say goodbye without saying "I love you" (And mean it). And whether we only get to spend a couple hours together after a football game or a couple weeks during breaks from school, both kids (young adults) want to visit and spend time with us. And neither is too proud to not call for the occasional advice on something in their lives. Of course it's always just advise. They must make the final decision.

I pushed, prodded, harassed, etc... both of them during their college application days; as well as in all their life changing choices. But I always made THEM DO THE WORK. Even as someone who's been counseling individuals about their college and/or military options for more than 10 years, and even as an ALO with a pretty good knowledge of the "process"; I never did the applications or leg work for either kid. They knew it was their responsibility. I was just there to answer questions, give solicited advice, and nag them if they procrastinated. I think that's why my daughter was able to succeed so well in college and my son is doing so well at the academy.

But back on topic, the academy has their procedures for admissions and for life at the academy and air force. It's very meticulous. It is very orderly. It might not seem efficient at times, but it really is. This isn't the University of Getalife. A traditional university pretty much will take anyone who can afford it. Whether you're successful when you graduate or not, they don't really care. The academy's primary goal is to make their students effective leaders. The college education is secondary. Totally different set of goals. Once you understand the "WHYs" of the academy and the military, life gets much easier.
 
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