Chances?

usafmk95

5-Year Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2013
Messages
75
Stats:
GPA: 3.25 (up until junior year)
Rank: 53 out of 457
*Senior year grades are all A’s & one B+ so the GPA went up & rank went down… waiting to get transcript
SAT: 1790 (600 reading, 540 math, 650 writing)
AP and honors classes

750+ community service hours
Certified volunteer emergency medical technician
Student mentoring programs
Fire dept volunteer as well as for propane gas emergency respondents program
Civil Air Patrol member (Cadet Master Sergeant)
-Security Forces Familiarization Course
-Regional Cadet Leadership School (Ranked 10/40)
-Cadet Leadership School (Honor grad)
-Public Affairs NCOIC
-Flight Sergeant
-Color Guard
-Encampment
Youth Police Academy Cadet/Staff years
Homeroom rep in student government
Numerous school clubs
National Honor Society member/VP
Rotary Youth Leadership Award
Decent work experience paid/volunteer

CFA scores were max for push ups, above average for all the rest except the mile which was pretty decent still

Nominated by senator and congressman

If anyone know my chances or has any suggestions, please let me know.

Thank you.
 
Called it. The "Chances?" never end!

Also, those are some AMAZING extracurriculars. And good job on the CFA, that must have been a lot of work.

Good luck, I hope to see you at I-day!
 
Stats

Your stats are competitive, but like so many others who want an absolute on getting the "BFE". There are a number of influences that are beyond our control. Remember its not the highest score but the candidate who is the well rounded. And who your competition is. Unfortunately you have chosen one the most competitive SA.

Good Luck, really!

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
Have you played any sports? Your math score is really low, too...those are probably your two biggest weaknesses. If you reapply, you'll definitely want to bring that math score up.
 
When you say that is your GPA up until junior year, does that include your junior year grades?

Your standardized test scores are a little low across the board. I had similar scores last year.

Again, your chances depend on who your competition is.
 
very good extracurricular involvement. I do know that your math SAT score is not high enough to be deemed competitive. I believe your SAT reading and math score must be above 590. Also work really hard in school to get that GPA to at least above a 3.6. Up your Math SAT and GPA and you should be competitive!

Never give up on the SAT! My first time I got a 620 Math, 530 Critical Reading... USAFA sent me a letter saying I was not competitive. My 3rd time I got a 750 in Math and 630 Critical Reading. Read the College Board SAT book! Very helpful!
 
There are a lot of good records that get turned away. The one thing that people forget is that the Academy wants to reflect the general population. A kid form rural Illinois with a good record may beat out a a kid from Chicago with an exceptional record. A person of one race may get preference over another. A female may get preference to a male. Everyone who applies has a great record it just depends on what demographics are needed.

It takes a lot of skill, near perfect timing, and a bit of luck. You can only control one of them.
 
is there a quota for male:female ratio or is it based on number of applicants?
 
There's no quota. While the military wants their officer corp to be representative of the enlisted corp they are leading; which in turn is preferred to be representative of our nation overall; there's too many variables involved in the appointment process. A quota would never work. The academy can try and solicit more individuals of a certain demographic to apply; but they can't appoint based on a quota system. Main thing is that approximately half of the appointees each year, BY LAW (U.S. Code Title 10), are determined by the district and state that they live in an apply from. In theory, if a member of congress wanted to use their right to decide WHICH ONE OF THEIR NOMINEES WOULD RECEIVE THE APPOINTMENT, the academy would have no say so in this. And some members of congress in fact do exercise this right. So, based on averages, of the 1000-1200 appointments given each year, approximately 535-600 appointments could be given each year, and the academy wouldn't have any say so whatsoever in those appointments. (Assuming they met the minimum standards and were qualified).

Now, the academy does have say so and control over the other half, but there's still politics involved. While they have the right to choose as they see fit, if they chose the remaining 500-600 appointees ALL from say California; or ALL were men; or ALL were black; or ALL were whatever; you could see the political ramifications. Women obviously make up approximately 50% of our country's population. However; women don't make up 50% of the applicants applying to the academy. If only 25% of the applicants are women, it would not look good if 50% of the appointments were women. That would show that either, the BEST of the BEST of all women were applying; or that standards have been compromised. The same goes for any demographic sub category.

Don't get me wrong. Diversity is very important to the military. There's a lot of pros to diversity. The fact that every representative and senator is guaranteed a certain number of cadets in itself is a great diversity factor. It ensures that all taxpayers; all states; all districts are represented. The academy will try and get the academy more diverse; but as an ALO, I can tell you that the majority of effort isn't on any quotas. It's the academy trying to get us ALO's and their advertising/marketing department, to get MORE DIVERSE PEOPLE to apply. Thus, a larger pool of diversity to choose from.

But to finish, let me also say that diversity is much more than men/women, black/white, gay/straight. It includes rural, farmer, inner city, christian, jew, atheist, single parent family, first generation american, first generation college student, rich, poor, etc... The list is endless. Diversity is what our nation has flourished on. But it's a lot more than skin color and reproductive capabilities.
 
Your stats are competitive, but like so many others who want an absolute on getting the "BFE". There are a number of influences that are beyond our control. Remember its not the highest score but the candidate who is the well rounded. And who your competition is. Unfortunately you have chosen one the most competitive SA.

Good Luck, really!

Push Hard, Press Forward

The most competitive SA is USNA, where only 7% get admitted.
 
The most competitive SA is USNA, where only 7% get admitted.

Competitive is part of the Einstein "relative" category. If you were from Southern California; Florida; Virginia; etc... and were applying to the Naval academy, I'm sure it would be more competitive than the individual applying from North Dakota or Wyoming. Matter of fact, many of our MOC's BEG kids to apply to ALL of the academies. In Wyoming, North Dakota, etc... you'd have a much better chance of getting into the Naval academy than you would the air force academy. Our MOC's have even told some applicants that they're almost guaranteed an appointment to the merchant marine academy if they'd just apply. Then again, we barely have any lakes. Navy and merchant marine are not on the top of the list of those seeking an academy appointment. Not like someone who lives on the coast.
 
Jason,

I think your statement that USNA is the most competitive based on 7% acceptance is a little presumptuous. From what I know the SA's are capped at 1000-1200 admits/year and that the USNA historically gets more applicants. Just an example: if the USAFA gets 10,000 (12+k for 2016) applicants and takes 1,000 thats 10% admission; if USNA gets 15,000 (20+k for 2016) applicants and takes 1,000 because of the cap, thats about 7% - just by virtue of a bigger application pool. Now if the USAFA got 15,000 applicants and took 1,000 - they would get the 7% too and we would be equals wouldn't we?

It looks like you are a USNA candidate and I am going to the USAFA so we all have our biases. USMA will also have their own stats and so will the other SA's. I just wish to make a point that one cannot say who is better or more competitive based on one single number/qualifier - just not fair to anyone and it doesn't benefit anyone including future cadets to ANY academy. One applies to and goes to a particular academy by choice not because he/she wants to be part of a statistic.
 
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