How many are applying in my area?
- Thread starter acho97
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I'll take a stab at answering this the best I can. I think the only way you can get a good idea about this number is MAYBE asking your MoC how many applications they have received for the AFA. They may or may not have that number and they may or may not share it. You can try admissions but I have no idea if they know or care. Fliger would be the one could help answer this some more.
Ok now that I got that out of the way the only thing that knowing the number of applicants in your area will do will make you MORE anxious. I know you think you need that number and want to know what you're up against but how will knowing that number help you in anyway but make you nervous. It's not like you're going to move to better your chance. Well you might but chances are slim on that you would.
Think of it this way. What if they told you 300 people applied? And what if all 300 applications suck and yours doesn't. Did it really matter that 300 people applied? Nope just that your application was the best.
Remember breath and have fun with the application process! While painful yes but why put yourself through more torture than you need to!
Ok now that I got that out of the way the only thing that knowing the number of applicants in your area will do will make you MORE anxious. I know you think you need that number and want to know what you're up against but how will knowing that number help you in anyway but make you nervous. It's not like you're going to move to better your chance. Well you might but chances are slim on that you would.
Think of it this way. What if they told you 300 people applied? And what if all 300 applications suck and yours doesn't. Did it really matter that 300 people applied? Nope just that your application was the best.
Remember breath and have fun with the application process! While painful yes but why put yourself through more torture than you need to!
Thank you.. hahah I think I really needed to hear that.
I have been totally stressing out over the past like.. month.
I'm just going to focus on doing the best that I can and hoping for good results.
Christcorp
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Yea, boozebin is correct. First, the ALO would know, but if you were one of my applicants, i wouldn't give you that information. Hopefully your ALO would feel the same way. Why?
1. It doesn't matter. As boozebin mentioned, there could be 300 applicants and you're the best. or there could be 11 and you're the worst. Even if I told you the number, it wouldn't do you any good without knowing who the applicants were and how good of an application they had. And even then, unless you had some Voodoo powers that could make those individuals quit applying or make them all fail their 1st semester, the answer is moot.
2. No Control. All you have control over, is YOUR application. If you have the best GPA that you possibly can have because you tried your best, then that's all that matters. If you've got the highest ACT/SAT scores you can possibly get because you tried your best, then that's all that matters. If you've taken the most difficult classes, most leadership, most athletics, most clubs, most volunteer time, etc. that you can do, and you've don't the best you can with all that, then that's all that matters.
Just worry about the things you can control and affect. Don't worry about the things you have no control over. And hopefully, you're not wanting to know, so you can make a decision on whether to apply or not. If that's the case, then you should rethink why you want to attend the academy. Because "Your chances are good" is not the right answer.
But if you're just simply curious, then don't be. It's not worth your time. It's about as meaningful as finding out how many stray dogs and cats are in your state. Unless you plan on doing something about it, it doesn't matter much what the answer is.
1. It doesn't matter. As boozebin mentioned, there could be 300 applicants and you're the best. or there could be 11 and you're the worst. Even if I told you the number, it wouldn't do you any good without knowing who the applicants were and how good of an application they had. And even then, unless you had some Voodoo powers that could make those individuals quit applying or make them all fail their 1st semester, the answer is moot.
2. No Control. All you have control over, is YOUR application. If you have the best GPA that you possibly can have because you tried your best, then that's all that matters. If you've got the highest ACT/SAT scores you can possibly get because you tried your best, then that's all that matters. If you've taken the most difficult classes, most leadership, most athletics, most clubs, most volunteer time, etc. that you can do, and you've don't the best you can with all that, then that's all that matters.
Just worry about the things you can control and affect. Don't worry about the things you have no control over. And hopefully, you're not wanting to know, so you can make a decision on whether to apply or not. If that's the case, then you should rethink why you want to attend the academy. Because "Your chances are good" is not the right answer.
But if you're just simply curious, then don't be. It's not worth your time. It's about as meaningful as finding out how many stray dogs and cats are in your state. Unless you plan on doing something about it, it doesn't matter much what the answer is.
parentalunit2
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How many people are applying from NoVa? Probably lots and lots. All you can do is put together your best package and go forth from there. In life, whether military or civilian, there will be many times where you are competing against others for a golden prize. You just worry about you, hon.
Pima
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Mike,
I am not disagreeing that the ALO would know, but for a place like NoVA, I would assume that there are multiple ALOs for NoVA. I would not be shocked that Fairfax county alone had 2 or 3 ALOs. I would think Prince William would also have at least 2. Than you also have Loudon and Stafford County.
~ The majority of the HS in this area graduate @800 students annually. I believe Fairfax county has @ 22 HS. They have over 180K students. Prince William has 12 HS. They have over 81K students between K-12.
~~ Many of these students are children of military members or retirees.
I think theoretically that even if 1% apply, that would be 80 candidates annually, just for PW county. I would have to guess that you would be looking at least 150 candidates for Fairfax.
~ Now if Fairfax, PW, Stafford and Loudon all have 2-3 ALOs, that would mean @10 ALOs. That it a lot of ALOs. I am not someone that believes the ALO for western PW, close to Fauquier. talks to the ALO in Arlington. Nor do I believe that the ALO from ALexandria is in communication with the one from Stafford. However, in VA, all of them would be considered No VA.
For the OP,
I agree with what everyone has stated previously, just submit your best, and enjoy your senior year.
First, NoVA is considered large. Are you Fairfax, PW, Loudon, Stafford. Chances change for your Congressional district.
VA MoCs talk. They spread their wealth, so do not expect more than 1 nomination. That means we are treading in the ranking the SA for the MoC topic. Many will rank #1 USAFA for Cong., #1 USNA for Sen. A, and #1 USMA for Sen. B. Some posters will consider this gaming the system. In VA, I would strongly suggest that unless you are willing to go to USMA as much as going to USAFA, rethink this idea. When I say 1 nomination, I mean a total of 1 nomination. It could be the only nomination you receive will be from Sen. B., and since you said USMA was #1 choice, that is your only nomination, nothing for USAFA.
Historically from years past there will be @750+ that apply to the Senators. I do not know the break down for each SA. Again, remember some candidates will place 3 choices on their application.
Now, for the good news for NoVA candidates. It is not uncommon for many NoVA candidates to be picked up from the national list.
This is the truth. I would add, this is like asking to be chanced. It gives you a few minutes/hours/days of feeling great, but that only lasts for a few minutes/hours/days. This is a very long haul. My advice is to enjoy the Friday night FB games, hang with your friends, make memories, because next year when you are at BCT, you will want those memories to push you through, and memories of being Snoopy over the bowl on this forum watching and reading every thread to gain insight on your chances will mean squat compared to the letters you receive from your besties.
I am not disagreeing that the ALO would know, but for a place like NoVA, I would assume that there are multiple ALOs for NoVA. I would not be shocked that Fairfax county alone had 2 or 3 ALOs. I would think Prince William would also have at least 2. Than you also have Loudon and Stafford County.
~ The majority of the HS in this area graduate @800 students annually. I believe Fairfax county has @ 22 HS. They have over 180K students. Prince William has 12 HS. They have over 81K students between K-12.
~~ Many of these students are children of military members or retirees.
I think theoretically that even if 1% apply, that would be 80 candidates annually, just for PW county. I would have to guess that you would be looking at least 150 candidates for Fairfax.
~ Now if Fairfax, PW, Stafford and Loudon all have 2-3 ALOs, that would mean @10 ALOs. That it a lot of ALOs. I am not someone that believes the ALO for western PW, close to Fauquier. talks to the ALO in Arlington. Nor do I believe that the ALO from ALexandria is in communication with the one from Stafford. However, in VA, all of them would be considered No VA.
For the OP,
I agree with what everyone has stated previously, just submit your best, and enjoy your senior year.
First, NoVA is considered large. Are you Fairfax, PW, Loudon, Stafford. Chances change for your Congressional district.
VA MoCs talk. They spread their wealth, so do not expect more than 1 nomination. That means we are treading in the ranking the SA for the MoC topic. Many will rank #1 USAFA for Cong., #1 USNA for Sen. A, and #1 USMA for Sen. B. Some posters will consider this gaming the system. In VA, I would strongly suggest that unless you are willing to go to USMA as much as going to USAFA, rethink this idea. When I say 1 nomination, I mean a total of 1 nomination. It could be the only nomination you receive will be from Sen. B., and since you said USMA was #1 choice, that is your only nomination, nothing for USAFA.
Historically from years past there will be @750+ that apply to the Senators. I do not know the break down for each SA. Again, remember some candidates will place 3 choices on their application.
Now, for the good news for NoVA candidates. It is not uncommon for many NoVA candidates to be picked up from the national list.
This is the truth. I would add, this is like asking to be chanced. It gives you a few minutes/hours/days of feeling great, but that only lasts for a few minutes/hours/days. This is a very long haul. My advice is to enjoy the Friday night FB games, hang with your friends, make memories, because next year when you are at BCT, you will want those memories to push you through, and memories of being Snoopy over the bowl on this forum watching and reading every thread to gain insight on your chances will mean squat compared to the letters you receive from your besties.
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Not a problem. I'm usually the guy reminding you young candidates to have fun. Don't get me wrong don't do anything stupid and meet your deadlines but man you're still young you have plenty of adult time to stress out
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Please, acho... man, you gotta RELAX some. You will drive yourself crazy.
Have you done your best? Yes, fine. They'll give you a fair look. If you haven't done your best, really then, what do you care?
Have you done your best? Yes, fine. They'll give you a fair look. If you haven't done your best, really then, what do you care?
Wild Blue Yonder
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FWIW, DS was one of 6 or 7 appointments from the CO-5 (the congressional district that USAFA is actually in) nominations a few years back. Many more from the Colorado Springs area were in his class as well. I haven't kept count of the years before or after this, but I imagine it was about the same. My belief is that several slots are available to other areas of the country from under-represented districts; lets just throw this one out there, Pelosi - San Fransisco... I might get pummeled on the board about this one, but you get my drift. Will agree with previous posters though, just excel and do your best, good luck.
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Pima, actually Mike is correct. As an ALO, I can look at any ALO in my state and see how many candidates they have; I can see every candidate in the state. And I can parse them by congressional district as well.
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
Hahah my ALO said that she didn't have that information... I guess she just didn't want me to know
Or she hasn't looked it up or didn't know she could...
Plus it doesn't necessarily mean anything. How many of them have Presidential Noms, how many end being 3Q, how many of them put your specific SA as their #1 pick in a state that spreads the wealth? There are so many factors that go into this that an ALO can tell you there are 22 in your district yet, only 18 complete the application, 3 are highly recruited athletes, 5 qualify for Presidential Noms, 1 is a reapplicant attending NAPS or Foundation, maybe there are 2 that are military kids who happen to live in another state and are applying for that district, and maybe after all that only 10 of the 18 are actually 3Q. I am just throwing numbers out there as an example and this is an extreme view, but the bottom line is this is something you have zero control over and if you sit there and try to compare yourself to them all or worry about who is who you will lose your mind. Don't get so wrapped up about this, but the best possible package you can put forward. Heck my Plebe year squad mate graduated from Thomas Jefferson in Fairfax. He was 1 of 6 who received appointments from that high school alone to USNA. We had another 3 or 4 from West Springfield in my class and 2 from Paul VI. Those are just the ones I know. So don't get discouraged being from NOVA, plenty of kids do get in every year. Good luck on the roller coaster, hope it all works out.
Plus it doesn't necessarily mean anything. How many of them have Presidential Noms, how many end being 3Q, how many of them put your specific SA as their #1 pick in a state that spreads the wealth? There are so many factors that go into this that an ALO can tell you there are 22 in your district yet, only 18 complete the application, 3 are highly recruited athletes, 5 qualify for Presidential Noms, 1 is a reapplicant attending NAPS or Foundation, maybe there are 2 that are military kids who happen to live in another state and are applying for that district, and maybe after all that only 10 of the 18 are actually 3Q. I am just throwing numbers out there as an example and this is an extreme view, but the bottom line is this is something you have zero control over and if you sit there and try to compare yourself to them all or worry about who is who you will lose your mind. Don't get so wrapped up about this, but the best possible package you can put forward. Heck my Plebe year squad mate graduated from Thomas Jefferson in Fairfax. He was 1 of 6 who received appointments from that high school alone to USNA. We had another 3 or 4 from West Springfield in my class and 2 from Paul VI. Those are just the ones I know. So don't get discouraged being from NOVA, plenty of kids do get in every year. Good luck on the roller coaster, hope it all works out.
Christcorp
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acho. As I said in my previous post, if you were my candidate, I wouldn't give you the information. And I said, hopefully another ALO would feel the same way. So, maybe she felt the same way; or maybe she didn't know how to look it up. The point being, is that the information she could provide you, will do NOTHING for you, other than to increase your stress level. There is not one bit of information she could provide you about your competition that has any benefits to it.
Now, after you receive an appointment, if you'd like to know how many, to pump up your ego on receiving an appointment, I guess that's one reason. But during the process, there isn't one reason on the entire planet that would be a reason for that information being of any help or assistance to you and your application.
Do as the others have said, and just relax; do your best on YOUR application; enjoy your senior year; don't grow up so fast (You'll have plenty of time for that); and just chillax.
Now, after you receive an appointment, if you'd like to know how many, to pump up your ego on receiving an appointment, I guess that's one reason. But during the process, there isn't one reason on the entire planet that would be a reason for that information being of any help or assistance to you and your application.
Do as the others have said, and just relax; do your best on YOUR application; enjoy your senior year; don't grow up so fast (You'll have plenty of time for that); and just chillax.
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I agree with Mike; while I can look up this information, it's really not something I release to candidates. Why? Truthfully, to use a military phrase: they don't have a need to know. They need to know what the academy has on them, what they don't have yet, and what they can do to better their overall package. That's all.
The rest of it...I don't normally look at unless I'm asked to interview a candidate for another ALO.
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
The rest of it...I don't normally look at unless I'm asked to interview a candidate for another ALO.
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83