Honestly, I wish they didn't have this EA (Early Action) program. Or at the very least, better explain it to the applicants. 2 big misunderstandings that most applicants have are:
1) If you are notified in the beginning that you are "EA" eligible, that you have some sort of "Leg Up" or at least your application is "above average". The TRUTH IS: While I won't guarantee that "ALL" applicants are "EA" eligible, most are. I have more than 10 candidates and ALL WERE "EA". That is given out as soon as you basically apply and become a "Candidate". For most people, that's in the summer some time. Way before the academy has even looked at your application. Most of the bigger name colleges/universities have some form of "Early Admission" process. The academy is no different. Not to put anyone down or to discourage anyone, but the academy hasn't reviewed your application PRIOR to sending you the letter that says you're eligible for "EA". If you reach candidate status, and it's before 1 November, then you are eligible for "EA Consideration". In your portal it says pretty clearly: "You are eligible to participate in USAFA's Early Action Program. Please open the attached letter for details."
2) The second point is really disheartening. Many think that if they haven't heard that they've received an appointment by the "MID-January" time frame, that they probably won't receive an appointment. They start getting discouraged. They get stressed out. The truth is; the academy's "EA" program for lack of a better explanation, is very similar to MOST university's "EA" type program. It's designed for the "VERY HIGHLY COMPETITIVE" applicants who are going to have many options. You've heard me mention certain applicants who were part of the "NO BRAINER" Club. That's what the "EA" program was designed for. Basically, the applicant that is pretty much guaranteed to be accepted to ANY University in the country that they applied to. The ones who are going to have 4-5 schools offering them admittance and scholarships. The academy wants to get to these candidates before they say yes to another school (Or other academy) because the offer came prior to the normal March-April time frame. So what does this mean????? If you didn't receive an appointment by January "Under the EA program", then you are part of the "Majority" of applicants who will be waiting until March. It doesn't mean you have less of a chance. This is all it means.
Don't read into it. Not getting selected during "EA" is no different than not getting selected for "Early Admission" to most of the prestigious universities back in "October". Doesn't mean you WON'T get accepted. Just that for a number of possible reasons, they aren't offering you "Early Admission". Or in the case of the academy, an early appointment. Don't read anything more into it than that. Best of luck. Mike.....
And for those who forget to look into your portal and read the letters the academy sends, the first part of the "EA" letter that says sorry, is:
"Thank you for applying to the United States Air Force Academy and meeting the Early Action deadline. After a thorough review of your admissions file, we are deferring an appointment decision until our Regular Selections
period in March. While we have decided not to make you an early offer of appointment, your application will be reviewed again during Regular Selections along with our entire candidate pool. The fact that you completed your
file for Early Action will also be considered at that time and has been noted as a testament to your motivation to attend the Air Force Academy."