Mass Appointments

I can remember my ALO telling me that he was among 6 people from his district that received appointments.
 
usafa84 said:
Son just found out he's not getting an appointment either, nor will he be wait listed. 34 ACT, 2060 SAT, 4.15 Weighted GPA, Eagle Scout, Summer Seminar, Marching Band, X-Country, lifeguard...and more! Definitely a bummer for him. Because of his high GPA and test scores, he won't be offered a Prep School slot or Falcon Foundation Scholarship either.

Good luck to the rest of you waiting!
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How did you find that out for sure?? That makes absolutely no sense to me....unless he is in really bad shape or has no community/leadership positions. His academics + athletics + Eagle Scout, i thought would get someone in no problem....
 
Also, the prep schools don't necessarily only go to the kids that arent academically qualified. I heard that they accept 1300? appointments if im not mistaken. And that the Next top rated 100 candidates that DID NOT get appointments are offered a scholarship to one of the 4 Academy prep schools around the US??? At least thats what a current Northwestern Prep told me a month ago. He didnt get appointment, even though he had a 4.0 and 1840 SAT, but got prep school because he was still in the NEXT TOP 100 slots....
 
If this will help. I am using hubbies account. My son is in great shape. Did above the mean on his CFA and academically has been in 33 honors and AP classes. He has won an AP scholar award for his AP scores. Leadership.....TONS....starting with Eagle with palms to directing school musical etc. It boils down to sports. He attended a private school in London while we were attache's at the American Embassy. He lettered in x crountry as a freshman and played JV baseball. This is the BAD part of being a military brat! We moved back to the states during his highschool. He joined the marching band for another diverse experience which eliminated cross country. Practices were at the same time. He felt it would be okay since he had already lettered. He would do baseball. Come spring he could not get on the Baseball team! Team had been groomed since the eighth grade! He kept busy with leadership to fill time. He could have abandoned the band and jumped right back into running but the band needed him. They would have been knocked out of their division and he was a brass player. My son couldn't let them down. That decision cost him. I know his integrity, he said last night, he would make the same choice knowing what he does now.
Good luck to all!
 
oh ya....thats the issue right there. I know how big sports are for USAFA, especially a 4 year commitment/letter to the same team during High School. Sorry....well then all is well if he doesnt regret his decision!!! :thumb:
 
usafa84 said:
If this will help. I am using hubbies account. My son is in great shape. Did above the mean on his CFA and academically has been in 33 honors and AP classes. He has won an AP scholar award for his AP scores. Leadership.....TONS....starting with Eagle with palms to directing school musical etc. It boils down to sports. He attended a private school in London while we were attache's at the American Embassy. He lettered in x crountry as a freshman and played JV baseball. This is the BAD part of being a military brat! We moved back to the states during his highschool. He joined the marching band for another diverse experience which eliminated cross country. Practices were at the same time. He felt it would be okay since he had already lettered. He would do baseball. Come spring he could not get on the Baseball team! Team had been groomed since the eighth grade! He kept busy with leadership to fill time. He could have abandoned the band and jumped right back into running but the band needed him. They would have been knocked out of their division and he was a brass player. My son couldn't let them down. That decision cost him. I know his integrity, he said last night, he would make the same choice knowing what he does now.
Good luck to all!
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I started XC and Soccer this year (first sports I've played in high school) so that still doesn't make sense to me.. I got an appointment and he blows me AWAY with the academics and extra-curric. Did you call in and they told you specifically that it was lack of sports?
 
Kt, We know it was sports. We knew something was wrong when AC kept blowing him off and wouldn't update his current GPA etc. We talked to "high up" and was informed it was the sports. Band was not counted as much, shocking considering the amount of work and dedication it took, which he lettered in as well. As a mom it is hard to watch something he has worked for since the fifth grade end this way. Life moves on and he will accept another school. It won't be his dream but he is already, in my eyes, a great man for making the right choices in his life and not the easy ones.
 
As the parent of a 2005 USAFA grad, and 2013 appointee (who just received a rejection from USNA) and one who has also functioned as an ALO, I can say with much certainty that it is rarely a singular issue. This is the reality in civilian admissions as well--the world in which I function on a professional level. That which separates one candidate from the next is often miniscule and subjective. These are all amazing young people with the qualities intrinsic in leaders. The majority of them would find success at any SA and at most civilian universities. While the USAFA whole person score may be primarily based on objective percentages and very calculable, it is the intangibles that end up making a difference. It may be an essay, or the overall feeling of a package, or the sincerity of teacher recommendations. It is always easier for us to justify any of these disappointments with an easy answer--but as parents we never get into the back room and truly will never know. The best thing we can do for our young people is not to attempt to rationalize the "why" but to work with our sons and daughters to prioritize an action plan going forward. If there is a real desire (and I have had candidates attempt appointments two and even three times) then realistic proactive alternatives and support is the key.
The bottom line is--sports, test scores, GPA's, leadership, scouting, all the components one could possibly imagine can be in place-- there are kids who receive appointments with all types of profiles from all types of school/home school environments, for all kinds of reasons--and those who do not. If these forums teach us anything, it should be that comparisons and assumptions are futile. Utilize the the previous class profile as a jumping off point and go from there--but know that NOTHING is written in stone, no one is a shoe-in for an appointment...ever, and the majority of candidates who do receive those thin envelopes will never know why.
 
She's right, about the only thing you can do is call your admissions counselor and find out where you were weak
 
Well Said Teal3!

Well said, Teal3! Welcome to the forums. I look forward to hearing more from you.
 
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