Official Candidate...

My son attended summer seminar this year and is waiting patiently for the application process to open up. He emailed his ALO, but received no response and the ALO listed has not contacted him. Should he be worried? He was hoping to contact him before he leaves for China, since he'll be gone the rest of the summer. He'll contact me on a weekly basis to see if he has to do anything online...beginning July 1st!!! (he'll be in rural areas trekking and living on farms, so not available at a moment's notice)
 
No need to worry as Flieger stated the ALO's are expecting the release date @ June 30th
 
And because the majority of the application can literally be done online; with the exception of getting his transcripts, doing the CFA, and his medical physical; there's no reason he should have any problem doing the application while he's gone. MAKE SURE that he contacts the teachers who he wants to give him a recommendation. I can't remember right now, but it's a math teacher; I THINK an english teacher, then a teacher of his choice. (SOMEONE CORRECT ME IF NEEDED). Get their email addresses. Because when he puts that info in his application, the academy will send them an email with an online recommendation form for them to fill out. If the teacher isn't aware of this, they might think it's spam and not look at it.

Granted, it will be difficult for your son to get the entire application done prior to the end of July/August; being he'll be away; but if he can have everything set up ahead of time; such as talking with the high school so he can send them an email; and they'll be ready to send his transcripts; then he SHOULD be able to walk off the plane coming home ONLY needing to do the CFA and the medical physical. He could actually get this 100% complete within a week or two of arriving home. But it's going to take preparation now. Contact the teachers; contact the school admin; contact the ALO; doing the application online while in China; contacting SAT/ACT and sending scores; etc... I've been through the application process quite a few times with numerous applicants. (Including my son). 30-45 days to complete it all is not difficult. It just requires commitment. Best of luck to you.
 
Thanks...he is probably too ahead of the game! Transcripts are sent, SAT scores sent...both have been updated online. He was finally able to get ahold of teachers last week and they are standing by, ready. Just a quick facebook email to let them know when to get on their school email account. (Not an easy task during the summer, and with one being from an international school) He has written about 4 essays including ones to ROTC and to each MOC for their applications, hopefully this will cover any questions asked. All nomination applications are completed, just waiting to get letters of recommendations returned (transcripts sent and SAT scores ordered). And, he took DoDMERB exam this week. He's trying to figure out how to stay in shape while in China for 6 weeks, hopefully another student or instructor will have the fitness bug and will help him out. He'll need a jogging buddy, but the rest he can do on his own. So, he arrives home Aug 8, and then on Aug 10 football training starts. Hopefully by the end of Aug he can do his CFA. Then he'll be done! And considering he had a college visit trip the day school got out, then USAFA SLS, then an aviation conference for 10 days and now off to China, I'm pretty proud he was able to get all of this done.
 
Excellent. Sounds like you all have it figured out. It will definitely pay off for him. Best of luck....
 
Christcorp-
After reading your posts and others these last few months, we realized the key was to FINISH EARLY! Can't do anything about the CFA, since the forms aren't requested yet, so he had to take care of everything that he had control over.

I believe you posted a paragraph discussing God's will (I hope it was you or you will think I'm Crazy!!) , and it has been on my mind since I read it recently. I have a friend who's son is in the midst of this process for academy and rotc. And she basically gives it all up to God, and if her son does not choose to fill out the applications then it is God's will. Not, that it is her son's will to choose from the choices that God has given him. Obviously, he's choosing to NOT attend an academy or Not to go to college on an ROTC scholarship by NOT filling out his applications...but I'm amazed that she feels this is God's choice for her son (to not attend)...rather than her son's choice.

Your paragraph really struck home, because I was worried that I didn't have enough faith in God because I would reflect on the choices in front of me and then actually do something, rather than just let things happen. My kids are the same way. They might not see God in the picture all of the time, but they ponder and then act. I feel sad for those people that will never act, because they will 'wait' for God to decide. I might make a wrong decision, but we can't learn unless we actually do something.

Sorry...off topic. But wanted to let you know that your words had an effect.
 
Singaporemom; it sounds like you and your son (kids) have a very grounded faith. By my screen name, you can probably guess that I have some faith myself. I do. And to NOT let this go off topic into a religious topic; (I promise not to let it); you are correct of my assessment. I do believe that god presents opportunities for us. I do believe that he speaks to our hearts. But when the dust settles; it's you, (Or in this case, your son), who actually has to fill out the applications, take the tests, take the CFA, medical, etc... God isn't going to fill out the forms and take the tests for him. So you are doing fine. And if your son does 100% of everything he can; and does it to the best of his ability; and then STILL DOESN'T get accepted to the academy; then "I Believe" that God will continue to present him with MORE opportunities to fill his desires. Maybe it's still the academy; maybe ROTC; maybe a traditional college; etc... So, whether you believe that God puts "Opportunities" in your path; or you believe that the opportunities are random acts of fate and there is no God; the actions/results are still the same. You, the participant, must take action upon those opportunities. And whether you believe in God or not; that is what "FREEDOM OF CHOICE" is all about. Best of luck to you. Do your best; have your son do his best; and "IT WILL ALL WORK OUT". Maybe "IT" is the academy; maybe "IT" is something else. That isn't important. Doing you best, ceasing the moment, and welcoming opportunities is what's important. Take care..... Mike......
 
Candidate Lists "Active" this morning

Hi all!

Just to let you know...this morning USAFA identified to the ALOs the first "batch" of candidates.

From this point onward, package "completion" will be the first "layer" of review: if your "initial package" is complete, then the "powers that be" will review and make a preliminary evaluation. Note: this is NOT the "end all" for anyone!!! If "you" weren't identified today as a candidate, so what? Means NOTHING. It can occur ANYTIME AFTER this morning!

And for MANY MANY MANY folks it won't happen until they receive a nomination because that's just how it'll happen. And they have JUST as good a chance at an appointment as anyone else.

So...work on those things that YOU have control over: test scores, extracurriculars, grades, jobs, community involvement, etc..etc..etc.. The rest will fall out as it will; you don't have control over that. Just remain focused on the end objective!

But most of all, DO NOT WORRY ABOUT IT! I don't mean to sound cavalier about it but you're now part of what we call "the game." And "the game" is not over until the final out, the last second is off the clock, or when you withdraw or are appointed. Period.

And as I was an "early candidate" to ALL the SA's in high school (and a reject to the class of 1982 by all of them!) I don't take this lightly (no ALO does)...it took me another year of school to make it. Some on this board will do the same thing; others will "walk right in" and nobody knows who or how...it just happens. And some will seemingly have EVERYTHING that you could want/have and they won't get in. So, as I said: control/worry about that which you can affect and the rest will just take time and the results will be what will be.

Okay...long post over...I have to go call a couple of "kids" to discuss their interests, motivations, etc.:thumb:

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Son is now an official candidate. Very exciting, but have a question.

Teacher evaluation-
Math teacher is from Junior year, that's fine
English teacher is from Sophomore year (His Junior teacher was anti-military)
Does he scrap the Sophomore teacher and pray the Junior teacher will be fair, despite her bias? He got a great grade, but he's nervous about her.
Extra-subject- he wanted to highlight his Chinese studies, and his sophomore chinese teacher from Asian international school would be perfect...but again, no sophomore teachers allowed. She and son have kept in contact and she has been mentoring him over the past year. What to do.

So, basically is it true that USAFA will throw out Sophomore teacher evaluations?
 
Son just heard back from USAFA counselor. No Sophomore teachers in evaluations. arrgh!
 
I suggest that your son speak with or email the teacher in question that he believes is anti-military. First, he should be contacting these teachers to get their email address anyway to put into the application. Also; you want to let them know what to expect so they don't think it's SPAM email and delete it. (Yes, it happens). But most of all, the best thing he can do in the conversation or email is to THANK the teacher for all they have done for them as a student and individual. Yes, I know it sounds like Kissing Up; and to an extent it is; but welcome to the real world. Have your son express his DREAMS, GOALS, and PASSION. If the teacher is anti-military, stay away from mentioning the "War" side of the academy. One of my son's teacher was totally against my son playing football or applying to the air force academy. He believed my son should be going to MIT and getting a degree and career in the science and math fields. When my son contacted him; he mentioned how great of an education the air force academy offered. How it was one of the best engineering schools in the country. He mentioned aeronautical engineering. He mentioned the hard science classes. And so on. Needless to say; the teacher wrote a "Glowing" recommendation to the academy. Play to the teacher's passions and ego.
 
Your rotten CC, but I agree totally "Play to the teacher's passions and ego."
 
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