SAT Scores... What's the reality here?

March SAT results are in... not what DS was expecting... His high scores between Jan and March are Reading 570 Math 610 Writing 570. He was enrolled in one of the top SAT Prep classes in our area... He doesn't know what happened.
DS has Plan B ROTC colleges, but is determined to keep on fighting for Service Academy appointment. GPA 3.75. Resume looks incredible in the EC and Leadership areas.... He was just counting on these SAT scores to go up. Advice? Take more of the SATs and forego the subject test opportunities? How many times becomes TOO much with a red flag going up?
I would skip any SAT specific subject tests until he can get all his SAT reasoning scores higher. Below are the median SAT and ACT AFROTC scores. The SAT score reflects math the verbal composite only (the writing score is omitted). Your son's 610 in math and 570 in verbal is an 1180 which is 10 points higher than the median score but 80 points lower than the average score (the really high scorers raise the average away from the median in this pool of scores). I would encourage him to consider afrotc as his match program and the usafa as his reach school. He can continue to pursue admission to the usafa but he should spend a lot of time researching universities with afrotc programs and pick some to visit personally and arrange to meet the afrotc staff. If he is able to get into the USAFA great but he should feel he can accomplish his goal of becoming an officer no matter what decision the admissions and nomination committees make. I would also prep for the ACT test and see how that goes. Good luck to your son!

AFROTC scholarship recipients for 2010:
Mid-Range Applicant Scores* Mid-Range Eligibility Scores** Average Scores of Recipients†
Class Rank Top 25% Class Rank Top 19% Class Rank Top 12%
GPA 3.46 GPA 3.59 GPA 3.77
SAT 1170†† SAT 1260†† SAT 1260††
ACT 27 ACT 27 ACT 27
* Average scores of the middle half of AFROTC applicants for 2010
** Average scores of the middle half of AFROTC eligible candidates for 2010
† Average scores all AFROTC scholarship recipients for 2010
†† Math and Verbal portion only

To be eligible for scholarship consideration, you must have an SAT composite of 1100 (Math and Verbal portion only) or ACT composite of 24, attain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and have a class ranking in the top 40%. The majority of scholarship recipients have also completed some advanced placement and honors courses.
 
He really should try the ACT because sometimes kids do better on one than the other and the AFA will take the best score.

I am not sure I would say that a 680 M is strong, I would say it is the median for the AFA. 680 M and 650 V are their medians. You always want to be above since PAR is 60% of the WCS.

As for AFROTC, you also need to comprehend their system of Type 1,2, and 7 scholarships. Thus, although the median may be 1260, it may not be high enough for a Type 1; only 5% of the scholarships are Type 1, and 95% of those are for tech majors. If the median is 1260, and only 5% get Type 1, expect that these candidates are above the median. The bulk, @75% are offered Type 7, thus, you can expect those are the candidates with a 1260 score.

AFROTC and AFA do not "talk", and unlike the AFA, they are on a national basis. Hence, if the kid from NY has a better WCS than someone from TX, that kid wins.

Next, I am going to take the leap and ASSUME that the median scores for both the AFA and AFROTC will jump this yr and next yr.

Here's why:
1. AFA is reducing the apptmts, thus the scores should theoretically rise.
2. AFA candidates use AFROTC as plan B, which means more of the AFA candidates will be accepting AFROTC. Historically AFA candidate median is 70 points higher than AFROTC. That would mean AFROTC scores would increase.

It is also important to research both options thoroughly since they operate differently. Intended major is a big deal for AFROTC, and that major plays an impact on whether or not you get a TWE.

A couple of posters with incredible stats, accepted to excellent schools with merit, got the TWE from AFROTC because of their major.

AFROTC is not like NROTC or AROTC, the school plays no part in the decision making process. They ask for the schools you are applying to, but this is more for verification that they have AFROTC and accept the scholarship, nothing more.

Finally,

GPA stats are always my pet personal peeve because that varies from school to school. A gpa of 4.0 does not tell anyone if the candidate took all AP/IBs. It does not show rank, school profile or course curriculum rigor. All issues that go into the equation for PAR.

The AFA will re-weight your gpa. For some it will go up, some it will go down and some will remain the same.

When you submit your transcripts they are also required to send a school profile. In that they acknowledge % that attend Ivy, 4 yr Private, 4 yr IS/OOS, 2 yr, Tech and no college.

If you attend a school that sends nobody to Ivy, 15% Private, 35% Public, 25% 2 yr and 25% nowhere ranking in the top 15% is not going to be seen as competitive as the kid who ranks 20% and they send 25% to Ivy, 15% Private, 45% Public and 15% to 2 yr.

Plus, if your gpa is 4.0 and your wgpa is 4.0, but w for honors/AP = and additional 1 pt. It means you didn't take any weighted classes.

If you start saying my uw is this and my w is that, the question than would be what is the weight? In NC at our old school it was 5 for AP, in VA it is 4.5. In NC it is a 7 pt scale, in VA it is a 10 pt. That is why they will re-weight to their own system.

OBTW colleges will do this too. Our DS gpa to their records varied by 0.25 between the 5 schools he applied to including the AFA.

Good luck.
 
Question: usafa prep/no appointment

Good luck to all service endeavors!
Question: Any ideas or websites for info on "what possibilities" exist
for pursuing military if no appointment was given after a year at prep school?
Looks like this may be the case and wondering if there is "another route" to
USAF officer/commitment or any other military academy by which to serve our country steadfast and loyal.
Not sure of who to ask.
Thanks and Godspeed.
 
My daughter took the SATs three times and upped her scores 100-150 points each time and the last time she was quite satisfied with her scores so she stopped taking them. She never took any SAT prep classes, just studied the book. She received her appointment in March.:smile:
 
Good luck to all service endeavors!
Question: Any ideas or websites for info on "what possibilities" exist
for pursuing military if no appointment was given after a year at prep school?
Looks like this may be the case and wondering if there is "another route" to
USAF officer/commitment or any other military academy by which to serve our country steadfast and loyal.
Not sure of who to ask.
Thanks and Godspeed.
Go to a college of your choice, which you have been admitted to (Plan B comes in handy here) and pursue ROTC. Take challenging courses in college with emphasis on math and science and do well in them. All you have to do is reapply when you are in college. Seek nominations again and put up a competitive package to present to the board at USAFA. The process is pretty much the same for college applicants than it is for high school applicants, just with a few little differences/tweaks. As long as you are under the age limit (not yet 23 at time of entrance to academy), you can reapply as many times as you want.

If you find the academy is not for you, ROTC is still a great option. You still get the college degree and the comission as an officer which is the end goal at all of these institutes.

Just try every option to you that is out there, and you can be sure that you will get your chance to serve one day or another. Don't lose hope if you don't make it your first time around.. they like to see people who try again after not succeeding. It shows commitment and a willingness to do whatever it takes to earn that chance to lead and serve your country. Hope this helps and best of luck.
 
Good luck to all service endeavors!
Question: Any ideas or websites for info on "what possibilities" exist
for pursuing military if no appointment was given after a year at prep school?
Looks like this may be the case and wondering if there is "another route" to
USAF officer/commitment or any other military academy by which to serve our country steadfast and loyal.
Not sure of who to ask.
Thanks and Godspeed.
If you still haven't chosen a Plan B school and are looking for those that have a corps you might want to check www.amcsus.org: Association of Military Schools and Colleges of the United States.

Good luck
 
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