USAFA chances

N

navarrotrout

Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2015
Messages
39
Hello all, I've been snooping around this site now for awhile and figured i'd give it a try. can anyone give me a rough estimate of my chances?

Graduation Date: June 2016

Unweighted GPA: (grades 9-11) 4.0

Weighted GPA: (grades 9-11) 4.5

2015 Year GPA: 4.83

Standardized test scores:

PSAT test date: Oct. 15, 2014

CR67 M68 WR62

SAT Test Date: Mar. 14, 2015

CR660 M690 WR670

ACT Test Date: April 2015

English 33, Math 27, Reading 31, Science 23

ACT Test Date: June 2015

English 30, Math 29, Reading 31, Science 29


Employment History:

Painting, Summer 2013, 2014, 2015; Winter 2013, 2014; Job duties: demolition, interior/ exterior paint/ staining, woodwork, moulding

Yard work for neighbors, January 2014 to present; Job duties: keep landscape tidy/ mow grass

Complete Aquatic Systems, Gardena , CA: packaging center

Honors and Awards:

2012-2016 CIC college prep honors magnet program

College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Program

American Legion Americanism Essay contest post, district, and regional winner- finalist in national competition (2015)

High School Pursuit of Excellence Award:

Earth Science-2013

Accelerated Biology-2014

Accelerated Algebra/Triginometry-2014

Honors Pre Calculus-2015

AP World History-2014

AP United States History-2015

Accelerated English-2014

AP English Language-2015

High School Pursuit of Excellence Medal- AP US History (sole recipient- 2015)

Japanese National Honor Society (2014, 2015)

Baseball Class First Award (2013, 2014) Student-Athlete Award (2014, 2015)

Letters of commendation from both the California State Senate and Legislature for Boy’s State appointment

Athletics:

High School Baseball (2012-present; Varsity 2015-2016)

Travel Baseball (2014-present)

School Surf Team (2015)

School and Community:

American Legion Boys’ State (June 2015) Passed Bar, city Fire Chief, State Head of Fish and Game

Member of the Sons of the American Legion (2015-present)

Junior Honor Guard (June 2015)

FAA Certified Private Pilot (January 2, 2015)

SPCALA Friends for Life Camp Counselor (Summer 2013 & 2014)

School Biology Club President (and founder) - (Jan. 2014-Jan. 2015 )

Aviation Explorers Post #777 Treasurer (2014)

Long Beach Relay-For-Life volunteer (2013, 2014)

Challengers Little League volunteer assistant coach (Spring 2013, 2014)

U.S. Vets volunteer (Nov. 26, 2012 & Dec. 23, 2014)

Weekly volunteer Los Alamitos American Legion (April 2013-present)

Veterans’ History Project (April 28, 2013)
 
You look like you are on the right track. Maybe retake the SAT/ACT again to keep improving your superscore.
 
I agree, I would keep taking the ACT. Right now you are right at the median superscore. I would really work on the Math portion to get it into the 30s.

Remember USAFA is truly a Math/Science oriented curriculum. Take a gander at what is your required classes no matter what major you intend to receive a degree in from USAFA. It is not like the traditional college where you only take 2 semesters of Math as a Govt. major.
 
Your profile looks good. I'll jump on the ACT band wagon and encourage you to keep taking it and raising your scores. Looks like you raised your science significantly the second time and you also raised your math. You've shown the ability to be better prepared the next time around, so continue what you're doing to study and prepare and increase those scores as much as possible. Your GPA is great so I am assuming your class rank is quite high. Class rank is an important part of your score.

No biggie but, also for future reference, there is another thread with the exact same title that is just a few days old. You could either reply under that same thread or change your title/question a little so it will "stand out".

Keep up the good work! You look like a very competitive applicant.
 
Thanks for your help everyone. I'm already registered for the next ACT and SAT. will probably take them again after.
 
Take it every chance you can get and can afford. It is no harm no foul.
 
Impossible to tell. You're going to be qualified academically and your resume looks good. That probably puts you into contention. If you are medically qualified (very easy to be singled out for remedial or fisqusligication) you look good. Being Japanese is a HUGE advantage since it probably puts you into the underrepresented minority group. All that bring said, you need luck, and you need to be a standout in your congressional district and state. You have a great chance, but only that... a chance. Don't drink alcohol, don't get into trouble, and don't get hurt.
 
Maplerock said:
Impossible to tell. You're going to be qualified academically and your resume looks good. That probably puts you into contention. If you are medically qualified (very easy to be singled out for remedial or fisqusligication) you look good. Being Japanese is a HUGE advantage since it probably puts you into the underrepresented minority group. All that bring said, you need luck, and you need to be a standout in your congressional district and state. You have a great chance, but only that... a chance. Don't drink alcohol, don't get into trouble, and don't get hurt.
Click to expand...
Oh im not japanese, just a mexican who speaks japaneses. How's that?
 
Maplerock said:
If you are medically qualified (very easy to be singled out for remedial or fisqusligication) you look good.
Click to expand...
I think you meant to say disqualification not fisqusligication.

Maplerock said:
Being Japanese is a HUGE advantage since it probably puts you into the underrepresented minority group.
Click to expand...
Asians are NOT considered URMs for service academy admissions purposes. There isn't a prestigious university in the country that considers Asians URMs. In fact, there is evidence that being Asian is a disadvantage in some college's admissions processes. For Harvard admissions Asians on average have to score 50 points higher on the SAT than whites do to gain admission.
 
navarrotrout said:
Maplerock said:
Impossible to tell. You're going to be qualified academically and your resume looks good. That probably puts you into contention. If you are medically qualified (very easy to be singled out for remedial or fisqusligication) you look good. Being Japanese is a HUGE advantage since it probably puts you into the underrepresented minority group. All that bring said, you need luck, and you need to be a standout in your congressional district and state. You have a great chance, but only that... a chance. Don't drink alcohol, don't get into trouble, and don't get hurt.
Click to expand...
Oh im not japanese, just a mexican who speaks japaneses. How's that?
Click to expand...
That will help you significantly. Hispanics are considered URMs by service academies.
 
Since we are on the topic, are filipino Americans urm? Im guessing they probably are not but just want to be sure
 
frenzymando said:
Asians are NOT considered URMs for service academy admissions purposes. There isn't a prestigious university in the country that considers Asians URMs. In fact, there is evidence that being Asian is a disadvantage in some college's admissions processes. For Harvard admissions Asians on average have to score 50 points higher on the SAT than whites do to gain admission.
Click to expand...

Be careful of sweeping statements like this. While some people would not be considered URM candidates simply because of Asian decent, others it may indeed be a factor. A California-born candidate of Chinese decent may not not get a boost. However, a Wisconsin-born Hmong candidate whose parents are non-English speakers may get a huge URM boost. I've seen it. It really is dependent on the candidate and situation. Keep in mind that these are just examples and I am not saying that one or the other will get a boost. I'm just saying that there is a lot more to it that simply saying Asian decent is not a URM.

Stealth_81
 
Stealth_81 said:
frenzymando said:
Asians are NOT considered URMs for service academy admissions purposes. There isn't a prestigious university in the country that considers Asians URMs. In fact, there is evidence that being Asian is a disadvantage in some college's admissions processes. For Harvard admissions Asians on average have to score 50 points higher on the SAT than whites do to gain admission.
Click to expand...

Be careful of sweeping statements like this. While some people would not be considered URM candidates simply because of Asian decent, others it may indeed be a factor. A California-born candidate of Chinese decent may not not get a boost. However, a Wisconsin-born Hmong candidate whose parents are non-English speakers may get a huge URM boost. I've seen it. It really is dependent on the candidate and situation. Keep in mind that these are just examples and I am not saying that one or the other will get a boost. I'm just saying that there is a lot more to it that simply saying Asian decent is not a URM.

Stealth_81
Click to expand...
I didn't know that, sorry for spreading false information.

Also, could doing an extracurricular activity that is not common for a race/gender give one an URM boost? For example a female playing a predominantly male sport like football.
 
Last edited:
Stealth is wise. Diversity at USAFA or any US SA is NOT the same thing as diversity at State U.

I would strongly suggest you get that Math SAT up over 700, and do find some concern that your English ACT went DOWN by 3 points. Keep taking both as many times as you can afford.
 
fencersmother said:
Diversity at USAFA or any US SA is NOT the same thing as diversity at State U.
Click to expand...
Are you sure that this is true for all of the service academies? On this thread

http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/what-counts-as-a-minority.25104/

reputable sources say that only African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans are considered URMs by West Point. Based on the information on that thread a Wisconsin-born Hmong candidate would not be considered an URM by West Point.
 
Time out.

Breathe.

Now frenzy, are you a URM candidate?

Fencer was just reiterating what Stealth said earlier. USMA is not USAFA. You are linking USMA threads. You keep posting that for USMA they say this or that. It harms candidates by believing what is true for USMA is true for USAFA or USNA, USCGA or USMMA.

Great example: I believe only USAFA states a 490 V or less on the SAT/ 24 E equates to non-competitive. USMA and USNA do not state that on their website.

USAFA can deem you medically Qual and USNA can DQ you.

Every SA is different. This is not a West Point thread.

I am not trying to flame, I am just saying as a HS senior, you are just starting to learn the finesse aspects.

URM is a finesse aspect as Stealth stated earlier.

Don't look for a fight where the poster was only saying, ignore the URM aspect and concentrate on getting your SAT scores up. You can only control your life. That is how I read her post.
~ This might tick you off, but I give her a lot of credit. She had twins that were both appointed to USAFA. They were home schooled from a competitive state. Both are now AF pilots. She is also a founding member on this site.

Just saying, when it comes to been there, done that and filled the square she did it as a parent.
 
Last edited:
Pima said:
Time out.

Breathe.

Now frenzy, are you a URM candidate?

Fencer was just reiterating what Stealth said earlier. USMA is not USAFA. You are linking USMA threads. You keep posting that for USMA they say this or that. It harms candidates by believing what is true for USMA is true for USAFA or USNA, USCGA or USMMA.

Great example: I believe only USAFA states a 490 V or less on the SAT/ 24 E equates to non-competitive.

USAFA can deem you medically Qual and USNA can DQ you.

Every SA is different. This is not a West Point thread.

I am not trying to flame, I am just saying as a HS senior, you are just starting to learn the finesse aspects.

URM is a finesse aspect as Stealth stated earlier.
Click to expand...
fencersmother grouped the service academies together by saying they all look at diversity(URMs) differently than regular schools. According to that thread I posted, that isn't true because one of the service academies(West Point) looks at diversity the same way a normal school does (only African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans are URMs)

According to what the thread I posted says, I'm not an URM by West Point's definition. According to what fencersmother mother said(all of the service academies look at diversity differently than normal schools), I might be an URM in West Point's eyes.

I'm not trying to say "USMA does it this way so USAFA must do it the same way." There is just information on that thread I posted that conflicts with information on this thread, so I'm trying to find out what is true.
 
Thanks everyone. I didn't know that being a minority would help me a bit. I think all of you have valid points. Like I said before I am taking the ACT and SAT as much as I can. They were a little low because school and sports took up so much time. now I have all summer to practice for it. I only was able to manage a few hours of prep for the ACT, so i'm sure It'll go up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top