USAFA: Worried About Fitness

mattias1133

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I am currently a rising senior, and I am wishing to attend the United States Air Force Academy. I have a high SAT score (750 math and 640 reading) which I feel like will be high enough. I have also participated in three varsity sports: basketball, cross-country, and soccer (I have not lettered in any one of them). I am also an Eagle Scout, Class President, member of NHS, and my gpa is 4.16. My biggest fear is the CFA. I don't want something like this hindering me from my dream. My main two worries are the pull ups and the mile. I am trying to train the best I can (weights and running) and I have seen some progress in the last month. Do I have enough time to increase my pull ups and mile?
Pull ups, I can barely do two, and the mile is about 8:30.
The Air Force Academy is a dream of mine but I really am nervous about this.
 
I am currently a rising senior, and I am wishing to attend the United States Air Force Academy. I have a high SAT score (750 math and 640 reading) which I feel like will be high enough. I have also participated in three varsity sports: basketball, cross-country, and soccer (I have not lettered in any one of them). I am also an Eagle Scout, Class President, member of NHS, and my gpa is 4.16. My biggest fear is the CFA. I don't want something like this hindering me from my dream. My main two worries are the pull ups and the mile. I am trying to train the best I can (weights and running) and I have seen some progress in the last month. Do I have enough time to increase my pull ups and mile?
Pull ups, I can barely do two, and the mile is about 8:30.
The Air Force Academy is a dream of mine but I really am nervous about this.
You definitely do. I used to be able to do only 1 or 2 pullups and was put on recondo (a physical fitness program at the academy) which lasted a month and a half and got up to 7 pullups! A year later I was doing 21 pullup. And keep up the running!
 
You definitely do. I used to be able to do only 1 or 2 pullups and was put on recondo (a physical fitness program at the academy) which lasted a month and a half and got up to 7 pullups! A year later I was doing 21 pullup. And keep up the running!
That really helps. How hard was adjusting to the athletics at the academy?
 
Don't be overconfident with those test numbers. I have seen Eagle scouts with better scores, pilot's license, and lots of impressive accomplishments receive rejection letters.

You are competitive, but need to keep striving.
 
Don't be overconfident with those test numbers. I have seen Eagle scouts with better scores, pilot's license, and lots of impressive accomplishments receive rejection letters.

You are competitive, but need to keep striving.
What are some things you would suggest I focus on?
 
Your mile run (assuming you're male) is the worst thing in the fitness situation in my opinion. To be honest an 8:30 mile would put you among the very slowest people I know at an academy.
 
Hopefully, you understand that passing the CFA isn't the end of the need to focus on being physically fit, but just the beginning. All SA's are physically challenging places for a lot of good reasons. You will be expected to continue developing your physical fitness, compete in various sports and pass periodic fitness tests in order to successfully graduate.

I am a bit confused when you said you were on the XC team but indicated you can only do an 8:30 mile. USAFA shows the CFA average for the mile is 6:36 (for males), so you have a long way to go.

How hard was adjusting to the athletics at the academy?

Usually about 90% of those at SA's were varsity athletes in h.s. who are already in excellent physical shape and have well-established workout routines. You be expected to keep up with them regardless of your h.s. background.
 
I am currently a rising senior, and I am wishing to attend the United States Air Force Academy. I have a high SAT score (750 math and 640 reading) which I feel like will be high enough. I have also participated in three varsity sports: basketball, cross-country, and soccer (I have not lettered in any one of them). I am also an Eagle Scout, Class President, member of NHS, and my gpa is 4.16. My biggest fear is the CFA. I don't want something like this hindering me from my dream. My main two worries are the pull ups and the mile. I am trying to train the best I can (weights and running) and I have seen some progress in the last month. Do I have enough time to increase my pull ups and mile?
Pull ups, I can barely do two, and the mile is about 8:30.
The Air Force Academy is a dream of mine but I really am nervous about this.
Pyramid Pull-ups and Negative Pull-ups really helped me max out that portion of my CFA, and I definitely recommend doing those two exercises as much as you can before you take your test. If you can get your hands on a pull-up bar that can fit in any old doorway, that'd be even better. I placed mine in the doorway to my room, and every time I would pass through I would pay a toll of 5 reps. :) Good luck to you!
 
maplerock is right.

I am not impressed by your SAT numbers, so I can't imagine an Admissions Counselor will be. Your math score is nice but your CR score - meh (though maybe great for your highschool, it's not so great when competing with some of the best in our nation).

Keep taking the SAT again and again and remember, your goal is not "passing." Your goal is 800/800.

As far as your CFA goes, yes practice, hard, every day. But remember: there are techniques to the CFA and you would be wise to practice in the same manner as which you take the test. Don't just practice running, then the next day sit-ups. Practice the events in order, every day.
 
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