What can I do to prepare for the Candidate Fitness Assessment?

Others who have children in regular high school can probably speak better to this topic. I strongly suggest you get an SAT prep book, and take the ACT too. Math builds, year after year, and I assume you have taken the most difficult math program available in your high school or homeschool.

Yeah, I've been reviewing my SAT prep. book that's sitting in my room. I will be taking ACT too in the Fall.

I took Geometry as a Sophomore, and Pre-AP Algebra II as a Junior. They're not the hardest classes, and it was my fatal mistake to choose the "easy path" to math.

But especially if you are looking to engineering or, should you go to civilian college for a more art oriented program, you should be 100-150 points higher, minimum in math. If you were born in the Philippines, there may be some leeway granted for a lower CR score.

100-150 points higher for a CR score? What's a CR? The Critical Reading section of the SAT?

I also forgot to mention that I am very interested in Meteorology. I've always had an avid interest in the weather, but it wasn't until recently I began to consider Meteorology as a potential career choice.
 
My sons' good friend at USAFA did a year at Embry-Riddle before he went to USAFA. It's not that unusual, though it can be more difficult during the nom/appoint process.
 
CR is critical Reading.

I would not take AP Stats because that is a very difficult class to begin with having completed Pre Calc, let alone not having it under your belt.
 
Dear Black,

"My fatal mistake".... yes, I do believe that you seem to have coasted through your high school years, not really working to your fullest potential and now you want a pass into USAFA because you have a good personality and (you say) perseverance. You did not take the most difficult classes, you have no sport, you might get to meeting your ALO when it suits your schedule, and you are a senior who's in pre-Calc. AND your goal is to be a draftsman at NASA. With a kicker of : What is the CR part of the SAT.

Now, I'm thinking you have not been honest with us. Are you so much younger than you portrayed that you don't get these basics? Most rising seniors have visited colleges and are very very well versed in SAT terms, college requirements, etc.

You still have not listed any community service activities (though you say you might want to join the CAP, any minute now). You say you are taking Leadership as a class... I'm no expert on public education but I would say that's a filler class at best.

Sorry - I'm done with any advice and handholding here. I think you are either a junior high student or a troll.
 
I was kind of wondering the same thing as the poster. I am a rising senior and a female. So far, my fitness scores are as follows:
Basketball throw: 31
Pushups: 32
Sit ups: 55 in 2 minutes
Mile: 7:52
Shuttle run: 10.8 (ish)
These are my very best, and I have not yet tried doing them all back to back.

I was hoping to take my test prior to November 1. If I work out regularly, which I have been doing lately, do you think I can pass?
 
Bailey,

You've now got a little over 12 weeks until your deadline. You now ask that if you work out regularly, can you get good scores? Simple answer: if you really spend the time and work out regularly like you say, really pushing yourself, you'd be AMAZED and how much you will improve yourself physically, and you'll get great scores.

Now, actually doing what you say is the problem 95% of the folks have the issue with. Just be in that other 5% that actually does the work.

Good luck, it's all up to you
 
Dear Black,

"My fatal mistake".... yes, I do believe that you seem to have coasted through your high school years, not really working to your fullest potential and now you want a pass into USAFA because you have a good personality and (you say) perseverance. You did not take the most difficult classes, you have no sport, you might get to meeting your ALO when it suits your schedule, and you are a senior who's in pre-Calc. AND your goal is to be a draftsman at NASA. With a kicker of : What is the CR part of the SAT.

Now, I'm thinking you have not been honest with us. Are you so much younger than you portrayed that you don't get these basics? Most rising seniors have visited colleges and are very very well versed in SAT terms, college requirements, etc.

You still have not listed any community service activities (though you say you might want to join the CAP, any minute now). You say you are taking Leadership as a class... I'm no expert on public education but I would say that's a filler class at best.

Sorry - I'm done with any advice and handholding here. I think you are either a junior high student or a troll.

Fencersmother - I have been sitting on the sidelines watching this thread grown, and the posts from a number of good hearted people trying to encourage this individual along. Thank you for this post, because it echoes what I think. OP, you are not going to get into any high quality college with the attitude and approach that you have been showing. Simple things like "I will begin to review my SAT prep book that I have sitting in my room" versus "I'm enrolling in a SAT prep class after school and have been participating in tutoring classes to improve SAT scores and prepare for taking the ACT." And, it really rubs me the wrong way when people say they are going to start doing community service as a senior to look better on a college resume; community service is something you should have been doing since you were in grade school in order to help the community; what it does to your college resume is secondary. Finally, as a long time engineer and manager in the aerospace industry, "drafters" haven't existed for over 20 years. We don't do drafting any more. We use designers, who utilize sophisticated 3-D modeling and analysis tools to develop designs. You obviously have no idea what it is you really want to do.

Enough of the coddling. You are not likely to get into any of the academies with your background as you have laid it out to us here. It is likely too late to do anything about it. You might have a shot at working your way into an academy from the enlisted ranks, but that is a long shot at best.

Let the flaming begin.........
 
Bailey,

You've now got a little over 12 weeks until your deadline. You now ask that if you work out regularly, can you get good scores? Simple answer: if you really spend the time and work out regularly like you say, really pushing yourself, you'd be AMAZED and how much you will improve yourself physically, and you'll get great scores.

Now, actually doing what you say is the problem 95% of the folks have the issue with. Just be in that other 5% that actually does the work.

Good luck, it's all up to you

Thank you for the encouragement!!! I know I can stick to my goals and pass the test! I am glad I have people like forum members here to be accountable. Your post makes me want to try even harder to prove to the people here that I CAN pass!
 
I also forgot to mention that I am very interested in Meteorology. I've always had an avid interest in the weather, but it wasn't until recently I began to consider Meteorology as a potential career choice.


you might want to reconsider USAFA if this is what you really want to do. it looks like meteorology is on the chopping block because of the budget crunch.

http://www.usafa.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123402336
 
Camp,

I am not going to flame you or fencer.

Just my 0.189643 cents, that and $3 will get you a cup of coffee is this:

Getting in is the easy part, staying in with those stats is the hard part. College profs at any college makes AP classes look like a walk in the park. They don't care that you don't get it, and they are not going to slow the class down until you catch up.
1060 SAT for USAFA which is equivalent to an Ivy places the OP behind the 8 ball academically. Now add in not being athletic and they have another 8 ball thrown at them.
We do no good by not being brutally honest at this point because most of these cadets are walking in with a 1400+ SAT and AP Calc.
~~ Sorry BlackSnow, but that is the reality.
~~~ The 3.8 gpa does not mean squat to me because nobody knows what your class rank is and how soon you could take any AP. My kids were able to take them as early as their junior year. You will not get dinged if you couldn't take APUSH or APENG as a junior because of your school system, but you can get dinged if you had the option and didn't take it.
~~~~ Additionally nobody here knows their scale (7 pt or 10 pt) and if this is wcgpa or uwcgpa. Would you feel they have a strong shot if they rank top 30% and that is both weighted and unweighted...iows they have no weight differential

These are all factors.

I get we want to be the cheerleaders, but sometimes the best cheerleaders are the ones that give an honest direct answer no matter how much it hurts.

Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind to motivate them.

Finally, if anyone here, especially BlackSnowMarine is dissuaded from applying to USAFA because of anonymous posters, than I have to say they never really wanted it bad enough in the first place.

That is the truth.

I have said it before and will say it again. If you want me to blow smoke up your posterior than tell me. If you want me to be real than accept my way of being real.

BlackSnow,

I really wish you the best. I hope you apply for both the AFA and AFROTC, but as we tell even the #1 in the class with a 1500 out of 1600, have plan B, C and D in place.
 
Thank you, Bullet, Hornetguy, and Pima, for laying it on the line. As I read this thread, I appreciated your posts as they were truthful and to the point, without becoming condescending and smug as I've seen in too many other posts lately.

In fact, I've seen a definite turn to incivility on this forum as of late, and I don't get it. Being truthful and frank, as opposed to condescending and browbeating, is what I expected on a forum such as this. I am dismayed that it has continued, for at least as long as Sami's post on "Joining the Academy".

I think it's time for many posters to step back and ask why he/she is posting any particular thought on this forum. Is each posting for the benefit of the potential Service Academy applicant, or for personal gratification? Most times, an elevated sense of self-importance should be buried, and if a response is not completely professional, leave it to an ALO to correct misperceptions; quite possibly quietly or privately.
 
I think it's time for many posters to step back and ask why he/she is posting any particular thought on this forum. Is each posting for the benefit of the potential Service Academy applicant, or for personal gratification? Most times, an elevated sense of self-importance should be buried, and if a response is not completely professional, leave it to an ALO to correct misperceptions; quite possibly quietly or privately.

X100. Mostly a lurker but could not resist the chance to compliment you on your post. It is spot on. I've noticed that this sa forum as opposed to the others is filled with condescending responses from a couple of posters so much so that I think it would cause others to think twice about posting.
 
As a long term poster, let's drop the some posters stuff and get back on topic, unless your goal is to have the mods lock the thread because posters feel they may be the intended "some" and defend their position.

BlackSnowMarine if you really want to attend the AFA you have 5 more years of eligibilty.

If the idea of reapplying 2, or 3 times scares you off; or you would rather go AROTC scholarship instead of AFROTC walk on, then that is your choice and your decision. As I said earlier if we said to you that you had a 5% chance of getting a nom, would you give up and not apply, or would you say screw you all I will prove you wrong?
~ Emotionally and mentally this year will be a roller coaster. You think you can imagine the ride, but trust me you don't. You can't even begin to fathom how that mailbox will be anticipation or dread depending on the size of the envelope in your hand.
~~You will see posters from WA with an LOA and Sen. Cantwell on the appointment list an feel your heart sink, but posters will remind you an LOA does not necessarily = charging and your heart rises. You will see Sen. Murray as the charge, but many kids get all MOCs and it could be just a guess...your heart will rise again.
~~ It will only get worse if you are running a 8 min. mile as a guy, wondering if you passed the CFA.

That is the easy part. Now imagine the academic rigor at an IVY, no sleeping in until 11 for your noon class, limited time away from campus, thousands of miles away from home,and going home for a 3 day Columbus Day weekend is not in the cards, but sleeping on top of your sheets for @ your entire 1st year is, and now you are going to start understanding why some are being harsh in their response.
~ It was and is a cruel to be kind post.

For those that think some posters are being harsh, please remember you cannot discern intonation on this forum. I have been on that receiving end of being called mean/rude/harsh/condescending and that was never my intention. My intention was always the same...honesty early on is the best policy if you want to be successful later on. Give the benefit of the doubt that they are trying to help, and it just not happens to be the way you would say it. They too found this site and have a wealth of experience that will help you or your child in this journey, if you only can get past the perception that they are being mean/rude or condescending due to an anonymous forum's intonation.
 
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BlackSnowMarine if you really want to attend the AFA you have 5 more years of eligibilty.

If the idea of reapplying 2, or 3 times scares you off; or you would rather go AROTC scholarship instead of AFROTC walk on, then that is your choice and your decision. As I said earlier if we said to you that you had a 5% chance of getting a nom, would you give up and not apply, or would you say screw you all I will prove you wrong?
~ Emotionally and mentally this year will be a roller coaster. You think you can imagine the ride, but trust me you don't. You can't even begin to fathom how that mailbox will be anticipation or dread depending on the size of the envelope in your hand.
~~You will see posters from WA with an LOA and Sen. Cantwell on the appointment list an feel your heart sink, but posters will remind you an LOA does not necessarily = charging and your heart rises. You will see Sen. Murray as the charge, but many kids get all MOCs and it could be just a guess...your heart will rise again.
~~ It will only get worse if you are running a 8 min. mile as a guy, wondering if you passed the CFA.

I appreciate that roller coaster analogy. But seeing as how it's almost too late for me, as stated by previous posters, the pathway to a civilian college to take AFROTC now sounds more appealing than rushing to prepare and schedule for the AFA. Or I could spend a year or two at a civilian college and then go to the academy.

Or, as stated by another previous poster, I can make different plans. Plan A involves going to the academy immediately after senior year. If Plan A fails, then Plan B consists of going to a civilian school to start AFROTC as an alternative to the academy. An alternative to Plan B, Plan C involves spending a year at a civilian college and then going to the academy. And so on.

For those that think some posters are being harsh, please remember you cannot discern intonation on this forum. I have been on that receiving end of being called mean/rude/harsh/condescending and that was never my intention. My intention was always the same...honesty early on is the best policy if you want to be successful later on.

I know it was absolutely not your intention to be harsh. To be honest, you didn't come up as rude to me at all. You've been helpful with the information you have shared. Again, I apologize to the previous posters that I sound like a complete troll but I'm not -- just a very, very, oblivious person who hasn't done much research yet.

Regarding my Plan C though, if you apply to the AFA after you've completed 1-2 years in a civilian college, does the admission board look past Junior and Senior year of high school to include what you accomplished in college? Will taking a year at a civilian college and then applying affect your chances, as opposed to a student who plans to go to the academy directly after Senior year?
 
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If you do well in a college setting, that will affect how the admissions board looks at your file. I don't know exactly how they score things, as that is not published.
If you are serious about getting into USAFA, I would recommend applying this year. With the information you posted, you are not a very strong candidate, but going through the process will give you some knowledge and insight for next year. It will also be evidence for your MOCs that you are serious, when you apply a 2nd/3rd time, and show significant improvement over your past application(s).
 
If you are serious about getting into USAFA, I would recommend applying this year. With the information you posted, you are not a very strong candidate, but going through the process will give you some knowledge and insight for next year. It will also be evidence for your MOCs that you are serious, when you apply a 2nd/3rd time, and show significant improvement over your past application(s).

Ignore this advice above at your own peril... The ability for a young person to be persistent in reaching a goal is a key indicator of their success as a cadet and future officer. And MOCs know this.

For example... I know for sure that in at least one state the senior senator invariably picks the candidate that has re-applied after doing a year or two of college as their principal nomination. Then the other MOCs choose from the remainder of the applicant pool.
 
Black, it occurs to me that besides all the paperwork due to your MOC, ALO, etc, you are now also behind the proverbial 8-ball in your DoDMERB appointments.

If you really want this, I cannot suggest strongly enough that you get on this - like, yesterday
 
Fencer I don't believe they have been deemed candidate yet, or they have not gone far enough in the process to have a DoDMERB exam requested.

Due to budget constraints, it is not like when our DSs went through the process, now they wait to a certain point to generate the request.
~ Personally I think they are playing chicken with the other commissioning sources because that exam has to be paid for, and if an AFA candidate is also applying to USNA than the Navy picks up the tab, and the AF saved money.

AFROTC will not request one until a scholarship is awarded.

That being said BlackSnowMarine if you have any medical issues since you were 13, get your paperwork in order. Allergies, or even having a doc give you an inhaler for suspected asthma can become an issue. Color deficiency is not a walk in the park regarding waivers.
 
skiismuggs,

If I recall the major was just being renamed regarding meteorology.

That being said, meteorology in the AF is becoming a dieing breed...kind of like CSOs. There are fewer and fewer opportunities for them regarding what bases have openings for them.
~ The computers have assisted in this aspect for needs of the AF.

As others have also stated the idea of design is not going to be on your plate. The AF does not design planes, Lockheed, Boeing does. The AF is also not going to have a 2nd Lt. that has not spent a minute flying AF planes designing a plane for missions that AF pilots will fly. Hence why they are outsourced to Lockheed.

Can you work on a project as a Lt? Heck yes, but if you enter thinking that as an O1 you will be an integral part in designing the 7th gen of fighters, the answer is no.
~ My assumption is your job would be more about pushing paperwork/emails up and down the chain of command regarding deadlines and AF requirements that the Defense Contractor has to meet.

If you do not know, Bullet is at the Pentagon as an AF civilian after 20+ years of flying fighters. He works on the 35. He was hired by the AF because he can speak AF lingo and understands the needs of what a pilot needs in the cockpit, and why the ejection seat from one maker is better than another for the G forbid situation.
~ Notice he spent 20 years ADAF flying. His ADAF counterpart retired, and the position due to budget constraints has not been filled. Key word is ADAF RETIRED. He too had 20 years in.

So now it goes back to the harsh reality of what you want to do in the AF and that the rose colored glasses need to be removed for both of those routes.
 
That being said, meteorology in the AF is becoming a dieing breed...kind of like CSOs. There are fewer and fewer opportunities for them regarding what bases have openings for them.
The computers have assisted in this aspect for needs of the AF.

Just a comment on the Meteorology/Weather Officer field. One of my son's good friends is a Weather Officer. She is a Captain and head of the weather element at her base. Her college major was Aeronautical Engineering and she is not a trained meteorologist. While she understands the jobs that the weather techs do, she mostly just manages the people who do the weather work at the base.

Stealth_81
 
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