what was your GPA before you got accepted into USAFA
- Thread starter patrickodang
- Start date
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- Dec 5, 2008
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- 116
I had a 3.52 GPA applying and the Admissions bumped it up to a 3.62. I, too, struggled with 9th and 10th grade and I think I came out with a 3.3 GPA? I got straight A's junior year and senior year so I'm sure that helped. Oh, plus a lot of extracurriculars, athletics, and leadership stuff.
Christcorp
15-Year Member
- Joined
- May 21, 2008
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- 5,382
Threads and threads have dealt with this life long question. And everyone here posting is correct in what they say. Definitely, no one knows another person's chances. That's why many here will jokingly reply with such answers are: "I know your chances, it's 37.845% and someone else will jump in and correct them; no it's "67.8576%".
Here are some FACTS: Rationalize them any way you want.
1. Class of 2012's HS GPA was approximately 3.85; yet, there are people who go accepted with a 3.50 gpa. (No, they weren't all jocks). Rationalize it.
2. Yes, some star athletes do sometimes get a "Break" in getting accepted. Not very many, but it definitely happens. (They do have to meet all minimum requirements however).
3. The academy, just like all government and most schools, have their own form of "Affirmative Action". No, it's not like the stereotypical race, sex, etc... Although they do try to recruit harder for under represented. The "Affirmative Action" I'm speaking of is your districts and states. There are quotas set aside for so many from each district and state. You are not competing again 10,000 high school students who applied. Civilian schools do this consistently. A student from a state that doesn't have any students at a particular school, has a much better chance getting in (Assuming they meet the minimum requirements) than a student applying from a state that has a large percentage of the student body from that state. It's called diversity. Again; not always implying race, sex, etc... Diversity in opinions, experiences, background, etc... The academies is funded by TAX DOLLARS. As such, they have to make the slots as equal among ALL THE STATES and TAXPAYERS as possible.
4. Because of #3, there are applicants who get accepted, get nominations, and receive appointments who have lower scores in academics and overall scoring than some who do not receive an appointment.
5. Because it is a total person - total score concept; what may help you overcome a deficiency in one area but scoring higher in another; may not necessarily work for the next person.
So, what does all this mean?
1) Life is not always fair; nor did anyone say it's suppose to be. From today until you die, there will be times when you don't get the recognition you might deserve; you might not get the promotion you think you deserve; you might not get hired by the company you wanted; you might not get accepted to school you applied to.
2) You need to concentrate on what you CAN change and not what you CAN'T change. Work on your GPA, SAT/ACT, EC, Sports, volunteering, etc... If you can honestly say that you couldn't have done any better; then if you don't get the appointment, you feel proud of yourself for giving it your all and decide on applying again the next time. (The board looks favorably on those who re-apply a 2nd year)
3) No matter how hard you try, the academy can only let in 1300-1400 students. And when the average GPA is 3.85, and if you come from large states such as California, Texas, New York, Florida, etc... it's quite possible with all those applicants, that you can have a 3.90 and NOT get an appointment. It's not because it's UNFAIR. It's because they can only take SO MANY. And if your district can ONLY get 2 slots this year, and 10 people with 4.0 gpa apply; what do you think is going to happen.
Applying for the academy can be one of the most thrilling, exciting, passionate, and yet stressful experiences in your life. In many ways, it's similar to applying to the Ivy League type universities. In some ways, it's much more stressful. (Mainly because you basically have to wait until the end of school when the other colleges that did accept you want a commitment). All you can do, is your BEST. And only you will "HONESTLY" know if it's your best.
There are some who have dreamed of going to the academy for many years. I found an old school report from my son from elementary school I believe the 6th grade. He mentioned how he wanted to go to the Air Force Academy when he grew up, and fly jets. (I never knew that, back then.) There are many like that. There's also many who decided at the end of their junior year, that it seemed like a good thing to do. If for no other reason, than as a "Backup" if they didn't get into their primary school choice. And there's some that are somewhere in between. And there are some from ALL categories that received appointments. And there are some from all categories that didn't make it. Sometimes you get someone who's wanted it their whole life, yet an ALO has to tell them, like Bombtrack mentioned, that the chances could be slim. When a student has that much passion for the academy, yet is sitting there trying hard to HOLD a 3.0 gpa, and is struggling with SAT/ACT, it's difficult.
So I tell anyone reading this the same thing I have said to many before you. Nothing in life is guaranteed. If you want the academy, you have to give it 100% of everything you have. In the class room, in the tests, volunteering, leadership, etc... And when you think you've given it everything, give MORE. And then, you still aren't guaranteed anything. But if you don't try, you are guaranteed NOT to get in. If you do try, no matter what, you'll be a better person for it. And whether the academy is your first choice of schools or a backup, make sure that you apply to MANY schools. If you are even close to having what it takes to get accepted to the academy, you have what it takes to get accepted to MORE than 75% of all colleges/universities in the country. Best of luck to all of you. later.... Mike.....
Here are some FACTS: Rationalize them any way you want.
1. Class of 2012's HS GPA was approximately 3.85; yet, there are people who go accepted with a 3.50 gpa. (No, they weren't all jocks). Rationalize it.
2. Yes, some star athletes do sometimes get a "Break" in getting accepted. Not very many, but it definitely happens. (They do have to meet all minimum requirements however).
3. The academy, just like all government and most schools, have their own form of "Affirmative Action". No, it's not like the stereotypical race, sex, etc... Although they do try to recruit harder for under represented. The "Affirmative Action" I'm speaking of is your districts and states. There are quotas set aside for so many from each district and state. You are not competing again 10,000 high school students who applied. Civilian schools do this consistently. A student from a state that doesn't have any students at a particular school, has a much better chance getting in (Assuming they meet the minimum requirements) than a student applying from a state that has a large percentage of the student body from that state. It's called diversity. Again; not always implying race, sex, etc... Diversity in opinions, experiences, background, etc... The academies is funded by TAX DOLLARS. As such, they have to make the slots as equal among ALL THE STATES and TAXPAYERS as possible.
4. Because of #3, there are applicants who get accepted, get nominations, and receive appointments who have lower scores in academics and overall scoring than some who do not receive an appointment.
5. Because it is a total person - total score concept; what may help you overcome a deficiency in one area but scoring higher in another; may not necessarily work for the next person.
So, what does all this mean?
1) Life is not always fair; nor did anyone say it's suppose to be. From today until you die, there will be times when you don't get the recognition you might deserve; you might not get the promotion you think you deserve; you might not get hired by the company you wanted; you might not get accepted to school you applied to.
2) You need to concentrate on what you CAN change and not what you CAN'T change. Work on your GPA, SAT/ACT, EC, Sports, volunteering, etc... If you can honestly say that you couldn't have done any better; then if you don't get the appointment, you feel proud of yourself for giving it your all and decide on applying again the next time. (The board looks favorably on those who re-apply a 2nd year)
3) No matter how hard you try, the academy can only let in 1300-1400 students. And when the average GPA is 3.85, and if you come from large states such as California, Texas, New York, Florida, etc... it's quite possible with all those applicants, that you can have a 3.90 and NOT get an appointment. It's not because it's UNFAIR. It's because they can only take SO MANY. And if your district can ONLY get 2 slots this year, and 10 people with 4.0 gpa apply; what do you think is going to happen.
Applying for the academy can be one of the most thrilling, exciting, passionate, and yet stressful experiences in your life. In many ways, it's similar to applying to the Ivy League type universities. In some ways, it's much more stressful. (Mainly because you basically have to wait until the end of school when the other colleges that did accept you want a commitment). All you can do, is your BEST. And only you will "HONESTLY" know if it's your best.
There are some who have dreamed of going to the academy for many years. I found an old school report from my son from elementary school I believe the 6th grade. He mentioned how he wanted to go to the Air Force Academy when he grew up, and fly jets. (I never knew that, back then.) There are many like that. There's also many who decided at the end of their junior year, that it seemed like a good thing to do. If for no other reason, than as a "Backup" if they didn't get into their primary school choice. And there's some that are somewhere in between. And there are some from ALL categories that received appointments. And there are some from all categories that didn't make it. Sometimes you get someone who's wanted it their whole life, yet an ALO has to tell them, like Bombtrack mentioned, that the chances could be slim. When a student has that much passion for the academy, yet is sitting there trying hard to HOLD a 3.0 gpa, and is struggling with SAT/ACT, it's difficult.
So I tell anyone reading this the same thing I have said to many before you. Nothing in life is guaranteed. If you want the academy, you have to give it 100% of everything you have. In the class room, in the tests, volunteering, leadership, etc... And when you think you've given it everything, give MORE. And then, you still aren't guaranteed anything. But if you don't try, you are guaranteed NOT to get in. If you do try, no matter what, you'll be a better person for it. And whether the academy is your first choice of schools or a backup, make sure that you apply to MANY schools. If you are even close to having what it takes to get accepted to the academy, you have what it takes to get accepted to MORE than 75% of all colleges/universities in the country. Best of luck to all of you. later.... Mike.....
- Joined
- May 8, 2008
- Messages
- 800
Like usual, CC hit the nail on the head.