Any Advices ...thoughts would help..

AirLta

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2010
Messages
2
I am a sophomore in high school.
And I was wondering ..if I have AJROTC plan to stay for all 4 years..and Civil Air patrol and have a diversity background [ South East Asian ] I know like 6 languages { Latin , Bengeli ,Hindi , Arabic , Urdu , English, also Spanish which I am taking next year for 2 years..and am active with the community service project..and passed all my classes and will try my best to study and do good on the ACT and SAT...plus my long passion for the air force started really young and my determination is really high...and its my choice to go with the air force and I am practically hated from a lot of people.. because I am a Muslim[Bangladeshi] not paki or arabic..-.- and my community they think I'm going bad and friends dont like me joining so I'm like o.o...So I am wondering is this the kind of leadership and self determination they would look for..would these help in any possible ways..

Any tips would be nice.. I just want to see if anything can help me reach that goal...thank you.
 
In the end, nobody can give you real answers, except to say the only way not to get in is to not apply.

The only thing I see missing is athletics and ECs, they do matter. You can have a 4.0 uw and 2400 SAT, but still not get an appointment because the candidate with a 3.8uw and 2100 SAT was also the Captain of the Lacrosse Team, NHS member, Class treasurer, held a pt job as a Lifeguard and volunteered for Habitat for Humanity.
 
When I reply to posts, I try and answer in ways that may also apply to others also who are just lurking on the forums and have similar questions. JrRotc and CAP are admirable programs, and if you're into them, then definitely do them and excel/succeed in them. But no extra curricular activities carry any more weight than others. What I mean is: If a person is involved with scouting, FBLA, clubs, etc... those activities count just as much. You mention diversity, and the military understands that. Being involved in clubs, groups, activities, etc... is what's important. Not which one. Next, is excelling in this activities and having leadership positions in them. Being in organizations is good, but maturing and taking on more responsibilities in these clubs/organizations/activities is even more important.

You mentioned being multilingual. That is definitely a good thing. But you also mentioned that you're "Passing" your classes. In most schools, passing can be a "D" or "C". Those kinds of grades won't get you into the academy. You need very good grades. Also, you didn't mention the "Type" of classes you're taking. You need to be taking the most challenging classes that you are capable of excelling at. e.g. AP classes, the IB program, Honors Classes, etc... If you're not taking these types of classes, you need to.

You also didn't mention athletics. This is very important. Especially "TEAM" sports. The air force/military is mostly about "team work". They want to see that not only are you physically fit and are involved with athletics, but that you are a "team player". If you're not actively involved with high school sports, you need to.

Your determination and how you handle your local family and social acceptance in wanting you attend the academy and serve in the military, is not something that can be measured. So there's no way that your "passion" is going to directly affect your being accepted or not. Your passion however can shine through when you are interviewed by your Academy Liaison Officer (ALO) as well as with your interview with your state representative and senator. If they see the passion and excitement about serving in the military and attending the academy, that could benefit you.

So, you're multilingual; that helps. You plan on doing well on the SAT/ACT, that's good. Now, take challenging classes and do real well in those. Get involved with sports, excel in that. Excel in any clubs or activities you're involved with and achieve leader status. And then, when you've gotten all that lined up, remember that the academies want well rounded individuals. Be involved with volunteering your time to help others. Be involved in activities that are bigger than just yourself. Do all these things, and then you will be competitive.

Will you receive an appointment? There's not one person here or any place else that can answer that question for you. Anyone who tries, while trying to be nice, is misleading. There are 4.0gpa students who DON'T receive appointments. There are some with 3.6gpa who DO receive appointments. There are some that had a 30ACT who received an appointment, and others with a 33ACT who DIDN'T receive an appointment. You have to realize that there are approximately 10,000 who initially apply to the academy, and about 1300-1400 will actually walk into Basic Cadet Training in June. And your competition starts locally in your congressional district and your state. And if you don't receive a primary nomination from your representative or senator, then having a nomination will make you then compete at the national level. The process and journey to receiving an appointment is hard and challenging. But those who are determined and work harder than others have an excellent chance of success; and the reward is unbelievable. That is where that determination and passion come in. Do what you need to, and you've got a good chance. Be average, and your chances are pretty slim. Best of luck. mike...
 
That's good to know about the 3.6 GPA. I had 3.6 this year with my two homeschooled credits that my mom grades extremely hard on. Then I had a 4.0 at CC with over 30 credits and that apparently isn't even considered. I'm just hoping my above average testing scores and average CFA scores are ok along with as much leadership involvement as I've been able to cram in and two nominations. :confused:

Wow... I think my patience is running out. *headdesk*
 
I never heard that about CC credits. When DS applied yrs ago, he was in a program called Jumpstart and they accepted his CC credits as part of his transcript. Are you confusing accepting credits for your PAR with not transferring CC credits to give you college credit. If it is the latter, remember it is the same truth for any AP too. You will all enter as 4 digs, you can place out (validate), but you cannot and will not be able to graduate early like a typical university. You could have an Associates or College degree, you're still going to be there for 4 yrs.

The reason every candidate takes AP is not to get credits, but to prove to the SA's that you have taken the most rigorous course load available. Course load is very important to the SA. They don't like to see std classes, they want to see that if your school offered AP/IB/ICSCE you were in those classes whenever possible.
 
I was kinda hoping they would use that to calculate my GPA, but I guess not. That's not really why I did CC. Not really for transfer, but just the experience. High school kinda... ran out for me around tenth grade so I just needed something harder. But it kinda bugs me that all that work didn't count in my GPa.
 
Nope, you're a high school student. Not a college student. Therefor, it's high school classes that count towards your GPA. Pretty clear cut. As Pima was saying, there's a lot of reasons why some people take AP or college classes while in high school. Some, for entrance into the academies, is to demonstrate taking the most challenging classes you can. (HINT: Don't take such classes if you can't do well in them). So, not academy related take them to impress high profile colleges, similar to the academies, to help their chances of being accepted. Then, there are those who take them to actually get college credit when they attend college, in the hopes of graduating earlier. And while it doesn't sound fair, college courses at a local CC should not count towards your High School gpa. It isn't high school.
 
Actually Mike if your school has a program akin to Jump Start, they do count towards your GPA. Here's the kicker we found out. Our DS took Stats at the CC instead of AP thinking it would be equal wt. or higher since it was COLLEGE. We came to find out that it was actually less weight because the school could not make the decision that it was equivalent to AP reqs. He was given credit for it to = Honors! The most ironic part is that at the CC, the AP Stat class would have not been equal to his stat, but validated as a pre-req. He tested out of STAT 1.

Be very careful if you have a Jump Start program, talk to the gc before you sign up for it, because it may hurt you in the long run.

Jump start is 1/2 day at HS and 1/2 day at CC. For our schools the GC must sign off on it, sim to being allowed to take APs in our area. I.E, just because YOU want to, does not mean you can!
 
You are correct Pima. There are similar programs in most schools. Many are factored into "Weighted" GPA's. Our school has a similar program, however we don't have weighted GPAs. But we only have certain AP classes and the full IB program. So, some students who are interested in taking classes that aren't available at the high school, can take an equal class at the local CC. And it does count towards their High School GPA. HOWEVER: If it's used towards their High School GPA, the college WILL NOT ACCEPT it for college credit. Even though they are the school that taught you. They'll let you take a higher class when you come to college, but they won't count that class as a college class being you used it for high school credit. Also, the high school WON'T let you take a college class in place of a high school class if there is a high school class available that is similar. E.g. if AP Calc is available, they aren't going to let you take a CC math class for high school credit.
 
Being in organizations is good, but maturing and taking on more responsibilities in these clubs/organizations/activities is even more important.

This would be all good and fine if not for the fact that attainment of almost all positions at my school is directly proportional to popularity and speech skills (due to "elections for office"...including JROTC, sports team captains, clubs, etc.):thumbdown:
 
2012 cadet, I wholeheartedly agree that MANY elected leadership positions are popularity contests. However, I disagree that sports captainships fall into this category. Usually people vote for the best player, not necessarily the natural leader or most well-liked person on the team.
 
2012 cadet, I wholeheartedly agree that MANY elected leadership positions are popularity contests. However, I disagree that sports captainships fall into this category. Usually people vote for the best player, not necessarily the natural leader or most well-liked person on the team.

Oh, you'd be surprised...at least 1 captain was voted because of skills but the other 2 only because the were seniors and well-liked.
 
It really bugs the heck out of me when I see kids who take positions just so they could have a "leadership" position. And then they let their club crash and burn because they don't care enough to take the responsibilities that come with the position!!
 
I agree with what you'all are saying. That's why I specifically said:
"but maturing and taking on more responsibilities in these clubs/organizations/activities is even more important".
Unfortunately, these roles are subjective. The academy doesn't know how effective you were in these leadership roles. With sports, it's easy. If you have accolades such as "team captain" in the same statement as words such as "undefeated season"; "State Champions"; etc... chances are, you were probably an effective leader to an extent. If you say that you were the school liaison for a volunteer organization that worked with "Toys for Tots" and you can also make claims to providing toys to 500 needy children in your community, chances are you were probably an effective leader. Unfortunately, there are many activities where production isn't easily measured.

Sorry, but in the real world, personality, which many times equates to popularity, is a very real thing. Many politicians are elected because they are popular; even if they aren't qualified. Many of today's kids idolize musicians, actors, and athletes because they are successful and popular; even though they may also be drug/alcohol users, child abusers, and other disgusting things. But this is about getting into the academies, becoming a commissioned officer, and serving your country. That should be an applicant's motivation for applying. Some are going to apply just for the education and/or prestige of one of the best schools in the country. That's a shame. Some will grow during their 4 years at the academy and become a great asset to our armed forces and our country. Some won't mature, and they will basically be forced out; either during the academy or a 5 and dive.

But for those applying to the academy with the "right" attitude, and you're trying to demonstrate to the academy that you are the type of person they are looking for, all we/I can suggest is to do your best. Be involved in clubs, sports, activities, volunteering, etc... in areas because you want to; not because it might get you an appointment. "The academy boards aren't stupid either". They'd rather see you in a few activities in which you have succeeded in and shown leadership, than to be in 10 activities simply as a lemming. And if you truly are a leader, your ALO is going to see this attribute in your personality during interviews and casual conversation. Your nominators; representative and senators or their representative; are going to see this in your interviews with them. You are not the first person to ever apply to the academy. You are not the first person that these people have ever interviewed. They know the difference between sincerity and bull shiite. Have you ever wondered how some applicants with a 4.0gpa, high class ranking, kick butt ACT/SAT, don't get appointments. Yes, some are because there are simply too many applicants in that demographic with the same stellar record. But many are because the ALO, MOC, and others who's opinions are solicited from the ALO/MOC can see that the person is simply trying to fill squares instead of being sincere in their activities.

So, just do the best you can do for yourself. Don't worry about others. Don't use others as an excuse. And if you have to, LEARN how to communicate verbally and on paper better to ensure you accurately portray yourself to your ALO, MOC, and the academy. Best of luck to you all. Mike....
 
And if you truly are a leader, your ALO is going to see this attribute in your personality during interviews and casual conversation. Your nominators; representative and senators or their representative; are going to see this in your interviews with them.

So, just do the best you can do for yourself.

That's all I can hope for, I guess...
 
Back
Top