Application process

So I recently joined this blog, and I was wondering if anyone had any advice on what to do next. I sent in my Air Force Academy application yesterday, and I'm currently at a loss of what my next move should be. And I was also wondering by what time do I have to take the CFA, and where I would go to do that. Also, I only just now realized that I was too late for any summer programs, and I was wondering if anyone knows any ways to get late entry or something like that. I guess I've started kind of late, but I really want to go to the academy so please give me any imput you may have!

Hello,

First of all, congrats on starting the application process. This is a great resource for all your service academy needs. If you have already submitted your Precandidate questionnaire, that is your first step. The bulk of the application will come out near the end of June (including the CFA). You have missed the deadline for Summer Seminar (Feb 28), but don't worry about that. Summer Seminar does not have an impact on your admission to the academy. If you are dedicated and willing to work hard, that is what counts. I am one of many appointees that did not attend Summer Seminar.

As for what to do now, there are a couple things you should be working on. First is the CFA, it won't open up until the end of June, but you should start working out yesterday. Don't expect to do well on it if you just show up without any preparation. Be prepared to max it, or at least the best that you think you can do, the first time you take it.

If you haven't gotten in contact with your ALO, now would probably be a good time to at least get the conversation. Remember, you are not starting late in the application process for the academy, you still have lots of time.

Also, start looking at the nomination packages provided by your members of congress (MOC), or request them if they aren't online. You will need to start working on the essays they request and will need to alert teachers, coaches, and other officials that you will need their recommendation. Start asking them now and and they might be ready by the time you need to submit your application.

I believe that I received the request from DODMERB this time last year. Get that out of the way as fast as possible because complications will usually pop up later on.

Good luck on your application, start getting things together now so that you will be able to get your application in early. Do your best, get it done, and have no regrets as you go through. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Later,

Brian

Brian,
Thank you very much for your help. You've done me a great service with that post. I believe I have just one more question. The dodmerb is the medical examination, correct? And that is when I need to be below the weight limit and not have any diseases, etc, right? Where do I sign up for that, or does it come in the mail like the others are supposed to? I appreciate what you've already done, you've really been a big help already!
Ben

Hi,

DODMERB (Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board) will request both a full physical and an eye exam. After submitting the pre candidate questionnaire (I believe I got something in the mail last May), the academy request everyone that they think is "competetive" to have a physical. I hope that answers your question.

Later,

Brian

Check this out.
http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=11069

Lot of help.

Do you know what the complete latest date is before the application process is ended? And how long before my application is processed? And is there a chance that they might deny my application?

The application for the class of 2015 will be open until January 31, 2011. The length of time it will take them to process your application will depend largely upon when you complete it. If you have everything in by the beginning of September, it will probably go before one of the first admissions boards. If you wait until December to complete it, it will probably take a while before it gets seen by the board because of the large number of applications coming in around that time. I'm a bit confused by what you mean by "deny my application" as it's a college you have to apply to and they obviously don't accept everyone so they will be denying many applications, one of which could of course be yours. I'm assuming you meant something else though, elaborate and I'll try to answer.

I apologize for the misconception, I only meant that I thought my application could be denied during the precandidate questionaire, because of something like a lack of "yes" answers to the questions, before they had actually contacted the school and recieved the rest of my information. I'm sorry for the mix-up.

Statistically 10K files are opened and 6K will make the cut to applicant. 3K will make the cut to candidate. 1600 will be given an apptmt.

You will not receive your DODMERB until you become a applicant. BSA you may have received Dodmerb for SLS and they used that for your application. The same is true regarding the CFA, if you go to SLS, that is the CFA put in your file.

Right now the only thing to really do is practice the CFA and get your teachers prepared that you will be asking for a rec. Ask them for their email address so they can opt to do it over the summer. Also inform your GC of your intention to apply to the AFA since they too will be required to submit info.

I am not one to say contact your ALO because ALO's are volunteer. Remember they have a job and a life too, this is not their job, it is something they have volunteered to do. Currently, many ALO's are also busy presenting awards at hs ceremonies so that is taking up for their time.

The ALO may also blow you off since you are yet deemed an applicant, for all they know you may never be one and it is time taken away from their own lives. Additionally many ALO's move or quit. If I am correct even BSA's ALO he thought he had was changed by the end of the summer.

Yes, you are excited. Yes, you want to get a leg up, but this is not a sprint, this is a marathon. You will have many ups and downs over the yr. Get your feet wet, be proactive, but don't spin your wheels uselessly.

The first board will not meet for 6 months, and you will not even know if you are an applicant for 3 months. Right now, be a kid and enjoy the freedom, because in 15 months from now you will have no freedom.

I was actually rejected to SLS, so I'm not exactly sure how that happened. I can't remember what my status was at this time last year.

My ALO was switched in mid June, but I had only just gotten in contact at the beginning of June. Looking back I wish I would have contacted my ALO a little earlier (maybe not quite this early). If I had gotten in contact a little earlier I would have seen the switch coming instead of being out of the loop for 3 weeks.

Later,

Brian

I appreciate you guys' help on this subject, and I thought you might like to know that i have been deemed an applicant as of this morning.
And I have started going to the gym, which will hopefully aid my CFA, and i have written out a running schedule for this summer when i hope to have a large amount of free time to work on it.

I would just like to say thanks again for your help. You've been a big help!

Ben

You def. have the right attitude. Stay with your plan, and you'll be fine.

Be aware the Academy website is your friend and can answer all of your questions.

Best of luck

bsa07eagle said:

Also, start looking at the nomination packages provided by your members of congress (MOC), or request them if they aren't online. You will need to start working on the essays they request and will need to alert teachers, coaches, and other officials that you will need their recommendation. Start asking them now and and they might be ready by the time you need to submit your application.

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Just another quick question: Am I supposed to send letters of recommendation from each of my core class (math, science, english, history) teachers, or from the only the ones that I choose? And do these letters go with the essays to the MOCs or do they go to the academy? And should I get a letter from more than one coach? I can get email addresses, but my math teacher from this year is a dual credit teacher for a single semester so I will need to track him down, but it shouldn't cause me too much trouble. And should I get a guidance counselor to send my official high school transcript to the academy, or is that included to the MOC or am I supposed to get that to the academy personally.

I apologize, I guess this ended up being more than one question.

Ben

I believe they ask for 3 online recommendations (you will need their email) from teachers, and if I remember correctly, one math, one english, and one "other" (correct me on that if I am wrong guys). They also request 3 letters of recommendation and I forget who they need to be from. There are also 3 essay's that the academy requests and you pick 2 of the 3. I really don't know about the ones for your MOC, they are all different.

Later,

Brian

Just to clarify something. The academy has their own application requirements. BSA laid that out pretty well. Your MOC has their own requirements. And that is something that we don't know. Not unless they were our MOC also and we went through the exact same process. When you get the application packet from your MOC; either online or snail-mail, they will tell you what they want. What letters of recommendation; what essays; etc... They are allowed to have their own requirements.

What BSA mentioned is totally correct for the academy. Have those teacher's emails available PRIOR to school ending. If not, you're probably not going to be getting in touch with them during the summer. And I recommend you get their private email address. e.g. hotmail, yahoo, gmail, etc... In the summer, there's a good chance they may not even look at their official school email address. And the academy will be sending them an email asking them for an online assessment. Best of luck. mike...

So they write both a letter of recommendation, and submit some kind of online assessment of me? And will I receive this request from the academy by snail mail or email?

Christcorp said:

Just to clarify something. The academy has their own application requirements. BSA laid that out pretty well. Your MOC has their own requirements. And that is something that we don't know. Not unless they were our MOC also and we went through the exact same process. When you get the application packet from your MOC; either online or snail-mail, they will tell you what they want. What letters of recommendation; what essays; etc... They are allowed to have their own requirements.

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Thought I'd throw this in there:
NC Sen. #1 Requires a essay, no more than 500 words, on Why attending a SA is important to me. Also requires 3 in depth, reference letters, not forms, but actual letters, 2 must be from a teacher. Requires me to send all of these in at the same time, with each reference in an envelope and sealed with the reference's signature on the seal.

NC Sen. #2 No Essay, no references.

Have put in request for House rep. forms, haven't rec'd them yet.

I have just asked all the people filling out forms for me to save them on their computers, so that if I need another copy for something else, I can get it from them easily.

falconeer said:

So they write both a letter of recommendation, and submit some kind of online assessment of me? And will I receive this request from the academy by snail mail or email?

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You don't receive anything about this from the academy. When you do your online application, there will be a section where you include your 3 teacher's email addresses. (That's why I recommend you have them before school gets out. You might not find them in the summer). Anyway; the academy emails them directly and gives them the link for the assessment. FWIW; there is a hard copy that you can print off and have the teacher fill out, in case they don't have email. But that's not really used or preferred.

As for the letters of recommendations, those are for your MOC nominations. I really don't recall my son having letters of recommendation for the academy, other than the online teachers and your ALO interview. But it's been 3 years since he applied. My photographic memory might need some new film. I do know that once you receive an appointment, you will have to provide numerous people's names for your security background check. But I can't quite remember letters of recommendation for the academy. I know my son had plenty of them, but those went to his representative and senators.

Thank you for your help Mike, I will be sure to get those emails. So now that i've filled out the PCQ, when do I recieve my actual application, on which I'm supposed to write the aforementioned emails?

Ben