Prep School Selection

usafacademy4

5-Year Member
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Mar 8, 2010
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I know what the prep schools are and everything, but what kind of people are offered a slot in the Prep Schools? Is it people with bad grades or someone that is lacking the requirements on another part of the application process? thanks for the help!:thumb:
 
I know what the prep schools are and everything, but what kind of people are offered a slot in the Prep Schools? Is it people with bad grades or someone that is lacking the requirements on another part of the application process? thanks for the help!:thumb:

It is usually somebody who lacks a vital component to an application, but has very strong potential as a candidate. The typical types you will see are something like a 2400 SAT and a 2.8 GPA, or vise versa. Rarely, if ever, will you see a tripple qualified candidate. Prep school tends to focus on the academic factor.

I don't think anyone goes because they weren't deemed physically qualified by the CFA, but this maybe wrong and I am completely guessing on this.

Finally, the other portion of prep kids are recruited athletes. Prep will get them on track academically, and it will allow the coaches at the academies to further watch their talent.
 
Goldfarb's answer is right, although he left out the "prior enlisted" category, for whom the prep schools were originally intended. I think priors now make up about 1/4 of the candidates @ the Navy's prep school, NAPS.

Also, there was a young woman on this board a year or two ago who said she was sent to NAPS because her physical fitness needed work, even though the rest of her application was a great fit. She's the only one I've heard of in that category.

If you search this thread, you'll find some older answers that confirm this info. You'll also see that if you think you're a candidate for the prep schools, it's a good idea to make this known to the academy and your BGO (or other academy equivalent).

Good luck.
 
Thank you for the info! I was wondering all this because I am a candidate for USNA, USAFA, and USMA but my standardized test scores are just about average. I have every thing else, 3.9 GPA, Varsity Letter in Swimming and Soccer, plenty of Leadership positions. So I was just wondering because a Service Academy is definitely where I want to be, so I want to get there anyway possible.
 
he left out the "prior enlisted" category

Woops! Completely left that one out.


but my standardized test scores are just about average.

If your scores are above 600 per section, and with that GPA you probably won't be looked into for prep. Of course this is a guess, and a "very very" general rule, so don't quote me. There are exceptions to every rule, and it really is the whole candidate score that will be looked at when it comes time for prep board. If you are sitting at 530ish across the board, you'll probably start to be considered for prep if you aren't deemed academically qualied.
 
I know what the prep schools are and everything, but what kind of people are offered a slot in the Prep Schools? Is it people with bad grades or someone that is lacking the requirements on another part of the application process? thanks for the help!:thumb:
I'm going to ask:

"Which PS? The SA's PS or places like Northwestern, NMMI, ??"

Because there is a difference in who goes where.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
I'm going to ask:

"Which PS? The SA's PS or places like Northwestern, NMMI, ??"

Because there is a difference in who goes where.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83

I am talking about the USAFA Prep School, USMA Prep School, and USNA Prep Schools.

If your scores are above 600 per section, and with that GPA you probably won't be looked into for prep. Of course this is a guess, and a "very very" general rule, so don't quote me. There are exceptions to every rule, and it really is the whole candidate score that will be looked at when it comes time for prep board. If you are sitting at 530ish across the board, you'll probably start to be considered for prep if you aren't deemed academically qualied.

Well, my SAT score for math is good, but its the reading section that kind of messes me up. My scores:
SAT
Math: 670
Reading: 570
Writing: 620

ACT
English: 28
Reading: 22
Math: 28
Science Reasoning: 27
Writing: 26

Will these scores be ones that would get into a Prep School if I don't get into the actual Academy?
 
usafacademy4, I agree with everything you've heard so far. I'll add this, I'm not sure it was clear....

You can not apply to the Prep Schools, and I wouldn't ask to go, you get appointed. Only the Admissions Office review board makes the determination of who gets selected (although I'm sure they are influenced by recommendation letters, BGO reports, interviews, and grades!). My DS's BGO asked if DS was willing to consider Prep School? DS answered yes (and NROTC, and reapplying...). The application process is for direct appointment to the SA. You are either accepted, rejected, or placed into PS. There is no option for applying to the PS.

I've also read on this forum that those who have already received a letter of "academically qualified" are not eligible for PS selection, because the PS is for those deemed to require some academic strengthening (read the school's mission statement).

Hope this helps and good luck. There's a lot more to this than just good grades and SAT scores.
 
I know what the prep schools are and everything, but what kind of people are offered a slot in the Prep Schools? Is it people with bad grades or someone that is lacking the requirements on another part of the application process? thanks for the help!:thumb:

Okay, since it was clarified that this was about the SA's prep schools.

I can comment on the USAFA PS, no others.

Of the @230 slots at USAFA PS, there are approximately 50 - 75 slots reserved for current USAF members (young junior enlisted folks) that are trying to enter the academy. There is a Chief of Staff (AF boss) program called "LEAD: Leaders Encouraging Airman Development" that is VERY high visibility...it's goal is to find those young airmen that have great potential and then send them either to USAFA or the PS (mostly to the PS first). These slots are almost never 100% filled, but we try REALLY hard and do find a lot. That leaves...

The rest of the class. It will be filled basically this way:

1. Recruited athletes that don't quite measure up academically
2. Diversity members (based upon economic and life issues, not race/gender)
3. The rest of the slots to folks that "almost" made it to USAFA (these will be few)

If you keyed on the fact that the HUGE majority of students at the USAFA PS will be Athletes/Diversity/Airmen then you read correctly.

Students that do NOT fit those categories and that were "close" will either NOT get in or might hear from the Falcon Foundation about other PS options.

Just how it is right now.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
ok wow! that was some great information! thank you all for the information and advice! My plan was to try my hardest for the Academy, not to just shoot for the PS. But, again, thanks for the info! VERY HELPFUL!! now im off to West Point SLS!
 
I may be able to offer some insight here. We're not sure WHY I got prep school (For CG), but...

3.6-7 GPA
690 CR
630 Math
660 Writing

Took 2 classes in very advanced Physics, but no chemistry. We were thinking that could be a factor.

I also had OUTSTANDING extracurriculars, having extensive ocean lifeguard training, in addition to medical/first responder training, actual ocean rescues (which I used as a focus in an essay on my application), operated a 23 foot lifeguard rescue boat, and I am scuba trained and did work on search/salvage operations. I scored 253 (or 273?) on my PFE at AIM, being a varsity and competitive state level swimmer for all 4 years, and played waterpolo for all 4 years in a highly competitive division.

I didn't take a huge load of AP Classes, but the highest Math and Science classes that I could. My thought was that because I didn't have chemistry, they thought I could benefit from the extra year. Whatever the admissions staff saw though, I'm glad they did! I didn't realize that the prep school option was there, and I think i could greatly benefit from it. At first I was slightly dissapointed with my selection for prep and not direct admission, but the more I thought about it, the better it seemed! Now looking back on it, if i could, I would CHOOSE prep school! I'm just going to treat it as my duty assignment in the Coast Guard, and do my best. Although I'm still curious as to why I might have been selected for it. I guess some things we'll never know... :wink:
 
I know that Northwestern usually has the most falcon foundation students attending(from when I went there). But the application for it can be found online if you look up Northwestern Preparatory School in google. It is a good idea to get in contact with Mrs. Durbeck asap and she will talk to you a little bit to get a sense of your biography and reasons to attend. Northwestern isn't connected to any academies so the students are made up of those who have either received foundation scholarships and want to apply them there, or what are called "self-prepsters" or "free agents" as those students who did not get into any of the academies and do not have a scholarship but still wish to attend. The website is here

http://www.nwprep.org/Northwestern_Preparatory_School/Welcome.html

I strongly suggest that anyone who was turned down from the academies research this great prep school and get into contact with Mrs. Durbeck. Northwestern has a great track record of getting not just foundation students but also "free agents" into the academies. I know so because I was able to get into USMMA after self prepping.
 
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