The Reapplying Club

DjSanguine,

You are very correct that there is a real difference in the Prep school possibilities, and each has different requirements. I think everyone needs to know the difference.

USAFA Prep School - Located on the Academy grounds, and is designed to give applicants another year of academics before appointment to USAFA. There are many prior enlisted at the USAFA Prep School. These candidates usually are fully qualified, but may need a boost in academics before attending USAFA. This is fully funded by the Air Force and preppies are actually active-duty Air Force while at the Prep School. I believe this is what PIMA is thinking of with her comments.

Falcon Foundation Prep Scholarships - The Falcon Foundation is a privately funded foundation which provides 100 scholarships annually for qualified candidates to attend one of 5 preparatory schools in the US. These candidates are fully qualified but did not receive appointments. The Foundation has their own criteria for deciding who is awarded scholarships, and works closely with admissions. Each scholarship award provides a portion of the cost of room, board and tuition. Scholarship recipients must pay for transportation to and from school and for clothing, laundry, other personal expenses and their proportionate share of the tuition, fees and books.

Private Prep School - These are the so-called "Free Agents" who choose to attend prep schools entirely at their own expense, hoping to receive an appointment to USAFA the following year. There are no requirements for this option other than the desire and means to do so.

Stealth_81

Only the AFA prep.

I have yet in 3+ yrs seen one AFA prepster get it because they busted their CFA. Actually this yr there has been a poster that got the opportunity to re-take the CFA multiple times.

I am not on the board, but I will say that traditionally if you are an academic ideal candidate for the AFA, they will re-open the portal for your CFA and allow you to re-take it.

The CFA is one thing you have complete control over. It is your body. It is not about: which equals 4 better: 5-1, 3 +1, 8 divided by 2 like the SAT. It is pure regarding your physical ability. Every candidate with due diligence working out can get higher scores physically.

AFA Prep exists to create an academic equality IMPO. Again, CSprings.

Pima said:

Also, if you recall why Falcon was created in the 1st place, you would see it was not created for that candidate, it was created more for the enlisted member to get them back into the academic world. It warped itself into what it is now.

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Actually, Falcon Foundation via the AOG gives scholarships to promising young men and women to attend 3rd party (civilian-run) prep schools, like NWP which has been discussed here. Enlisted personnel on the other hand are funneled into USAFA Prep school on Academy property. Two different programs.

usafa84 said:

I Is it working...YES:
http://hamptonroads.com/2010/09/ap-interactive-service-academy-diversity

Pretty impressive slope over the last couple of years!

To the detriment of who: non-diversity, not recruited athletes.

I'm off my soap box, too!

And if this post is deleted...the "cover up begins!!!"

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If you're unhappy with the way you think that USAFA is selecting their cadets, then you need to call your congressman. Only he/she has the authority to investigate how the academies are appointing future cadets and affect any changes.

F15 said:

If you're unhappy with the way you think that USAFA is selecting their cadets, then you need to call your congressman. Only he/she has the authority to investigate how the academies are appointing future cadets and affect any changes.

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And we have a winner.

Now if everyone will please return to the topic at hand. We'll open a thread in the Off Topic forum for a civil discussion of this issue.

-TN

Much of the frustration on this thread comes from those who feel that all along, having an outstanding application could get your WCS high enough to be appointed. In the end, many found out that no matter how high their scores were, how much leadership they took on, how many varsity sports they played, etc., the appointment was something out of reach for reasons they could not affect. And understandably, many of these highly qualified young people are feeling somewhat disillusioned with the process. Sad, but true.

but we move on and we reapply!

THE FOLLOWING IS FROM THE USAFA ADMISSIONS FACEBOOK PAGE:

Your excellent record qualifies you for admission, but we are limited in size by public law and cannot appoint everyone. We advise all of those who did not receive an appointment to reapply. About 30% of every incoming class is made up of those who are reapplying to USAFA. Here are some tips:

You must start you whole application over to reapply to USAFA. The application for the CLASS OF 2016 is already open so start now.

Apply to one of our Prep schools.1) Northwestern Prep, 2) New Mexico Military Institute, 3)Marion Military Academy, 4)Valley Forge Military Academy 5) and Wentworth Academy.

Classes to take:
We highly encourage you take these classes to better your application to USAFA.

Differential Calculus (or pre-calculus/college algebra if this was not taken in high school)
College Chemistry
Physics
Freshman composition (English)
History (either U.S. History or the History of Western Civilization)
ROTC if available at the school

The student should strive for the best possible performance in each class. Course work along with college performance will be evaluated.
The candidate should take at least 15 semester hours each semester (fall and spring) to demonstrate their ability to handle a normal college academic load.
In these classes you need to receive A’s and B’s anything below will do more harm than good.

Standardized Tests: Consider retaking your tests to better your application
ACT: 28 or higher in each subject
SAT: 600 or higher
Free SAT/ACT practice (https://www.march2success.com/index.cfm)

Nominations: Apply to all nominations source (congressman, senator, vice president and president)

SaltLife said:

but we move on and we reapply!

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Exactly. I'm not letting one rejection slow me down. We'll talk again after 2 or 3...

But it shows a lot of maturity to take the rejection like a criticism, improve on it and come back for another try, and most of all to find the positives in it!

I decided I wanted to apply around September (probably a big factor in not getting appointed since I haven't been preparing all of High School) and my girlfriend was nearly devasted to find out I wanted to go out of state and barely get to see her or talk to her. She became more understanding and supportive, but now I get to spend an extra year with her while trying to do it all again . Our schools are a couple hours apart from each other, but I'll definitely be seeing more of her than I would be at the Academy.

I get to sample the civilian college life! You don't have to ask me twice . And if I get an appointment when I reapply, I'll show up on I-Day more focused than ever

Thanks everyone for getting this back on topic. I really hope this thread continues for those who are reapplying. I felt it would be a great resource to share how things are progressing and giving ideas to each other on how to be successful next year.

A few questions and thoughts: Is the number of QNV letters higher this year? If this is the case and if a higher number reapply next year, I wonder if the percentages of college applicants getting in would increase as well.

I realize that performance is the key here and if any of the ones reapplying cant hold the grades while in college, then it will be time to move on to other things.

In the meantime, how are each of you who received QNV's spending the summer? DS had planned on serving another year on Boy Scout Camp Staff if things fell through and is looking forward to it again. They serve as staff at 3 different camps over a period of 8 weeks. They go to southern Missouri for 3 weeks, pack everything up on a Saturday, move to another camp in southern Illinois and have camp ready to open and accept scouts by Sunday at noon. They spend 3 weeks there and so the same thing with a move to another southern Illinois camp. He has been aquatics staff the last 2 years and is planning to do it again (probably as assistant aquatics director). He will finish camp and have about a month to get things together before starting school. I know he is planning on running a great deal this summer and pushing himself to max out any physical fitness tests he takes for ROTC or AFA. (We had talked about training for a triathlon together.......there's no way in heck I would be able to keep up with him though...)

I COMPLETELY understand that those of you who want this more than anything in the world will continue trying until you can improve your scores, take on leadership positions, become stronger, etc. I respect that. On the other hand, I have a son who can find nobody (ALO, AF counselor, etc.) who can tell him how he could have improved his application - at all. This makes me feel like (in these times) another year or two of applying wouldn't make much difference. Times are different - selections are being made for reasons that cannot be affected by improved stats. He wasn't in the desired demographic/category/etc. Next year will be even more competitive (and we're not sure what that means anymore) with so many more overly-qualified candidates re-applying. For many like our son - a different path might be best. Our DS hasn't ruled anything out - and if that QNV turns into an appointment - we're (of course) behind him all the way. If a Falcon scholarship arrives in the mailbox - I'm sure he'll be elated. If you are still waiting and hoping/moving on and improving - I wish you all the best!!! Just understand that the focus has changed. Many prep school candidates are still waiting to hear if they've received an appointment. Hard work and great stats aren't enough anymore for everyone.

gotaplay2 said:

I COMPLETELY understand that those of you who want this more than anything in the world will continue trying until you can improve your scores, take on leadership positions, become stronger, etc. I respect that. On the other hand, I have a son who can find nobody (ALO, AF counselor, etc.) who can tell him how he could have improved his application - at all. This makes me feel like (in these times) another year or two of applying wouldn't make much difference. Times are different - selections are being made for reasons that cannot be affected by improved stats. He wasn't in the desired demographic/category/etc. Next year will be even more competitive (and we're not sure what that means anymore) with so many more overly-qualified candidates re-applying. For many like our son - a different path might be best. Our DS hasn't ruled anything out - and if that QNV turns into an appointment - we're (of course) behind him all the way. If a Falcon scholarship arrives in the mailbox - I'm sure he'll be elated. If you are still waiting and hoping/moving on and improving - I wish you all the best!!! Just understand that the focus has changed. Many prep school candidates are still waiting to hear if they've received an appointment. Hard work and great stats aren't enough anymore for everyone.

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So very true......

gotaplay2 said:

I COMPLETELY understand that those of you who want this more than anything in the world will continue trying until you can improve your scores, take on leadership positions, become stronger, etc. I respect that. On the other hand, I have a son who can find nobody (ALO, AF counselor, etc.) who can tell him how he could have improved his application - at all. This makes me feel like (in these times) another year or two of applying wouldn't make much difference. Times are different - selections are being made for reasons that cannot be affected by improved stats. He wasn't in the desired demographic/category/etc. Next year will be even more competitive (and we're not sure what that means anymore) with so many more overly-qualified candidates re-applying. For many like our son - a different path might be best. Our DS hasn't ruled anything out - and if that QNV turns into an appointment - we're (of course) behind him all the way. If a Falcon scholarship arrives in the mailbox - I'm sure he'll be elated. If you are still waiting and hoping/moving on and improving - I wish you all the best!!! Just understand that the focus has changed. Many prep school candidates are still waiting to hear if they've received an appointment. Hard work and great stats aren't enough anymore for everyone.

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gotaplay2 : I can understand your frustration. The appointment system is complex and opague to the applicants. The 6 - 9 month wait for a decision is nearly unbearable. No one - ALO's, your AFA Counselor, etc have any idea about the slate of candidates you are competing with in your congressional district, Senatorial slate, or nationally. Add to that the possibility of principal appointments and finally targeted cadidates (athletes, diversity, etc) and what you have is a nearly incomprehensible process of appointments. But we must not lose perspective that as wonderful as our DS/DD is, every one of the final 2500 or so candidates are also pretty amazing kids and there needs to be some measure of trust that the selection boards are trying desperately to make the best selections. I'm sure they make mistakes, but I also have to believe that most of the time they are making the right choices. This is little comfort for people who are dissappointed with getting the QNV letters, but sometimes we have to believe that things happen for a reason, and ultimately all of the kids who are determined to pursue an Air Force career will succeed and none of this will matter anyway. Best to you and yours (remember - it is only April and things are still shifting around).

No one - ALO's, your AFA Counselor, etc have any idea about the slate of candidates you are competing with in your congressional district, Senatorial slate, or nationally. Add to that the possibility of principal appointments and finally targeted cadidates (athletes, diversity, etc) and what you have is a nearly incomprehensible process of appointments. But we must not lose perspective that as wonderful as our DS/DD is, every one of the final 2500 or so candidates are also pretty amazing kids and there needs to be some measure of trust that the selection boards are trying desperately to make the best selections.

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Please understand that I have nothing but admiration and respect for every appointee who wears the uniform and serves our country. I know they are amazing people from the commitment they've made. The decisions made are for reasons that we all understand. My purpose for the post was this: Know your odds if you're in a similar situation. In my DS's case, we found out that the only one appointed from his MOC's competitive slate (in our competitive state, you can't have more than one nomination) was a prepster. So it's hard to now know that he had very little chance of getting an appointment before he ever started his application. We had no idea how few 'national pool' candidates would be picked up with the cutbacks. Not trying to question why decisions are made. Just want those who are in a similar situation to understand that this is the climate of the times. Ask the questions - find out where you stand before proceeding. There are many paths that lead to the goal! All the best to you Falconfamily!

gotaplay2 said:

Please understand that I have nothing but admiration and respect for every appointee who wears the uniform and serves our country. I know they are amazing people from the commitment they've made. The decisions made are for reasons that we all understand. My purpose for the post was this: Know your odds if you're in a similar situation. In my DS's case, we found out that the only one appointed from his MOC's competitive slate (in our competitive state, you can't have more than one nomination) was a prepster. So it's hard to now know that he had very little chance of getting an appointment before he ever started his application. We had no idea how few 'national pool' candidates would be picked up with the cutbacks. Not trying to question why decisions are made. Just want those who are in a similar situation to understand that this is the climate of the times. Ask the questions - find out where you stand before proceeding. There are many paths that lead to the goal! All the best to you Falconfamily!

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That is a tough situation for your DS, a prep candiate would be very difficult to compete with. In general, I think this year's class was somewhat blindsided. The final appointee numbers were not known until after the application deadline. At least for next year we know that the number of appointees will be 1050. My understanding is that the selection boards were offering appointments as if this was any other year, then they were given a directive midstream to recalibrate for a drastically reduced class size. The class of 2015 was caught in the midst of all of this chaos. Good luck and let's hope for more movement with the appointments.

The class of 2015 was caught in the midst of all of this chaos.

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I couldn't have said it better - and you're right about what you said in an earlier post: "Things happen for a reason." It takes time and energy to understand that reason sometimes, but in the end - it's there. Thanks for the good luck - to you too!

I decided I am going to enlist but still reapply next year. Anyone have advice for going down this path which will hopefully lead to the Academy?

USAFA_Flath said:

I decided I am going to enlist but still reapply next year. Anyone have advice for going down this path which will hopefully lead to the Academy?

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Do your best throughout BMT and Tech School. Shoot for Honor Grad in BMT and try to get the best scores you can when your are in Tech School. When you get to your actual job, be the best you can be in it. Take on additional duties and give them 100% of your effort. Basically, make yourself stand out. That way, when it comes time to apply, they'll look at your achievements and be like, Wow! This person has what it takes!

Reapplying

I am most likely going to reapply to USAFA next year and I had a question about nominations. Do I reapply for a senator/congressional nomination with the high school seniors (I will be a college freshman) or is there another process?