Official USAFA Class of 2016 Appointment thread

YorkieMom75 said:
:confused:
Would you please explain what you mean? Of course they go to different candidates, but do you mean the selection criteria is different? I thought Prep and Falcon Foundation selections were done based on the same criteria. So that's not true? Prep is for candidates who are promising, but need some academic help, and FF is for_____? Is FF for the candidates who didn't make the USAFA class but would've been next in line if the DOD budget allowed for a larger class size?

Thanks!
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This is my understanding so anyone is free to jump in and correct me if I'm wrong.

The actual prep school goes (usually, not always) to candidates who do NOT qualify for direct admission. Be that academics or SAT/ACT, they cannot be admitted. That's why usually it goes to recruited athletes, because the Academy REALLY wants them, they just don't qualify. So the prep school trains them for a year. Now, FF scholarships go to candidates who DO qualify for admission and were extremely close to admission. Generally we just had something in our file that just didn't cut it (usually they feel we just need a year of academics). We are hand-selected as people sponsor our scholarships. We aren't necessarily the next-most qualified candidates, but we do make it very far in the process (I think I got my TWE around April 2nd last year, my FF scholarship came April 27th). So we are different candidates in that sense. Again, this is just my understanding of it, so don't take it as exact... Hope that helps! :thumb:
 
USAFA: 2016! said:
The actual prep school goes (usually, not always) to candidates who do NOT qualify for direct admission. Be that academics or SAT/ACT, they cannot be admitted. That's why usually it goes to recruited athletes, because the Academy REALLY wants them, they just don't qualify. So the prep school trains them for a year. Now, FF scholarships go to candidates who DO qualify for admission and were extremely close to admission. Generally we just had something in our file that just didn't cut it (usually they feel we just need a year of academics). We are hand-selected as people sponsor our scholarships. We aren't necessarily the next-most qualified candidates, but we do make it very far in the process (I think I got my TWE around April 2nd last year, my FF scholarship came April 27th). So we are different candidates in that sense. Again, this is just my understanding of it, so don't take it as exact... Hope that helps! :thumb:
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My understanding is that USAFA Prep is for AD airmen who do not get a direct appointment as well any many recruited athletes who do not get an appointment in addition to a few candidates that are not athletes or airmen. However, there are recruited athletes in the FF program as well. The last NWP class had a number of recruited water polo players as well as other sports.

I have also observed that many FF scholors had a specific academic weakness like perhaps a D in one class, a great GPA but a weak SAT score or vice versa. Falcons did not generally seem to lacking athletically or in leadership.
 
Blackbird, your last statement about grades, athletics, and leadership ring true.

The FF cadets, traditionally have a weakness in the grades portion, remember the majority of airmen accepted have not been in a classroom setting for a couple of yrs. It is to get them back into the rigamaroll of an academic setting. It is not as if every Airmen goes to FF prior to the AFA, it is just they have that option.

Flieger went to FF. Our friend (straight out of HS), who is an O5 went to FF, he was the quarterback of his HS football team, and an Eagle Scout, but academically he was weak. He needed that one yr. to get him on par academically with the "direct" appointees. His DS is at the USNA now, and when we as parents went through the process 4 yrs ago, he flat out stated, his DS would not be seen as an "ideal" prep candidate because his SAT and cgpa was too high.

For those that feel it is unfair, and they should take #1301-1500 off the list, I understand your position, however, the mission for them is not runner-up and hang for a yr. Their mission is to use this yr to strengthen their academic weaknesses so they can be a success at the AFA next yr.

I think the prep situation is where most people assume the wrong thing...runner up, only to find out @ this time that it won't happen.

Things change, and maybe this yr it will be different. I know on the ROTC forum there was a poster who stated they were waiting to see if they would get a NAPS appt., but had in hand an NROTC scholarship. The majority of posters stated that it was highly unlikely because the way the system works. They did get NAPS!

Like I said things change yr to yr.
 
Interesting... Pima, I also read of a usafa appointee who had the principal nom who got a TWE for usna but a NAP appointment... Very confusing process!
 
Is falcon Prep very likely to get an appointment? And can someone explain to me how that year of Falcon works? Thanks
 
usaffanatic said:
Is falcon Prep very likely to get an appointment? And can someone explain to me how that year of Falcon works? Thanks
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Falcons are virtually guaranteed an appointment IF they do what they have committed to doing including getting good grades, taking lots of ACT/SAT exams, staying our of trouble, and applying for all eligible nominations. The appointment is the Falcon's to lose. In fact, if they receive an appointment and choose not to attend USAFA, they are legally required to payback the scholarship to the Foundation.

My DS attended NWP which has the largest population of Falcons each year. He loved it there and quite frankly misses the friends and intense environment there. Each prep school is a bit different but NWP is a civilian prep school that just focuses on SA preparation. NWP is a semester long (Aug - Dec) and is located in the California mountains. For the second semester, the Falcons go to a local University or JC. DS is currently at University of Louisville in their Speed School of Engineering even though he doesn't want to be an engineer although he recognizes the engineering nature of academics at USAFA.
 
99 Days until I-Day! LOL, DS has a countdown on his iPhone. He is a double digit midget:shake:
 
Okay so if a Falcon spot is offered and I have an AFROTC scholarship would it be prudent to not accept it? Also what is NWP?

Can the falcon prep only be done at certain schools?
 
Falcon Foundation Choices

usaffanatic said:
Okay so if a Falcon spot is offered and I have an AFROTC scholarship would it be prudent to not accept it? Also what is NWP?

Can the falcon prep only be done at certain schools?
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Go to this website for the schools you can choose if offered a Falcon Foundation Scholarship (prep). You and your DS/DD have to decide if it's prudent to choose one over the other. It depends on the applicant I would think, and is an individual choice. Also depends on the AFROTC scholarship offered.

http://www.falconfoundation.org/
 
rondan said:
What does Adminstratively Disqualified mean?
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There were a few people on the mailbox stalker thread who were listed as adminstratively disqualified and it was for low CFA scores. I believe they had to call their counselor to find out the reason, though.
 
Intimidating Description of Candidates

This is quite an amazing process. I read about some of the qualifications and think to myself....there is no way my DS will get in.........then I go to the a listing of average GPA, and ACT scores and get a little more hope. If my DS is on the edge will they keep him hanging until May just in case they need to let in a few more people? The TWE seems to go to those that are clearly not ready, the BFE goes to those that are......but what about the in betweens?
 
Dutchman said:
This is quite an amazing process. I read about some of the qualifications and think to myself....there is no way my DS will get in.........then I go to the a listing of average GPA, and ACT scores and get a little more hope. If my DS is on the edge will they keep him hanging until May just in case they need to let in a few more people? The TWE seems to go to those that are clearly not ready, the BFE goes to those that are......but what about the in betweens?
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The TWE also go to qualified candidates if there is no vacancy for them. Last year they went out just after the final mass mailing of BFEs. Hopefully good news will be in your mailbox soon. :thumb:

Additionally, the TWE states that in the event a vacancy occurs, you may be contacted. I know that rarity happened last year with a candidate getting a TWE and a MOC phone call the same day.
 
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Dutchman said:
This is quite an amazing process. I read about some of the qualifications and think to myself....there is no way my DS will get in.........then I go to the a listing of average GPA, and ACT scores and get a little more hope. If my DS is on the edge will they keep him hanging until May just in case they need to let in a few more people? The TWE seems to go to those that are clearly not ready, the BFE goes to those that are......but what about the in betweens?
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^^^I second this, but through a candidate's perspective
 
Dutchman said:
This is quite an amazing process. I read about some of the qualifications and think to myself....there is no way my DS will get in.........then I go to the a listing of average GPA, and ACT scores and get a little more hope. If my DS is on the edge will they keep him hanging until May just in case they need to let in a few more people? The TWE seems to go to those that are clearly not ready, the BFE goes to those that are......but what about the in betweens?
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Maybe you've read some of my other posts to know that I'm still amazed and shocked that I got in. Out of all people. Me? Really? Still wake up sometimes scared that they'll contact me and say it was a mistake because I am by no means the greatest candidate. Pinch me please.
 
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