CFA Scores - Am I in trouble?

capchessguy

5-Year Member
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Jan 27, 2012
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I'm applying to the USAFA and the USNA. My CFA is on saturday and these are my unofficial scores from practicing. I've practiced the test at least 20 times but this is still all I can manage.

BB Throw: 60
Pull Ups: 7
Shuttle: 9.8 (my norm is 9.4, but I have a poor running surface right now)
Sit ups: 95
Push ups: 50
Mile 7:30

Normally I run a 6:30 mile, but after all that other stuff I'm really messed up. Also, I can almost never get that eighth pull up. I hit muscle failure 2/3 of the way up on it. :p
 
If you didn't already know; here are the "Averages" of applicants: (Bottom of my post)

You have to determine if you're "In Trouble". Not to sound vague, but the academies look at the WHOLE PERSON. They'll take your scores, combine it with your varsity sports or equivalent athletic activities, to determine your fitness. They will then take your CFA score and combine it with your ALO interview, writing sample, and the faculty's review of your package; and give you a composite score that will count for 20% of your total score.

So looking at your scores, you are (Based on the AVERAGE applicant over the years); SHORT on your BBall throw. LOW on your pullups. About a second SLOW on your shuttle run. HIGHER on your situps. LOW on your pushups. And about a minute SLOW on your mile run.

But "Average" doesn't mean minimum REQUIREMENT. The AVERAGE ACT scores are 30 across the board, with a 31 in reading. But those are much higher than the MINIMUM REQUIREMENT. So your scores, while lower than the average, are probably higher than some others. Now; what matters most; is when the day is over (The appointment cycle), is your TOTAL SCORE higher than your competition??? The other 9 people on your MOC's nomination slate??? Is it higher that those in the National Pool you'll compete with if you weren't high enough to get your MOC's slated slot??? NO ONE HERE has that answer. Why? Simple. We don't know who your competition is. Hope this long answer helped you understand the procedure a little better. Mike....

candidate fitness assessment (cfa)
Events
Average (Men):First Number
Average (Women): Second Number
Basketball Throw 69’ 41'
Cadence Pull-ups 12 3
OR Flexed Arm Hang (Women) 21 sec.
Shuttle Run 8.9 sec. 9.7 sec.
Modified Sit-ups 81 78
Push-ups 61 41
One Mile Run 6:36 7:35
 
I'm applying to the USAFA and the USNA. My CFA is on saturday and these are my unofficial scores from practicing. I've practiced the test at least 20 times but this is still all I can manage.

BB Throw: 60
Pull Ups: 7
Shuttle: 9.8 (my norm is 9.4, but I have a poor running surface right now)
Sit ups: 95
Push ups: 50
Mile 7:30

Normally I run a 6:30 mile, but after all that other stuff I'm really messed up. Also, I can almost never get that eighth pull up. I hit muscle failure 2/3 of the way up on it. :p

If it makes you feel better, you're not alone. My scores were really close to yours, and actually worse in some areas.

BB Throw: 69
Pull Ups: 3
Shuttle: 8.6
Sit ups: 82
Push ups: 40
Mile: 6:45

I ran cross country my senior year of high school and my one mile time was 5:48. My time significantly slowed when I took the CFA as well.

Like CC said, the academy looks at the whole person score. I didn't get accepted to the academy, but I did make it to the prep school. I didn't have crazy academics either. (27 ACT / 3.62 GPA) There are many factors that contribute to your WCS. Just do your best!
 
so, what is the imperative for taking the test this Sat?
 
If it makes you feel better, you're not alone. My scores were really close to yours, and actually worse in some areas.

BB Throw: 69
Pull Ups: 3
Shuttle: 8.6
Sit ups: 82
Push ups: 40
Mile: 6:45

I ran cross country my senior year of high school and my one mile time was 5:48. My time significantly slowed when I took the CFA as well.

Like CC said, the academy looks at the whole person score. I didn't get accepted to the academy, but I did make it to the prep school. I didn't have crazy academics either. (27 ACT / 3.62 GPA) There are many factors that contribute to your WCS. Just do your best!
Are these numbers for female? minimum,average or submitted best scores?
 
Are these numbers for female? minimum,average or submitted best scores?

I would assume that these are LFry's submitted scores. If you look at my post above; or click on the link in my signature block and download the academy brochure, you can see the averages for both men and women.
 
I would assume that these are LFry's submitted scores. If you look at my post above; or click on the link in my signature block and download the academy brochure, you can see the averages for both men and women.



Just wondering what CFA numbers took to get to the Prep School?
I have read before that if you don't hit the minimum on any of the six,
it's a pass all or fail. Or are the requirements for the Academy and the Prep School different?

Thanks
 
The requirements for the prep school aren't like that. It's not like you can "APPLY" to the prep school. (You can't). The academy looks at your application to the academy, they look at all areas, obviously you aren't high enough in ALL AREAS to have received an appointment, but they see some potential in you. They "might" offer you a prep school slot.

And before anyone asks; no, the prep school offers aren't just for athletes. I know individuals personally who have attended the prep school (RECENTLY) who were not intercollegiate athletes. And no; they weren't all minorities or some other sub-category. There is no magical list for the prep school either. When the academy offers an individual a slot there, it's because they see potential. Yes, it could be for minority or athlete slots; just saying not all of the prep school individuals fall into that category. Some have a kick butt application but really bombed in one particular area, and the academy saw potential. I'm sure they see potential in hundreds or thousands of NON-Selectees to the academy. But the prep school has a small number of slots, so they can't offer everyone. They have their criteria, and I'm sure it changes each year. Because the prep schoolers STILL HAVE TO APPLY for the academy the next year... and they STILL HAVE TO RECEIVE A NOMINATION. So, they don't want to offer 50 kids from Kansas a prep school slot. They wouldn't be able to get them all in even if they wanted to.

But as for the CFA and such; it's not like the prep school has a different set of standards or averages. That's because you DON'T APPLY to the prep school. And you don't take the CFA to get to the prep school. You take the CFA to get into the academy. The prep school is simply what it sounds like. A preparatory school for individuals the academy believes can make it the next year with some additional training.
 
I would assume that these are LFry's submitted scores. If you look at my post above; or click on the link in my signature block and download the academy brochure, you can see the averages for both men and women.

That is correct. They were the scores I submitted last year.

Are these numbers for female? minimum,average or submitted best scores?

They are my own scores (male) that I did not make it into the academy with. My scores (though still not where I want them to be) have definitely improved since I've been at the prep school though.


Again, CC is correct. Since you don't apply directly to the Prep School, there's no way to tell what criteria they use to choose applicants.
 
That is correct. They were the scores I submitted last year.



They are my own scores (male) that I did not make it into the academy with. My scores (though still not where I want them to be) have definitely improved since I've been at the prep school though.


Again, CC is correct. Since you don't apply directly to the Prep School, there's no way to tell what criteria they use to choose applicants.

Thanks CC for clarifying and LFry94 for pointing out that your scores are not for females. Keep up the good work at the prep school and good luck to your aim of getting into the class of 2013.
 
Suggestion to improve your scores

My suggestion would be to work with the track coach at your school or another PE coach from your school and really work for a few months on improving your scores before submitting them. You can only submit them one time so I would suggest working on improving them before you submit your scores to the USAFA.
 
My suggestion would be to work with the track coach at your school or another PE coach from your school and really work for a few months on improving your scores before submitting them. You can only submit them one time so I would suggest working on improving them before you submit your scores to the USAFA.

+ 1 :thumb:
 
DS was accepted to USNA with an LOA, but not to USAFA. The reason was the CFA. I think USAFA considers different items in the CFA due to altitude, and we are flat-landers from sea level. Don't know for sure, just guessing. Anyway, he was a linebacker and lineman for the HS football team. He did "okay" on the CFA, and submitted the results before he HAD to. After FB season was over he dropped about 20 pounds and all items on the CFA drastically improved...BUT he had already submitted the scores. He continued doing the CFA as a preparation for USNA, so we know there was quite an improvement. My point is, if you're in that sort of spot, where you have a potential to make some changes that will make a marked improvement on the CFA, DO IT! As has been said, nobody can tell you how you stack up...this year. You know the averages, but you will see here on the forum, many hopefuls who have exceptional, almost unbelievable scores...this year. It all depends on who your competition is...this year. What if everybody that applies this year is well above average?
It's possible, I guess, that it could go the other way and the scores of applicants could be real low, but I sure wouldn't count on it. Don't shoot for average, and if there is any possibility you can improve then you need to do whatever you can. Good Luck!
 
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