Advice Towards Admissions

Hi all,
I am currently a junior in high school and have moved high schools three times.
Transferring high schools is a very annoying process and doing it twice has had some effects on my transcript. At my first two high schools, I took all honors classes and left with a weighted GPA of 3.9. At my current high school, they do not weight honors classes and because of this they took my weighted GPA away. Now on my transcript it looks like I have a weighted and unweighted GPA of 3.4... My concern is that admissions will look at my transcript and dismiss it immediately because of the low GPA. I know i screwed up by getting straight B+'s and counting on my weighted GPA, but I cant help feel that I am at a disadvantage. Another problem I have had is that my new school requires tests to get in to honors and AP classes. When I moved here I missed the day to take the tests, so the school would not let me in to anything except for AP Bio. I could go on and on but basically what I am wondering is will I get a chance to explain what has happened during my ALO interview or application and if so, how much will it matter?
Thank you all

Here's the good news.

1. You still have time with finals in the next week or two to have excellent grades this semester.
2. You have time to take as many AP type classes next semester and get A's in those classes.
3. The "GREAT EQUALIZER" is you ACT/SAT test scores. If you pull off 31+ on your ACT tests or 700+ on your SAT tests, and that will offset a lower GPA.

Best of luck. mike....

I was in a similar situation as you. Contact your Admissions Councilor and explain your situation. They will likely have the guidance councilors from your previous schools send them more information about each schools' grading system and class profile.

Based on my experience, the Academy will acknowledge both the rigor of the school system and the performance of the student when determining the "refigured" GPA.

Thank you both for your responses.
I will be taking the ACT as soon as possible and I am taking a preparation class. Ok thank you nn139 I will meet with her this week.
Christcorp I know this is probably a question that cannot be answered with certainty, but, in your opinion, do the ACT/SAT or GPA hold more weight with admissions?
Thank you for your time

It's a compilation. It's not a matter of More or Less. Click on the link in my signature block of this post and download the pdf file. It's the entire air force academy brochure. There's a section in there on how they calculate your total score. 60% of your total score is based on academics. Academics includes your GPA, difficulty of classes taken, class ranking, ACT/SAT Scores, etc.... All combined, you get a certain score.

"hypothetical example"; a 3.6gpa in the IB program with a a 32 composite ACT score could be equal to a 3.9gpa in the IB program with a 27 composite ACT. Same with class rank, type of classes, school profile, etc.... Read the brochure in my signature block. best of luck. Mike.....

Admissions can look at all the "school information" available on the high schools you've attended. How many kids go to 4-year colleges? How many or what percent even graduate? How did you do on other standardized tests? They'll consider everything.

It's tough to move in high school! Good luck!!!

Thank you both - you really cleared up some worries of mine.
My projected ACT score from my PLAN test was 29-32 so I am definitely starting to feel better about this. I promise I will stop after this , but do you think that it is in my best interest to wait to apply for SS until after my GPA is updated after this semester? I have all A's and one B and i think it could help me out - but i also know that it is good to apply as early as you can. Any tips?
Thanks a lot (last question i promise)

There are specific Summer Seminar threads - take a look at those.

SummitSkier said:

Thank you both - you really cleared up some worries of mine.
My projected ACT score from my PLAN test was 29-32 so I am definitely starting to feel better about this. I promise I will stop after this , but do you think that it is in my best interest to wait to apply for SS until after my GPA is updated after this semester? I have all A's and one B and i think it could help me out - but i also know that it is good to apply as early as you can. Any tips?
Thanks a lot (last question i promise)

Click to expand...

I would wait. All indications are that the SS applications will be viewed after all have been received. There are only two sessions this summer and there is not a rolling admission as in past years. I believe I read where all applications must be in by January 31st, 2013. Don't quote me on that though. DS is waiting on current PSAT scores before submitting his.

This is from the SS page:
"The Summer Seminar Application is now open until 31 January 2013. No rolling selections will be made. Selections for this program will be made after the application closes with notification via e-mail of selection or non-selection on 15 February 2013."

Ok thank you very much. I have heard it's incredibly competitive so I will definitely be waiting. Good luck to your son.
Thanks a lot

SummitSkier said:

Ok thank you very much. I have heard it's incredibly competitive so I will definitely be waiting. Good luck to your son.
Thanks a lot

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Just so you know; if you don't get into summer seminar, it's not a big deal. It "LOOKS GOOD" to your ALO and MOC's if you apply, but that's just as important as making it to summer seminar.

Don't get me wrong. Summer seminar is a very useful tool for applicants to see if they might actually like the academy and military. Most academy applicants have absolutely no idea what they are getting themselves into. Summer seminar gives them a "Small Taste" of that. But if you don't get accepted to summer seminar, it's no big deal.

1. Out of potentially 12,000+ interested prospects, only about 700 will get accepted to go to summer seminar. Even if all 700 of them were in the 2500-3000 qualified applicant pool; that's still only about 1/4th of all applicants. And out of 1000-1100 appointees, that's only about 2/3.

2. Going to Summer Seminar does NOT give you any extra points towards receiving an appointment. Everything on your SS application is "Self Reported". There is a preliminary interview done by your ALO, but your REAL GPA, ACT/SAT, class rank, letters of recommendations, etc... aren't even in the mix yet.

Bottom line is: Applying to Summer Seminar, whether you get it or not, looks good in the eyes of your ALO and MOC, and could have a small affect on getting a nomination; but it has absolutely no affect on whether or not you receive an appointment. The main purpose of Summer Seminar if for you, the applicant, to get a taste of the academy. We'd rather everyone went to summer seminar and determine if it wasn't for them and NOT APPLY, than for us to waste slots sending someone to the academy and they quit during BCT or their first semester because they found out then that it wasn't really for them.

But the truth is: We can't send everyone to summer seminar. We can't educate everyone on what they are getting themselves into. No applicant going to the academy; whether they've been to summer seminar or not; knows what they are getting into. And even those who have wanted the academy and military their whole lives; spent time in JrROTC, CAP, Scouts, or even military Brats; don't know exactly what they are getting into. Summer seminar is just another tool to hopefully give as many as possible, a taste. It's not even on your academy application.

I don't say this to discourage you from applying. Definitely apply to summer seminar. I say all this so you DON'T become DISCOURAGED if you don't make it to summer seminar. It's not going to affect your chances of receiving an appointment or not. It might help you get a nomination, but that's stretching it. It's main purpose is for YOU to get a taste and either pump you up more; or say, "This isn't for me". And yes, we get quite a few who go to summer seminar and says: "Screw this, I'm not applying". Best of luck. Mike....

Thank you for your information,
To tell you the truth, I am not sure how hopeful I am as far as Summer Seminar goes since this new school took my GPA down and lowered my class rank. And I never really had the intention of using the Summer Seminar as a way to impress admissions, although i have heard from some that cadets may write your name down if you display leadership traits, which they say helps during admissions. Other than that, I just really want to get a feel for the academy - like you said. So I will definitely be applying, but thank you for easing the pain that I may or may not feel in a month or so. And if I am not accepted, its no big deal. I live in Denver so I will definitely be visiting the Academy and going on a cadet guided tour to try to find out as much about the life as I can.
Thank you for all your help - your information and responses to posts are always very helpful.

Christcorp said:

Here's the good news.

1. You still have time with finals in the next week or two to have excellent grades this semester.
2. You have time to take as many AP type classes next semester and get A's in those classes.
3. The "GREAT EQUALIZER" is you ACT/SAT test scores. If you pull off 31+ on your ACT tests or 700+ on your SAT tests, and that will offset a lower GPA.

Best of luck. mike....

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I agree with Mike...additionally, an ALO should explain that on the 4060, I do!