Chances

Matt7

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2008
Messages
29
Hey everyone I just found this forum recently and love the great advice here.
I'm just wondering how my stats compare to those with loas.
Anyways
ACT
Math 35
Science 33
Reading 31
Writing 34

3.99 Unweighted
10 Ap/college course credits
Played school soccer 4 years 3 Varsity Letters
Captain of Club Soccer Team
Track and Field One Letter as Freshman
NHS
Science Club
Confirmation Student Leader at church

Thanks for any input!
Good luck to everyone who's applied.
 
Welcome! You have found an excellent site. Your stats are great! good ACT, great gpa, and good extra curriculars. You have a great shot. How was your CFA? What is your class rank?


BTW I am an applicant for 2013 as well, no LOA though...
 
CFA was
67' throw
7.9 Shuttle
8 pullups
46 pushups
95 sit ups
5:25 mile

class rank im 19 out of 774
 
Good throw, great shuttle, pullups push ups weak, GREAT! max sit ups! and awesome mile! I'm sure that will do fine. Class rank is great!! you have an awesome shot, much better than me haha
 
yea i've been working on those 2 i could do better now but that's how it goes i guess. You sound like you know what you're talking about so i bet you have a great chance as well. thanks for the input!
 
Eh, I wouldnt say great, its there. I have been on these forums for like 3 months so I've heard others opinions on whether or not people have chances. I have also studied in depth averages ahaha! I think I went as far as looking at the class of 08 averages. There was a book in my school library with class of 88 averages that was intersting. Higher SAT math but lower CR it was like 580 average i was suprised.
 
Haha. Yea I'm obsessed with looking everywhere too. It's stressful waiting :) Have you done your congressional interviews?
 
Ya I know how you feel. Yes the senator ones, congressmans interview is on the 13th so excited for some reason I have come to love interviews...
 
Yea the third one is the easiest. Feels like 'been there done that'. You'll have no trouble. Good Luck!
 
Matt; as others have said, your "Stats" look good. Realize however that getting an appointment is a 3 part process.

1) Meet all the academies requirements. Then, being scored in the "WHOLE PERSON" concept which includes everything you posted along with interviews from your ALO, CFA, Letters of recommendation from teachers, writing, etc...

2) Receiving a nomination from your senator, rep, president, etc... Here is where you are going to be COMPARED once again with all the others competing for the same nomination you are trying to get.

3) You are then "Ranked" among all others applying. The academy can only take so many people. These numbers are based partly also by who is currently at the academy. I.e. Each Representative is allowed "X" amount of cadets at one time in the "Pipeline". I believe it's 5. (Been a while since looking). As such, if there are already 5 currently at the academy from that rep, but only 1 from a different rep, it's quite possible for someone with lower scores overall to get in ahead of someone with higher scores.

In other words, there are checks and balances in place so a state like Wyoming with only 500,000 people, 1 Rep, and 19 academy applicants aren't being disenfranchised by a state like California with quite a number of reps, millions of people, and hundreds of applicants. Obviously, with only 1400 openings per year, that could easily be filled by a few states. Because there are so many states and districts with varying styles of education, comparing students from different states isn't really fair. And being the academies are tax payer funded, ALL states need to have an equal percentage of acceptance. Thus the main reason for EACH REP being allowed to nominate "X" amount.

This is not intended to discourage you or anyone else. Your numbers look very good. Just that there isn't some special formula or number that if you reach that, you are automatically considered for an appointment.

Having said that, the academies have been doing this for a while. They are quite aware of the "AVERAGE" in every category each year. Because of this, they can feel comfortable dealing with a small group that they consider like the "No brainer" club. These are the ones that get LOA's and early Appointments. I.e. the 4.0 gpa student, ALL AP/IB classes, class rank #1-5, Multiple varsity letters/sports, 2000+ SAT/30+ACT, nomination is already given or very likely, every EC/Volunteer/etc..., nails the CFA, etc... Based on past scores and appointments, the academy can feel comfortable giving these LOA's and appointments. Of course, there are plenty of others, probably yourself, who didn't have the application finished early enough to be considered for the LOA/Appointment early, but probably has no problem getting an appointment. I would say that you are definitely in the position to get an appointment. The only thing you need to consider are those that you are competing with in your state/district. Do they have the same stats? Will you be seen as better by your nominators? Does your nominator have enough slots available to offer a nomination to you as well as the others they want.

Anyway, you look like a very promising candidate. best of luck to you. I hope you get to see that letter in the mail. later.... mike.....
 
And being the academies are tax payer funded, ALL states need to have an equal percentage of acceptance. Thus the main reason for EACH REP being allowed to nominate "X" amount....

Mike, I'm confused............What do you mean by an "ALL states need to have an equal percentage of acceptance?" :confused:

Let's assume each MOC in Wyoming and California has 1 open slot for USAFA....

Wyoming can only have 30 total nominations (10 for each Senator and 10 for their one Representative), and can have 15 total cadets charged against their 3 MOC's.

Whereas California can have 550 total nominations (10 for each Senator and 10 for each of their 53 Representatives), and can have 275 total cadets charged against their 55 MOC's!

How does that equate to "all states need to have an equal percentage of acceptance?" :confused:

Perhaps you meant "ALL Congressional districts?"

PS -

And, although USCGA does not use MOC nominations, it is indeed "taxpayer funded" as well, just like USNA, USMA, USMMA, and USAFA .

Yet 42% of the class of 2012 came from 6 states - (CA, MA, NJ, VA, MD, PA) - 123 of the total 293 appointments - so obviously, being "taxpayer funded" doesn't equate to equality in geographic distribution of appointments.

:cool:
 
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Yet 42% of the class of 2012 came from 6 states - (CA, MA, NJ, VA, MD, PA) - 123 of the total 293 appointments - so obviously, being "taxpayer funded" doesn't equate to equality in geographic distribution of appointments

Probably hence the reason for congress insisting that the CGA go to a nomination system.

USCGA used to be under the department of transportation. At that time it was not desirable for congress to get involved in the make up of CG Officers - something about tariff's. I have to look that one up.
In any case, since they are under Homeland Security, that reason no longer exists.
 
But anyway, back to Matt's chances.... Haha jk :D
Matt, you have me beat on everything cept push ups pull ups and extra curriculars :D
 
Matt -
The bottom line is no one on this forum is on the admissions board. You will only get speculation.

I guess you are waiting on your Congressional Nominations - good luck! If you get on then that will be one less hurdle to cross!
 
"Of course, there are plenty of others, probably yourself, who didn't have the application finished early enough to be considered for the LOA/Appointment early, but probably has no problem getting an appointment. " christcorp

Im actually in the same position...i finished my application in like November and they didnt get my sat scores from October till mid November. my stats are close to yours... I already got a nomination and im guessing it's just going to be a loong wait till march
 
Thanks everyone. I know it's the whole person aspect as well. I completed my application for the academy in early September. Hoping to hear about the nominations soon. Congrats to you who got the Nomination! Big weight off your back I bet. Hope you get the far away appointment! :)
 
I think those are definitely great stats, great academics, no doubt, and very physically fit. Your only weakest part in my opinion is EC, but I bet it's still better than most candidates. I had very similar academic and CFA stats, with what I felt like was a decent ALO interview, and received an LOA in nov
 
PDub..

When was your application completed? In October or Aug., Sept.? Did you go to Summer Seminar? Just wondering. Thanks!
 
I believe my app was completed in late oct? or was it early nov? it was hovering around those dates... i went to SS session A, had a blast! Physically challenging, but rewarding
 
Luigi; percentage probably was not the correct word. It is the reps and districts I was referring to. In other words, assuming you meet the academies minimum standards, an applicant is actually competing against others in their own state/district. As opposed to competing nation wide. That is why it's possible for a person with a lower score in one state/district to get in over someone with a higher score from a different state/district. But you understand the selection properly. My point was that if you were competing strictly nationally, it would be possible, mathematically, for some states to not have anyone in the academy. But because they give each rep so many slots, that ensures the diversity of all 50 states for qualifying applicants.
 
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