Competitive?

usafafam

5-Year Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2013
Messages
58
I am a USAFA 2018 hopeful... but being from CO means it's going to be ridiculous for me to get in! Anybody else from Colorado?
Both my dad and my brother have gone to USAFA, and I was also wondering how that influences my chances.
Thanks!
 
i dont see how it could hurt your chances, if i recall correctly when filling out my app it asked if you had any family members attending or that have attended
 
I am a USAFA 2018 hopeful... but being from CO means it's going to be ridiculous for me to get in! Anybody else from Colorado?
Both my dad and my brother have gone to USAFA, and I was also wondering how that influences my chances.
Thanks!

Why do you think coming from Colorado means it's going to be ridiculous for you to get an appointment?

There are 7 representatives (For the 7 districts) in the state of colorado. PLUS, the 2 senators. So that means, if no one got more than one nomination, that 90 applicants would get a nomination out of colorado. (More, if a representative or senator has more than 1 vacancy). When a state is "COMPETITIVE" it's only competitive for a nomination. NOT FOR THE APPOINTMENT!!!

California is a very competitive state too. HOWEVER; if you're from a certain district, you are almost guaranteed to receive a nomination, because that district is so left leaning and not so very pro-military, that that representative is known to have mentioned how they barely can get 10 nominees per year.

If you have the grades, the class ranking, the ACT/SAT scores, the leadership, the sports, the social involvement, the volunteer time, the WHOLE PACKAGE, then you should have absolutely no problem receiving a nomination. And as far as receiving an appointment, that totally depends on how good your competition is.

On a side note: Did you recently move to colorado? If not, and you say your brother attended the academy, did he do it from Colorado or were you living some place else? And to answer your question: While legacy of having a parent or brother/sister attending the academy doesn't "Officially" help you get into the academy; it definitely looks good to your ALO and representative/senator when they interview you. They know that you pretty much know what you're sort of getting into. It's easier for them to tell if it's something YOU REALLY WANT or if it's something you're doing for your family; or you feel you're SUPPOSE to do it. If they feel you truly want it, it will actually help you probably get a nomination and a good score by your ALO.

No guarantees; but it definitely isn't going to hurt. Unless of course they get the feeling you're not applying because you really want it. And trust me: There's are people who apply to the academy and even accept the appointment and show up to the academy, who really don't want to be there. They are there because it's a free education; they don't have to burden their parents with college expenses; they let their parents/family talk them into the academy and military, telling them about the economy, jobs, benefits, etc... But if your dad and brother went to the academy, it will definitely help the MOC or ALO understand you better. It definitely is a plus. Best of luck.
 
I've actually lived in Colorado Springs (right by the Academy) my entire life.
And as far as really wanting to be in the military, I would say that that is my primary focus, as I will be applying to each service academy. The Air Force, however, is my top choice all the way :)

Thanks for the encouraging words!
 
I graduated from Air Academy High School...

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
(and I did NOT get in the first year I tried...)
 
Just curious Christcorp, which district in California is the one you referred to that has difficulty getting nominations?
 
Certainly, you MIGHT have more competition than if you were from the district CC mentioned. But my son had a roommate from COS, with no military background, etc. So, not impossible.
 
I'm not good with congressional districts, because I don't live there, but I'm pretty sure it was in the bay area. Frisco, berkeley, oakland, etc... not 100%. But I remember a couple years back chatting with our regional director for academy admissions. He mentioned a couple districts in California where it wasn't uncommon to get LESS than 10 nominees, because there were less than 10 qualified individuals applying for a nomination.

On the other hand, go to southern california around San Diego, and it's not uncommon to have 50-100 people applying to get a representative's nomination.

Then, take a place like Wyoming, where the ENTIRE STATE is 1 district. Yes, we only have 1 representative. Granted, we only average about 20 air force academy applicants per year, but it's still difficult to get the representative's nomination. However; in a state like Wyoming, it's easier to get a senator, because the same 20 applying for the representative, is ALL THERE IS for the entire state. So basically; out of the 20, our senators and representative, will average about 10 applicants getting 1 nomination; about 5 applicants getting 2; and another 5 applicants getting all 3 nominations. Some will even get a 4th if they get a presidential or a senator/representative has a 2nd slot that year.

Point is; when it comes to a person's chances of getting a nomination, and more importantly an appointment, it really depends on your competition. There's been years when we only had 14 qualified applicants and we received 6 appointments. Another year, we had 20 qualified applicants and only received 3 appointments. Too many variables. What could almost guarantee you an appointment one year, might not even get you close the next year.
 
Hello,

I would like to know if anyone knows about the competitiveness of the South Carolina state for a Nomination ? basically how many applicants are applying for a nomination ?

Thank you
 
You won't find the actual "number" of applicants...USAFA won't release that. However, with a little work, you can get a "feel" for the field by contacting various congressional district folks.

Bottom line though?

FORGET about it...concentrate on YOUR package and forget ALL ELSE! YOUR package is ALL that matters! The rest..."is" what it is.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Yes I am highly concentrating on the package just wanted to know if anyone had the numbers of applicant in SC. Thank you very much.
 
Yes I am highly concentrating on the package just wanted to know if anyone had the numbers of applicant in SC. Thank you very much.

No one could possibly know the answer to that question at this point in time.
 
There is indeed someone who knows and you could ask, but I don't recommend asking. That would be your senators. While its possible that an applicantay not request a nomination from a senator and just their representative, that would be rare. So the senator should know exactly how many applied from the state.

Why do I recommend against emailing and asking their office? Because they've been doing this long enough to know that just like others here have said, its a totally useless inquiry. And you don't want them reviewing your nomination package in a few months and say. "That name sounds familiar."

There are just some things in life that simply don't matter. Not even a small amount. Unless you're planning on moving to another state to try and increase your odds of receiving a nomination, why could it possibly matter. I'll save you the work. Move to wyoming and I guarantee you if you qualify, you're prettyuch guaranteed a nomination. We never have 30 or more applicants and there for just about every qualified individual gets a nomination. It won't increase your odds of an appointment, because we only get 3-4 appointments per year from moc slates. We only have 1 representative. Those not in that 3-4 appointees from the moc slates have to compete against the other thousands nationally. So other than a nomination, which while necessary, isn't an automatic appointment, there is little gained from coming from a state with a low application rate. Those 3-4moc slate appointments are going to the best 3-4. You actually have a better chance in a bigger state where the best in the state are possibly spread out among different representatives.

So, ask your senator if you want. They probably won't answer the question because they probably won't want to look up something so irrelevant. But they definitely have the answer.
 
christcorp : Thank you for putting me on the right track , you are right I should not and I will not ask. It is better for me too, it forces be to do my absolute best which I doing!
 
@Usafafam, we seem to be in the exact same situation! I've just recently (last year) moved out to the Springs. I'm applying for the Class of '18 as well, but I'm still exploring Prep School options due to the huge amount of competition that Colorado experiences.
 
You don't have prep school option. You apply to the academy and the academy decides if the prep school is am option if you don't receive an appointment. Of course, you could pay out ofyour own pocket to go to one of the prep schools yourself. but generally speaking, you don't get the choice.
 
Hello,

I would like to know if anyone knows about the competitiveness of the South Carolina state for a Nomination ? basically how many applicants are applying for a nomination ?

Thank you

I am from SC and my DD is a current Basic Cadet at USAFA. I don't know the total number of kids from SC at the academy, but I can tell you this from what I have asked in the past: a MOC office told me the majority of their applications are for the Naval Academy with USAFA being the next most popular service academy in recent years.
 
Back
Top