My USAFA application experience

mja2014

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2014
Messages
111
I've seen a few posts about people's experiences at the academy, but I've never really seen many about their experiences applying. To start off, I am currently preparing for BCT this June for the class of 2018, appointed on 5 February 2014. To start, I have been interested in joining the military since I was 5 years old. I started to look at the academy for the Air Force because my uncle was a graduate and flew in the Air Force for 18 years. He always came up from North Carolina (I'm from MA) and fly with us. My uncle was my mentor trying to guide me into the type of person the academy wanted to see. Sadly in my sophomore year of high school (all boys catholic high school), he died suddenly in a stunt show crash. Well I thought my only window to maybe get into the academy was over. When I went to his funeral, so many people, many of them graduates of the academy, came up to me to tell me to push on. One in particular decided he wanted to be my mentor as well. Turns out he was a brigadier general in the Air Force! He truly helped me in the process by telling me things I should improve on and things that I could do better to stand out. My grades were decent in HS, I had a 3.47 unweighted and a 4.0 weighted GPA. I was ranked 56/218 (just out of top quarter). Was not in NHS, has some leadership seminars under my belt, no SLE, no Boys State. I was a 3 season athlete, varsity swim for 4 years, track and XC. Captain for 2 of those. I had a 28 ACT and a 1750 SAT. I had decent CFA's (I was sick the week prior to taking it and I didn't prepare well for it). I applied Early Action, and guess what? I got deferred. I was crushed again. I felt that I was never gonna get in and that I'd have to do ROTC (not that ROTC is a bad thing, I just wanted to go to the academy more). About 3 weeks later I found out that I got into the academy and it still hasn't really set in yet, I am still in shock actually. If anyone want to talk in more detail please don't hesitate to PM me, I'll tell you anything you want. I'll send my transcript as an example if you want haha anything.

Good luck to all,
Go Falcons!

-mja2014
USAFA Class of 2018


Sent using the Service Academy Forums® mobile app
 
I've seen a few posts about people's experiences at the academy, but I've never really seen many about their experiences applying. To start off, I am currently preparing for BCT this June for the class of 2018, appointed on 5 February 2014. To start, I have been interested in joining the military since I was 5 years old. I started to look at the academy for the Air Force because my uncle was a graduate and flew in the Air Force for 18 years. He always came up from North Carolina (I'm from MA) and fly with us. My uncle was my mentor trying to guide me into the type of person the academy wanted to see. Sadly in my sophomore year of high school (all boys catholic high school), he died suddenly in a stunt show crash. Well I thought my only window to maybe get into the academy was over. When I went to his funeral, so many people, many of them graduates of the academy, came up to me to tell me to push on. One in particular decided he wanted to be my mentor as well. Turns out he was a brigadier general in the Air Force! He truly helped me in the process by telling me things I should improve on and things that I could do better to stand out. My grades were decent in HS, I had a 3.47 unweighted and a 4.0 weighted GPA. I was ranked 56/218 (just out of top quarter). Was not in NHS, has some leadership seminars under my belt, no SLE, no Boys State. I was a 3 season athlete, varsity swim for 4 years, track and XC. Captain for 2 of those. I had a 28 ACT and a 1750 SAT. I had decent CFA's (I was sick the week prior to taking it and I didn't prepare well for it). I applied Early Action, and guess what? I got deferred. I was crushed again. I felt that I was never gonna get in and that I'd have to do ROTC (not that ROTC is a bad thing, I just wanted to go to the academy more). About 3 weeks later I found out that I got into the academy and it still hasn't really set in yet, I am still in shock actually. If anyone want to talk in more detail please don't hesitate to PM me, I'll tell you anything you want. I'll send my transcript as an example if you want haha anything.

Good luck to all,
Go Falcons!

-mja2014
USAFA Class of 2018


Sent using the Service Academy Forums® mobile app

How did you find out you received an appointment? Call, email or on portal?

Did you submit recommendation letters? You can have up to three letters and one of my recommendation letters is from a retired AF Captain. I was curious how much of an impact the recommendation letters have with admissions?
 
How did you find out you received an appointment? Call, email or on portal?



Did you submit recommendation letters? You can have up to three letters and one of my recommendation letters is from a retired AF Captain. I was curious how much of an impact the recommendation letters have with admissions?

I found out from an email telling me to check my portal. And I believe the letters do have some sway, my 3 extras were from the following: Current 2Lt in the USAF (graduated class of 2011), Retired USAF Brig General (class of 80?) and my state representative. The Brig General got a letter sent to him from the review board thanking him for his letter and that they were pleased with my accomplishments thus far.





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Well, my story starts my sophomore year of high school when I was being recruited to play soccer for the women's team at USAFA. I didn't really have any idea of what a service academy was, also, I didn't have much of a desire to serve in the military. I began looking into it more and became interested in the service academy route. I talked with the head coach for over a year and half about attending and hopefully getting blue-chipped to play on the team.

At the end of Junior year (summer 2012), I attended Summer Seminar (session C, flight Eagle-5). At the end of summer seminar, I talked with the head soccer coach to see if I would be receiving a blue chip. Sadly, he told me he would not be recruiting me and that I could be a walk on if I got in.

Before summer seminar, I was unsure if I wanted to attend a service academy and serve in the military, the whole process and career path was very intimidating. However, after summer seminar and when I was told I would not be blue-chipped, it ignited a spark in me. Somebody basically said I wasn't good enough, even though I know I was. At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to get into USAFA.

So I continued applying to USAFA, excited when my status switched to candidate. I skimmed the service academy forums daily. Then even better news came, I received a Congressional nomination from TX-26. At this point, two other girls from my high school and 1 other from the same city that I lived in were all applying. It was very competitive for all of us and we were always talking to each other and comparing ourselves. The whole time I was concerned about my ACT score, it ended up at a super-score of 26. My critical reading score was bracketed.

Near the end of April, I was notified that I was declined from the academy. I did have other civilian schools recruiting me for soccer but I wanted USAFA so bad. I thought that my run was over for attending a service academy. After that, I started weighing my options with civilian universities. I verbally committed to the women's rowing team at the University of Oklahoma. I was so excited to be a part of a strong D1 NCAA team, they were winning championships left and right and they even asked me to train during the summer to get a leg up on other walk-ons. I became comfortable with the idea and began moving on.

Literally, like two days after verbally committing, I received a call from USAFA admissions saying that I received the Falcon Foundation scholarship. At first I was very hesitant, I was just declined and I was in the middle of three weeks of IB exams. Every college bound high-schooler has that thought of wanting to "experience the college life" and I had mine, especially since I was a potential NCAA D1 athlete. After a week of debating and talking with my ALO and other wise individuals, I took the Falcon Foundation scholarship. I remember it vividly... All I said was "I'm going to California" and clicked accept and began preparing for what was ahead. I came to the conclusion that life was so much more than 4 years of the fun, happy go lucky college life.

The civilian prep school I chose to go to was Northwestern Preparatory School out in Crestline, California. This place was amazing. The program was rigorous and only 1 semester long, allowing a preppie to prove themselves at NWP and at a civilian university. I honed my memorization, study, and test-taking skills at light speed. Also, I met with so many former NWPers who are current cadets, USAFA grads, officers, and admissions officials; the Durbeck's have so many connections. Heck, I met a Navy SEAL, a former NWPer, and was blown away at what he has experienced. I could rave about NWP for hours, but I'll keep it short; NWP was life-changing.

Last thursday, I finally received my appointment to USAFA. I got a call from my congressman's office and I was overcome with emotion. I know I worked hard to get it and am so proud of other people who take a prep year to achieve their dreams. I met so many exceptional people and made life-long friends at NWP. I miss them everyday. I connected with them more than most of my high schools friends and wouldn't change the experience one bit. I can't wait to see them at in-processing, I'm counting down the days as we speak.

Right now, I'm making sure my grades are A's at my local community college and preparing for BCT. I'm so nervous to enter and it's weird to think I'll be older than the direct entry kids. I'm ready to face the challenges ahead, I know it will be hard, but I have some NWP wisdom under my belt that only a select group has, which will push me through basic and the many years after that. Even though i'm nervous, my excitement is through the roof. I feel honored to have accepted a military-based life after years of trying to get a feel of a career path.


...just realized how long this was. HEHE!! :)
 
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I've seen a few posts about people's experiences at the academy, but I've never really seen many about their experiences applying. To start off, I am currently preparing for BCT this June for the class of 2018, appointed on 5 February 2014. To start, I have been interested in joining the military since I was 5 years old. I started to look at the academy for the Air Force because my uncle was a graduate and flew in the Air Force for 18 years. He always came up from North Carolina (I'm from MA) and fly with us. My uncle was my mentor trying to guide me into the type of person the academy wanted to see. Sadly in my sophomore year of high school (all boys catholic high school), he died suddenly in a stunt show crash. Well I thought my only window to maybe get into the academy was over. When I went to his funeral, so many people, many of them graduates of the academy, came up to me to tell me to push on. One in particular decided he wanted to be my mentor as well. Turns out he was a brigadier general in the Air Force! He truly helped me in the process by telling me things I should improve on and things that I could do better to stand out. My grades were decent in HS, I had a 3.47 unweighted and a 4.0 weighted GPA. I was ranked 56/218 (just out of top quarter). Was not in NHS, has some leadership seminars under my belt, no SLE, no Boys State. I was a 3 season athlete, varsity swim for 4 years, track and XC. Captain for 2 of those. I had a 28 ACT and a 1750 SAT. I had decent CFA's (I was sick the week prior to taking it and I didn't prepare well for it). I applied Early Action, and guess what? I got deferred. I was crushed again. I felt that I was never gonna get in and that I'd have to do ROTC (not that ROTC is a bad thing, I just wanted to go to the academy more). About 3 weeks later I found out that I got into the academy and it still hasn't really set in yet, I am still in shock actually. If anyone want to talk in more detail please don't hesitate to PM me, I'll tell you anything you want. I'll send my transcript as an example if you want haha anything.

Good luck to all,
Go Falcons!

-mja2014
USAFA Class of 2018


Sent using the Service Academy Forums® mobile app
Hi! Did you go to the Summer Seminar the summer before your senior year of high school?? If so, did that experience affect you in any way?
 
Hi! Did you go to the Summer Seminar the summer before your senior year of high school?? If so, did that experience affect you in any way?


No I was not accepted to the seminar. I'm sure there are posts somewhere about that on another thread.


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