One year ago...

FutureCadet58

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Dec 16, 2014
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I am writing this thread for anyone who plans on applying (or reapplying) to a service academy and truly believes in their heart that a service academy is where they are meant to be. The application process can get discouraging at times, so I think my application story can help...

A year ago, on March 18th, I filled out my precandidate questionare for USAFA. On March 20th, I received an initial evaluation of my preliminary applicaton...I was already deemed "not competitive" so early in the process. This was a rude of an awakening for me and I immediately became motivated to turn myself into everything the academies looked for. I gave it my all. I refused to quit, knowing that it might even take me a few years to finally receive an appointment. I knew in my heart that I would go to an academy one day, but I also reasonably believed that my chances of getting into one fresh out of highschool were slim....
The best advice I can give to any candidate is never, ever give up. Do everything in your power to improve. You can't climb a mountain in one step, but every small step you take you are close to the top. Treat your applicaton like you would treat climbing a mountain, because it can get a bit overwhelming at times.
I am proud to say that after the long application process, I now have an appointment in my portal almost exactly a year since I received my first letter from USAFA. A lot has changed since then, applying to an academy has made me grow up so much. I really just want to stress the fact that yes, it is very competitive, but there is no reason why you cannot make it if you refuse to back down to the challenge at hand. Goodluck to anyone seeking an appointment in the future....Never quit.

congratulations to all that also received an appointment to be apart of the class of 2019. I look forward to the journey with you all. Thanks for all the guidance this forum has provided for me, it has been a tremendous help.
 
I have a similar experience. When I started to apply last year I got rejected from SLE at West Point and received a letter saying I was not competitive from USAFA. I ended up taking the ACT 6 times to try to put myself in the best position I could. After I took it for the third or second time they changed my status but I didn't think I would get in with a 28 so I kept trying. I was only able to get it up to a 30 superscored but my math and science were pretty high. But looking back it took a year, everything that I have done for the last year was to get to the point I got last week (appointment). If I could offer advice would be to get your parents on board. My dad has been the biggest support to me throughout this process. I started to think that I wouldn't get in but he never thought that. Good luck to all of those applying for 2020!
 
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I went through something similar with both USAFA and USMA. I didn't get in to Summer Seminar or USMA's SLE and was somewhat baffled. I thought I had the right ECs, Class Rank, leadership positions ect... I like hopefullcadet2015 struggled with standardize testing. Take the ACT as early and as often as possible. My first test was June of my sophomore year and took it seven times (24 to a 29) up until the last date for EA. As soon as the applications for both USAFA and USMA were out, I submitted within days. I liked my chances to all of the SA's but ended up being deferred like most of us, wait-listed to USCGA and in Early February received a phone call from my USMA FFR stating that I should start looking for a plan-B. I continued to work, adding a varsity letter, becoming a team captain, and receiving another academic award, all before the application closed and continued to send updates to USAFA. Two weeks ago, I received the call from my MOC with news from USMA that I did get an appointment. Earlier today, I received the portal update from USAFA and am lucky to be stressing out about which academy to attend (hopefully USNA is in the mix soon). Moral of the story: bust your tail until you get that final rejection letter and the news of an appointment will make all of your efforts worthwhile.
 
I went through something similar with both USAFA and USMA. I didn't get in to Summer Seminar or USMA's SLE and was somewhat baffled. I thought I had the right ECs, Class Rank, leadership positions ect... I like hopefullcadet2015 struggled with standardize testing. Take the ACT as early and as often as possible. My first test was June of my sophomore year and took it seven times (24 to a 29) up until the last date for EA. As soon as the applications for both USAFA and USMA were out, I submitted within days. I liked my chances to all of the SA's but ended up being deferred like most of us, wait-listed to USCGA and in Early February received a phone call from my USMA FFR stating that I should start looking for a plan-B. I continued to work, adding a varsity letter, becoming a team captain, and receiving another academic award, all before the application closed and continued to send updates to USAFA. Two weeks ago, I received the call from my MOC with news from USMA that I did get an appointment. Earlier today, I received the portal update from USAFA and am lucky to be stressing out about which academy to attend (hopefully USNA is in the mix soon). Moral of the story: bust your tail until you get that final rejection letter and the news of an appointment will make all of your efforts worthwhile.

+1
That's awesome that you got into USMA as well as USAFA and still have a shot at USNA. Do you have any idea which academy you will pick if you end up being an appointee to all three? Just curious...
I can't stress the importance of this enough to prospective candidates: if you do everything in your power to become the best candidate, good things are bound to happen eventually
 
+1
That's awesome that you got into USMA as well as USAFA and still have a shot at USNA. Do you have any idea which academy you will pick if you end up being an appointee to all three? Just curious...
I can't stress the importance of this enough to prospective candidates: if you do everything in your power to become the best candidate, good things are bound to happen eventually
I'm leaning toward West Point, loved the feel of the campus. I have no intention to be a pilot and like the career options in the Army. I spoke to a coach at USMA and see that as my best athletic opportunity.
 
Although I still have not heard any word, I would like to add in that you should ALWAYS ask questions. Even if you haven't talked to "so and so" in high school, but he/she goes to a SA, ask them questions. Also, I was told that your admissions counselor logs the number of times you call, so never hesitate to ask them questions! Of course, don't just call to call, make sure you have specific questions, because they'll notice your motive for calling. My counselor mentioned that whenever she realizes it's me on the phone, she's hoping I'm calling with good news, so try to form that sort of cordial relationship with them. Same goes for your ALO, although I don't know if they log the number of times you call. But definitely stay in contact with both your counselor and ALO. Last thing, as the student, all Admissions personnel love to see prospective cadets take initiative, so make sure you're the one to make the calls and send the emails.
 
I'm leaning toward West Point, loved the feel of the campus. I have no intention to be a pilot and like the career options in the Army. I spoke to a coach at USMA and see that as my best athletic opportunity.

I live pretty close to USMA and it is the reason why I applied to the academies. I am still absolutely mesmerized by the campus and the history that it has. I also love USAFA and I am excited to live in another part of the country, plus I want to be a pilot. But USMA is so awesome (didn't receive a nomination to USMA)
 
Although I still have not heard any word, I would like to add in that you should ALWAYS ask questions. Even if you haven't talked to "so and so" in high school, but he/she goes to a SA, ask them questions. Also, I was told that your admissions counselor logs the number of times you call, so never hesitate to ask them questions! Of course, don't just call to call, make sure you have specific questions, because they'll notice your motive for calling. My counselor mentioned that whenever she realizes it's me on the phone, she's hoping I'm calling with good news, so try to form that sort of cordial relationship with them. Same goes for your ALO, although I don't know if they log the number of times you call. But definitely stay in contact with both your counselor and ALO. Last thing, as the student, all Admissions personnel love to see prospective cadets take initiative, so make sure you're the one to make the calls and send the emails.

Along with the questions, it's important to be assertive. I was given my principal nomination on December 1st last year... I waited and waited for it to uploaded in my portal and it never happened. Mid January rolled around and I started making phone calls (thanks to the member "insider" for letting me know there was an issue at hand) ...it turned out that my MOC office hired a new service academy coordinator and for some reason my nomination didn't go through on the slate, I almost lost my nomination! The slate was submitted a few days after December 1st, so I waited about a month and a half without taking action (big mistake on my part). I was being overly cautious and didn't want to annoy anyone per say, Inwas trying to be patient.....It is very important to reach out to people or you may lose and opportunity! Luckily everything was fixed in a timely matter but the situation could have turned out bad for me if I didn't make the appropriate phone calls to fix the situation.
 
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