Recommendations for USAFA etc

34KING18

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Hey guys. I have a question about recommendations for USAFA and really all of the academies in total. If I'm correct, the Academies want recommendation letters from a science teacher and a math teacher. I am currently a junior in high school. Should I ask my current science/math teachers for recommendations for next year or should I ask my senior science and math teachers? I'm just worried that if I need the recommendation earlier for nominations etc that I'll literally be asking them on the second day of school for a recommendation letter and they really won't know me. Also, what school year (junior, senior) should I be asking for letters of recommendation for nominations and from who. I'm kind of just torn with the timing and who I should ask for letters of recommendation. If it's a bit confusing, let me know. I can explain it in a different way. Thanks
 
If I remember correctly, you need recommendations from your 11th or 12th grade math teacher and your Physics or Chemistry teacher. I asked my teachers for recommendations over the summer so I could get the application done as soon as possible. I had the same teacher for 11th and 12th grade math, so that part was easy. For the science teacher, I had taken Chemistry my sophomore year, but I asked that teacher for a recommendation instead of waiting to get to know my Physics teacher during my senior year.

I would go ahead and ask your junior year teachers since they already know you and you have already completed their classes. Junior year vs. senior year teacher recommendations will not affect your application as far as I know.
 
I had a question about this, too, so I'll just ask here. Would it be acceptable to ask my band director for a reccomendation? He's known my family for many years because of siblings, plus he taught me sophomore Music Theory class and junior AP Music Theory. Plus, I've been around him from volunteering to help out with the light/sound board and other band things. Also, he was a Marine (just think about all the yelling and push ups our band goes through - especially during marching season...the things he's done to us my god) so I don't know if that could kinda help.
 
I had a question about this, too, so I'll just ask here. Would it be acceptable to ask my band director for a reccomendation? He's known my family for many years because of siblings, plus he taught me sophomore Music Theory class and junior AP Music Theory. Plus, I've been around him from volunteering to help out with the light/sound board and other band things. Also, he was a Marine (just think about all the yelling and push ups our band goes through - especially during marching season...the things he's done to us my god) so I don't know if that could kinda help.

You will be allowed to send in up to 3 letters of recommendation in addition to the required ones from your teachers.
 
npak is correct but remember, don't send another "this kid is terrific" recommendation just to pad your application. Any additional recommendation letters need to add something to your file. Say something that has not been said elsewhere.

Good luck!
 
Hey guys. I have a question about recommendations for USAFA and really all of the academies in total. If I'm correct, the Academies want recommendation letters from a science teacher and a math teacher. I am currently a junior in high school. Should I ask my current science/math teachers for recommendations for next year or should I ask my senior science and math teachers? I'm just worried that if I need the recommendation earlier for nominations etc that I'll literally be asking them on the second day of school for a recommendation letter and they really won't know me. Also, what school year (junior, senior) should I be asking for letters of recommendation for nominations and from who. I'm kind of just torn with the timing and who I should ask for letters of recommendation. If it's a bit confusing, let me know. I can explain it in a different way. Thanks

I had a question about this, too, so I'll just ask here. Would it be acceptable to ask my band director for a reccomendation? He's known my family for many years because of siblings, plus he taught me sophomore Music Theory class and junior AP Music Theory. Plus, I've been around him from volunteering to help out with the light/sound board and other band things. Also, he was a Marine (just think about all the yelling and push ups our band goes through - especially during marching season...the things he's done to us my god) so I don't know if that could kinda help.

You have to have recommendations from a 11th or 12th grade Math, English and Science teacher. Those are submitted through the internet. You put their names in your portal, then print up letters that tell them what to do next.

You can send 3 additional letters that can be from anyone other than a Family member IE your band director or a sports coach.

*Edit* The three teachers who wrote the letters were my 11th grade Math, English, and Science teachers so they knew me well.

One of my 3 was my track coach acknowledging my varsity status.

Seperate from the portal, most senators/MOCs require at least 2 or 3 letters of recommendations.

This is just a tip and not required:
What I did was made folders for all my teachers/recommenders. Each folder contained my resume, a list of accomplishments, a copy of my unnoficial transcript, and my reason for wanting to attend the USAFA. They also had the paperwork they needed (The letters from the portal or some MOCs require a paper to be filled out) This makes writing letters easy for them. I gave folders to more teachers then I needed (excluding the 3 ones through the portal) just in case. I hade one teacher almost make me miss my dead line but she was my online one so my extra didn't help there. I also told them deadlines earlier than the true ones. I recieved all the folders back In adequate time minus the one and had extras but more is better than less. Hope this info helps.
 
Last edited:
@RogersCO'19

On the Naval Academy application it asks you to provide the email of your counselor who is supposed to confirm that you actually participated in the of the extracurricular activities you said you did. Is this true for the Air Force Academy too, or is it necessary to waste, for a lack of a better term, one of the 3 additional letters on someone simply confirming that you participated in an extracurricular activity?
 
Thank you so much, npak, navymom, and Rogers.

That's a really great idea with the folders! Especially the fake deadline. I like having things done quickly and dealth with. I was figuring I'd ask for more recommendations than needed, then I could avoid being stuck with one that's just a padding, like navymom described. Great advice! :D
 
IMHO, It really is best to have as much as possible done on your USAFA app before the beginning of your senior year in the fall. This means having all of your letters submitted by your teachers from your junior year. Of course, MOC noms require letters from teachers too. Don't let all off this sneak up on you until senior year starts; you will have less to worry about in the end...
 
Thank you so much, npak, navymom, and Rogers.

That's a really great idea with the folders! Especially the fake deadline. I like having things done quickly and dealth with. I was figuring I'd ask for more recommendations than needed, then I could avoid being stuck with one that's just a padding, like navymom described. Great advice! :D

No problem! The only thing that I didn't do that some may was read the recommendations that I sent. So I just hoped they werent fluff but I picked teachers who knew me very well. All mine were from people from school but you can pick church people, job people, people from volunteering and etc. For your additional three. For the MOCs they'llmost likely tell you who to have write the letters.

IMHO, Don't let all off this sneak up on you until senior year starts; you will have less to worry about in the end...

I can't stress how much TWBY is right! I waited till the beginning of senior year and it kicked my butt. I managed to submit my paperwork October 31st, one day before Early action deadline. I was stressed to my eyeballs and it was hard. Start early and don't put youself through the unnecessary stress.
 
As everyone has stated, start early with your recommendations as you will be competing with all of the recommendations for traditional colleges. Our DS also gave each required "recommender" his bio/resume/list of accomplishments and transcripts to make it easier for them to write. DS's school started in early August so he had a head start on others who were requesting letters for traditional college in Oct/Nov. We did not send any requests to teachers until they were back from their summer break. I believe DS went in on their "work" day prior to classes officially starting. As many have stated, make a plan/list of things to get done with deadlines and start early. You might want to review your congressman/senators requirements and see if you need recommendation letters from the same folks. This way you can ask them for everything at once vs. multiple times. Including for other Service Academies.
 
My son is at Summer Seminar right now. I love the idea of the separate files mentioned above. We are a "file" family and I would adopt RogersCO'19 readily.

My son's school requires a "Senior Portfolio", which must be completed by May 1 of Junior Year. Within the portfolio are essay question/answers to basic interview questions, photo, other photos, full transcript and reporting of specific grades earned in each class, full resume and various sports awards, plus, conduct reports from dorm RA's, with level of independence and maturity evaluations. Another section asks for three essays to be completed by parents. Everything is held in his counselor's section of school servers, accessible from anywhere. All he has to do is type in a request from a teacher.

I was thinking it might be a good idea to include a sheet with interview questions and answers, a mom sheet (not too drippy but very personal), and suit and tie photo for teachers. Many of our sons teachers are family friends and they latter relate to me that the personal stories (essays) helped a LOT. If admissions officers only see your child through a few letters, it may help your child too.

I am aware some MOC do NOT want photos.
 
My DD did not get an appointment for the class of 2019 but will re-apply July 1. Any idea what she will need as a college freshman as opposed to a HS senior?
 
My son's school requires a "Senior Portfolio", which must be completed by May 1 of Junior Year. Within the portfolio are essay question/answers to basic interview questions, photo, other photos, full transcript and reporting of specific grades earned in each class, full resume and various sports awards, plus, conduct reports from dorm RA's, with level of independence and maturity evaluations. Another section asks for three essays to be completed by parents. Everything is held in his counselor's section of school servers, accessible from anywhere. All he has to do is type in a request from a teacher.

I was thinking it might be a good idea to include a sheet with interview questions and answers, a mom sheet (not too drippy but very personal), and suit and tie photo for teachers. Many of our sons teachers are family friends and they latter relate to me that the personal stories (essays) helped a LOT. If admissions officers only see your child through a few letters, it may help your child too.

Sometimes I wonder how my kid even got into USAFA when I see the "resources" that some other kids have.

Stealth_81
 
My DD did not get an appointment for the class of 2019 but will re-apply July 1. Any idea what she will need as a college freshman as opposed to a HS senior?
My question was also in regards to the letters of rec. We've read some of the other posts about your essays, grades, etc.
 
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