How am I looking?

ParkCore

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2014
Messages
43
Hello all,

I've posted on here before asking about my chances of receiving an appointment to the Air Force Academy, but what I really wanted to know is this: how am I looking? I suppose the way it's worded changes the meaning quite a bit. Also, I'm an incoming junior. Just to clear that up.

The classes my freshman year were based on how I did on a placement test. Prior to taking that test, I had never really had any experience taking standardized tests, therefore I didn't know how to take the test. I didn't do as spectacular as I would've liked, so my class placement was the second highest offered. The exception to that is math; I scored in the highest placement. The classes separated by / were required and could not be changed. I didn't opt to take a study hall. Any class without a level listed did not have a higher level.

Freshman Year:
Honors Math, ACP Biology, ACP English, Integrated Tech/Health, Study Skills/Study Hall, Religion I, French I, and World History.
-I was part of the AEHF-3 Satellite Launch in Cape Canaveral
-I began working on my A&P rating for flying
-I continued to refine my flying skills and started aerobatics
-I was varsity wrestling and freshman football
-I played piano and guitar in a band associated with my school
-I did several things for community service such as organizing events for relief funds for children in Syria
-I flew myself to Oshkosh in a 1934 Waco UKC with my instructor and took several classes on aircraft construction
-I was part of the Student Organization Committee
-I was a member of the Boy Scouts (left because it wasn't worth doing, as it wasn't a good group)

Sophomore Year: Honors Math II (Alg II/Geom/Trig), Honors Chemistry I, Honors English II, Programming I, French II, Religion II, U.S. History I, Intro Engineering
-received my student pilot's license (to solo) on my 16th birthday
-I continued to do aerobatics
-I continued to work on airplanes and am part of a rebuild of a Cessna 152
-I transported planes solo to different airports where they're leased and logged the flight time
-I was part of the Anthony Munoz Leadership Conference
-I was an ambassador for my school
-I was part of the Student Organization Committee
-I organized a fundraiser for the Wounded Warrior Project
-I work at the local Menards as cashier
-I did all kinds of community service and received an award for it from my school


After my sophomore year, classes changed. French will be offered as an honors class and I believe programming will be as well this year.

Junior Year: AP Precalc, AP Physics, AP English, AP U.S. History, Engineering II, Religion III, French III, Programming II
-I'm taking the ACT September 12th
-History Club
-Junior State of America
-National Honor Society
-French Honor Society (possible)
-French Club
-Varsity Wrestling
-Track (Don't know if Varsity or JV yet)
-Creating a programming club to teach little kids how to code
-Student Organization Committee
-Anthony Munoz
-Ambassador
-Flying (aerobatics, A&P work, gliding, taking my check ride for my PPL)
-Volunteering and possibly organizing events for VFW
-starting a group to do landscaping work and other work for vets
-Volunteering at the VA
-Possibly leading a youth group band in mass

I taught myself piano and guitar many years ago when I was little, and I'm trying to give back. I'm considering teaching little kids piano and guitar.
Yeah.. It's a lot, but it's doable. I'm willing to put the work in.

During the summer after my junior year, I plan on continuing my studies of Muay Thai and the spiritual side of MMA.

Current GPA: 3.866 unweighted, 4.3 something weighted
Class rank: 19 in a really competitive class

What do you guys think?
 
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I think the fact that you titled this thread exactly the same as a different thread by a different poster right below it tells me something.

Additionally, I don't think it matters whether you say "What are My Chances?" or "How am I Looking?", if you post a thread where you list your stats and ask for feedback, that is virtually the same thing.

Stealth_81
 
You're right stealth, I did. I saw the thread. He had some really good responses. I didn't want to hijack his thread with my own résumé. He was getting some of the types of criticism I was looking for when I was trying to find chances. There's a difference in the two and I was looking more towards how am I looking, but I was wording it as chances. I didn't mean to steal a thread title and I didn't mean to offend anyone.
 
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When I posted chances, I was told that there are too many unknowns. How am I looking is totally different because it's asking for criticism rather than asking if I'm going to get into the academy. You can't tell me I'll get into the academy based on my resume if I ask chances, but you can give me feedback on my resume if I ask how am I doing. Either way you can give me criticism. But here, I'm purely asking for criticism. Not if you think I'll get into the academy.

I meant no offense to the person who posted the title before me. I simply saw it as a good title and figured I'd ask too without hijacking his or her thread. I didn't see it as a problem.
 
You're right stealth, I did. I saw the thread. He had some really good responses. I didn't want to hijack his thread with my own résumé. He was getting some of the types of criticism I was looking for when I was trying to find chances. There's a difference in the two and I was looking more towards how am I looking, but I was wording it as choices. I didn't mean to steal a thread title and I didn't mean to offend anyone.

It's not that you offended anyone. It's simply that when people log into the forum and see that exact same title for concurrent threads in the same forum it gets confusing. You couldn't be creative enough to come up with a different title?

I will admit that I dislike the "chances" threads, but since they aren't against the forum rules they are allowed. I think that if anyone takes the time to read through the forums, you should have a pretty good idea of where you stand. However, I do think it's bad form when one poster puts multiple "chances" threads on this forum. Then it just becomes an annoyance.

Stealth_81
 
I understand. I'm on vacation and figured I'd type it up real quick and get back to spending time with my family. I didn't stop to think it would become confusing or hurt the thread in any way. Once again, I'm sorry.
 
I too dislike the "what are my chance" type threads so I stay away from them but I'm going to take a leap on this one so please bear with me.

ParkCore how about we do it this way. Now that you've posted your resume why don't you tell me what you're doing to improve it?

You tell us what sections you feel weak in and what you're doing to fix it.

Tell us what more you're doing to expand your resume?

Also please note I asked what you're DOING not what you're planning on doing. What I've seen on these threads over the years is a lot of "I'm planning on doing this or that" doing something will actually get on your resume.

I hope addressing it this way we'll be able to help each other out. If not you'll get a bunch of yup you look good you may/should get in. That doesn't help in my opinion.
 
Boozebin, I like that idea.

Currently, I'm contacting and reaching out to several people. I'm in contact with the local VFW to find out what services they may need, what help they may need, and how I can make a difference for them. I'm trying to find leadership opportunities from them.

I have a meeting with the local Va in August to possibly become a full time volunteer. I've contacted them and set everything up. I'm inquiring on time commitments and so on, as I don't want to do too much and not be able to follow through with everything.

I'm in the process of writing a programming curriculum to present to the principal of my previous grade school, so I can teach programming in a club to those interested.

I've reached out to my school to find out what opportunities there are for leadership and what I can do to be more involved and make a bigger difference at my school.

I'm working on my flying. I'm really picky about my flying. As soon as I finish my PPL and turn 17, I want to take my check ride and begin my instrument rating immediately. I've been flying for 4 years. I eventually want to get into competition aerobatics, so I'm refining those things. I don't know the rules for competition aerobatics, so I just ordered a book on that so I could possibly do that before I head to the academy (if I get in) so that I can put that on my resume if I can.

I'm also refining my wrestling techniques so I can hopefully make it to districts, and even state. I workout every morning at 0500 and post workout, I try to refine technique and also try to read up on different aspects of the sport and the mentality behind some of the greats.

This is just the tip of the the iceberg. I'm reaching out to people I know who have gone to the academy and have been talking to my uncle who is a retired pilot (maj.).

Does this suffice to begin?
 
Yes ParkCore it does. I get a sense you love doing the things you're involved in as as you type those things. Remember that passion as you go forward when you write your essays when you talk in interviews.

Be proud of what you're doing but be humble at the same time don't throw your achievements in peoples faces and most of all HAVE FUN! For Pete's sake you're still in high school! Do what you love and love what you do! And it goes without saying but I'll say it anyway don't do anything stupid (underage drink, drug, etc.).

The first thing you mentioned in your reply was all your extra curricular activities and leadership. That is only one aspect of the application.

What are you doing about academics?

What about the CFA?

What I'm basically getting at is do your own self analysis of your resume and if you think there is something you can improve on do something about it. You don't need some fool like me on a forum to tell you what you need to work on. I can tell you already have done this. I'm just here to remind you to focus on it all not just one piece.
 
Thanks for the reply! For academics, I'm loaded. I take the most rigorous classes my school offers. I'm in all AP classes. Sophomore year, my math wasn't challenging enough. I decided to take an independent precalc class, and I taught myself a lot about precalc. I was supposed to skip precalc this year, but the teacher quit taking my work last year (despite its completion) and that went nowhere. I spent more time on precalc, and got a B in my honors class. I'm not too worried about it though.

For the CFA, I've done nothing yet. I'll begin working on it. Being a wrestler and working out daily at 0500, I wasn't too worried that I wouldn't do well. But I know that mentality isn't going to get me far, so I will start preparing and objectively judging my performance.

Also, your last paragraph was perfect! I try to judge my performance as objectively as possible, knowing that if I hide my weaknesses from myself, I'm only going to hurt myself and my standings for admission.

Thanks!
 
Park, the CFA is not just testing "being in shape." Sure, your wrestling workouts will keep you trim, but how far can you actually throw that basketball, in the correct position? Pushups? Pullups? and how about that shuttle run? There is a technique to doing it which can save you several seconds. Do you run every day? How far? What is your time?

Please do not assume because you have washboard abs or big guns on those biceps that you will pass the CFA with flying colors.
 
Fencers,

I understand. That's why I said I knew that mentality wasn't going to get me anywhere and I would start preparing. Also, where can I find information on such techniques?

Thanks!
 
Fencers,

I understand. That's why I said I knew that mentality wasn't going to get me anywhere and I would start preparing. Also, where can I find information on such techniques?

Thanks!
Here is a great video regarding the BB throw. It has really helped my DD.
 
For the CFA, I've done nothing yet. I'll begin working on it. Being a wrestler and working out daily at 0500, I wasn't too worried that I wouldn't do well. But I know that mentality isn't going to get me far, so I will start preparing and objectively judging my performance.

Sorry I didn't respond sooner I just hadn't made the time to make this post. One of the things to keep in mind that you can do very well in any individual event when you practice them but your performance can go down if you do them in sequence like if you're taking CFA. You will be tired by the time you get to the mile run.

I would recommend doing a full practice run get your numbers and see which area you can improve on. Then sometime later time take the full test again and see how you did.

There are a ton of post on how to take and practice the CFA in the forum.
 
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