How important is the CFA?

A

Alan99

5-Year Member
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Jan 11, 2017
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Hello, I'm applying to the USNA and I was just wondering, how important is the CFA? Considering I'm a 3 year varsity starter in Football and Wrestling, along with being a captain in both, will a sub-par CFA really hurt my application? I'm asking because I'm a big guy and I'm trying to get a good CFA score but I also have to keep football in mind.
 
If you fail one section of the CFA you will fail the whole test. So if you max out everything, but you can only do 5 push ups, you fail and is very very unlikely that you will be accepted. But if you do very well overall, you might get extra points to your candidate score. The CFA is only 10% of your candidate score, but sometimes you will need that CFA score to push you over into "appointment" territory. I was Wait Listed last year and there are usually about 50-150 in the nation to be put on the Wait List, a couple more points I could have been appointed, a couple less points and I would have gotten a flat TWE without a Wait List. I guess it really depends on your overall assessment (test scores, gpa, leadership, etc), and how much you want to leave up to chance.
 
You say you're a "big guy". Are you hoping to be recruited by Navy football? If so, the bigger guys on the team are given waivers for the running portion of the PFT once they are at the academy. But not sure how or if that extends to the pre-admission CFA.
Considering the mission of usna is to develop midshipmen mentally, morally and physically, all fitness assessments should be taken seriously. Mids have been separated from usna because of failed PFT's.
 
PinWrestling said:
If you fail one section of the CFA you will fail the whole test. So if you max out everything, but you can only do 5 push ups, you fail and is very very unlikely that you will be accepted. But if you do very well overall, you might get extra points to your candidate score. The CFA is only 10% of your candidate score, but sometimes you will need that CFA score to push you over into "appointment" territory. I was Wait Listed last year and there are usually about 50-150 in the nation to be put on the Wait List, a couple more points I could have been appointed, a couple less points and I would have gotten a flat TWE without a Wait List. I guess it really depends on your overall assessment (test scores, gpa, leadership, etc), and how much you want to leave up to chance.
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Hello, Would you consider 36 push-ups as failing? Also, when will you know on your candidate portal that you have been "Physically Qualified" ?
Thank you very much.
 
TechFlier7 said:
PinWrestling said:
If you fail one section of the CFA you will fail the whole test. So if you max out everything, but you can only do 5 push ups, you fail and is very very unlikely that you will be accepted. But if you do very well overall, you might get extra points to your candidate score. The CFA is only 10% of your candidate score, but sometimes you will need that CFA score to push you over into "appointment" territory. I was Wait Listed last year and there are usually about 50-150 in the nation to be put on the Wait List, a couple more points I could have been appointed, a couple less points and I would have gotten a flat TWE without a Wait List. I guess it really depends on your overall assessment (test scores, gpa, leadership, etc), and how much you want to leave up to chance.
Click to expand...

Hello, Would you consider 36 push-ups as failing? Also, when will you know on your candidate portal that you have been "Physically Qualified" ?
Thank you very much.
Click to expand...
USNA does not publish minimums for any portion of the CFA but the USMA publishes averages (unlike USNA who only publishes maximums) and because the maximums are similar, you can assume the averages may be as well. I've seen many state that you'll be safe if you set those averages as minimums in your mind, but it's always the best to just strive for the maximums. Once you submit your CFA, you will be notified if you fail. If you pass, you won't hear anything back.
 
wannabeplebe said:
Here is a link with USMA's averages - https://www.usmma.edu/sites/usmma.edu/files/docs/Candidate Fitness Assessment Instructions (002)_2.pdf
The average male pushup score would lead me to assume your score is fairly low but it's something that can be improved very quickly - just takes a quick google/YouTube search and some minimal time commitment every day.
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You are right. I have been working on it and will be retaking the CFA soon, just wondering. Thank you!
 
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