Weak link in my application?

newtothis1

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Oct 8, 2018
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Hello all,

I have recently decided that I want to go to USAFA no matter what. I am currently a junior in high school and I was wondering if you could give me some feedback on how my resume is looking so far and where I can improve!

GPA: avg including this year is 4.5, (this year only is 4.7)

SAT: 1560/1600

Extra Curriculars: Founder and President of Entrepreneurship Club (3 years) , Vice President of Model UN (2 years as member 1st year as VP), Vice President of Young Politicians (2 as member 1st as VP), Junior Director of Student Ambassadors (2 years), Class Officer on Student Government (3 years)

Sports: (Not going to lie this is by far my weakest part of my resume) Track Freshman year, Will be doing track this junior year as well as senior year

Job: No Job

Awards: Winner of Best Delegate in Committee for VAMUN (a model un competition at UVA, hope to win another one this year)

I make it a point to exercise and eat right so the fitness exam will not be a problem I am just worried that my lack of organized sports will significantly hamper my application. Do you all think that the other parts of my application can make up for this? Thank you!
 
The value of varsity sports goes well beyond fitness. SAs value that experience because it helps develop leadership, determination, resilience, competitiveness, adaptability — attributes that are central to being a successful officer.

With ~90% of cadets/midshipmen having been varsity athletes, there’s clearly opportunity to receive offer of appointment without varsity sports. But as you imply, the rest of your package will need to compensate.

To that end, few things to note: Class rank and course rigor, in context of your school profile, are more important than GPA. Leadership impact is more important than just leadership roles. Do the CFA until you’re above average on every event. (And if that SAT score is real, that’s a big step forward.)
 
Thank you so much for your reply! I know that varsity sports are of great value and I agree, however, I am pressed to find time to fit a varsity sport into my schedule with my course load, ECs, and track. I am taking the most heavy course load I can at my school, (6 aps right now) and I am currently ranked 1st in my class. The leadership roles are all demanding so that's why I don't have a lot of extra time. And yeah that SAT was a lot of hard work. I will be sure to score well above average on the CFA. Thank you again so much for your reply!
 
@newtothis1, sounds great. Now, when it comes time for your ALO interview and the ALO asks why you didn’t play varsity sports, don’t say “I was so busy with everything else.”

That’s because your competition will also have taken a full course load (all APs), scored 1550 on the SAT (800 in math), made major leadership impact in their ECs (not just held a title) — and played varsity sports (while serving as team captain).

You’re applying to a place where there’s always far more to do than hours available. Time management is everything. So calling out a lack of time management in high school will not help your case.
 
Consider competing for a Boys/Girls State slot next summer.

Don’t do it just to get another thing on your resume though. Read up on it. Take a look at what goes on during the week. If it sounds like it’ll an event from which you can take something away, then by all means apply.

From the looks of your ECs, Boys/Girls State appears to be in your wheelhouse.
 
Good luck - it does seem to me right or wrong sports like track , XC, swimming etc are sort of assigned tier 2 status

Think if a plan B ... plan Z

Do you want a commission in the USAF - AFROTC at a civilian college , do you want the Corps of Cadets experience look at senior military colleges like The Citadel, VMI, Norwich, Tex A&M
 
Good luck - it does seem to me right or wrong sports like track , XC, swimming etc are sort of assigned tier 2 status
That has not been my experience but then, I've only been involved with the Service Academy recruiting for 27 years now.
 
I make it a point to exercise and eat right so the fitness exam will not be a problem
I am still laughing about this comment. Did you tell me you practiced for the CFA, every day, in order of event? In addition to chowing down on broccoli and salmon?

Don't mean to be snarky, but really, there aren't very many people who will perform well, when they are seasoned athletes, without practicing for the CFA in order of event, timed.

There have been other cadets who lacked organized sports, but it is not usual.

So, as I would read your CV: you are really good at school stuff -GPA, clubs, tests. You have no sport and no job. That might concern me. What do you do with all that free time that others who do as much in school as you do devote to sports and jobs and civic (compulsory or otherwise) "volunteer" activities? No Scouts, no CAP, no.... you get my drift. What have you done with all that time? Johnny and Susie played three sports each and held down a job at Burger Bueno and taught French to kindergarten students. What did you do?
 
Am I the only one that noticed the cgpa issue?

GPA: avg including this year is 4.5, (this year only is 4.7)

USAFA does not use a scale that high. Nobody has yet to ask what their scale is, obviously it has to be at least 5.0, but what if it is 6.0?

Food for thought, even a 4.5 on a 5.0 scale equates to a 90 avg. Is your school a 7 pt scale or 10? If 7, than your avg is B avg, not A. If it is 10, you are teetering on A- avg. Nothing bad, just saying PAR is a big aspect too.
 
Am I the only one that noticed the cgpa issue?

GPA: avg including this year is 4.5, (this year only is 4.7)

USAFA does not use a scale that high. Nobody has yet to ask what their scale is, obviously it has to be at least 5.0, but what if it is 6.0?

Food for thought, even a 4.5 on a 5.0 scale equates to a 90 avg. Is your school a 7 pt scale or 10? If 7, than your avg is B avg, not A. If it is 10, you are teetering on A- avg. Nothing bad, just saying PAR is a big aspect too.
What scale does USAFA use? I know they reconfigure GPAs and that what your school reports and what shows on your portal might not match. What is the highest possible GPA?
 
I won't swear, but if memory serves me the highest wcgpa would be a 4.5 scale, including AP/IB scale.
 
About the GPA my school uses a 4.0 scale as a base and different classes you take can put you over that mark, for instance, an honors course is weighted as 4.5 out of 4.0 and an AP course is weighted as 5.0 out of 4.0. Just to clear up any confusion.

Also found out today that I will be getting a car in the near future so I will be able to get a job!
 
@newtothis1, your GPA is less important than your transcript and school profile. USNA will look to see if you’ve taken the toughest courses your school has to offer, if you’ve excelled in them, and how your performance compares to the rest of your class. That — not a single GPA number — is how they measure high-school academics.
 
About the GPA my school uses a 4.0 scale as a base and different classes you take can put you over that mark, for instance, an honors course is weighted as 4.5 out of 4.0 and an AP course is weighted as 5.0 out of 4.0. Just to clear up any confusion.

Also found out today that I will be getting a car in the near future so I will be able to get a job!
I would believe they will drop your weighted because unless something has changed, USAFA uses 4.5 for AP
 
I am with Fencersmother - my kids find jobs close enough to home that they can ride their bikes to and from.....and save their money to buy their own cars.
 
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