Back-Up Plan?

Malst0rme

Malst0rme

Falcon Foundation Scholarship 2025, USAFA 2029
Joined
Dec 8, 2023
Messages
43
Hello all,

Firstly, a summary of my current situation: Rejected at USNA and USAFA, Waitlisted for Falcon Foundation Scholarship, rejected AFROTC HSSP

Civilian colleges: Waitlisted NC-State, Accepted at UNC-Chapel Hill, ECU, and Liberty.

The "main" weak points in my application were CFA and SAT/ACT, however, everything can be improved. "Concrete" plans include going to Aim High Flight Academy this summer and subsequently finishing my PPL (thanks dad!). Additionally, I will finish my Eagle Scout, my high school diploma, and get an associate in arts from my local community college in May 2024. I know at whichever college I go to I will enroll in AFROTC. That said, I am honestly not sure what other steps to take. While I do have that degree, it is in the arts and I lack many of the calc, physics, and chemistry I need. I am considering doing one college course (vs. the 4 that I have been consistently doing for the past 3 semesters) over the summer at my community college (calc - trig focus), to further prepare for math at university as well as an SAT retake. Part of me is tempted to take more, and I still might, but I do not want to leave my PPL halfway finished.

Honestly, I do not have an attachment to any of these schools and ultimately want whatever is most financially sensible, but more importantly that "increases" my chances for reapplication. If I got the FFS offer, I would accept it and subsequently enroll in one of the 5. However, after looking at some of the statistics there, and how many are waitlisted, I do not think it is likely this will happen. As for improvement, my main focus is CFA, SAT, interview skills, and STEM courses (not in any particular order).

TLDR:

Are there any programs a graduating senior should apply for, that have application dates open now?

Does USAFAs admission board weight classes at UNC-Chapel Hill, ECU, or Community College differently? If so, how so?

Would a PPL help my chances?

What are some extracurriculars in college that the admissions board would look at (besides AFROTC-which I already intend to do)?

Will the associate degree help me?

Any other advice you have to offer?

Thank you!
 
Malst0rme said:
Hello all,

Firstly, a summary of my current situation: Rejected at USNA and USAFA, Waitlisted for Falcon Foundation Scholarship, rejected AFROTC HSSP

Civilian colleges: Waitlisted NC-State, Accepted at UNC-Chapel Hill, ECU, and Liberty.

The "main" weak points in my application were CFA and SAT/ACT, however, everything can be improved. "Concrete" plans include going to Aim High Flight Academy this summer and subsequently finishing my PPL (thanks dad!). Additionally, I will finish my Eagle Scout, my high school diploma, and get an associate in arts from my local community college in May 2024. I know at whichever college I go to I will enroll in AFROTC. That said, I am honestly not sure what other steps to take. While I do have that degree, it is in the arts and I lack many of the calc, physics, and chemistry I need. I am considering doing one college course (vs. the 4 that I have been consistently doing for the past 3 semesters) over the summer at my community college (calc - trig focus), to further prepare for math at university as well as an SAT retake. Part of me is tempted to take more, and I still might, but I do not want to leave my PPL halfway finished.

Honestly, I do not have an attachment to any of these schools and ultimately want whatever is most financially sensible, but more importantly that "increases" my chances for reapplication. If I got the FFS offer, I would accept it and subsequently enroll in one of the 5. However, after looking at some of the statistics there, and how many are waitlisted, I do not think it is likely this will happen. As for improvement, my main focus is CFA, SAT, interview skills, and STEM courses (not in any particular order).

TLDR:

Are there any programs a graduating senior should apply for, that have application dates open now?

Does USAFAs admission board weight classes at UNC-Chapel Hill, ECU, or Community College differently? If so, how so?

Would a PPL help my chances?

What are some extracurriculars in college that the admissions board would look at (besides AFROTC-which I already intend to do)?

Will the associate degree help me?

Any other advice you have to offer?

Thank you!
Click to expand...
Regarding your rejection, you said they sent you a letter then waitlisted you to FF? How long between did that update? Also do you mind me asking what your ACT/SAT was?
 
I think your plans are solid. If you can attend college and join the AFROTC unit, that will provide some great experiences for you. I've had four student follow this same path, and all four earned appointments as college freshmen. As you know, 25- 30% of AFA cadets do not come directly out of high school so you will be in good company. Best of luck!
 
Malst0rme said:
Hello all,

Firstly, a summary of my current situation: Rejected at USNA and USAFA, Waitlisted for Falcon Foundation Scholarship, rejected AFROTC HSSP

Civilian colleges: Waitlisted NC-State, Accepted at UNC-Chapel Hill, ECU, and Liberty.

The "main" weak points in my application were CFA and SAT/ACT, however, everything can be improved. "Concrete" plans include going to Aim High Flight Academy this summer and subsequently finishing my PPL (thanks dad!). Additionally, I will finish my Eagle Scout, my high school diploma, and get an associate in arts from my local community college in May 2024. I know at whichever college I go to I will enroll in AFROTC. That said, I am honestly not sure what other steps to take. While I do have that degree, it is in the arts and I lack many of the calc, physics, and chemistry I need. I am considering doing one college course (vs. the 4 that I have been consistently doing for the past 3 semesters) over the summer at my community college (calc - trig focus), to further prepare for math at university as well as an SAT retake. Part of me is tempted to take more, and I still might, but I do not want to leave my PPL halfway finished.

Honestly, I do not have an attachment to any of these schools and ultimately want whatever is most financially sensible, but more importantly that "increases" my chances for reapplication. If I got the FFS offer, I would accept it and subsequently enroll in one of the 5. However, after looking at some of the statistics there, and how many are waitlisted, I do not think it is likely this will happen. As for improvement, my main focus is CFA, SAT, interview skills, and STEM courses (not in any particular order).

TLDR:

Are there any programs a graduating senior should apply for, that have application dates open now?

Does USAFAs admission board weight classes at UNC-Chapel Hill, ECU, or Community College differently? If so, how so?

Would a PPL help my chances?

What are some extracurriculars in college that the admissions board would look at (besides AFROTC-which I already intend to do)?

Will the associate degree help me?

Any other advice you have to offer?

Thank you!
Click to expand...
UNC Chapel Hill is a crazy good admit, so I’m surprised you faced so much adversity with military related things. To me that means you might have only been lacking in leadership roles- which is weird to say seeing as you’re an eagle scout. If you can’t afford to go to chapel hill, go wherever you can and all you need to add are leadership roles. But honestly your best bet is finding some way to go to chapel hill. Because in that case your worst case scenario is a highly respected degree. Whereas if you go CC, and I’m not saying it’s impossible, but it’s very hard to find leadership positions in college and hard to add that dimension to your application.
 
Malst0rme, what statistics have you seen regarding the FFS waitlist? I am in the same situation, and I haven't been able to find any information. I have seen 5 or 6 candidates on here saying they are on the FFS waitlist, but that is all. I tried to email admissions with some questions, but I have not received a response. I would imagine they have quite a few e-mails to respond to at the moment. Being on the waitlist is tough!
Malst0rme said:
Honestly, I do not have an attachment to any of these schools and ultimately want whatever is most financially sensible, but more importantly that "increases" my chances for reapplication. If I got the FFS offer, I would accept it and subsequently enroll in one of the 5. However, after looking at some of the statistics there, and how many are waitlisted, I do not think it is likely this will happen. As for improvement, my main focus is CFA, SAT, interview skills, and STEM courses (not in any particular order).
Click to expand...
 
Rome said:
UNC Chapel Hill is a crazy good admit, so I’m surprised you faced so much adversity with military related things. To me that means you might have only been lacking in leadership roles- which is weird to say seeing as you’re an eagle scout. If you can’t afford to go to chapel hill, go wherever you can and all you need to add are leadership roles. But honestly your best bet is finding some way to go to chapel hill. Because in that case your worst case scenario is a highly respected degree. Whereas if you go CC, and I’m not saying it’s impossible, but it’s very hard to find leadership positions in college and hard to add that dimension to your application.
Click to expand...
Honestly, between the two FBI National Academy Youth leadership programs (one national one state) I did, National Honor Society president (treasurer jr year, if you consider that "leadership"), of course Scouts, as well as Captain on my soccer team I am not sure what else I could have done. With that said, do you still think I lack in leadership? I've never considered that portion of my application to be weak, but now I'm second-guessing myself... I need people like you to point out these things though because I want to tackle these weak points in the the coming application cycle.
 
Malst0rme said:
Honestly, between the two FBI National Academy Youth leadership programs (one national one state) I did, National Honor Society president (treasurer jr year, if you consider that "leadership"), of course Scouts, as well as Captain on my soccer team I am not sure what else I could have done. With that said, do you still think I lack in leadership? I've never considered that portion of my application to be weak, but now I'm second-guessing myself... I need people like you to point out these things though because I want to tackle these weak points in the the coming application cycle.
Click to expand...
It might not be the leadership, but maybe how you present it? I, compared to most, don't have a lot of leadership here. Actually none. However when going up for jobs I always find a way to show my character through my experiences. Bad examples can work too. Ex: I wasn't the best at leadership starting out yelled alot didn't listen blah blah, and I've learned from that.

Interview said that was the most impactful thing I could say, and it was at one of the lowest level jobs I had. What did you learn? How did it change you? They want leadership for your character to see how that experience changed you for the better.

Those are super unique and interesting leadership opportunities so I understand your struggle. I would compare it to just putting quotes in an essay. The quotes are very interesting but add nothing if you don't tie it back into the essay. Just a thought.
 
Malst0rme said:
Honestly, between the two FBI National Academy Youth leadership programs (one national one state) I did, National Honor Society president (treasurer jr year, if you consider that "leadership"), of course Scouts, as well as Captain on my soccer team I am not sure what else I could have done. With that said, do you still think I lack in leadership? I've never considered that portion of my application to be weak, but now I'm second-guessing myself... I need people like you to point out these things though because I want to tackle these weak points in the the coming application cycle.
Click to expand...
Get a part-time job where you work with fellow employees, and work face-to-face with customers. You will learn a lot, and will learn quickly, about yourself, about the general public, about how the world works.
 
Go Heels! UNC is a crazy nice school, good academics, good sports programs and they have all 3 ROTC programs. Best of luck to you!
 
I don't know of any specific programs (maybe internships, EMT cert + on-campus job, athletic coaching) but I just wanted to say that last year I asked admissions about reapplication. They explicitly told me that the best thing to do was enroll in a 4-year university and excel in STEM classes like calc, chem, and physics. I suggest contacting them yourself to get personalized advice on reapplying. But regarding UNC vs ECU vs CC, UNC is the clear choice.

I will note though that I actually didn't follow their advice and I still received an appointment, but my situation was different than yours.
 
Yeah man
bananafish said:
I don't know of any specific programs (maybe internships, EMT cert + on-campus job, athletic coaching) but I just wanted to say that last year I asked admissions about reapplication. They explicitly told me that the best thing to do was enroll in a 4-year university and excel in STEM classes like calc, chem, and physics. I suggest contacting them yourself to get personalized advice on reapplying. But regarding UNC vs ECU vs CC, UNC is the clear choice.

I will note though that I actually didn't follow their advice and I still received an appointment, but my situation was different than yours.
Click to expand...
Year man UNC was what I had kind of perceived as the "clear choice" figured I'd ask though haha. I think it will be about a 10k tuition difference, which is the main reason I was hesitant on UNC. Thanks for the advice!
 
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