Will I get accepted?

Maplerock said:

My honest opinion... your SAT is OK. Could be better. I would not send those ACT scores if you have the ability to suppress them.

Your athletics is weaker than most. You don't have a lot of time to improve.

To wrap it up, your SAT is slightly below average and your athletics are significantly sub par. But... you're a girl. That vaults you over lots of boys with better scores and athletics. Not all, but many. The recent press for more females increases your chances. Still, I'd have a good plan B.

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Gender and Race are not considered in the WCS calculation and primary slate winners are determined by WCS score.

The only time any type of diversity is considered is for the last group of Additional Appointees. In today's environment, many more highly qualified females are applying and that is what their numbers are increasing.

Just being a female applicant will not overcome weaknesses in your application; maybe being a minority female that is homeschooled and will be a first generation college graduate would help but there are very few of those applicants. You are competing against many top notch male and female applicants. Being below or near the averages will not help your chances. Each Academy publishes a class profile, strive to be in the top of the areas they report.

One more thing to remember, your GPA by itself is not really considered. The Academy will take your GPA, your class rank, the classes you took, the classes available to you and your school's profile and develop a GPA used for the WCS calculation.

It's been mentioned several times in this thread and I would emphasize it again: take the SAT and ACT multiple times, preceded by diligent preparation. After a couple of retakes, you may find that you perform better on one than the other. At that point, focus on the one that is your strength. I wouldn't send test scores until you improve them.

The scores can be improved significantly if you put in the time and diligently prepare. My grandson took the ACT 3 times, wishing to improve his math score. He was home schooled except for high school math and chemistry. Math was his weak score on the ACT and the high school had a poor math program. Through a local community college, he took college algebra, trig, and calculus I and II.

He also worked assiduously on a self-study ACT prep and moved his math score from a 29 to a 33. I'd also focus on the English portion of the tests as that is your weak link. Take a look at Hillsdale College's great books program and embark on a crash reading course from their list. Writing and English are about reading good writers. Grandson read extensively from the Hillsdale list and had a 36 on the English portion.

You can improve those test scores with preparation, practice, repeated test taking, and a great books reading list for English. Very best of luck to you!!!

USMA 1994 said:

The only time any type of diversity is considered is for the last group of Additional Appointees.

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Diversity is such a loaded word. There are many types of "diversity" looked for by USAFA, including homeschoolers, business owners, low-applicant states, first time college applicants.... To say ANY TYPE OF DIVERSITY is not considered is simply not true. And females are great for "diversity" numbers.

fencersmother said:

USMA 1994 said:

The only time any type of diversity is considered is for the last group of Additional Appointees.

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Diversity is such a loaded word. There are many types of "diversity" looked for by USAFA, including homeschoolers, business owners, low-applicant states, first time college applicants.... To say ANY TYPE OF DIVERSITY is not considered is simply not true. And females are great for "diversity" numbers.

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I specifically said that Diversity is used in the process and used some of the same examples that you used but it is only used to complete the class. You are 100% correct that the Academy as well as most other institutions use many things in their definition of diversity. These under-represented minorities have a distinct advantage when they are competing for the "Additional Appointees" in the class and why most people that are not associated with more than one of these groups do not have a chance if they do not win their nomination slate.

With that said, to state or even imply that a applicant with a WCS 1000 points lower than another applicant will win a nomination slate just because she is a female is simply not true and it is irresponsible to even imply. Diversity categories are not used in the development of the WCS.

I think you've definitely got a shot! Your stats look good on paper but there is more to it than that. You have to do well at interviews and in essays and fitness tests and a big thing that people don't always like thinking about is... you need a little bit of luck for it to happen. You have to be in the right place at the right time to get a nomination and appointment. Keep working hard and try to improve your ACT scores like you said. Keep the GPA high and get in uber good shape for the CFA. Don't forget to have fun while you're still in high school and remember that USAFA and WP are just two schools and your life will still be great if you work hard and go somewhere else. Everything happens for a reason feel free to PM if you have any questions.

USMA 1994 said:

With that said, to state or even imply that a applicant with a WCS 1000 points lower than another applicant will win a nomination slate just because she is a female is simply not true and it is irresponsible to even imply.

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Thank you Capt. Obvious. Diversity is only a useful distinction at the margins.... at any institution.

kinnem said:

USMA 1994 said:

With that said, to state or even imply that a applicant with a WCS 1000 points lower than another applicant will win a nomination slate just because she is a female is simply not true and it is irresponsible to even imply.

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Thank you Capt. Obvious. Diversity is only a useful distinction at the margins.... at any institution.

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Really "Capt Obvious"? Some one posted that exact message in this thread and no one said a word. I would not expect simple insults from a moderator.

USMA 1994 said:

kinnem said:

USMA 1994 said:

With that said, to state or even imply that a applicant with a WCS 1000 points lower than another applicant will win a nomination slate just because she is a female is simply not true and it is irresponsible to even imply.

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Thank you Capt. Obvious. Diversity is only a useful distinction at the margins.... at any institution.

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Really "Capt Obvious"? Some one posted that exact message in this thread and no one said a word. I would not expect simple insults from a moderator.

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Sorry. Should have put a smiley there.
EDIT: It was pretty obvious though and that's why I couldn't help myself. Again, my apologies. It wasn't meant as an insult.

cudi2000 said:

Forget the ACT, retake the SAT since you are better at it comparatively.

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Don't they require you to send both? Also would a bad score on one and a good score on another bring you down. For example if I got a 30 on my ACT but a 1450 on the SAT would the 30 be a liability comparatively?

Pierre680 said:

cudi2000 said:

Forget the ACT, retake the SAT since you are better at it comparatively.

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Don't they require you to send both? Also would a bad score on one and a good score on another bring you down. For example if I got a 30 on my ACT but a 1450 on the SAT would the 30 be a liability comparatively?

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No, they determine which test is higher and use that in the WCS calculation. The also superscore the ACT and SAT. The one thing they do not do is split between test, ie take your Math ACT snd English SAT.

I think your chances look good. I was accepted to USAFA for the class of 2022, and this is how I performed:

I took both tests twice and am posting the super score (I did much better on the act). I don’t think that you should try to hide the lower scores though.

ACT: English 24, Math 29, Reading 29, S/R 26

SAT: Reading 550, Math 620

Taking the tests multiple times shows persistence and determination to improve.

My GPA (unweighted) and class rank: 3.58 and 40/131. I personally don’t think that it is anything special but that is with taking challenging courses in an unusually challenging PA school, in a super smart class of students. I know the academies take into consideration schools that have a reputation for being harder, as in my case. They also look at the school’s reputations with the academies, which mine has sent quite a few appointees over the years.

As for sports, I have only done track freshman and sophomore year, and golf senior year. However, I exercise every night.

Your Jrotc will definitely help. Aim for high officer positions though to demonstrate leadership, rather than just participation. I was the Commander of my unit this year. Talk to your instructors too because I know my unit and others that meet the criteria can actually nominate cadets to their respective academies, so in the end my Congressman and Colonel nominated me to USAFA.

You should study up on the academies too, because the more you know the easier it will be for you to mold yourself into what they are looking for. It will also come in handy for your interviews, to be knowledgeable and seem more enthusiastic than other applicants.

In your essays and interviews, if this is what you want, emphasize that you want to serve as an Officer, regardless of how you get there (Academy, rotc, OCS). I also made it clear that I want to be in for a career, and they are more willing to spend the money on somebody who will be around for the long haul.

If I left anything out let me know, and just ask if you have any questions.

kastencr said:

Hello, I am currently a junior in high school and the Air Force Academy is my top choice next to West Point. However, I am not sure if my qualifications would get me accepted. So please respond with complete honesty, thanks. Also, if you have any suggestions please let me know.

My unweighted GPA is a 3.84 and weighted is 4.3. My SAT score is 1300 (700 math and 600 English). My ACT score is not good, but I am retaking it later this school year. It currently is a 24 (23 English, 28 math, 22 reading, 23 science, and 26 STEM). I am very involved in my NJROTC unit and have a staff position in the unit. Also, I am extremely involved in my church and its activities, and I am the Vice Chair of the Youth Leadership Team which plans the events for my church. I also have received acceptance into Virginia Girls' State and I have received the West Point Leadership Award. These are what I think make me stand out, let me know though.

Thanks all!

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No if you do not apply. Depends on your district. IMHO Scores are low. You would probably struggle with the academics. Get a turotr raise your scores.

No one can answer your question except for the admissions committee once they have your application package to compare to others on your slate and possibly national pool. Tons of info in the forums. Best of luck.

You're off to a great start, just get that ACT score up!

I agree with THParent. DD will become a Senior at USAFA today - when the class of 2018 throws there hats that is.

She trained for many months running and doing all her workouts with an adjustable altitude mask. They are not that expensive. She even got an Air Force skin to put on it - for motivation.

When she ran her first time at USAFA - and observing other Duley’s- she was soooo glad to have put in that extra effort. The altitude at USAFA can be challenging.

My very best to you

jaglvr said:

my DD is in 9th grade and in CAP and is thrilled she can do 3 s

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Note to parents & young women: between age 13 and 15, many girls grow several inches, and specifically about the chin ups, put on their womanly-figure pounds. If your daughter is 13ish, make sure she continues to practice practice practice as those ten pounds can be a real obstacle if she slacks off.

You have many things that Admissions likely looks for but I agree with the many posters here that you will need to improve your test scores.

We just returned from my son’s USAFA graduation...we never thought this would have been a possibility when he took his first ACT his junior year and scored a 23 or 24. He studied and took it 4 or 5 times, eventually getting a respectable score with a good math component above 30.. he was never great with these types of tests so we are believers that admissions looks at the whole person. We know he didn’t win his slate and was taken off the NWL. He was a multi-sport athlete and multiple team captain. All State in an individual sport and State champion in a team sport...He had part-time jobs throughout high school and many volunteer hours...

I guess my advice is to continue your efforts in other areas as well...

Good luck to you.