2021 Hopeful Applicant, Advice?

laxer98

Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2016
Messages
101
Hi

I am a Junior at a IB League High School in Maryland and would like to attend the Air Force Academy for college and would like to get feedback on what I should work on to make myself a better candidate. Here Is some info about myself below:


•3.81 (unweighted GPA) 4.51 (weighted GPA)
• Classes include through duration of high school: Math (all the way up to Calculus III [multivariable]), Spanish for 6 years, Biology, Chem and Physics. (AP: Govt (5), US History (3), Spanish (4), Calc BC (5) and will be taking Euro, micro, macro, and Literature this year) All my classes have been honors since middle school as I am in a accelerated program.
•Varsity lacrosse and swimming for 2 years now, and next year will make it 3 for both sports
•Over 750 service hours after working at Walter Reed in Bethesda
•various clubs: sga, robotics, mathematics, energy conservation...
• I am apart of the Sea Cadets, and am also a Venturer (Boy Scouts)
• National Honors society, Math Honor Society, and Science Honor Society
• Korean
• 5'10" and I weight 200 lbs (I am currently on a bulk before my lacrosse season)

My ACT Scores 32 composite (33 English, 35 math, 33 Reading, and 28 Science)
My New PSAT score (700 Reading, 750 Math, and 700 Writing)

I am primarily concerned on my CFA as I am athletic but have always trained with weights and bodybuilding workouts rather then running for miles on and on. I am currently over the weight on the height to weight ratio, but it is due to my muscular complexion. Should I abstain from lifting and cut down to make weight and start running (and hence lose lots of muscle?) or does the Academy look past such a thing?
 
It sounds like you are right on track for a very great application. Have you applied for the summer program? Are you trying to become a recruited athlete? Good luck!
 
It sounds like you are right on track for a very great application. Have you applied for the summer program? Are you trying to become a recruited athlete? Good luck!
Thanks for the reply! I've applied to all 3 and just got accepted into SLE. I might be interested in playing lacrosse at USAFA, but I heard that it is very hard to juggle sports and academics at the academy, so I am contemplating that decision a lot right now.
 
Well, no matter which Acadmey you go to, everyone plays a sport. That's just how life at the academy is, busy. You'll be fine! Pursue any opportunities that you can!
 
It seems you are very athletic but work on all the components of the CFA to evaluate if any need work. They can do a bodyfat waiver for those who are on the muscular side. My DS is very athletic but pretty thick . He passed the height/weight thing (barely) but had to work hard on the pull ups. Academically you look fantastic. Maybe a bit more leadership roles would boost your profile a bit. You are likely in a very competitive district being from Maryland. Keep up your good work
 
It seems you are very athletic but work on all the components of the CFA to evaluate if any need work. They can do a bodyfat waiver for those who are on the muscular side. My DS is very athletic but pretty thick . He passed the height/weight thing (barely) but had to work hard on the pull ups. Academically you look fantastic. Maybe a bit more leadership roles would boost your profile a bit. You are likely in a very competitive district being from Maryland. Keep up your good work
Thanks for the reply! I agree that it is definitely harder for muscular athletic kids to do well on the CFA, but I will definitely strive to do my best on the CFA. Thanks alot!
 
Take a look at the CFA, practice those events over a couple weeks, and then have a go at an actual TIMED CFA TEST (on your own). You may be very shocked at how difficult that run is at the end of the CFA and what your score is. Try it, and then report back, so others can see just how tough the CFA can be, even for a trained athlete.

Playing a D-1 sport at USAFA is doable, but requires excellent time management skills (the best skill you can have IMHO, so get cracking).
 
My DS worked on all areas of the CFA with some extra focus on the ones he tended to struggle with the most. He went to SSs and they offer the CFA there. He got passing scores and used them for his application. He actually did better on the CFA at USNA SS and used it for his USAFA application.
 
I'm a cadet here right now, and although it's good to be on multiple teams or be a part of multiple clubs, USAFA looks for leaders. So make sure you are trying for team captain and president of one of the clubs!
 
Question: when you said Korean, I wondered: are you an American citizen?
 
Back
Top