A few questions...

[rswift]

Hey there. First post on these forums. I did some digging around and found answers to a lot of my questions already. However, I still have a few more..

1. What are the essay questions for this year? I've been able to find past years questions.. do they normally stay the same each year?

2. The academy always asks for involvement in extracurriculars, and I'm worried I might be lacking there. Could anyone give me an example of what they were involved with?

3. I've already filled out the sheet for nomination from source (a senator). Do I need to apply to multiple senators/representatives?

4. Building on question three, are there any other forms I should already have filled out? Most of the stuff I found on the admissions site was for students who just finished applying. They haven't quite updated it for the next batch of us.

Thanks in advance. Wrote this on my phone.. sorry about any errors or weird wording that occurs because of that. I'll edit it later.

 

[SCcandidate2015]

1. Same essays. I can vouch for that.

2. ...

3. Apply to BOTH SENATORS AND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE, AND VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION. It's in your best interest. If you don't, well that just gives you three less opportunities to attain an appointment.

4. Actually, if you are a Candidate, you should be able to access your Candidate Kit online. It contains all the forms needed to complete the application. Link: https://admissions.usafa.edu/secure/online/onlineapplication.exe
If you haven't been declared an official Candidate yet, you have to be nominated to be declared such. I THINK you can still fill out a pre-candidate questionnaire (PCQ). If they accept it, you will be declared a Candidate. Being declared a Candidate is pretty much the gateway to everything. You can't proceed without it.

 

[cadet15]

I will do my best to answer your questions.
1. You will be able to get the essay questions for this year once you have filled out the Pre-Candidate Questionaire and are accepted into the system. If you have not filled that out, do so now because that is what starts your whole application and gets you into the DoDMERB system...it is the key to the application. If you have already done that, and are officially a candidate (not a prospect on applicant I think are the two previous steps), you should be able to view the essay topics on your candidate page.

2. My extracurriculars were the clubs I was in at school and the different volunteer positions I did. The Academy looks for quality, not quantitiy. I only had a few things listed, but in those activities, I had leadership and I had been with them for a while. They would rather see 4 years and leadership in one club than 5 clubs where you are mearly a 1-year member.

3. Apply to all of the nomination sources you can. For every applicant, that is your 2 Senators, you Congressional Representative, and the Vice President. They all have unique applications so look on your congressional reps pages or contact their local offices about the application. I know for mine last year, different offices had different deadlines, and some of them were very early, so get on that as soon as possible too. If your family is military, you may be able to apply for other nominations, but I don't know the specifics on those because they didn't apply to me.

4. Like I said above, fill out the PCQ and get nomination information from all of the sources you can apply for.

 

[rswift]

4. Actually, if you are a Candidate, you should be able to access your Candidate Kit online. It contains all the forms needed to complete the application. Link: https://admissions.usafa.edu/secure/online/onlineapplication.exe
If you haven't been declared an official Candidate yet, you have to be nominated to be declared such. I THINK you can still fill out a pre-candidate questionnaire (PCQ). If they accept it, you will be declared a Candidate. Being declared a Candidate is pretty much the gateway to everything. You can't proceed without it.

That link is for applicants entering in 2012. (That's what it says at least... ) Should I use that anyway?

Thanks for the other replys all helpful.

 

[SCcandidate2015]

That link is for applicants entering in 2012. (That's what it says at least... ) Should I use that anyway?

Thanks for the other replys all helpful.

Yes, I know, but you never said when you were intending to enter in the first place. If you go ahead and enter your information (SSN and DOB), it will only work if you're a Candidate anyways. No harm in trying. Just try it.

 

[fly boy]

3. I've already filled out the sheet for nomination from source (a senator). Do I need to apply to multiple senators/representatives?

You don't need to, but yeah, you need to. No offense, but it's kind of like asking if you need to list all XC's you have been doing in recent years. Do you need to? No. But you need to, if you know what I mean. Hope that helps.

 

[Christcorp]

That link is for applicants entering in 2012. (That's what it says at least... ) Should I use that anyway?

Thanks for the other replys all helpful.

What "SHEET" did you fill out for Nomination From Source? Are you talking about an academy form or one from your representative/senator? If you can't register into the 2012 application, because you're not a senior in high school this fall, then I think you might be jumping the gun on a few things.

Yes, you should definitely be looking at your extra curricular activities. When it comes to outside of your academics, there are 4 areas you want to concentrate on.

1. Athletics
2. Clubs/organization
3. Leadership
4. Volunteering.

Now, if you can combine some of these activities, then that's a PLUS. I.e. Boy's State is very good for showing leadership; however it's not really a club. Same with being a class officer. However, if you were in the Spanish Club, FBLA, CAP, JrROTC, special band club, etc... and you also held leadership positions in them, such as section leader; president; officer rank; eagle scout, etc... That is a good combination. It also shows TRUE INVOLVEMENT. Not just something to fill in a square for an application and to make your resume look good. If you also have these activities that you have leadership involvement in, and you also do volunteer time for the needy, that's an even higher plus.

Same with sports. Being on the baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, etc... team is good. But it helps more if you're the team captain, defensive captain, or some type of leadership position. I had a candidate who played football, but he was REALLY into Aikido. Besides having been studying Aikido for about 8 years, he also became a "Student Teacher" for some of the younger classes. "That's leadership". He also had a fundraiser by having the younger classes give demonstrations during one of the local fairs. They raised money for a family who's house burned down. This showed commitment. Combined athletics, leadership, and volunteering.

The most difficult part of explaining to individuals what makes for a good resume/application, is when the individual basically has time AGAINST THEM. I.e. They are starting their senior year of high school; even some Juniors who already have their year pretty well planned out, and they are missing the athletics, leadership, extra-curricular for team building, volunteering, etc... The academy isn't stupid. They can tell an individual who has never been involved with such activities, and that they are trying to fill a square for their application. Don't get me wrong; I'm not talking that everyone has to be the perfect candidate. Many applicants are usually missing one facet. E.g. They do sports and leadership, but they haven't done any real volunteering. Or they've done volunteering, leadership, and extra-curricular, but their only sports has been YMCA or Parks&Rec. Most of that can be overlooked by the other things. But I and others have seen 4.0gpa unweighted, with a 32+ACT/2300+SAT get turned down by the academy because that's all they had. Academics. For what it's worth, I've seen some big name universities turn down someone with a 4.0gpa and they ACED the SAT. Because that's ALL THEY HAD.

So, if you're not a senior this year, then you really need to address the sports, leadership, extra-curricular team building, and volunteer activities this year. And before you ask...... NO; some aren't worth MORE than others. What's worth MORE, is the more you do, and the more involved you are with those activities. That's how it becomes worth more. Best of luck.... mike.....