Academy Odds

[Braeden]

hello, just to be brief and get a basic understanding to whomever is reading this. I wish to attend the AFA and have ever since my 8th grade year. I am only a sophomore (clearly much can change) but I have been doing research on getting in for a very long time, so I will present information that I currently have with things I plan on doing to get your opinion on my odds of at least getting an appointment, let alone being accepted. I currently have a 3.8 weighted gpa, going off current psat scores I would have a 1300 (still with two more years to take it again clearly) i also am taking the most AP and honors classes possibly currently. I am involved with many clubs in my school, ski club, german club, key club (for those that don’t know is a community service type club) I am active in my community with many service hours. My grandpa and great grandpa went to a service academy (if that means anything) I was on a sponsored semi-professional paintball team, I attended the “h.o.b.y” camp which Consists of two students from each school to be chosen to go to, it is a camp strictly on building students leadership skills. I played football my freshman year, currently run cross country (jv), and I’m a captain for tennis (varsity) and also ran track (varsity freshman year). I have been a captain previously for football, and also worked on the year book for my school as well. I have also done minor website coding in the past. Given all this, (once again I know it’s early to call since im only a sophomore) what would be your input if this was all on my application to the academy.

 

[AFrpaso]

I've run all your stats through my machine learning algorithm and predict that you will have a 65.3894% chance of getting an appointment.

 

[AFrpaso]

In all seriousness, no one here can give you "odds". It seems like you're on a good track. If you're interested in what other candidates looked like, take a look at the countless "chance me" threads that can be found through the search function. You could also cross reference those with the various "Appointment" threads that pop every year to see if a user actually did get in.

In fact, if we asked forum users to submit their candidate profile, then we might be able to build a predictive model and give you the "odds" of getting an appointment. Sounds like a fun side project.

 

[Braeden]

In all seriousness, no one here can give you "odds". It seems like you're on a good track. If you're interested in what other candidates looked like, take a look at the countless "chance me" threads that can be found through the search function. You could also cross reference those with the various "Appointment" threads that pop every year to see if a user actually did get in.

In fact, if we asked forum users to submit their candidate profile, then we might be able to build a predictive model and give you the "odds" of getting an appointment. Sounds like a fun side project.

Yeah I know it’s a very common thread to see and a lot of people don’t like to see it as much since it’s an over saturated topic, but I figured I’d put out what I’m doing so far and get others opinions on it, thanks either way.

 

[Hoodlum15]

This is pretty common advice but I'll give it again, a lot of emphasis is placed more on leadership in clubs than participation in lots of clubs. Look for some leadership positions in those clubs you mentioned. Taking point at Key Club would probably be seen as especially favorable. Also, take the SAT/ACT now so you know where you stand and what needs to be worked on.

 

[Wishful]

& which test you do better on.

 

[fencersmother]

to get your opinion on my odds of at least getting an appointment, let alone being accepted

Since you are but a lowly sophomore, fencersmother will humor you. The sequence goes like this:
NOMINATION (from your MOC, Senator, VP, etc.)
APPOINTMENT (by USAFA). You must have the nom to get the appointment (for you long timers and others, don't even start with those LOA and LOE's. Fencersmother will be ANGRY.) The Appointment is like a college acceptance. But you have to have the nomination to get it. A little searching here, and a good go-through of the stickies (see how tech savvy I am) should give you a good basis for how things work.

I am involved with many clubs in my school, ski club, german club, key club (for those that don’t know is a community service type club) I am active in my community with many service hours

Your "involvement" in "many clubs" may not actually go to your favor. I see you have three school clubs: ski, German, Key. Do or will or can you hold any officer position in any of them? It is better to have just one or two things you really LOVE than to spread yourself across the board. Love German? Head up that club. Love to ski? start a TEAM, and win a competition or two. Key club is a good organization - hold office.

My grandpa and great grandpa went to a service academy (if that means anything

It usually doesn't mean too much, except that Grandpa and Great-Grandpa are to be thanked for their service to a grateful nation. Unless Grandpa is on the Joint Chiefs?

 

[Braeden]

No idea if this helps either since it’s not technically a school sport but I was captain of my paintball team for two years, and yes I plan to be an officer in german and/or key club.

 

[fencersmother]

Please explain the "semi-pro" aspect of this paintball club. Also, assuming you are only 15, know that anything you did before high school essentially doesn't count.

 

[Billberna]

Please explain the "semi-pro" aspect of this paintball club. Also, assuming you are only 15, know that anything you did before high school essentially doesn't count.

Good point, Fencersmother. The only activities that count are those you participate in during grades 10-12.

 

[MN-Dad-2016]

Reading your overview, it sounds like you are trying to pad your resume and that's not a good thing. My free advice is the same for any competitive college: focus on a couple of areas that you are more passionate on. Make an impact in that topic or group. If you have hours to attend 4 clubs, a bunch of random volunteer service hours, year book etc, then quit some of them to work on getting a 4.0 and start taking some ACT/SAT sample tests. Because your #1 job right now is to be the best student you can be (GPA, class rigor, class rank, ACT score). There is nothing wrong with a 3.8 GPA. But why not aim for a 4.0? Your remaining energy should focus on a sport or two and become a leader in that area. Right now, you are spread too thin. I'm not saying that you won't get in if you continue what you are doing. IMHO, your energies are way to spread out.

If you focus and make an impact on reduced topics that you really care about, you will be more competitive in any college including USAFA. Good Luck!

 

[USAFMitch20]

hello, just to be brief and get a basic understanding to whomever is reading this. I wish to attend the AFA and have ever since my 8th grade year. I am only a sophomore (clearly much can change) but I have been doing research on getting in for a very long time, so I will present information that I currently have with things I plan on doing to get your opinion on my odds of at least getting an appointment, let alone being accepted. I currently have a 3.8 weighted gpa, going off current psat scores I would have a 1300 (still with two more years to take it again clearly) i also am taking the most AP and honors classes possibly currently. I am involved with many clubs in my school, ski club, german club, key club (for those that don’t know is a community service type club) I am active in my community with many service hours. My grandpa and great grandpa went to a service academy (if that means anything) I was on a sponsored semi-professional paintball team, I attended the “h.o.b.y” camp which Consists of two students from each school to be chosen to go to, it is a camp strictly on building students leadership skills. I played football my freshman year, currently run cross country (jv), and I’m a captain for tennis (varsity) and also ran track (varsity freshman year). I have been a captain previously for football, and also worked on the year book for my school as well. I have also done minor website coding in the past. Given all this, (once again I know it’s early to call since im only a sophomore) what would be your input if this was all on my application to the academy.

Best thing you can do is maintain those high grades. Join extracurriculars and volunteer. Most importantly, do very well on your PFA. That is decently waited and as a smart student might be the only thing that could keep you away.

 

[Braeden]

Please explain the "semi-pro" aspect of this paintball club. Also, assuming you are only 15, know that anything you did before high school essentially doesn't count.

Yes I am indeed aware of anything before high school does not count. Also, the meaning of “semi-pro” for paintball, is that I was captain of a d-2 team that was sponsored and went to tournaments and such. Once again don’t think it would help since the leadership role is outside of school sports itself but idk.

 

[Braeden]

Reading your overview, it sounds like you are trying to pad your resume and that's not a good thing. My free advice is the same for any competitive college: focus on a couple of areas that you are more passionate on. Make an impact in that topic or group. If you have hours to attend 4 clubs, a bunch of random volunteer service hours, year book etc, then quit some of them to work on getting a 4.0 and start taking some ACT/SAT sample tests. Because your #1 job right now is to be the best student you can be (GPA, class rigor, class rank, ACT score). There is nothing wrong with a 3.8 GPA. But why not aim for a 4.0? Your remaining energy should focus on a sport or two and become a leader in that area. Right now, you are spread too thin. I'm not saying that you won't get in if you continue what you are doing. IMHO, your energies are way to spread out.

If you focus and make an impact on reduced topics that you really care about, you will be more competitive in any college including USAFA. Good Luck!

Understood, I wasn’t trying to “pad” this, more or less just put out what I think might help to get advise from those on the forums, my actual application will clearly be much different and focused otherwise, though I would agree with what you said, I am trying to get an officer position in german club, as well as keep my two sports varsity and tennis captain. So I’m mainly focusing on sat/act tests and my gpa

 

[Hoodlum15]

Why would the Academy not care about non-school leadership? Leadership is leadership is leadership, wherever it comes from. If they only cared about participation in school sponsored activities, then no homeschooled applicants would ever get in. Of course it counts, and be proud to talk about what you've done!

 

[MN-Dad-2016]

Understood, I wasn’t trying to “pad” this, more or less just put out what I think might help to get advise from those on the forums, my actual application will clearly be much different and focused otherwise, though I would agree with what you said, I am trying to get an officer position in german club, as well as keep my two sports varsity and tennis captain. So I’m mainly focusing on sat/act tests and my gpa

There is a saying: "perception is the reality". Based off of perception, I put you in a bucket that assumes more clubs, sports, volunteer hours, etc is better. This is a common student tactic and is often discussed as a no-no. In other words, don't just be a joiner, rather, be wholeheartedly involved in a few activities over time. When you do, 8-10 superficial activities gets paired down to a couple and you have a much better opportunity to make an impact. OR, it allows you to perform even better at your number one job which is academics. Your essays will be better too. Using this approach, every college admissions department including USAFA will have the perception that you are a focused and are more accomplished. In fact, I'd go so far and say don't list any superficial activities on unless you made an impact. This is the same advice on resume writing. If you list an atribute, then finish the statements as to why you made an impact.

Anyways, hopefully my advice didn't leave you with the perception that I was being too critical. I wish you all the best!

 

[fencersmother]

Leadership outside of school is just as important, sometimes moreso, than leadership in your local highschool. Think of the young person who works diligently for his local rural ambulance company. He works many hours outside of school, usually where there is no school bus to take him (commitment). He spends hours there with people of all different ages, ethnicities, skill levels (community involvement). Let's say this young adult works there for 3 high school years, developing programs for the community, rising in ranks from volunteer to paid position, to jr management (leadership, dedication, demonstrated interest/devotion). Not much to do with Art Club or Choir or Band, but clearly, will be a very good item on the application to any top tier (or lower tier) college.

Don't disrespect those opportunities which exist outside of the brick and mortar school; they can be invaluable, and even, point the way to your life's work.

 

[Braeden]

Understood, I wasn’t trying to “pad” this, more or less just put out what I think might help to get advise from those on the forums, my actual application will clearly be much different and focused otherwise, though I would agree with what you said, I am trying to get an officer position in german club, as well as keep my two sports varsity and tennis captain. So I’m mainly focusing on sat/act tests and my gpa

There is a saying: "perception is the reality". Based off of perception, I put you in a bucket that assumes more clubs, sports, volunteer hours, etc is better. This is a common student tactic and is often discussed as a no-no. In other words, don't just be a joiner, rather, be wholeheartedly involved in a few activities over time. When you do, 8-10 superficial activities gets paired down to a couple and you have a much better opportunity to make an impact. OR, it allows you to perform even better at your number one job which is academics. Your essays will be better too. Using this approach, every college admissions department including USAFA will have the perception that you are a focused and are more accomplished. In fact, I'd go so far and say don't list any superficial activities on unless you made an impact. This is the same advice on resume writing. If you list an atribute, then finish the statements as to why you made an impact.

Anyways, hopefully my advice didn't leave you with the perception that I was being too critical. I wish you all the best!

Haha no I did not think of your responses as too critical. If anything it gave me a bit of an insight on how to word things, I definitely never went for just throwing myself at clubs and sports, I play sports I want, and do the clubs that I actually have interest in. I guess now reflecting apoun what I first stated my intentions seemed like such, but I do understanding that the wording was also a critical error in how I put it, none the less thank you for what you have said though!

 

[Braeden]

Leadership outside of school is just as important, sometimes moreso, than leadership in your local highschool. Think of the young person who works diligently for his local rural ambulance company. He works many hours outside of school, usually where there is no school bus to take him (commitment). He spends hours there with people of all different ages, ethnicities, skill levels (community involvement). Let's say this young adult works there for 3 high school years, developing programs for the community, rising in ranks from volunteer to paid position, to jr management (leadership, dedication, demonstrated interest/devotion). Not much to do with Art Club or Choir or Band, but clearly, will be a very good item on the application to any top tier (or lower tier) college.

Don't disrespect those opportunities which exist outside of the brick and mortar school; they can be invaluable, and even, point the way to your life's work.

This is also very true, I honestly have no idea of which opportunities that could make as big of an impact as the one stated, though I will definitely keep an eye out for the large community impacts that actually have a meaning for me and I enjoy doing. I just don’t think I have done anything major in my community besides a few volunteer projects for building a park and such.

 

[fencersmother]

Do not pad your resume. Find something you LOVE.