Advice for High School

D

DiamondzPro

New Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2017
Messages
9
Hey am I good enough to make it into the Air Force Academy? I am a sophomore in high school and I run track and cross country.

GPA:
Weighted: 4.2
Unweighted: 3.64
SAT:
Practice: 1310
1st Real Attempt: 1330
Math: 710
Reading: 620
Essay: None Taken
ACT: None Taken
Track Times (from freshman year)
800m: 2:30 Goal: 2:10 (for this yr)
1600m: 5:30 Goal: 5:00 (for this yr)
Cross Country (from this year)
4800m: 17:11
 
Before I start, let me just make it clear (as I do on any 'chance' thread I comment on) that accurate chancing on this site- as well as any site like CollegeConfidential or otherwise- is impossible.

However, based on my opinion... you seem to be on the right track. I'm actually on about the same path as you. 3.62 UW though :P

Advice
1. Shoot for at least a 1400 composite (superscore) on the SAT. That's about a good benchmark and will set you apart. You're already pretty well set, especially in the math section. But never stop trying to improve- even if you don't do as well or better, it at least shows dedication to improve and rise above. Note: Noticing afterward, you need to take the essay.
2. With all respect entailing, the times are impressive and worth a mention in your essay, but it has no weight on the WCS rubric. Unfortunately, position means a lot. If you're still JV, that can hurt your chances without excuse. Are those actual times or guesstimates? The '0' at the end of them leads me to assume they're assumptions, but feel free to clarify.
3. Get leadership and club positions in, mate.

Other than that, I wish you luck into getting into USAFA. :)
 
DoctorShrinker said:
Before I start, let me just make it clear (as
DoctorShrinker said:
Before I start, let me just make it clear (as I do on any 'chance' thread I comment on) that accurate chancing on this site- as well as any site like CollegeConfidential or otherwise- is impossible.

However, based on my opinion... you seem to be on the right track. I'm actually on about the same path as you. 3.62 UW though :p

Advice
1. Shoot for at least a 1400 composite (superscore) on the SAT. That's about a good benchmark and will set you apart. You're already pretty well set, especially in the math section. But never stop trying to improve- even if you don't do as well or better, it at least shows dedication to improve and rise above. Note: Noticing afterward, you need to take the essay.
2. With all respect entailing, the times are impressive and worth a mention in your essay, but it has no weight on the WCS rubric. Unfortunately, position means a lot. If you're still JV, that can hurt your chances without excuse. Are those actual times or guesstimates? The '0' at the end of them leads me to assume they're assumptions, but feel free to clarify.
3. Get leadership and club positions in, mate.

Other than that, I wish you luck into getting into USAFA. :)
Click to expand...

I do on any 'chance' thread I comment on) that accurate chancing on this site- as well as any site like CollegeConfidential or otherwise- is impossible.
DoctorShrinker said:
Before I start, let me just make it clear (as I do on any 'chance' thread I comment on) that accurate chancing on this site- as well as any site like CollegeConfidential or otherwise- is impossible.

However, based on my opinion... you seem to be on the right track. I'm actually on about the same path as you. 3.62 UW though :p

Advice
1. Shoot for at least a 1400 composite (superscore) on the SAT. That's about a good benchmark and will set you apart. You're already pretty well set, especially in the math section. But never stop trying to improve- even if you don't do as well or better, it at least shows dedication to improve and rise above. Note: Noticing afterward, you need to take the essay.
2. With all respect entailing, the times are impressive and worth a mention in your essay, but it has no weight on the WCS rubric. Unfortunately, position means a lot. If you're still JV, that can hurt your chances without excuse. Are those actual times or guesstimates? The '0' at the end of them leads me to assume they're assumptions, but feel free to clarify.
3. Get leadership and club positions in, mate.

Other than that, I wish you luck into getting into USAFA. :)
Click to expand...


However, based on my opinion... you seem to be on the right track. I'm actually on about the same path as you. 3.62 UW though :p

Advice
1. Shoot for at least a 1400 composite (superscore) on the SAT. That's about a good benchmark and will set you apart. You're already pretty well set, especially in the math section. But never stop trying to improve- even if you don't do as well or better, it at least shows dedication to improve and rise above. Note: Noticing afterward, you need to take the essay.
2. With all respect entailing, the times are impressive and worth a mention in your essay, but it has no weight on the WCS rubric. Unfortunately, position means a lot. If you're still JV, that can hurt your chances without excuse. Are those actual times or guesstimates? The '0' at the end of them leads me to assume they're assumptions, but feel free to clarify.
3. Get leadership and club positions in, mate.

Other than that, I wish you luck into getting into USAFA. :)
Click to expand...

1) Any tips for reading because that's my weakest spot in academics

2) I'm 2nd on the sophomore team and looking towards making Varsity next year or this year in track and yes those are my actual times without the milliseconds and all that

3) I'm pretty booked throughout my day because of all honors and AP but I can try... right now I'm focusing on academics and running.
 
Lots of info under the "chance me" in the search box. Pursue team captain or co -captain for track team.
 
Wishful said:
Doctorschrinker, maybe you should get in...or know someone extremely well so you know what they did to get in...before you start advising on how to get in....mate.
Click to expand...

Look, dude, I'm getting pretty sick of your passive-aggressive ****.

I'm just trying to help the guy out. Mods here, parents, and people who've physically gotten in alike have told me exactly what I've told him right now for #3. I have experience in researching and questioning around for #2. I've physically spoken to two people who got in- both friends of the family, one who got into USNA and another who was accepted to USAFA but went the AROTC route- who informed me of #1. People here, they may not see his thread. They may choose not to respond. They may think that someone else will do it. So I went ahead and shared what I've found.

Am I not allowed to share ideas? Is that not permitted here now? Sorry, I'll make sure that in the future, I find out directly from you in PM or through snail mail if it's alright to give a hand, Wishful.
 
DiamondzPro said:
1) Any tips for reading because that's my weakest spot in academics

2) I'm 2nd on the sophomore team and looking towards making Varsity next year or this year in track and yes those are my actual times without the milliseconds and all that

3) I'm pretty booked throughout my day because of all honors and AP but I can try... right now I'm focusing on academics and running.
Click to expand...

1) Same boat as far as mathematics here, bud! I've only taken the ACT, so from that I'll tell you that the most important fact is speed reading. I'm not telling you to get through the text in an eye blink, but don't ingest every. single. stitch. of. verbiage. 1/2 the time it's unnecessary. Try speed reading courses online; learn to read picking up the most important bits out of a piece of text. Other than that, speed in general is your friend. Keep track of every second.

2) Huh, wow, lucky 0s I suppose! :P Well, the best thing to do is to comply with advice from your coach. There's no such thing as a bad question; ask him what's required to make varsity. The more knowledge the better. If you're already completely informed, I can't tell you more than just general speed tips which could be found online.

3) Although I understand, the admissions for SAs aren't simply as forgiving. Time management is a huge deal. Understanding how to make the most of your time is vital to making it in any profession, let alone the military. FBLA, Model United Nations, and Debate come to mind when thinking of positions you could pursue.

Hope this helps! :)
 
Your uGPA could use a boost. Keep working to get all A's.
Track is good, but what else do you have? The academy wants to see leadership potential.
 
DoctorShrinker said:
Wishful said:
Doctorschrinker, maybe you should get in...or know someone extremely well so you know what they did to get in...before you start advising on how to get in....mate.
Click to expand...

Look, dude, I'm getting pretty sick of your passive-aggressive ****.

I'm just trying to help the guy out. Mods here, parents, and people who've physically gotten in alike have told me exactly what I've told him right now for #3. I have experience in researching and questioning around for #2. I've physically spoken to two people who got in- both friends of the family, one who got into USNA and another who was accepted to USAFA but went the AROTC route- who informed me of #1. People here, they may not see his thread. They may choose not to respond. They may think that someone else will do it. So I went ahead and shared what I've found.

Am I not allowed to share ideas? Is that not permitted here now? Sorry, I'll make sure that in the future, I find out directly from you in PM or through snail mail if it's alright to give a hand, Wishful.
Click to expand...


Very sensitive. We see it often on the forum. People get excited. Maybe they're candidates, perhaps they're parents. They do a little research and start handing out advice like an old pro.

A cautionary warning to everyone using this site for information: when it comes to admissions, no one can really advise you with certainty. Admissions do as they please. Posters here can tell you what has worked for them. Whether it works for you remains to be seen.
 
Maplerock said:
Very sensitive. We see it often on the forum. People get excited. Maybe they're candidates, perhaps they're parents. They do a little research and start handing out advice like an old pro.

A cautionary warning to everyone using this site for information: when it comes to admissions, no one can really advise you with certainty. Admissions do as they please. Posters here can tell you what has worked for them. Whether it works for you remains to be seen.
Click to expand...

Ironic- that you tote the exchange as a cautionary tale of misinformation and sharing surface knowledge as fact when you've only seen this. Sensitivity has nothing to do with it: I've interacted with Wishful before, he interpreted my calling him 'mate' as an insult and you can see how he behaves in other threads- asking rhetorical questions, assuming. It's why he called me 'mate' at the end preceded by an ellipsis; he's being passive aggressive, and I'm saying what I see.

No one's handing out information like pros. I had a disclaimer in my original comment. It's my opinion. I'm not gonna leave the guy hanging, "Yeah, sorry, no one can give ya fact so, yup. All I'm sayin'." Better I preface my advice that it's pure opinion that I've gathered FROM fact and opinion than nothing.
 
This is your only warning to all... cut it out. This has nothing to do with the topic of the thread.
 
DoctorShrinker said:
Note: Noticing afterward, you need to take the essay.
Click to expand...

Dr Shrinker, does this mean the OP is now required to submit a writing portion on the SAT? I thought it was being abandoned. My own kids didn't bother to even answer the question (invented their own, since they considered that portion of the SAT to be invalid and of no value).

I hadn't checked the SAT/ACT requirements in a while and didn't realize USAFA was now requiring it.

If you are referring to some other essay, can you please clarify your remark? What essay?
 
fencersmother said:
Dr Shrinker, does this mean the OP is now required to submit a writing portion on the SAT? I thought it was being abandoned. My own kids didn't bother to even answer the question (invented their own, since they considered that portion of the SAT to be invalid and of no value).

I hadn't checked the SAT/ACT requirements in a while and didn't realize USAFA was now requiring it.

If you are referring to some other essay, can you please clarify your remark? What essay?
Click to expand...

Apologies- when I said 'essay' I meant the 'writing' portion of the SAT/ACT. It's essentially an essay, so I said essay. Hope I didn't trip you or DiamondzPro up.

As far as I'm aware, USMA and USNA require the writing portion of the SAT and/or ACT. USAFA does not require it, but it is strongly recommended in my experiences to take it with writing. I'm unaware of the position of SAT/ACT compositing, writing, etc. for the USCGA or USMMA. It is considered in the WCS, as far as I'm aware.

In trying to find a source, I could not find one, and so I will retract my 'need' part of it. Seeing as you admit that Reading isn't a strong suit, Writing may not be? It's up to you, really.
 
Quoting from the 2017 Instructions to Candidates: "The Writing subtest for the ACT and the Essay Section for the new SAT are optional but highly encouraged."
 
You should look at some of the other chance me posts and compare yourself with them, especially if you go back a few years and find people who made it in. What you have going is good, but the Academies look for great. Unless you find some sort of leadership opportunities, your application will probably be weak. You said it's difficult because you're focusing on academics and running. I'm not going to fluff it up for you, if you cannot juggle hard high school academics, athletics, and extracurriculars, you're going to find the schedule of the Academy difficult if not impossible. I can tell you what your schedule will look like if you want.
 
If you plan to run track or CC at USAFA (better said: if you would like to be considered), contact the coach at a time considered appropriate by NCAA standards (don't ask fencersmother; these things change. Ask your high school coach or g.c.).

As far as your standardized testing goes: that 620 isn't going to help you any in CR. So, retake as many times as necessary. And do spend time with vocabulary, writing, READING, and how about a little more READING. You have plenty of time to bring that up if you are just this year a soph.
 
First of all, please would be nice. We're answering your questions because we care, not because we have to.
0625: Get up with the other 4-degrees and announce the uniform and meals of the day and the days until graduation for every class. Must take time the night before to memorize it.
0730: Go to class, may or may not have free periods
1130: March to lunch
1200: Eat lunch
1230: Military training or class
1530: If you are an intercollegiate athlete, you're already at practice and will remain there likely until 1800 or 1900. If not, you will most likely spend 1.5 to 2 hours doing 4-degree training with your squadron or participating in intramurals
1915: A few days a week you will have evening military training for 35 minutes
1950: Do homework, study for military knowledge tests, clean your room, Take care of your uniforms, etc.

And remember, most cadets have 18+ credit hour schedules, you'll also be taking a P.E. class during part of the semester, and this schedule doesn't include breakfast, dinner, sports, clubs, or leisure. You'll also have weekends eaten up about half the time by military training or football games.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top