AFA Prep school

[USAFA hopeful]

Does anyone know how the admissions board decides who gets spots at the academy's prep school? I kind of figured if 1300 ppl received appts then maybe it was something like numbers 1301-1400 got appts to the prep school, but I wasn't sure.

 

[Christcorp]

Does anyone know how the admissions board decides who gets spots at the academy's prep school? I kind of figured if 1300 ppl received appts then maybe it was something like numbers 1301-1400 got appts to the prep school, but I wasn't sure.

Actually; approximately 1650-1700 people are offered appointments. Of those, 1350-1400 will actually accept the appointment. As for the prep school, that is a very iffy situation. Image a sports competition such as a baseball game. Have you ever seen a game where you say; "We would have won if it wasn't for that "ONE PLAY". Well, that's sort of how it is for the prep school. After all the applicants are scored and the appointments are made, the academy admissions looks at the Non-Selected. There are no hard and fact prep school admissions practices, but imagine a candidate that had ALL the sports; ALL the volunteer time; ALL the extra curricular activities; ALL the advanced classes; and a nomination. Imagine that their gpa was something like a 3.75 unweighted. Imagine that they had straight "A's" in every class their entire life except Spanish and an elective. So, every semester it was 6 "A's" in difficult core classes and 2 "B's" in an elective and language. Then you say as an admissions member; "If this person JUST had a HIGHER GPA, they would have been an "Automatic" appointee. Now, that lower gpa could have been enough to take them out of the running. Maybe it was a couple of history classes. Maybe an english class. Normally however, the prep school is for academic reason. I.e. chances are that an applicant with a 4.0 unweighted gpa who got turned down because they didn't have enough points because they didn't do sports, leadership, volunteer time, etc.... probably wouldn't get to go to the prep school. It's usually for the person who "Would have automatically" been given an appointment "IF" their grades were just a little bit higher.

So, that person could be the 1st non-selected individual. But they could also be a couple hundred down the line. Remember, the academy is grading you on many different categories. The prep school is usually for the individual where they are in the top of just about every category there is accept academics. And then, they are really close. later... mike....

 

[flieger83]

The "truth" about the AFA Prep School

Okay...here it is.

There are approximately 75 slots RESERVED for "airmen" from the field.

The rest of the slots will be filled with mostly two categories of candidates:

a. Recruited athletes that didn't quite make it re: SAT/ACT, etc.
b. Diversity candidates

Now does that mean that a "almost made it into USAFA but missed by a couple slots" candidate will NOT be offered the PS if they're not in one of the above 3 categories? No...but understand that these 3 categories will fill probably 90% or better of the slots.

And of course, there are the Falcon Foundation Prep Schools...they are almost NEVER given to the above 3 categories.

Steve

 

[Christcorp]

flieger; good information. The only issue I have; which I could be totally wrong about; is that not too very long ago the academy got into a LOT of trouble for trying to turn the prep school into a place to build a "Red Shirt" "Farm Club" for their athletes. Not saying they didn't/don't use the prep school for athletes; THEY DID; but they also got into a lot of trouble for that.

The prep-school is SUPPOSE to be a place where an otherwise stellar applicant, with some minor academic shortcomings, could be offered the opportunity to improve on their academics and reapply to the academy the following year. I believe they are getting back to that. Not just an athletic farm club. I've had a couple students from our state be offered the prep school. Neither were athletes. Both in the last couple of years. One went last year and is now a C4C freshman and part of the class of 2012. Hopefully they have gotten away from the principle of it being a red shirt farm club. However, there is nothing wrong with an applicant who has a very good application, short a little on GPA, going to the prep school and also happens to be an athlete. My son is an IC (Intercollegiate Athlete). He didn't go to the prep school, but I could see where some athletes might be offered a slot. I just don't know if they actually hold slots any longer specifically for athletes. later... mike....