Age Waiver?

[Hopeful2025er]

So I'm a sophomore in high school right now and I'm interested in maybe graduating early my junior year and applying to go to USAFA for senior year. BUT my birthday is July 3rd and one of the requirements is you must be 17 by July 1st of when you enter. So my birthday puts me two days shy of it. Is there anyway to get around this, or would I have to wait another year?

 

[colucci]

Call an Admissions Counselor and ask, I’ve never heard of a case where the minimum age requirement is waived, and I am almost certain such a waiver does not exist, so don’t get your hopes up, you almost definitely will have to wait that extra year, but it won’t hurt to call to verify.

 

[flieger83]

I have spoken with USAFA counselors about this very question and the answer was a strong no. They won't consider a waiver. They didn't give me a precise reason but it's easy to see a major issue: commission date.

If the appointee is not 17 when they enter, with graduation four years later, but typically a month earlier...the graduate would not be 21 and could not be commissioned.

That would be a BIG problem.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83

 

[Fotouman]

You might consider enlisting for a year in the reserve or national guard. That might give you a much better chance of getting into the academy when you apply the following year (if you have parental consent and a high school diploma, you can enlist at 17.) Just a thought.

 

[Newinwin]

So I'm a sophomore in high school right now and I'm interested in maybe graduating early my junior year and applying to go to USAFA for senior year. BUT my birthday is July 3rd and one of the requirements is you must be 17 by July 1st of when you enter. So my birthday puts me two days shy of it. Is there anyway to get around this, or would I have to wait another year?

Hopeful - What about staying the extra year and going to a community college while you're in high school, and maybe completing your Associates while in high school? Then you graduate with your high school diploma and with an associates degree, you strengthen yourself as a student and as a candidate, and you're enrolled at USAFA (if you are selected) a week before you turn 18.