Don't underestimate the power of AIM from both sides of the admissions process.
From the applicant's side, they get actual on campus time and a peek into Swab summer, the Academic departments, and sports; it is the most comprehensive look at the academy from the kids side of the process. From admissions side, since USCGA does not interview 100% of all applicants for academy admissions, AIM is important because they do interview 100% percent of that group, plus they get a 2/c (Junior) cadre's assessment report on each AIMster in addition to real PFE score given by the athletic department just not some HS coach giving it his/her way; this is a lot of concrete information for Admissions from the AIM kids. AIM is the academy's most important recruiting tool, they put a lot of money and time into it.
As
@ProudMom7 said, for at least the past 8 years approximately 50% of the incoming classes have been AIM kids. Those are published stats.
For applicants here is the take away:
1. AIM matters to both sides. Do your best to get into AIM by treating it as a Academy admissions, not a summer sleep away camp application to be cranked out in 15 min. Pick your recommendation letters wisely and make sure they know this is not just a summer camp letter to be recycled from the ones they did last year. Give the recommenders a resume or bullets of things you did they may not know about so it is easier for them to writes you a good letter.
2. Test early if possible and if you have great scores get them in, especially in STEM as all academies are engineering schools. Lately HS kids have had increasing math struggles at USCGA, so if you are good in math, like math or have some positive math story to tell, mention that.
3. Start PFE (fitness test) training now so you can do great when they administer it at AIM. Cadre is always impressed with high PFE kids because it is easy for them to see and use to rate people and will certainly be in your cadre evaluation if you do great. The best time to get in shape is now. Don't show up not knowing what the PFE is or thinking that you play a HS sport you will be fine. The cadence pushups are particularly different than HS.
4. Once you step foot on academy grounds, you are being evaluated, act accordingly. For that week, HS is over, act professional. Watch what you say and do, even in times you think no one is around, someone is always observing. Get along with other AIM kids and be helpful. You don't have to be perfect, just show improvement over the week and it will be noticed.
5. Many quit AIM and don't complete the week. Don't be that person. It's only a week, stick it out and do your best. I don't know this for a fact but I cannot imagine someone who quits AIM will get accepted as an academy applicant.
As others have said, if you don't get into AIM that's ok, 50% of the annual admitted class historically has not gone to AIM. As long as your application for AIM is the best it could possibly be, you have done all you can. AIM is just the first inning of a many inning game to an acceptance letter. Stay in the game.
Good luck!
