Any advice?

IdahoAF

IdahoAF

Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2016
Messages
21
Hey everyone,
I am a reapplicant to USAFA and I wanted to see what parts of my application I should focus on to improve the likelihood of earning an appointment.
  • I graduated high school as salutatorian with a 3.97 gpa, no AP classes but a few were offered. However, I was in the advanced math classes every year in high school.
  • Awards such as Distinguished Student Award and Hawk of the Year
  • Served as Student Body Vice President
  • Varsity letters in track (3), cross country (1), football (2), and baseball (1)
  • Captain of the Track and Field and Cross Country Teams as a senior
  • Most Valuable Runner for Cross Country (2015)
  • NHS attendee
  • 2 Years show choir and MC for the showcases
  • 32 ACT Composite, 33M 33E 36R, 26S. (This is up from a 27 composite on last years application)
  • As a freshman in college, I ran varsity track and field, qualifying for the NAIA conference championships (I don't think my distances and times are good enough for Blue-Chip recruitment)
  • Mechanical Engineering Major
  • 3.87 College GPA (1 B and 2 A-) Dean's List both semesters
  • ASCI Highest Freshman GPA award (out of all ASCI freshman officers)
  • 75 hours of volunteer service working with local athletes and raising money for the Huntsman Cancer Institute
  • Elected and served as the Freshman Representative on the AS Judicial Board
  • Currently a cadet of AFROTC and competing for a ROTC nomination
  • Currently a Calculus tutor for Migrant Students working 8-10 hours/week
  • Some Current CFA scores - 56 pushups, 69 situps, 5:52 mile
I hope this gives you an idea of me as a whole person and I look forward to hearing from all of you on what I can do to improve my application. Thanks for the advice, everyone!
 
Your new ACT score is a huge improvement. How many credit hours did you take 1st semester? Only 3 classes? Were they 5 credit hour classes?
 
I am on a 5-year ME plan so I was average about 14 credits per semester. Now that I have started ROTC, it is moving closer to 15-16. The majority of classes are 3 credits with the exception of some math courses being 4 credits.
 
I'd say that science ACT score is your biggest glaring weakness. Work on bringing that up
 
No idea on your chances, but can say you seemed to take advice and your resume this year is stronger than it was last year. The 5 point improvement in the ACT score takes you from below the median score to above it. You have a semester of successful college under your belt while playing IAs that should help since in HS you didn't have AP classes. Overall, you look improved which is great.

I suggest you reach back out to the ALO and let him know your progress and that you have re-applied. I would also make contact with my MOC to so the same. Those relationships and recommendations are vital to getting an appointment.

I will tell you that one of my DS's roommates was a second year re-applicant and spent his first year at Purdue. He is doing great. The squad leader for my DS took three tries to get an appointment and has been very successful at the academy. It can be done. Best of luck. We are rooting for you.
 
IdahoAF said:
Hey everyone,
I am a reapplicant to USAFA and I wanted to see what parts of my application I should focus on to improve the likelihood of earning an appointment.
  • I graduated high school as salutatorian with a 3.97 gpa, no AP classes but a few were offered. However, I was in the advanced math classes every year in high school.
  • Awards such as Distinguished Student Award and Hawk of the Year
  • Served as Student Body Vice President
  • Varsity letters in track (3), cross country (1), football (2), and baseball (1)
  • Captain of the Track and Field and Cross Country Teams as a senior
  • Most Valuable Runner for Cross Country (2015)
  • NHS attendee
  • 2 Years show choir and MC for the showcases
  • 32 ACT Composite, 33M 33E 36R, 26S. (This is up from a 27 composite on last years application)
  • As a freshman in college, I ran varsity track and field, qualifying for the NAIA conference championships (I don't think my distances and times are good enough for Blue-Chip recruitment)
  • Mechanical Engineering Major
  • 3.87 College GPA (1 B and 2 A-) Dean's List both semesters
  • ASCI Highest Freshman GPA award (out of all ASCI freshman officers)
  • 75 hours of volunteer service working with local athletes and raising money for the Huntsman Cancer Institute
  • Elected and served as the Freshman Representative on the AS Judicial Board
  • Currently a cadet of AFROTC and competing for a ROTC nomination
  • Currently a Calculus tutor for Migrant Students working 8-10 hours/week
  • Some Current CFA scores - 56 pushups, 69 situps, 5:52 mile
I hope this gives you an idea of me as a whole person and I look forward to hearing from all of you on what I can do to improve my application. Thanks for the advice, everyone!
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Just wondering... why would you want to do 4 more years? You are a sophomore now. You will definitely go to field training this upcoming summer. Then you have 2 years left and you'll be done.
 
Thanks for all the great advice. To respond to cisco_kun, I only started the ROTC program at the beginning of my sophomore year when I transferred here for the Air Force opportunity. After talking to the detachment commander and my major adviser, they set me up as a "freshman cadet" although I am a sophomore. With this approach, I will attend field training at the end of my Junior year and then when I am finishing up my fifth year, I will be considered a 1st class ROTC cadet.

I would have preferred to finish in 3 years, but certain engineering classes that I missed out on are only offered in specific semesters so it was impossible to finish in 3 years because of prerequisite courses.
 
IdahoAF said:
Thanks for all the great advice. To respond to cisco_kun, I only started the ROTC program at the beginning of my sophomore year when I transferred here for the Air Force opportunity. After talking to the detachment commander and my major adviser, they set me up as a "freshman cadet" although I am a sophomore. With this approach, I will attend field training at the end of my Junior year and then when I am finishing up my fifth year, I will be considered a 1st class ROTC cadet.

I would have preferred to finish in 3 years, but certain engineering classes that I missed out on are only offered in specific semesters so it was impossible to finish in 3 years because of prerequisite courses.
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I'm trying to get my friend to join AFROTC. He is already a freshman, so he plans on starting next year. I guess I don't fully understand, once you go to field training aren't you garunteed to be a officer? As long as you don't screw up?
 
Thanks for all the advice. I was able to bring up my science score to a 31 and improve the English to a 35. Now I join the waiting game alongside everyone else.
 
Take the SATs, there's no science section. As someone who took both the SATs were easier.
 
MMA19kid said:
Take the SATs, there's no science section. As someone who took both the SATs were easier.
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Some people do better on one test over the other - for some, little change. Differing formats, taken different days... who knows what makes the difference. But yet, do take both as USAFA will superscore. Still, great job bringing that ACT up 5 points. Shows terrific upward trend.

In what subject did you earn the B? Not saying it's a bad grade - just wondering if there could be looming difficulties ahead? Sometimes that happens.

Are you not running track this year? You'll really need to keep up with a sport (or two). Keep practicing for the CFA... IN ORDER.

Personally, I'd have no problem with you going four years at USAFA, though some definitely would, as pointed out above.

Let your ALO know of your intentions and definitely ask for his advice/input.
 
fencersmother said:
Personally, I'd have no problem with you going four years at USAFA, though some definitely would, as pointed out above.
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That's a valid point, you're already on track to be a 2nd LT in the USAF. It's like being half way through cooking a steak, throwing it away, and putting another on the grill without anything really being wrong with the original steak. The purpose of USAFA isn't to be an elite, big name deal, it's just a method of accession for officers.
 
I was about 1.5 years through college before I looked into joining the merchant marine academy. But the circumstances were a lot different. I was at a really mediocre, satellite university campus although in a very competitive program that I was in but they pretty much dropped me, and I was stuck there with a bunch of credits but no real major or track. That sort of justified to me throwing away that time and starting as a plebe, but there's no way I would have made the jump that you intend to make here.
 
I think you will get an appointment, and I would bet a weeks wages on it. Your ACT is strong, and Math and English are by far the most relevant scores for the ACT; science not as much. Your application looks exceptional, and the academies love re-applicants. With cross country background, I figured your mile would be a bit better, but its still good. Your CFA scores are incomplete, so take care of business there. Still need a nomination. Did you have a decent relationship with your Liaison Officer last time? I would give him/her a call and chat about what you have done. Good work. perseverance and commitment is tremendous. Are you applying to any of the other academies?
 
brovol said:
I think you will get an appointment, and I would bet a weeks wages on it. Your ACT is strong, and Math and English are by far the most relevant scores for the ACT; science not as much. Your application looks exceptional, and the academies love re-applicants. With cross country background, I figured your mile would be a bit better, but its still good. Your CFA scores are incomplete, so take care of business there. Still need a nomination. Did you have a decent relationship with your Liaison Officer last time? I would give him/her a call and chat about what you have done. Good work. perseverance and commitment is tremendous. Are you applying to any of the other academies?
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I'm with brovol. I'll bet a weeks wages as well. I just checked the line for IdahoAF at Caesars in Vegas and its 1-5 odds. So, my $100 week of wages is gonna only reap net winnings of $20. :w00t:
 
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There were plenty of appointees with weaker applications than you submitted last year. That ACT improvement is great.

You should have gotten in last year, but you look fantastic for this go round. Still... with quotas to fill you never know.
 
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