bad senior year

[J3Rizzo]

So I'm going to be honest, in the next year, there is no where I'd rather be than at USAFA. This has held true since I was just a kid. However, my senior year is not what I imagined it to be. App is in, Mocnom is secured, but my senior year in HS has been absolutely horrendous, I mean just bad all around. I have really tried everything to make this year my best, but sometimes you just have those years, and this is definitely one. If I don't get accepted, but have a really great year as a freshman at a civ college, will USAFA see this? I mean, if I join ROTC, keep up on grades, and do better on everything else, will a bad senior year still hurt me, or will they look past it? thanks

 

[CGA applicant 2024]

So I'm going to be honest, in the next year, there is no where I'd rather be than at USAFA. This has held true since I was just a kid. However, my senior year is not what I imagined it to be. App is in, Mocnom is secured, but my senior year in HS has been absolutely horrendous, I mean just bad all around. I have really tried everything to make this year my best, but sometimes you just have those years, and this is definitely one. If I don't get accepted, but have a really great year as a freshman at a civ college, will USAFA see this? I mean, if I join ROTC, keep up on grades, and do better on everything else, will a bad senior year still hurt me, or will they look past it? thanks

From what I have read / been told it will depend on what you mean by bad. If you just now took the SAT / ACT for the first time and scored poorly then it will be difficult to get in. If you failed classes the academy looks down on that. However, if you scored several B's and C's, and even one D you can recover. The academy would likely look favorably on improvement, especially that first year of college if you end up taking that route. Prep is school is another possibility if you are outstanding in fitness and extracurriculars but grades are the issue. There is a semester left still and you should be able to score well in your classes if you work hard, if not then I would consider if you could survive at the Academy which will have even more challenging academics.

Best of luck, remember there are many paths to serving in the Air Force even if the academy does not work out!

 

[Dadx4]

"Bad" senior years are more common than you think. The heavy AP/DE course load for academy candidates and elite school applicants takes a toll, and it's compounded by the time-consuming academy/college/essay/application process. That being said, as an academy hopeful, one should be able to manage all of this because it will only get worse during plebe year. But, you're not alone.

 

[crymsonwynters]

USAFA looks favorably upon reapplicants. It shows commitment and dedication. However, this is contingent upon improvement. USAFA will give strong consideration to you as a reapplicant, and significant academic and physical improvement will give you a fighting chance.