Can I be more competitive?

JAH2002

2025 Cadet
Joined
Apr 20, 2020
Messages
38
I am looking to apply for the class of 2025. I scored a 1450 on the PSAT and a 1460 on the SAT (both scores are in the 99th percentile). I have A's in all but two of my classes. Academically, I believe I'm competitive, however, I do not have many extra-curricular activities. My father served in the military and only retired in 2018, so I have not had an opportunity, because of the constant moving, to take part in any organization long-term. Additionally, I was not elected into any student government position, and I am not the captain of a sports team. I work throughout the school year, and I joined Civil Air Patrol last year. I have volunteered for over 200 hours, but never in a leadership role.

Am I competitive for acceptance into the Academy, or do I need to do more?
Also, if I need to do more, what should I focus on doing?
 
"I am looking to apply for the class of 2025. I scored a 1450 on the PSAT 👍and a 1460 on the SAT👍 (both scores are in the 99th percentile). I have A's👍 in all but two of my classes. Academically, I believe I'm competitive, however, I do not have many extra-curricular activities👎. My father served in the military and only retired in 2018, so I have not had an opportunity, because of the constant moving, to take part in any organization long-term. Additionally, I was not elected into any student government position👎, and I am not the captain of a sports team👎. I work throughout the school year👍, and I joined Civil Air Patrol last year👍. I have volunteered for over 200 hours👍, but never in a leadership role👎👎."

Looking at what you said, you certainly look competitive! You're above average on a lot, but there are a couple of things to work on you yourself mentioned, but you look mostly good to me. But (and this cannot be said enough) there is so much that goes into consideration that it's really impossible to know. Look to get more extracurriculars, those are so important. In everything you do, do your best and I think you already have a good shot!
 
I accepted my appointment to the Class of 2024 last month and had a 1470 SAT and 33 ACT so academically I would say you are definitely above the average in those regards too. But!! USAFA definitely looks at the whole picture when it comes to candidates, I was also a varsity sports team captain, held a few jobs, and did some other things. One thing I'll say to start this off is that you can always be more competitive!

CAP will definitely work towards your advantage so stay with that and try to advance as much as you can in the program with the time you have left. Work experience looks good!! I've had a few part-time jobs over my four years and then worked during the summer as well (try to get involved in things relevant to your interests, try to find a program or internship you can do this summer or reach out to places that interest you). Volunteer hours look great too!

You said you aren't a captain of a sports team but didn't specify if you're on a sports team either. I recommend being involved in some sort of athletics to show the admissions team that you can work in a team environment and also handle the fitness aspect at USAFA. That being said, start preparing for your Candidate Fitness Assessment now!! I did not prepare and my scores were almost all below average and barely made it, show them that you're physically prepared whether you're involved in sports or not.

All of this being said, try to invest your time into extracurriculars that you enjoy, don't try to inflate your resume with random things that you don't enjoy in the last year before you apply. This COVID thing makes things more difficult obviously but I'm sure the academy will understand, work with what you can control for now.

I think one of the most important things in setting yourself apart though are your essays. I would advise you to start your drafts now and not write one of the larger essays about how the coronavirus ended your school year (everyone will be writing about this and you can add information about it if you really feel the need to in the additional info section of the writing supplement). Pour your heart and soul into these, give them something they want to read, so many people assume their stats speak for themselves but you want to show them your drive to succeed. Start your application as soon as it is open, I believe next year's application portal may already be up... or at least the precandidate survey though they may be preoccupied with wrapping up with the recently commissioned class and getting the class of 2024 in. Best of luck!
 
Does getting the Mitchell award look good on your service academy resume?
Yes, absolutely! When you become an official Candidate in July, you will get to fill out an activities form. On that form you get to check the box for CAP. You also get to check a second box for the Billy Mitchell. Congratulations, and good luck!
 
Keep going beyond Mitchell. It is good, but Earhart is better, and Spaatz beats that. Admissions knows what these achievements are, and it will reflect positively on your admissions package and WCS.
As for number of AP - you should take the most challenging classes that you will be successful in. That is not always AP everything.
 
How many AP classes should I take!
I'm applying to the class of 2025 and I've taken 11 AP classes in high school. Aim for all A's in the AP class but if you get a B in something like AP clac it's acceptable. Personally I started taking AP classes freshman year (brutal as hell and do not recommend), although they were challenging and I didn't do as well as I could have they taught me a lot of organizational skills that have helped me to succeed later on in my academic career. If you're not struggling with classes yet then take AP classes is my personal advice combine that with a sport or two and you'll begin to understand what some of the workloads at USAFA might be for you and if you think it is worth it. Fall and spring of my 10th-grade year I was taking 2 ap classes (AP world history and AP computer science principals) along with that I had 3 sports swim (November->late February), indoor percussion (November->first week of March), and track and field (Febuary->May). the one month they all overlapped was the most stressful month of my life, but I was able to push through It because of my organizational skills. being able to maintain hard classes while doing something like this looks great (don't recommend what I did), but only if you can keep grades up. I can't and won't give advise for AP classes to take, you should take classes you find interesting and only if you know you're going to be able to succeed in them, DO NOT take a class you know you will not do well in just cause its AP. I hope I was able to give you some insight into AP classes and helping your application.
 
We spoke with a well-respected SA admissions consultant a few years back — a highly knowledgeable USAFA grad. His guidance was very simple and clear: Take the hardest classes your school has to offer — especially in STEM — and do well in all of them.
 
Lacking context as to what was done, I would say that is on the low side. I think you are missing the point though - be able to communicate what you did in those service hours.
 
Lacking context as to what was done, I would say that is on the low side. I think you are missing the point though - be able to communicate what you did in those service hours.
For example I will be helping out at the mission distributing food!
 
SAs want to see you take the hardest classes your school has to offer — especially in STEM — and excel at them. They’ll have your school’s profile, so they’ll know what’s offered. If your school doesn’t offer AP classes, it won’t be held against you. In that case, refer back to the first sentence above.
 
SAs want to see you take the hardest classes your school has to offer — especially in STEM — and excel at them. They’ll have your school’s profile, so they’ll know what’s offered. If your school doesn’t offer AP classes, it won’t be held against you. In that case, refer back to the first sentence above.
Is biology stem?
 
Should I take AP biology or Pre Ap chemistry.Im assuming chemistry will work better than biology if you want to get into an academy.I will take AP chemistry my 11th grade year since our school counselor advised us to if we go towards the chemistry route!I have to take pre ap chemistry first!
 
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