CFA and Interview

Beamer

AFROTC
Joined
Aug 29, 2020
Messages
111
This is my first post.

I am currently applying to USAFA, USNA, and USMA. I am pretty much finished with all of these applications except the essays, CFA, and their respective interviews. I am hoping to get into USAFA as my first and and USNA as my second. I just have a few questions. I understand that the academy is looking for the whole person (academics and physical abilities). Currently I am confident in my academics. I am ranked #1 in a class with over 450 students and I have a GPA of 4.70. Also I took the the ACT before COVID-19 (who knew that taking it early would be the best). I got a 31 on the ACT. My CFA is lacking.

CFA Scores:
Basket Ball Throw: 64 feet
Pull-ups: 4
Shuttle Run: 9.02
Crunches: 76
Push Ups: 40
One Mile Run: 7:53

I took the test with my AFJROTC instructor at the end of July. I am still training hard to make sure I am ready for it. I plan on taking it around beginning or mid October because my rolling due date is November 1st.

The interview with my evaluator ALO has not been set up yet. I am having a teacher review my essays currently and I will most likely submit it by the end of next week or sooner. Does anyone have any advice on what questions to prepare for? Also would anyone recommend wearing my AFJROTC uniform? I don't want to seem like a "try hard" or "show off". I just want to look like I care about this. If not, I can just wear some nice dress clothes (Button up, tie, pants, etc.)

Thanks for the help and insight anyone can provide for. It is very appreciated. Also I am currently working with a personal trainer, but haven't been able to work with him because of COVID-19. If anyone has any recommended workouts, It is appreciated as well.
 
Been answered all over this forum. Most say dont wear JROTC uni, just business casual. Questions vary by all evaluators, mine stuck to the average interview questions mixed with questions about my resume. CFA is below standard on run and pushups and pullups. Look into stew smiths workouts to improve and for pullups try the “grease the groove” method which I found to be successful. Good luck
 
My first question for the CFA is that are you male or female. If female those are not bad scores, if male the 4 pull-ups/40 push-ups may be disqualifying.

Lots of good workout advice all over the web for pushups and pullups. I won't add anything here.

Running is running. You just have to go out and do it. To build speed you can alternate days running 1-2 miles with a day of 400M or 800M sprints.

Be sure to practice the actual CFA every couple of weeks to gauge your progress. Doing the events in order is harder than doing them individually.

For the interview dress professionally like you are going for a job interview (you are). Uniform or no uniform is up to you. When I talk to a candidate I don't pay a whole lot of attention to what they are wearing except that it is appropriate, well kept, and you can tell the candidate is taking the interview seriously. For questions, be prepared to talk about why USAFA, what you want to do in the Air Force, leadership experiences above and beyond what is on your resume, what you consider your biggest successes, biggest failures and what you learned.

It's also good to have really spent some time reviewing the USAFA and Air Force websites thoroughly for information. This would be no different than what you do in the private sector when interviewing for a job. You want to know about the company, how it operates, and be able to articulate your desire the be part fo the team. The more knowledge you have about what you are signing up for creates a solid impression.

Also just remember to relax. I know the interview can be stressful but I find that most are just conversations. I want to get to know you, what drives you, what your goals are, all the things that just don't come across on paper. Each interview is different and I usually let it flow where it wants to go. Yes, I have a checklist of items I want/need to cover but how we get there varies from person to person.

Good Luck!
 
To be blunt....

If you are male, your CFA is bad. Do 100 pull-ups every other day.

And for everyone posting....please post your unweighted GPA. Your weighted GPA only matters at your high school.

My DS wore a polo and khakis for his interview. The nomination interviews were formal. The ALO interviews he had were casual. He didn't get drilled about anything. Different ALOs probably have different approaches so be professional, courteous and authentic.
 
My ALO interview was just a phone call. I still wore a polo and khakis to feel more professional than wearing a t-shirt and shorts. I will wear a button down shirt and tie for nomination interviews (hopefully). My ALO interview went great and lasted 50 minutes.

Can you get hold of a pullup bar? I have one in my hallway at home and I do a few every time I walk by it. Great habit!
And then go outside and run, run, and run some more.
 
My two cents on the interview with your ALO:

1) Dress as professionally as you possibly can. If you can wear a suit, wear a suit. I swear, last year when I was applying to the Academies as well as all three ROTC scholarships, I got complemented on how I was dressed nearly every time. First impressions are huge and you showing up looking dapper is a good way to start. With that being said, do not go out and buy a suit unless you really want to.

2) Be honest. During your interview, the evaluator just wants to get to know you. Don't script answers to questions you think you will get asked. You want to come off as genuine as possible. Practice, practice, practice.

3) "Don't be that guy." Seriously one of the best pieces of advice I got from a Navy Midshipman while I was going through the process last year. Make sure you are confident, but be humble as well. Do not go in there and be the guy or girl who acts like they know everything and are definitely getting in because they have a sibling that goes to AF or something of the sorts. Be confident, not cocky.

Good luck and GO FALCS!
 
I am a male. Thank you for all of your advice. I am working the hardest I can to keep on improving.
 
I am a male. Thank you for all of your advice. I am working the hardest I can to keep on improving.
You have the right mindset! My CFA was worse than yours when I first took mine. After two months of tough training, I observed significant improvements and even maxed out some events. The key is to practice and never give up. Good luck!
 
To be blunt....

If you are male, your CFA is bad. Do 100 pull-ups every other day.

And for everyone posting....please post your unweighted GPA. Your weighted GPA only matters at your high school.

My DS wore a polo and khakis for his interview. The nomination interviews were formal. The ALO interviews he had were casual. He didn't get drilled about anything. Different ALOs probably have different approaches so be professional, courteous and authentic.
My unweight is 4.00. I only said 4.70 because that is what my portal shows after my counselor sent out the forms.
 
My first question for the CFA is that are you male or female. If female those are not bad scores, if male the 4 pull-ups/40 push-ups may be disqualifying.

Lots of good workout advice all over the web for pushups and pullups. I won't add anything here.

Running is running. You just have to go out and do it. To build speed you can alternate days running 1-2 miles with a day of 400M or 800M sprints.

Be sure to practice the actual CFA every couple of weeks to gauge your progress. Doing the events in order is harder than doing them individually.

For the interview dress professionally like you are going for a job interview (you are). Uniform or no uniform is up to you. When I talk to a candidate I don't pay a whole lot of attention to what they are wearing except that it is appropriate, well kept, and you can tell the candidate is taking the interview seriously. For questions, be prepared to talk about why USAFA, what you want to do in the Air Force, leadership experiences above and beyond what is on your resume, what you consider your biggest successes, biggest failures and what you learned.

It's also good to have really spent some time reviewing the USAFA and Air Force websites thoroughly for information. This would be no different than what you do in the private sector when interviewing for a job. You want to know about the company, how it operates, and be able to articulate your desire the be part fo the team. The more knowledge you have about what you are signing up for creates a solid impression.

Also just remember to relax. I know the interview can be stressful but I find that most are just conversations. I want to get to know you, what drives you, what your goals are, all the things that just don't come across on paper. Each interview is different and I usually let it flow where it wants to go. Yes, I have a checklist of items I want/need to cover but how we get there varies from person to person.

Good Luck!
For the interviews, do you know what questions are generally asked?

Thanks for your advice.
 
For the interviews, do you know what questions are generally asked?

Thanks for your advice.
My interviewer pretty much went through my resume and asked details on my leadership, motivation, and daily life. The only weird question was "what would your best friend say is your biggest weakness and strength?" Although, I should mention that everyone has different experiences and interviewers so your experience may not look like mine. My advice would be to relax and remember that the evaluator ALO's are there to help you not hurt you.
 
My unweight is 4.00. I only said 4.70 because that is what my portal shows after my counselor sent out the forms.

I'm curious, your WEIGHTED GPA is on the USAFA portal? DS is unweighted on portal....calculated by USAFA because his school does not send weighted grades on transcript.
 
I'm curious, your WEIGHTED GPA is on the USAFA portal? DS is unweighted on portal....calculated by USAFA because his school does not send weighted grades on transcript.
GPA:
4.70 (Your GPA listed may be refigured by USAFA and may not match the GPA reported by your school.)

This is what it show. It was 4.00 when I self reported, but they changed it as soon as my high school counselor sent in my senior profile, transcripts, and schedule.
 
For the interviews, do you know what questions are generally asked?
There are no standard questions. Each ALO has the same form to complete for each candidate, but the questions used to arrive at that final product all vary by ALO. Be prepared to answer WHY USAFA? The evaluator would like to understand what you know about the school and the service commitment that will follow graduation. Are you taking this seriously? Frankly, it's the biggest decision you have had to make in your life -- do your actions show it or does it feel like you are kicking the tires and heard there was "free" tuition? We hear from both ends of the spectrum - the kid who knows nothing about the school, cadet life, or the Air Force as well as the person who has mapped their way from interview into NASA's astronaut accession program. Both can be successful.

Be prepared to give examples of what you have done with your 24-hours each day. Do you share only what is already on your student resume or are your prepared to give concrete examples and stats that add context to your achievements?

As others have stated, there are plenty of threads pertaining to interview questions. My personal preference is a prepped candidate - one who thought through the common questions and legitimately wrote out his/her answers in advance. This does not mean memorize nor does it mean read the answer to the evaluator. It does mean prepare like a professional and have an answer.
 
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