CFA scores (female)

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gabby1723

USNA '24
Joined
Nov 4, 2019
Messages
102
I posted a thread a few weeks ago asking about CFA scores that passed, and I've been working with my coach on training so that I can be in the best shape to take my CFA this week. Please note that academically I'm very competitive for USNA (good SAT/ACT/GPA, and done with every other part of the app besides this and getting a nom) and I'm receiving some athletic support at USNA for my sport. I'm also smaller and a girl, and I've been told by a few mids that apparently my size, recruit status, and academics, will help push my CFA through even with weaker scores, and that they weigh upper body events as less for girls (I didn't believe this but several people have told me this, so I'm making note of it here). I will say that I care a lot about going to USNA but I got a late start to the application, so I intend to keep training and get close to the maximum scores by plebe summer, if I pass. I live in Southern California so weather isn't an issue in training/taking the test. Thanks!

I've done a few run-throughs of the CFA, and this is my best:
Basketball throw: 28
FAH: ~15-20 seconds (hard to tell b/c I'm running my mock-CFAs myself)
Shuttle Run: ~10 seconds (same issue as above)
Sit-ups: 65
Push-ups: 25
Mile run: 7:30 (which is my best, but I expect it to be somewhere between 7:30 and 8:00 after being fatigued from earlier events)

If there is anything that I need to improve ASAP because my scores don't meet the minimums (which I know they don't release), please let me know because I don't want to be automatically disqualified for something.
 
I would say that you definitely need to work on the push-ups and FAH. I know that you said upper body events are weighed less for girls, but these scores still seem low. Even if you could get just one pull up instead of doing FAH, you could improve your score dramatically (try using bands to do assisted pull-ups). Your push-ups are also low and could be improved by simply doing many more reps per day up until your CFA date.

Your athletic recruit status will help you push through even with a CFA like this. However, plebe summer will probably be difficult if you cannot complete even one pull-up and only 25 push-ups, so definitely make sure to keep improving after you are done taking your CFA (like you said). I am glad to see that you've been working with a coach to improve your score because it shows that you are certainly motivated. Good job so far and good luck!
 
gabby1723 said:
I posted a thread a few weeks ago asking about CFA scores that passed, and I've been working with my coach on training so that I can be in the best shape to take my CFA this week. Please note that academically I'm very competitive for USNA (good SAT/ACT/GPA, and done with every other part of the app besides this and getting a nom) and I'm receiving some athletic support at USNA for my sport. I'm also smaller and a girl, and I've been told by a few mids that apparently my size, recruit status, and academics, will help push my CFA through even with weaker scores, and that they weigh upper body events as less for girls (I didn't believe this but several people have told me this, so I'm making note of it here). I will say that I care a lot about going to USNA but I got a late start to the application, so I intend to keep training and get close to the maximum scores by plebe summer, if I pass. I live in Southern California so weather isn't an issue in training/taking the test. Thanks!

I've done a few run-throughs of the CFA, and this is my best:
Basketball throw: 28
FAH: ~15-20 seconds (hard to tell b/c I'm running my mock-CFAs myself)
Shuttle Run: ~10 seconds (same issue as above)
Sit-ups: 65
Push-ups: 25
Mile run: 7:30 (which is my best, but I expect it to be somewhere between 7:30 and 8:00 after being fatigued from earlier events)

If there is anything that I need to improve ASAP because my scores don't meet the minimums (which I know they don't release), please let me know because I don't want to be automatically disqualified for something.
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I would recommend working on the flexed arm hang, or possibly trying to do one pull up. The goal is to achieve the standards in the average range. I would also say work on push ups and the basketball throw.
Basketball throw is primarily a technique thing. If you can practice it a few times you can definitely improve it.
For push ups just practicing reps every day will help you improve
I was in a similar score range as you when I did practice CFAs and for a month I practiced and was able to raise my scores a lot and close to maximum scores. you got this !
 
It is critical that you do the mock CFA exactly as the real one (your description of the mile and that you expect to be tired after the other events suggests you're not doing it that way). Pushups can be improved by doing them every day. You really want to improve those b/c this is one of the events on the PRT that you'll take while at USNA.

The scores you provided are probably passing (barely, in some events). But you want to improve your fitness or you will have a miserable PS and be in danger of struggling with the PRT that you'll have to pass 8 times at USN.

Also, get in some CFA score now. The weather may be great in SoCal, but what if you severely sprain an ankle or suffer some other injury? Or contract mono? Or a host of other things that could go wrong. If you have a score on the books, you can look to improve it. If you don't have a score and something happens, there will be little sympathy given that you've had over 7 months to complete the CFA.
 
usna1985 said:
It is critical that you do the mock CFA exactly as the real one (your description of the mile and that you expect to be tired after the other events suggests you're not doing it that way). Pushups can be improved by doing them every day. You really want to improve those b/c this is one of the events on the PRT that you'll take while at USNA.

The scores you provided are probably passing (barely, in some events). But you want to improve your fitness or you will have a miserable PS and be in danger of struggling with the PRT that you'll have to pass 8 times at USN.

Also, get in some CFA score now. The weather may be great in SoCal, but what if you severely sprain an ankle or suffer some other injury? Or contract mono? Or a host of other things that could go wrong. If you have a score on the books, you can look to improve it. If you don't have a score and something happens, there will be little sympathy given that you've had over 7 months to complete the CFA.
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Hi there, I ended up getting these scores (not great, but I'm still motivated to improve before plebe summer and even take the CFA again if needed). Please let me know what you think!

Basketball throw: 30 ft
FAH: 15 sec
Shuttle run: 11.5
Sit-ups: 61
Pushups: 21
Mile: 7:54

The situation that I did my CFA in was not ideal and I don't think I was fully able to exhibit my physical performance. Regardless, these are my scores. Note these things: it seems like the things that would cause me to fail would be the pushups (I did like 30 in all, but the teacher I had run my exam didn't count like of them 10 because they were just shy of 90* angles, which is fair but definitely unfortunate) or the shuttle run (which we did outside on the football field, and I wasn't used to running on the turf). The basketball throw is low, but I practiced this and improved it by over 10 ft from when I started. I'm also small and that is not an upper body strength exercise that is relative to size like push ups or pull ups, so I believe it will be weighted as less. Everything else I think is within reasonable range of qualifying. I also have some athletic support at USNA and recently got a principal nomination, which both help significantly. Thank you!
 
It doesn’t matter what we think because what’s done is done. But beware rationalizing your performance, which you seem to be doing. As others above said, you’d be very, very wise to keep improving your fitness from here until I-Day. Getting in is one thing, staying in another.

Without better running and upper-body strength, you will struggle mightily through Plebe Summer. Worse, you could become injured (shin splints and stress fractures, for instance) and miss much of Plebe Summer. And worse, you could do poorly on the PRT, which is being modified to become more challenging (such as cadence pushups).

Keep workong. When you’re doing the O-course in full fatigues or hitting your 10th minute in forward leaning rest, there will be no points for “being small.”
 
Keep working you have until Jan 31, 2020. Ask a coach or friend or your BGO for help on mock CFA's.
 
Having the right mental attitude for the CFA is every bit as important as being in physical shape. I kindly and respectfully suggest changing the way you rationalize your scores. 1/3 of the test is pushing yourself to the brink of nausea (for many), and I believe it may be more difficult to push yourself to that edge if in the back of your head you have thoughts such as, “I’m small…I have connections…I have a nom….”

I trained for months leading up to the CFA, and I still spent nights lying awake panicking over everything. Truth is, if you can channel that fear into physical strength instead of excuses (to put it bluntly), you can kick ass out there. You have to recognize that fear first.

Get scared. Panic, realize that you are not competing alone out there but against approx ~ 4,500 other girls who could be just as academically talented as you with even better connections. I can say for a fact that if I (5’4” and 120 lbs) had walked onto that track on a sweltering July day and worried over my size and the conditions, I would not have maxed the scores I did.

2/3 physical, 1/3 guts. You got the guts, everybody does. Good luck!
 
MidCakePa said:
It doesn’t matter what we think because what’s done is done. But beware rationalizing your performance, which you seem to be doing. As others above said, you’d be very, very wise to keep improving your fitness from here until I-Day. Getting in is one thing, staying in another.

Without better running and upper-body strength, you will struggle mightily through Plebe Summer. Worse, you could become injured (shin splints and stress fractures, for instance) and miss much of Plebe Summer. And worse, you could do poorly on the PRT, which is being modified to become more challenging (such as cadence pushups).

Keep workong. When you’re doing the O-course in full fatigues or hitting your 10th minute in forward leaning rest, there will be no points for “being small.”
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You're absolutely right, and I really appreciate your insight. I think it's wrong to be pursuing an institution that is based off of hard work and integrity and be striving for the minimums. I took the test on Friday and took yesterday to rest (I was super, super sore), but worked out today to continue pushing towards my athletic goals. I'm trying to strive towards the CFA maximums by the time I-Day comes around. My rationale here comes from not wanting to retake the test during finals week/in January, where the time constraint would be much more intense, so I was just trying to get an understanding of where I might stand (and perhaps looking for some validation that the training I've done was enough by this point, but you're correct that this is wrong). I don't want to seem like someone who just wants to meet the bar but not exceed it because that's simply not who I am as a person. Thank you for your words again, and I hope I clarified this.
 
myplaneyourplane said:
Having the right mental attitude for the CFA is every bit as important as being in physical shape. I kindly and respectfully suggest changing the way you rationalize your scores. 1/3 of the test is pushing yourself to the brink of nausea (for many), and I believe it may be more difficult to push yourself to that edge if in the back of your head you have thoughts such as, “I’m small…I have connections…I have a nom….”

I trained for months leading up to the CFA, and I still spent nights lying awake panicking over everything. Truth is, if you can channel that fear into physical strength instead of excuses (to put it bluntly), you can kick *** out there. You have to recognize that fear first.

Get scared. Panic, realize that you are not competing alone out there but against approx ~ 4,500 other girls who could be just as academically talented as you with even better connections. I can say for a fact that if I (5’4” and 120 lbs) had walked onto that track on a sweltering July day and worried over my size and the conditions, I would not have maxed the scores I did.

2/3 physical, 1/3 guts. You got the guts, everybody does. Good luck!
Click to expand...

I replied to a similar note on this thread and I would love it if you could see my clarification. I admire your ability to still be as physically competitive even of smaller stature. Thank you for your words--I'm going to keep working!
 
I think you need to train, HARD, and take the CFA again before the cutoff. Every one of those scores is below average, in some cases they are WAY below average. Since none are strong, your overall score at this point may well be a fail. Other members of this forum with a greater understanding of the metric may be able to more accurately assess your chances with that performance.

But it would be a crying shame to have an LOA, a principal nomination, be medically qualified, and to receive a TWE because you failed the CFA.

DIG DEEP AND MAKE IT HAPPEN!
 
I would highly recommend retaking the CFA. Train hard and have the right mindset. You really want to try and meet the averages, I can definitely say it wouldn’t be good to fail your CFA even though you might have a nom, great grades, medically qualified etc. Like everyone is saying, train hard and stay focused. It’s possible to achieve high scores through simple practicing of reps, running everyday and working hard. You’ve got this!!
 
From the person who wrote the initial post:

To any future readers that are under the same stress that I've been dealing with over this test: my actual CFA scores are posted above (in a response to a comment, not the initial post). I'm not quite sure how, but I did manage to pass it. I did receive an email from the Academy asking me to retake it to improve my score, but my BGO did say I was physically qualified, so I did end up passing. If you are like me and pass but receive this notice, please keep training. I think it is so important that if you want to attend this institution, you can never settle for the bare minimum. You should strive to have the highest work ethic and achieve excellence even when it is not necessary. If this is something that is daunting to you, I would seriously reconsider if a service academy is the right place for you. I've had a complete change in my mindset in this regard (even in my day to day life) as a result of being on this forum because I've heard the perspectives of people who have these values, and I'm now inspired and really trying to learn to be the same way. It's brought out the best in me and I hope it does so for other people too.
 
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