Chance

mallory

Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2017
Messages
16
I am retaking the CFA tomorrow(as requested by USAFA) and am curious about my chances overal. I predict that my scores for the CFA will be
Push-ups: max
Flexed hang: 18 seconds
Sit-ups: 67
Ball throw: 38 ft
Shuttle run: 9.8 seconds
Mile: 8:30
I am a female. My GPA is above 4.0 and I will reach valedictorian status for graduation, ACT score are 32 SAT is 1440, I have pages upon pages of leadership roles and clubs and activities I am a part in, including being state and nationally ranked for different groups. I played for my schools basketball, tennis, and cross country team, but all JV. My father is a retired Lt. Colonel, Step mother is reservist, and I am close family friends with much of the admissions board. I am under the impression that my ALO interview went great, and I have been told that being asked to retake the CFA was a good sign of USAFAs interest in me, on my original test I could only hang for 10.4 seconds and I assume that was what disqualified me. I also attended USAFA summer seminar even though I lived in Colorado Springs, since then I have moved to Iowa, we’re nominations should be less competitive. Do I have a good chance?
 
Sounds like you have an all right file, but I can't give you a WCS at all since I am not on or affiliated with any Service Academy Admissions teams.

You asked a little late since there's not as much room to improve as it you'd asked a year ago. You'll be missing some opportunities such as joining clubs that the SAs actively seek members of. Additionally, you missed Girls State.

Here's some advice I have for you, though, with the room you've given me:

PHYSICAL

Don't predict your scores on the CFA, but set high goals in your head and go for it! You've already taken it once, so you know how it goes. Six events at once gets pretty tiring! Since you're taking it tomorrow, you really aren't giving me much time to provide you with advice. Just make sure you get 8 hours of sleep and eat a good breakfast tomorrow. Drink some pre-workout prior to your CFA if that's an option.

You mentioned that you play three sports. Good. But are you a Captain/letter winner? That's another thing Service Academies seek that you need to work on. If there's a way you can make these happen, make them happen.

ACADEMIC

Your GPA is high, but that really doesn't matter in the end. Don't be discouraged when I say this, but a 4.0 doesn't mean anything if your classes are just graduation requirements. Service Academies want you to take pre-calc (and calculus if it's available) and challenging classes like APs and honors. An SArep once told me it's better to get a B in AP Calc BC than an A in pre-calc... interpret that as you wish.

32 is a solid ACT score. SAs (for the most part) have a 25th percentile of a 26 and 75th percentile of a 31 for scores used to admit candidates. Your ACT is better than your SAT by quite a bit. That being said, if you wish to retake a college placement test, I would reccommend the ACT since you seem to have a more natural aptitude for it.

Try to join the National Honors Society. It will net you some extra points.

LEADERSHIP

Not much you can do in this area except try to become a Captain of one of your sports. You missed Girls State but you are a club president, and SAs likes club presidents.

If you have the time, get involved in some community service or a job. You can share those with the SAs and they all enjoy seeing things like that on a Candidate record.

Become a camp counselor! Over one of your breaks, maybe there's a camp you can work at. Or perhaps there's one between your graduation and when you'd have to report to your SA. I actually got a volunteer job at a camp that occurs the week after my graduation so I'll still have three weeks to prepare. It'll give your file a boost. Not a bad idea!

NOMINATIONS

It doesn't matter how "easy" you think it will be to get a nomination in a certain state. Candidates wanted by the Service Academies come from all over the country (and sometimes beyond). Take your MOC interviews seriously. I hope you did your applications well and followed the instructions. Dress formally to your interviews and make sure your hair is professional (tied back or cut short). It's a college interview and a job interview. The most important one you'll ever have.

I hope this helped! Good luck!
 
Sounds like you have an all right file, but I can't give you a WCS at all since I am not on or affiliated with any Service Academy Admissions teams.

You asked a little late since there's not as much room to improve as it you'd asked a year ago. You'll be missing some opportunities such as joining clubs that the SAs actively seek members of. Additionally, you missed Girls State.

Here's some advice I have for you, though, with the room you've given me:

PHYSICAL

Don't predict your scores on the CFA, but set high goals in your head and go for it! You've already taken it once, so you know how it goes. Six events at once gets pretty tiring! Since you're taking it tomorrow, you really aren't giving me much time to provide you with advice. Just make sure you get 8 hours of sleep and eat a good breakfast tomorrow. Drink some pre-workout prior to your CFA if that's an option.

You mentioned that you play three sports. Good. But are you a Captain/letter winner? That's another thing Service Academies seek that you need to work on. If there's a way you can make these happen, make them happen.

ACADEMIC

Your GPA is high, but that really doesn't matter in the end. Don't be discouraged when I say this, but a 4.0 doesn't mean anything if your classes are just graduation requirements. Service Academies want you to take pre-call (and calculus if it's available) and challenging classes like APs and honors. An SArep once told me it's better to get a B in AP Calc BC than an A in pre-calc... interpret that as you wish.

32 is a solid ACT score. SAs (for the most part) have a 25th percentile of a 26 and 75th percentile of a 31 for scores used to admit candidates. Your ACT is better than your SAT by quite a bit. That being said, if you wish to retake a college placement test, I would reccommend the ACT since you seem to have a more natural aptitude for it.

Try to join the National Honors Society. It will net you some extra points.

LEADERSHIP

Not much you can do in this area except try to become a Captain of one of your sports. You missed Girls State but you are a club president, and SAs likes club presidents.

If you have the time, get involved in some community service or a job. You can share those with the SAs and they all enjoy seeing things like that on a Candidate record.

Become a camp counselor! Over one of your breaks, maybe there's a camp you can work at. Or perhaps there's one between your graduation and when you'd have to report to your SA. I actually got a volunteer job at a camp that occurs the week after my graduation so I'll still have three weeks to prepare. It'll give your file a boost. Not a bad idea!

As for captain/ varsity letters, that is my weak point, with no varsity letters, but I was captain of girls basketball, as for classes, I took calc BC last year and received a five on the exam, all of my classes are either AP or honors. I am a member of national honors society and was elected as a board member for my schools branch as well as leadership in other clubs. I additionally have been volunteering at my local library for approximately seven years.
 
Make sure you tell USAFA about your volunteer hours! They enjoy seeing that. If you already did, then good!
 
I am a High School senior and I took the CFA:

Pushups:42
Flex Arm Hang: 17
Sit-ups: 60
Basketball Throw: 59ft
Shuttle:10
Mile:6:49

I am captain of three varsity teams and two of those teams are track and Cross country. I volunteer about 200 hours a year and have a 4.7 GPA. I am also an active member of a few community service clubs and the president of another. I am a member of NHS, SNHS, and Spanish National Honor Society. I am currently 3rd in my class of 300. Does anyone know the chances of getting accepted with this profile?
 
I am a High School senior and I took the CFA:

Pushups:42
Flex Arm Hang: 17
Sit-ups: 60
Basketball Throw: 59ft
Shuttle:10
Mile:6:49

I am captain of three varsity teams and two of those teams are track and Cross country. I volunteer about 200 hours a year and have a 4.7 GPA. I am also an active member of a few community service clubs and the president of another. I am a member of NHS, SNHS, and Spanish National Honor Society. I am currently 3rd in my class of 300. Does anyone know the chances of getting accepted with this profile?
I am assuming that you passed the CFA? Or have at least not heard anything yet?
 
I am a High School senior and I took the CFA:

Pushups:42
Flex Arm Hang: 17
Sit-ups: 60
Basketball Throw: 59ft
Shuttle:10
Mile:6:49

I am captain of three varsity teams and two of those teams are track and Cross country. I volunteer about 200 hours a year and have a 4.7 GPA. I am also an active member of a few community service clubs and the president of another. I am a member of NHS, SNHS, and Spanish National Honor Society. I am currently 3rd in my class of 300. Does anyone know the chances of getting accepted with this profile?

Once again, I'll say nobody on this site can tell you whether or not you'll be admitted to any Service Academy. We are simply not an Admissions committee and don't have complete knowledge of how the WCS and point systems work.

However, I can help you boost your file with some suggestions. Unfortunately, you put yourself in a tight situation and don't have too much room to alter your file.

PHYSICAL

Your CFA is passing, but it still seems like this is your weakest point. You did not mention any sports you're in. Please note that almost every cadet in every Service Academy played a sport in high school, an overwhelming majority of which had a varsity letter. Over half of them were also team captains. Either you are in a sport and failed to mention it or you're unfortunately missing a crucial part of the application process. These don't even have to be sports you play at school. I do shotgun/rifle at a club and I was allowed to put this in my file. Double check this and make sure your file is completely updated.

ACADEMIC

Your class rank and your GPA are impressive, but make sure you are challenging yourself. Service Academies want to see that.

Also, you neglected to share your standardized test scores. I hope this does not mean that you did poorly. Take those tests, and take both of them so you know which one you test better with. I am an ACT person, but not all of us are. Make sure you test WITH WRITING. The Academies require a writing score. You can't be admitted without one.

LEADERSHIP

Club president and community service look awesome on a candidate record! NHS and SNHS will help your academic score, but if you are not an officer I don't know how it influences your leadership. Again, I have no idea how the WCS/point system is exactly structured. My advice for you is to seek a job as a camp counselor over the summer between your graduation and report dates or during one of your school's breaks. This will boost your file. Additionally, try speech and debate or model UN this year if you have time.

The key to applying to Service Academies is really just time management. Can you research properly what steps you must take and when? Can you fit your athletics, academics, club memberships, and leadership positions in your schedule and perform well in all of them while applying to college and finding time to rest enough? Focus too much on one area and neglect another and your WCS isn't balanced. The SAs aren't looking for just anybody, but someone who can master her own time.

Best of luck to you and use your time wisely! Go class of 2022!
 
Once again, I'll say nobody on this site can tell you whether or not you'll be admitted to any Service Academy. We are simply not an Admissions committee and don't have complete knowledge of how the WCS and point systems work.

However, I can help you boost your file with some suggestions. Unfortunately, you put yourself in a tight situation and don't have too much room to alter your file.

PHYSICAL

Your CFA is passing, but it still seems like this is your weakest point. You did not mention any sports you're in. Please note that almost every cadet in every Service Academy played a sport in high school, an overwhelming majority of which had a varsity letter. Over half of them were also team captains. Either you are in a sport and failed to mention it or you're unfortunately missing a crucial part of the application process. These don't even have to be sports you play at school. I do shotgun/rifle at a club and I was allowed to put this in my file. Double check this and make sure your file is completely updated.

ACADEMIC

Your class rank and your GPA are impressive, but make sure you are challenging yourself. Service Academies want to see that.

Also, you neglected to share your standardized test scores. I hope this does not mean that you did poorly. Take those tests, and take both of them so you know which one you test better with. I am an ACT person, but not all of us are. Make sure you test WITH WRITING. The Academies require a writing score. You can't be admitted without one.

LEADERSHIP

Club president and community service look awesome on a candidate record! NHS and SNHS will help your academic score, but if you are not an officer I don't know how it influences your leadership. Again, I have no idea how the WCS/point system is exactly structured. My advice for you is to seek a job as a camp counselor over the summer between your graduation and report dates or during one of your school's breaks. This will boost your file. Additionally, try speech and debate or model UN this year if you have time.

The key to applying to Service Academies is really just time management. Can you research properly what steps you must take and when? Can you fit your athletics, academics, club memberships, and leadership positions in your schedule and perform well in all of them while applying to college and finding time to rest enough? Focus too much on one area and neglect another and your WCS isn't balanced. The SAs aren't looking for just anybody, but someone who can master her own time.

Best of luck to you and use your time wisely! Go class of 2022!

Thank you! I am a year-round athlete and compete at a varsity level in XC, and Track. I have lettered all years in these sports and am the captain of both teams. I have qualified for either regionals or states every year in these sports.
 
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