Chances of Appointment

zychcowski

New Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2018
Messages
9
Hi Everyone,

I recently sat down and had a conversation with my mom about placing a deposit down on my backup school and was wondering if anyone could send some advice my way. I was fortunate enough to be invited to a scholars program at my backup college; however, I'm getting pressured to throw my deposit down for housing and class registration and it comes out to around ~200 - 500 dollars (the housing deposit isn't a fixed number depending on where I wish to stay.

I know that 200-500 bucks isn't exactly a giant number but it's something that I, or my mom, don't really want to fork over ( as the deposit is non-refundable) if there is a good chance of me getting into the Academy. I've also been holding out because I have friends how just received appointments from usna and usma.

*** I also want to emphasize that I will still be able to attend my backup college regardless if I put the deposit up now. The deposit just ensures I'll be able to take classes pertaining to my major and have a place to stay on campus.

Below I went ahead and listed some of my stats pertaining to the academy:
- 4.5 gpa (adjusted by usafa)
- 31 ACT (28 math, 35 english)
- former football captain and I currently help coach my school's rugby team (I'm out via ACL tear)
- Secretary of the Student Counsel
- Academy granted me a waiver for my ACL tear mid February (I'm unsure if that's a good sign or just something that happens to every candidate)
- Nomination received
- Received a 4 year, type 2, any major, AFROTC scholarship (my local detachment told me I couldn't get the type 1 this year because I'm not taking a technical major) (I'm unsure if the AFROTC scholarship pertains to the Academy at all but I'd thought its worth mentioning)

P.S. - I came to the forum because I feel like this is a fairly unprofessional question to ask either my usafa counselor or ALO about; however, I just want to see what some other people familiar with the Academy think. Any help is much appreciated.
 
I would suggest that this is exactly a question for your USAFA Counselor. Your ALO can just tell you how your file looks in relation to what he/she has seen in the past but Admissions are the only people who can give you a good idea where you sit on your nomination slate or chances from the NWL for this current cycle. It is a reasonable question that faces many applicants this time of year. Some counselors are very forthcoming with the information and others may be a little vague.

In terms of your application, while it looks strong, you do not know who you are competing against this year.
 
I would suggest that this is exactly a question for your USAFA Counselor. Your ALO can just tell you how your file looks in relation to what he/she has seen in the past but Admissions are the only people who can give you a good idea where you sit on your nomination slate or chances from the NWL for this current cycle. It is a reasonable question that faces many applicants this time of year. Some counselors are very forthcoming with the information and others may be a little vague.

In terms of your application, while it looks strong, you do not know who you are competing against this year.
Thank you for the advice.
 
Think of the deposit this way: If you do not get accepted you will need to have made that deposit. If you get an appointment, your college education cost was that deposit that you lost. I think most will put down a deposit for Plan B or Plan C. We made a deposit for Plan B and considering another deposit for Plan C. If you don't have that deposit paid, and it's a school where the best residence halls fill up quick, you could be scrambling to find decent living arrangements.
 
You should be very proud of getting Type 2 AFROTC. Most non STEM majors get T7.

If I were you I would wait until April 28 before sending in the Deposit. By then you should know from the Air Force. If you have to send in the deposit send it in on April 29 and call the school to let them know your check is in the mail. You should be able to pay by credit card as well on April 30. But I wouldn’t put all my hopes on USAFA. Your plan B should be your Plan A on April 30 until you hear from USAFA. Like another Poster said here, if you go to USAFA, think of it as all your cost to date including cost of tests college apps college visits, now sunk cost is the cost of Attendance at USAFA. That’s how we see it for my DS. Your ROI is strong either way. Good job!
 
There have been parents in past years that spoke honestly with their Plan B schools and they were able to issue a refund of sorts if I remember correctly. It is not something i have experience with, but i suggest you try seaching the forums for Plan B deposits and see what you can find. Also, many parents pay the deposit as backup if something should occcur before A Day that keeps you from attending. They look at it as an insurance policy... I remember a family that went as far as picking out dorm rooms and classes and didnt cancel until after A Day. In competitive schools and programs, there are some that think this isn't fair to waitlisted candidates...you might see both points of view in your search.
 
My concern is the ACL tear? Did you clear DODMERB? I understand right now you feel $200-500 is alot of money because it is. I would look at it this way if you have health, car or home insurance do you call the insurance company and ask for a refund if you don't use it for 6 months or a period of time?
 
My concern is the ACL tear? Did you clear DODMERB? I understand right now you feel $200-500 is alot of money because it is. I would look at it this way if you have health, car or home insurance do you call the insurance company and ask for a refund if you don't use it for 6 months or a period of time?

DoDMERB disqualified me because I had the surgery within the past 12 months. However, USAFA granted a medical waiver for me in February, making me eligible for appointment.
 
I'm just reading through your posts and am a bit confused. When my son contacted his counselor to ask about how to get a waiver when being DQed by DoDMERB, the counselor said that the academy would grant a waiver if he was competitive; so if he hasn't received a waiver as of yet, does that mean he is not competitive so can basically hang it up? Or could he receive an appointment and then be granted a waiver?
 
Who is pressuring you to send a deposit. You don't normally have to commit to a college (allowing time to mail the deposit) until May 1. Seems to me you have some time to burn before sending it in. zDon't cave to pressure just because they want a commitment. Unless their offer letter states otherwise you have until May 1 to commit.

EDIT: I should add that if you wait until very late in the cycle you probably won't get your choice of dorm, unless all the students in the scholars program are all in the same dorm(s).
 
Who is pressuring you to send a deposit. You don't normally have to commit to a college (allowing time to mail the deposit) until May 1. Seems to me you have some time to burn before sending it in. zDon't cave to pressure just because they want a commitment. Unless their offer letter states otherwise you have until May 1 to commit.

EDIT: I should add that if you wait until very late in the cycle you probably won't get your choice of dorm, unless all the students in the scholars program are all in the same dorm(s).

Funny enough sir, it's South Carolina. I got invited to the Capstone Scholars Program and they keep pushing me to deposit to live in their community (I believe it's in the old business school tower).

The more important issue is that I don't want to be left come late April not being able to schedual any of my required classes. I'm currently listed as a polysci major and will more than likely add on international business. Every consoler I've spoken with says I need to register ASAP before those classes fill up.

** I'm less concerned on dorm preference versus getting the right classes. My mom is also really concerned about getting those correct classes but as I said previously the 200-500 dollars is a large commitment. I'm still trying to figure out what to do, but right now I'm leaning towards waiting until I hear from usafa and dealing with whatever classes I get.
 
You won't even schedule classes until freshman orientation, probably in June. It's important that you get to an early freshman orientation, but they may do that in order of deposit. You could call and ask about how freshman orientation is scheduled.

The Capstone program is a great program. @Ex.BT.USN has an NROTC DS who will commission this May and was in the Capstone program. He might be able to shed more light on that if you have questions and reach out to him.

If it were me, I'd put down the money for a deposit as an insurance policy. If you do get accepted into an Academy then you're out the money... but the rest of college is free, so what does $500.00 matter at that point? $500.00 is a small price to pay for a college education in that case. If you end up at South Carolina, you will love it. DS commissioned as a USMC 1st Lt in May 2015 from there.
 
Exactly one year ago we (me and my DS) were in a similar position. He received a scholarship to our local in state college and as a honer student with a scholarship the weekend of March 17th was his early sign up weekend to make sure he received the classes he wanted as well as the class times and also the desired housing. I did not want to spend the deposit money but at that point we had no idea if he would even get an appointment. I knew it was a gamble if we chose not to do the deposit and then he would have to take what he got when it came to classes and housing. Less than one week later on March 23rd he received an appointment to USAFA. Yes I lost the deposit and quite honestly didn't even try to get it back as I was so overwhelmed with joy. I look at it as that $500 saved me over $40,000+ in non-scholarship covered expenses! So if the deposit is going to assure that you get the classes, times and housing you desire I would go with it. Wishing you the best and I hope you hear good things soon.
 
You won't even schedule classes until freshman orientation, probably in June. It's important that you get to an early freshman orientation, but they may do that in order of deposit. You could call and ask about how freshman orientation is scheduled.

The Capstone program is a great program. @Ex.BT.USN has an NROTC DS who will commission this May and was in the Capstone program. He might be able to shed more light on that if you have questions and reach out to him.

If it were me, I'd put down the money for a deposit as an insurance policy. If you do get accepted into an Academy then you're out the money... but the rest of college is free, so what does $500.00 matter at that point? $500.00 is a small price to pay for a college education in that case. If you end up at South Carolina, you will love it. DS commissioned as a USMC 1st Lt in May 2015 from there.
Yeah, that doesnt even make sense. Since May 1 is the deadline for responding if you will even attend the school, I dont see how you can miss out classes or even dorm assignments. It seems they are pressuring you just to pressure you so that they have a better handle on who is coming. Maybe we are wrong and their deadline isnt May 1, but it would seem to they would more concerned to know if you are even coming before figuring out where you are going to live.
 
I dont see how you can miss out classes or even dorm assignments.
South Carolina is very tight on dorm space. They only have enough space for freshman and maybe 1,000 upperclassmen who are selected by lottery. 20,000 attend the university. He'd get a dorm space, but by waiting to make a deposit it might not be a very desirable dorm. Class assignments can work the same way. Since you sign up for classes during freshman orientation, if your scheduled for a late orientation session your classes might be booked. They have about 6 different freshman orientation sessions.

Speaking of freshman orientation. DS was a freshman orientation leader there one year. See if you can guess which one is my DS in this video.
 
My concern is the ACL tear? Did you clear DODMERB? I understand right now you feel $200-500 is alot of money because it is. I would look at it this way if you have health, car or home insurance do you call the insurance company and ask for a refund if you don't use it for 6 months or a period of time?

DoDMERB disqualified me because I had the surgery within the past 12 months. However, USAFA granted a medical waiver for me in February, making me eligible for appointment.
Lets hope for USAFA!
 
When my son was waiting for his appointment we sent in a deposit for his plan B school. Like others said, if he got into Usafa, I had no tuition to spend, if he didn't, then the deposit was necessary. I was also paranoid about Injury. Something could happen either before or in BCT and he would need a backup in the fall. All worked out fine and Michigan kept their money, but DS is graduating with his Masters this week courtesy of Uncle Sam.
 
kinnem said:
...DS was a freshman orientation leader there one year. See if you can guess which one is my DS in this video...

I have it narrowed down to Russell or Sheniqua.

Don't ban me!
 
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