Chances of getting an appointment

[DestroyerOfCommies]

Hello everybody, I am a high school senior and I am competing for an appointment to USAFA and USMA. I’ve been hearing mixed messages about if I have a good chance of getting an appointment to USAFA because of the lack of JV and varsity sports. I’m pretty sure I didn’t win my senator’s slate (TX), so I was curious if I had a chance at getting an appointment via the national waiting list. (Thank you for taking the time out of your day to answer my question)



-GPA: UW: 3.525 W: 4.025
-Rank: 48/787
-SAT: R/W-720 Math-790
-12 AP classes

Extracurriculares:
-JROTC (10th-12th)
-Mock trial (10th-12th)
-Band (9th-11th)
-Varsity marching band (9th-10th)
-Orienteering (10th-12th)

Leadership:
-JROTC color guard scheduler (10th & 11th grade)
-JROTC deputy squadron commander (11th grade)
-JROTC squadron commander (12th grade)
-Mock trial lead attorney (11th & 12th grade)
-High school mock trial club president (12th grade)

Awards and Accomplishments:
-9th grade All Region Band (9th grade)
-Placed in the top three at five orienteering meets (10th-12th grade)
-Attended Texas Boys State (11th grade)
-Advanced to the state mock trial competition (10th, 11th, & 12th grade)
-Mock trial Outstanding Club Leader Award at state competition (11th grade)
-Placed 1st at district mock trial competition (11th & 12th grade)
-Placed 1st at the state mock trial competition (11th grade)
-Placed 2nd at national mock trial competition (11th grade)
-3rd place best defense attorney award at nationals (11th grade)
-American Legion Scholastic Award (11th grade)
-National Merit Commended Scholar (12th grade)

Volunteering:
-Church: 230 hours
-JROTC: 90 hours

 

[MrSoapman]

You seem like you're a very strong candidate, except for GPA and sports you have quite a bit more than me. Will that get you in? That's up to admissions. There have been people who have gotten in without sports, but it is ultimately up to Admissions to make that decision.

 

[FlyFalcon]

To my knowledge the really want varsity/jv sports because it shows
1) you can work with a team
2) leadership
3) athletically healthy

My view with JROTC is the Academies know what this is and know how the leadership work within this organization ( just like with girl/ boy scouts) so you cover 2/3 points with JROTC that would need to be covered otherwise with sports/ other clubs.

Orienteering helps with the athletic part and mostly depends on how you performed on the CFA.

Not having varsity and JV sports isn't a killer. Just means you have to show leadership and teamwork in some other way. Which you have done with JROTC and Band. If you haven't had your interview be prepared to hit those points home if they need an explanation.

You look good to me. You can't control how they view not having sports. In other words you don't have enough information to panic so don't.

 

[shiner]

Chances:
0% if you fail to submit the application
~50% if you are considered "qualified" (medical, academic, athletic, extracurricular)

YES people are picked up off the NWL each year.

--Based on what you have shown:
----Academics - the 1510 SAT and top 10% of HS class addresses the academic qualification
----Extracurricular - solid and at or above average
----Medical - Dodmerb not discussed by OP
----Athletic - CFA not discussed by OP

If it helps - I was a band and debate guy (like you) without varsity or JV sports. You do JROTC and I did CAP. You didn't get a nom, I didn't get a nom....... until I was pulled from the NWL and automagically had a nom (in June) and appointment (in June). Not standard and not a timeline I wish on any applicant, but it is an example of one way the path could go BUT IS NOT TYPICAL.

 

[Sealion II]

It looks pretty good to me, but I'll let other more experienced members opine. I just wanted to say I LOVE YOUR FORUM NAME.

 

[HCopter]

Assuming you passed medical and the CFA, and if you created a poll with Appointment or not? Yes or No, i'd pick Yes, but not necessarily from the NWL. Could be NWL, slated elsewhere, found nom, etc. My 2 cents only.

Reason? To get on the Cruz/Cornyn slate is very difficult. TX is very competitive at the state level. So if you think you didn't win, then i'm assuming you got the nom, but no LOA since it would not matter if you won the slate.

I hope you had a really good CFA score.

No matter what happens, you seem to be on a great lifelong trajectory, doing well and engaging in your main activities.

 

[DestroyerOfCommies]

Thank you all for the information and encouragement! To clarify some stuff, I received a nomination from Sen. Cornyn, passed my DoDMERB examination, and passed the CFA. For the CFA, I was above average for one event, average for one event, slightly below average for three events, and very below average on the BB throw (57feet). One more question, are appointments from non-principal nomination/slate winners and non-NWL sources common?