Chances of Getting into USAFA? (Female Prospect)

[Slippy13]

Hey all, just for my curiosity I was wondering where I would stand in the chance pool. I ended my sophomore year with a 3.89 GPA weighted, and unweighted 3.7. I do not take all honors, but most of my classes are. I’m also taking an AP this year.

I’m involved in athletics at my school, I swing between JV and varsity XC, I play varsity ice hockey, and I’ve done track for two years. I’m in a few clubs/after school activities, such as Civil Air Patrol, New Entrant Assistance Team (we help new students in my school), Quiz Team and National Chinese Honors Society. I’m a stand-in flight sergeant at the moment in CAP, and will be running again for leadership positions in all other places (seniors were chosen over juniors). I volunteer with CAP as well, I volunteer to help teach hockey to young girls, and I’m beginning to volunteer with Veterans Inc.

I have gotten some awards maybe one or two of note. My girl scouts bronze award is the main award, along with academic and personal recognition in my school district.

That’s all I have for now, and I plan on keeping my grades up, staying fit, whatever I need to do for USAFA. I’m determined! Thank you everyone.

 

[Thegirlinthefireplace]

Hey all, just for my curiosity I was wondering where I would stand in the chance pool. I ended my sophomore year with a 3.89 GPA weighted, and unweighted 3.7. I do not take all honors, but most of my classes are. I’m also taking an AP this year.

I'm a candidate for this year, so I know pretty much nothing, but I do have a little advice. Since you should be taking the PSAT this year, as well as possibly the SAT or ACT, I'd suggest taking practice tests, looking at questions you missed, and learning why you got them wrong. If you can take both ACT and SAT, I'd do it because sometimes people do better with one than the other.

Lastly, start practicing for the CFA now. Plan to work on pull ups instead of flexed arm hang if you can pull off at least one. Also, watch YouTube videos for the basketball throw and do it as often as you can. Good Luck!

 

[Academician]

You have a good start. I routinely recommend that students review the following post: https://www.serviceacademyforums.co...na-admissions-faqs-what-are-my-chances.61585/

As noted by @Thegirlinthefireplace, start preparing for the CFA. I tell my students that their 'workout routine' needs to be truly routine. Continue to seek leadership responsibilities, plus pursue the Gold Award in Girl Scouting, if possible. Take the SAT/ACT this academic year -- I recommend to my students to take the tests 'early and often.'

Best of luck with your pursuit of an appointment!

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

You reduce your chances at a Service Academy education by restricting your choices to only one.

 

[Slippy13]

I'm a candidate for this year, so I know pretty much nothing, but I do have a little advice. Since you should be taking the PSAT this year, as well as possibly the SAT or ACT, I'd suggest taking practice tests, looking at questions you missed, and learning why you got them wrong. If you can take both ACT and SAT, I'd do it because sometimes people do better with one than the other.

Lastly, start practicing for the CFA now. Plan to work on pull ups instead of flexed arm hang if you can pull off at least one. Also, watch YouTube videos for the basketball throw and do it as often as you can. Good Luck!

Ah yes! I did my PSAT last year and I’ll be taking both the SAT and ACT in December. 1170 on the PSAT. I’ll probably take it again. Thank you for the advice!

 

[Slippy13]

You have a good start. I routinely recommend that students review the following post: https://www.serviceacademyforums.co...na-admissions-faqs-what-are-my-chances.61585/

As noted by @Thegirlinthefireplace, start preparing for the CFA. I tell my students that their 'workout routine' needs to be truly routine. Continue to seek leadership responsibilities, plus pursue the Gold Award in Girl Scouting, if possible. Take the SAT/ACT this academic year -- I recommend to my students to take the tests 'early and often.'

Best of luck with your pursuit of an appointment!

Awesome, thank you! Girl Scouts is unfortunately out of my life now, as local troops have gone under. But I’ll peruse something up to that standard. I’ll look around. Thank you!

 

[Slippy13]

You reduce your chances at a Service Academy education by restricting your choices to only one.

I do understand that. However, there is a specific track I’m looking for, and the quality of life (in the long run) for the air force is better in my favor. I will keep an open mind, though. Thanks!

 

[StPaulDad]

Well AFROTC is another path to that service, so to the point @Small Team Bacsi was making be sure to explore all the options that could get you where you want to go. Remember that all these paths lead to service as an officer, and that school is four years but the career can go on for decades.

Also take time to examine the service beyond the happy path: you may have to learn to be OK with winters in Minot, ND or summers in the Nevada desert. And there are some pretty sweet careers in the other services as well, so as much as you think you know what you want at age 15 be warned that you are going to grow and change a lot in the next 5-10 years. You may find that the Coast Guard's Naval Architecture is close to the Aero that you were dreaming of in the Air Force, or that Electrical Engineering is merely applied calculus and more boring than you expected, or that you really like blowing things up or punching poeple in the face and want to go Marines. Read through these forums to be amazed at the journeys of discovery so many cadets take, and keep your mind open to change and possibility.

 

[All3Services]

I want to echo the sentiments above and reinforce that you shouldn't narrow your options as, additional to the already covered alternatives, there is the opportunity to service transfer at the end of the SA. The reason I wanted to pile on is that with 2 DS at USAFA I have watched their minds change as they experience the environment. My oldest has wanted to be a pilot since he was very young and is now seriously considering the Special Warfare path. Keep your options open, give yourself the best chance of attending one by applying to all and in the mean time practice for the CFA, take notes for your application essays and practice for all the tests to give yourself the best shot. Just don't forget to actually enjoy your time as well as you will find precious little of it for your first year at whichever SA you are fortunate enough to attend. Good luck with your journey.

 

[trailrunner612]

I'm going to say the opposite of what has been being echoed above. You sound like a very similar candidate that I was, and I recently graduated from USAFA. Sure, apply for the other service academies if you want. But I put ALL my eggs in one basket with applying to USAFA because I knew I wanted to serve in the Air Force and be a pilot, and USAFA was my best bet for reaching that goal. (Spoiler: I was right). I had backups of where I wanted to go to school for AFROTC, but ultimately did not apply to USMA or USNA because I simply knew I did not want to be in any other branch. I did not get into USAFA the first time around, but I went to a civilian Prep School and got in the second time. The extra year was worth every second. I wish you the best of luck!

 

[T-37IP]

Awesome, thank you! Girl Scouts is unfortunately out of my life now, as local troops have gone under. But I’ll peruse something up to that standard. I’ll look around. Thank you!

On the contrary with respect to Girl Scouts. Go to your council, find adults, and set up a troop. What a great interview/essay topic. Instead of "I stopped at Bronze because my troop disbanded", you could lead with, "My troop disbanded so I started a new troop to not only allow me to continue to my goal of Gold, but to show other girls to not be discouraged, and give them new opportunities." Those are two very different directions.

 

[Herman_Snerd]

I'll repost something here from another thread: "In your applications, differentiate where you were a leader not just a participant or member in the classroom, on the athletic pitch, in your community, and through service.// Use your application to show where and how you made an impact, showed grit/ resolve, led, learned, helped others. Clearly articulate why you wish to serve. "

For CAP, try to get to the Mitchell, Eaker, Spaatz awards which will require you to be engaged/ rapidly advancing and can separate you in your application/ provide a foundation of leadership training See if you can learn to fly through their program - huge cost savings, or take the powered flight academy or their training out in Mississippi SUPFAM to try it also.

Are you sure that what you want to do isn't an option in the other services? my DS was pinned on being a pilot since the age of about 2 but after learning more about each branch decided to pursue to serve as one in the Navy. Since this is anonymous, if you want you could provide more details on what that specific path is, and others may chime in with recommendations.

Even if pinned on Air Force or bust, explore the other service branches and remember AFROTC or officer candidate are paths to commission there too. And, like others noted, if your mission is to serve more than only serve in the AF, then exploring other branches might be a good thing. Also explore if you don't get your dream MOS/ service assignment/ community, what else would be a good fit from each branch. Good luck.

 

[HOPE0204]

I do understand that. However, there is a specific track I’m looking for, and the quality of life (in the long run) for the air force is better in my favor. I will keep an open mind, though. Thanks!

It is a pain, but it is advised to apply to all for chances of getting in. Shows that you are committed to the military no matter what the track.

 

[trailrunner612]

I do understand that. However, there is a specific track I’m looking for, and the quality of life (in the long run) for the air force is better in my favor. I will keep an open mind, though. Thanks!

If that is where your passion is, follow it.

 

[OldRetSWO]

it is advised to apply to all for chances of getting in. Shows that you are committed to the military no matter what the track.

I've been involved in Service Academy admissions for over 30 years now and you are very wrong about this. Perhaps it is "advised"
but not widely advised by people in the Admissions arena. If someone just wants to "serve" then there are many potential paths
but if that person wants to serve in a particular way/arena then homing in on that or those specific area/areas is fine.
I've interviewed many hundreds of candidates and perhaps more importantly, interviewed WITH a pretty large number of
congressional interviewers as well as ALOs, BGOs, Field Force and other service specific folks and I really have not seen what you're
alluding to.

 

[trailrunner612]

I've been involved in Service Academy admissions for over 30 years now and you are very wrong about this. Perhaps it is "advised"
but not widely advised by people in the Admissions arena. If someone just wants to "serve" then there are many potential paths
but if that person wants to serve in a particular way/arena then homing in on that or those specific area/areas is fine.
I've interviewed many hundreds of candidates and perhaps more importantly, interviewed WITH a pretty large number of
congressional interviewers as well as ALOs, BGOs, Field Force and other service specific folks and I really have not seen what you're
alluding to.

Well said.

 

[MidCakePa]

If someone just wants to "serve" then there are many potential paths
but if that person wants to serve in a particular way/arena then homing in on that or those specific area/areas is fine.

Building on @OldRetSWO: Be honest with yourself, be honest with admissions.

DD was fully committed to becoming a commissioned officer and was open to any of the DOD branches. She said so, in both her apps and interviews. It worked out.

One of her USNA shipmates was fully committed to serving in the Marine Corps, and only the Marine Corps, due to family tradition. She was clear about that, in both her apps and interviews. It worked out.

Trying to game the system can backfire. Just be straightforward and the rest will take care of itself.

 

[unkown1961]

Well AFROTC is another path to that service, so to the point @Small Team Bacsi was making be sure to explore all the options that could get you where you want to go. Remember that all these paths lead to service as an officer, and that school is four years but the career can go on for decades.

Also take time to examine the service beyond the happy path: you may have to learn to be OK with winters in Minot, ND or summers in the Nevada desert. And there are some pretty sweet careers in the other services as well, so as much as you think you know what you want at age 15 be warned that you are going to grow and change a lot in the next 5-10 years. You may find that the Coast Guard's Naval Architecture is close to the Aero that you were dreaming of in the Air Force, or that Electrical Engineering is merely applied calculus and more boring than you expected, or that you really like blowing things up or punching poeple in the face and want to go Marines. Read through these forums to be amazed at the journeys of discovery so many cadets take, and keep your mind open to change and possibility.

Nevada and Minot are vacation spots compared to Cannonn AFB in Clovis, NM. That does nothing for retention of JOs.
To the poster, you seem to have a great background - similar to my daughter but she passed on Academy life and did AFROTC at MIT. Take the rigorous classes. But do make sure you enjoy life and high school.
And have alternatives in case you get declined. Keep in mind that there are applicants who get into USAFA but not into AFROTC, and vice versa.
Best of luck.

 

[Slippy13]

I'm going to say the opposite of what has been being echoed above. You sound like a very similar candidate that I was, and I recently graduated from USAFA. Sure, apply for the other service academies if you want. But I put ALL my eggs in one basket with applying to USAFA because I knew I wanted to serve in the Air Force and be a pilot, and USAFA was my best bet for reaching that goal. (Spoiler: I was right). I had backups of where I wanted to go to school for AFROTC, but ultimately did not apply to USMA or USNA because I simply knew I did not want to be in any other branch. I did not get into USAFA the first time around, but I went to a civilian Prep School and got in the second time. The extra year was worth every second. I wish you the best of luck!

Firstly, congrats on your graduation! I do have backups, all ROTC schools. And it’s nice to know that someone that was a similar candidate has the same feelings as me right now. I appreciate the support!

 

[Slippy13]

I'll repost something here from another thread: "In your applications, differentiate where you were a leader not just a participant or member in the classroom, on the athletic pitch, in your community, and through service.// Use your application to show where and how you made an impact, showed grit/ resolve, led, learned, helped others. Clearly articulate why you wish to serve. "

For CAP, try to get to the Mitchell, Eaker, Spaatz awards which will require you to be engaged/ rapidly advancing and can separate you in your application/ provide a foundation of leadership training See if you can learn to fly through their program - huge cost savings, or take the powered flight academy or their training out in Mississippi SUPFAM to try it also.

Are you sure that what you want to do isn't an option in the other services? my DS was pinned on being a pilot since the age of about 2 but after learning more about each branch decided to pursue to serve as one in the Navy. Since this is anonymous, if you want you could provide more details on what that specific path is, and others may chime in with recommendations.

Even if pinned on Air Force or bust, explore the other service branches and remember AFROTC or officer candidate are paths to commission there too. And, like others noted, if your mission is to serve more than only serve in the AF, then exploring other branches might be a good thing. Also explore if you don't get your dream MOS/ service assignment/ community, what else would be a good fit from each branch. Good luck.

I’ve looked into other branches, but the Air Force has really driven me. The navy and the army have too much of a risk for my own emotions and mental health, as I’ve heard one too many horror stories of women being sexually assaulted and overall being treated poorly. The mental health services also look better in the Air Force, and I’d rather settle for that.

Changing over, with CAP I am currently applying for the flying program. I’ve also just ranked up to a technical sergeant, so I’m making good progress (I’ve been in for less than a year). I will keep an open mind. Thank you.